Saving Grace #Wattys2016

Chapter Twenty

I know for a fact everyone on here hates me for not updating but please don't!!! All I have to say is that school started. For those of you in college, y'all know the struggle is real. On the happy note, I'm officially a senior! I'm gonna shut up and get writing. Toddles!

           When we pulled up to the house, Danny and Brenda were on the porch, a dictionary of a book split between them that I assume was the wedding book.

  "Having fun with that, Stewart?" Hardy chuckled at my twin.

  "Five bucks; I'd like to see you do any better, Hale." Even though it was said as a threat, Danny was grinning.

  "Watch this." He sat next to Brenda. "What's the problem, darlin'?"

  "He wants chocolate brown, but I want the navy." Brenda held up the strips of chiffon fabric. "He's not changing his mind and I won't either. But we need to speed it up cause the wedding's days away." You're probably asking how the hell are you going to get bridesmaids dresses and fit them when the wedding is less than a week away? When your mother is a seamstress and her best friend (Lucy) owns a dress and fabric store, it's a match made in heaven.

  "I actually think you would look lovely in red. It'll bring out your skin color not to mention your eyes."

  "Hardison," She kissed him lightly. "You're amazing."

  "Damn," Danny pulled out the money. "Can't ever catch a break."

  "Sorry to rob you of your money." Hardy laughed and gave him a good man's handshake.

  "Let's go before you rob my brother out of his paycheck." I pulled him inside the house where I heard giggles. Mama's giggles. I almost forgot how they sounded since Daddy died. She was at the stove cooking, well, trying to cook since Parker wrapped himself around her while kissing her neck.

  "See the animals in their natural habitats, attempting to mate." Hardy whispered in my ear and made me snicker as his Animal Planet skit. Mama whirled around while Parker stood still and laughed.

  "Busted." He said, now turning around. "Please don't me this is another one of your kids, Abby." Nodding towards Hardy, he smiled.

  "No," Mama smacked his chest. "Not biologically. This is Hardison Hale."

  "Wait, wasn't there a Jack Hale that went to school with us?"

  "Yep. He married Olivia Potter." Since there was one school in town when I graduated, I assume it was the same for them back then since everyone knew everyone else.

  "You're Jack and Livy's son?" Parker clarified.

  "Yes, sir. I like to point to point out that you're the reason I'm doing architect; I've been following you since I was ten."

  "Really? Well, thank you. You know, we've been looking for some new blood in the company with new ideas....." They pulled up chairs around the table to talk while I settled next to Mama.

  "You know, he offered Danny a better job at Brandon." Danny's current job was at a local construction company but with horrible pay for the hard work he's been doing; his white counterparts get more like what he should be getting paid. If he took this job, he would have a chance at advancing forward. To have Danny working at the Brandon Company, he would make enough money to support him, Brenda and if they wanted, a child.

  "Seems like he's trying to butter up to you." I smiled at her sideways while helping with the food.

  "Wow, I didn't see it that way. I guess I should tell him you don't want to go with him to with him to Dallas and help him with his next project."