Grace Taylor Hudson

Chapter 14

<Grace POV>

After our 'Mother's Day moment' we hung out in the living room; Katy checked emails and made business phone calls while I was curled up next to her on the couch reading 'The Great Gatsby' for my English class. I'd come to a stopping point just as Katy hung up from a call, "Do you ever stop working?" Her blue eyes twinkled as she spoke, "Yes! I haven't done much since you've arrived Grace Taylor! I've gotta catch up and get everything prepped for summer. Oh, the places we'll go my darling! It'll be the best summer of your life!" She dramatically flung her arms about nearly whacking me in the face, "I'm so excited Grace. I really am. We're going anywhere and everywhere you wanna go! London, Paris, Tokyo! Oh you'll love Tokyo.... and Japan in general. It's so cute, especially all of the people and crazy things they have there! We can get our nails done! I haven't been since, ohhh, around the time of your birthday last year?"

She paused to catch her breath, "When I could afford to I started going on trips during your birthday week every year. It helped get my mind off things. I mean-I-I wasn't trying to forget about you. God. I never ever tried to do that. I just wanted to forget about the situation. I would go and map out places for us to go together... I have about ten years worth of ideal vacation activities and spots." Katy chuckled to herself and shrugged, "Call me crazy."

"No, it's cute." I loved getting nuggets of information from Katy, especially if it was anything to do with me. "You're cute!" She pinched my cheeks, "Owsh shhtap." She just laughed, "My wittle itty bitty bebe Gwacie. You're just so cahyoot. Oh yes yew are!" After a few more pinches and a huge slobbery kiss on the cheek she let go, "C'mon. Let's go get something to eat! I'm hungry!" I laughed at the raven haired woman in front of me in awe of the fact that she gave birth to me and that nobody would ever be able to tell. "You're always hungry!"

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<Katy POV>

The struggle to get in and out of restaurants never ends or lessens... Since the article a few months ago Grace and I had been careful about being seen out together. Annoying--yes--but keeping her safe and protecting her has been my priority since she entered this world.

We ended up at a small café just down the road from our neighborhood, it was extremely busy which for me was perfect because people would be minding their own business and not paying any attention to us. But Grace, being an extremely impatient person, did not like it. "Katy, it's so busy! I don't wanna wait forever for my food!" She looked so cute pouting like a 3 year old, "It's Mother's Day and this is where I picked. You're paying right?" I nudged her foot under the table playfully, "Yup. Can I see your wallet though? I left my money in there." I handed her my wallet only to see her pull out my black American Express card and wave it in my face, "Got my money!" She laughed when my mouth dropped open, "Hey! I seriously thought you left money in there!" Grace responded to me between more fits of giggles, "I have never ever asked you to hold any of my money before. Why would you even think that?" Tears were streaming from her clear blue eyes, I didn't understand why this was so funny at all. But it was cute seeing her laugh, my heart swelled ten times it's normal size every time I heard it. No music could ever beat the happy sound coming from my daughter. It also caused me to laugh along with her, even if it meant laughing at her making fun of me.

"It's not even that funny! Why are you laughing so hard?" She swiped a stray tear from her cheek, "You should've seen your face! You looked like you had just shit yourself!" She kept laughing but I stopped, "What did you just say?" Obviously picking up on her mistake her eyes became wide saucers and she abruptly stopped, "Sorry... it slipped." I looked down and began studying my menu then responded without looking up, "It's okay. I actually don't mind it that much." I didn't have to look up to know she was staring at me and kept going in a matter-of-fact tone, "I'd rather you do it around me than other people. Just don't let them go flying all the time. It's impolite."