Saving Grace

Chapter 20

Grace's POV

It's been a couple of weeks since we moved into the new place and we are loving it. Currently we are trying to get ready for my court hearing about the charges being pressed against my father. Surprisingly enough my whole family is coming to witness this.

"Grace! Where's my tie?" Jc yelled from the living area. "I laid it out on the bed!" I was finishing up my hair and makeup.

"Babe it isn't here." I look down at my feet and Wishbone was there with Jc's tie wrapped around his neck. "Alright buddy let me get this from you." I gently removed it.

We went to the vet a couple of days ago to get Wishbone checked out and they told us he doesn't have much longer to live. Which literally crushed Jc. Little does he know but if arranged a surprise for him.

"Here you go." I stuck the tie out the bathroom door. "Wishbone had it." I felt him take it from my hand. "Thanks."

I put the final touches on my hair and I was finally ready to go. "Jc!? You ready to go?" I walked out of the bathroom and Jc was holding Wishbone. "He fell down."

"Come on Jc. We have to go. He'll be fine." Jc laid Wishbone down in his bed. This would be the first time we both left the house together ever since we went to the vet.

"I'm sorry. I'm just worried about him." We walked out the apartment door and made our way towards the apartment. "Remember we are going out to eat afterwards with my family."

The elevator took us to the floor where the garage started. "Are you he'll be ok?" We made our way to our car and we got in. "He'll be fine Jc. Now let's go."

~skip car ride~

We made it to the court house with twenty minutes to spare. "Nice to see you dear." My mother said when she greeted me. "Nice to see you too mom." I gave my mother a hug.

I looked around the room and my sibling where all here. Chris, Pat, and Matt with their significant other. Chris being very protective of Jenna now that she is seven months along now.

Sammy came in bringing in the cool September air. "I'm sorry I'm late. I had a heck of a time trying to find parking." He said pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Excuses me folks but it's time to start the court hearing." Detective Wall said. We followed him into the court room and Detective Heart directed me to a chair right next to her at a table in front of the judges stand.

"All rise for the honorable judge." We all stood up. "Thank you all for coming today."

~skip hearing~

"Court's adjourned." He said slamming his gavel. "Congratulations Miss Mathars." Detective Heart said giving me a hug. "Thank you for all of your help."

I was happy with the results and the fact that my father didn't show up to testify was even better. Now if my father is ever arrested for a petty crime his bail will be high and there will be all of these charges will be over his head.

"Now lunch is on me and James today. So where does everyone want to go?" Everyone started to state their options. We finally all agreed on Applebee's after ten minutes of standing in the court room arguing.

"So we'll meet at the closest Applebee's?" James said and we all agreed and went our separate ways to our cars.

"I agree with the judge on placing the charges on your father." Jc said when we got in the car. "Same. Now can we go to lunch?"

~skip car ride~

We were joined by my mom, step-father, step-siblings, siblings, and their significant other. "Welcome to Applebee's how many?" The host greeted us. She was sorta in shock about the size of our group.

My mom started to count heads. "Can you guys stop moving I'm trying to count!" We all froze in our spots and our mom started to count out loud. "A table or tables for fourteen."

The host called over the manager and they left at the stand. "Well I have a feeling this is going to take a while so I'm going to sit down." Jenna said sitting down on a bench.

"Your table is ready." The host said only a few seconds after Jenna sat down. "God lord. Chris, can you give me a hand?" My brother started to clap his hands and Jenna's face was priceless.

"Chris you've done fucked up." Trent said when he saw Jenna's face. "Shut up..." He growled through his teeth. "If you guys would follow me."

The host lead us to the back part of the restaurant where there was tables pushed together. "Your server will be here shortly." The host said passing out the menus.

It was completely silent while everyone was look through the menu deciding what they want. "Everything looks so good." Jenna said making everyone laugh. "Hello everyone, my name is Xavier and I'll be your server."

I looked over to Jc and he had the same puzzled look on his face. "Is that the same server from that one restaurant we went to a while ago?" I whispered to Jc. "I believe so."

"Now what would everyone like to drink?" He asked. We all went around giving our drink orders then the server left us.

"Daddy can I please have my credit cards back?" I look down to the end of the table to see what was going on. "Is your mother back from Europe yet?" James said making everyone else look down the table.

"No but my best friend from New York is coming into town and I really want to go shopping with her." My mother looked up from her menu. "Ava your father said no. Now we'll let you go shopping but you will not get your cards back."

"Anna please?" Ava said begging. "No Ava. Now the discussion is over." Me, Sammy, and Jc where laughing at Ava's face.

"Daddy look, they're laughing at me." Ava said pointing at the three of us. "Grace, Jc, Sammy, where you laughing at Ava?"

The tree of us looked at each other and down towards James and our mother. "No James. Sammy just told us a funny joke." James looked over to Ava. "See Ava they weren't laughing at you."

The server came back with our drinks and took our order. "So Connor, what do you do for a living?" James asked Connor. "James, don't."

"I'm an Internet personality." Connor said causing Ava to look up from her phone. "So is Jc."

I kicked underneath the table to Sammy who passed it down to Trent. Who passed it down to Matt who actually kicked Connor.

He looked towards me and I gave him a small wave. "I knew I recognized you two!" Then the server came with our lunches.

~some time after midnight~

I shot out of my bed. I heard this really raspy bark/cough. "Jc?" I patted the other side of the bed and Jc wasn't there.

I followed the noises which lead me to the kitchen and Jc holding Wishbone. "Jc..." I knelt beside him and gently started to pet the heavy breathing dog. "Your going to be alright buddy."

Wishbone licked Jc's one last time before collapsing in his arms. "He's gone."