State of Grace (Complete)

Together

Ch. 49

The trip to Maggie's was great. Baby Alex was a tiny and adorable, and everyone was happy to see us, to see us together. Maggie and Chris couldn't help make various 'I told you so' type comments, and Andrea and Steve just looked really pleased. My goddaughter Olivia is a precocious 2 and a half year old and loved the big sister present I got her. We spent the day there together and it felt like being a part of their family again, with the added bonus of Ian by my side.

On the return to town, I told Ian that I wasn't ready to go home, and he happily complied. Aside from a trip back to the house to turn off the water and lights, I spend days and nights with Ian at the apartment making up for lost time—aside from when we have class. We explore every inch of each other and it is delicious having him closer to me than anyone else, having him a part of me. Inside me. Being with Ian is like living in technicolour, everything is brighter and sharper than before.

By the time my mother and Gord get back, we are firmly together. Even my mother isn't surprised, but she's actually happy for me, saying "I'm just glad you waited until he made something of himself. He was so naughty when he was little." My mother and Gord got engaged while they were away, and my mother has decided to sell the house. They are getting a new place together and I am welcome to live with them, but choose to get my own apartment near campus instead. At the end of my second year, when Ian's lease runs out, it seems totally natural that he moves in with me. Kyle and Anna are engaged and were already going to move in together, but I don't feel pressured for Ian to move in, we already spend all our time with each other. Waking up together every morning is the best luxury I have and I cherish it every day.

The rumours reach me just before exams of my last fall term, and I am furious. I storm across campus from the library, into the Languages Building and rage into my father's office. There is a girl in there I recognize from around the department and her face is red with embarrassment as she steps away from him.

"What are you doing, Daddy?" Her look changes from embarrassment to shock, and I turn to her. "Yes, this cretan is my father. He was my mother's t.a. when she was in school. My younger brother, who is only five years old, is the product of one of his grad students. My dad is a charmer, but a bastard. You need to be warned. He can't keep it in his pants and he can't be faithful."

"I...I didn't know. I'm sorry, I can't do this." She backs out of the room quickly and dashes away.

"Grace," he looks at me, with a bored expression, "what can I do for you?"

"You can keep it in your pants, please, for at least the next six months."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean stop fucking grad students, or students in general, until after I graduate. The university is starting to take a much more serious stance on these kind of relationships and you're going to get fired. I need my tuition covered for just one more term."

"Ahh, yes, I've seen your writing, very promising."

"I don't care about your praise anymore, Daddy, you discarded me years ago, just like you are a nonentity in the life of my brother. Just do this one thing for me."

"What did I ever do to you to make you so angry with me?"

"You left me alone with her when she couldn't even function, you let a six year old figure out how to work the laundry machines because you were too wrapped up in your own affairs to even care. You let the neighbours buy me Christmas gifts because you couldn't be bothered. You are the most self-centred person on the planet and you just don't care how many people you harm."

"That's quite enough Grace, I suppose it makes sense you take on some of your mother's bitterness over everything, but I'll have you know, Elizabeth was the one who chose to end things, not me."

"Yes, Daddy, I know, because you were fooling around on her. Don't deny it, there's no point. I just need you to keep from getting fired until after I graduate, and if that means telling every girl in this department to stay away from you, I will." This last statement actually seems to worry my father, and he sits back in his chair.

"Fine Grace, if you feel airing our dirty laundry is a way to get what you want, then go ahead. Just know, this is it for me. I am done with you. Don't ask me for anything else."

"Don't worry, I won't."

I stalk away, knowing that his secretary overheard the whole exchange. I won't have to spread anything, most of it is already common knowledge, and what wasn't before will be now.

Ian and I are out for coffee on a chilly January Saturday morning. We are sitting at a little cafe table, each of us with a pastry and steaming fragrant cup of coffee in front of us, sharing a newspaper. It is amazing, this comfort in just being, together. Kind of like when we used to sit in the treehouse together with comics and a tray of snacks spread between us. Ian is just finishing his one year internship and I have three months left of my undergrad degree. It's been two years we've been together, a year and a half since we moved in together, and neither of us regret it.

"Gracie, you know how you said we were going to get married, when we slept out in the backyard for your birthday?" Ian interrupts me and gives me a nervous smile.

"Yes?" my heart skips a beat.

"Well, Chris and I told Mom. And she said if that I wanted, when I was older, I could have my grandmother's ring as an engagement ring for you." Ian slides a ring across the table towards me. It's one I've seen on Andrea's finger before. "I know Mom wouldn't give it to me for anyone else and I know we haven't been together as a couple for very long, but I can't imagine my life without you. Please be my wife, Grace, marry me."

"Of course I will Ian." And Ian slides the ring on and fits as if it was made for me.

My father is in disgrace again, this time moving to a different university in a different town. He is not going to be in attendance at my wedding, 'a conference' he says, 'couldn't be helped,' and Steve will walk me down the aisle. Steve cried when I asked. Chris and Kyle will be groomsmen, and Maggie and Elizabeth will be my attendants. Xavier will be a ring bearer and Maggie's daughter, my god-daughter, Olivia, the flower girl. It won't be a huge wedding, but the third time I walk the aisle with Ian, he will be all mine and I will be his, and nothing could be more right.