Oh, hell no!

Chapter 11

Chapter 11.

The meeting between Jake and Grace’s father went better then she expected. She found that she could relate to her mom and tried to understand why her father treated her the way he did. That night they had dinner with Anne, Jim and the twins. So far Grace did not hear her parents fight at all. As expected the twins wormed their way straight into Grace’s mother’s heart. Even her father was playing with them by the end of the night. Even though everything looked as if went great on the outside Grace knew something was still wrong with all of it.

After dinner, Grace’s mother helped her to make some coffee. “I’m so sorry, mom.” Grace said, in a small voice. She felt guilty for seeing her mom as a weakling all these years.
“Oh, heavens child, whatever do you have to be sorry for?” Grace’s mom asked with a frown, she did not understand why Grace would apologize to her. If anything she felt she had to apologize to her. She never wanted Grace to suffer for her mistakes or choices. She knew Grace would not understand the relationship between her and Grace’s father, but she always hoped that one day she would know why she never could leave.
“I judged you for a very long time, mom, and I only recently came to understand that you are the total opposite to what I believed you were. I am sorry that I never thought of it from your side before. I always just saw it from my side. I understand now that love could really conquer all. I always saw you as weak for never standing up for yourself and for always doing as you were told, but now I now you did it because you love dad. You are not weak, you are strong, because you saw the love throw all the hardships and even though dad dominated, you supported and held us all together. You were the corner stone of our family and I want to thank you for never giving up on us. One day I want to love as selflessly as you do mom. You never ask for anything in return. I love you, mom.” Grace said and she meant every word from the bottom of her heart. She gave her mom a tight hug and held her while her mom silently cried, murmuring: “Thank you, my sweet child.”
While the women were talking in the kitchen the two men sat in the living room. Silence filled the air making it stiff and awkward. After a while Grace’s dad cleared his throat, catching Jake’s attention. When Jake looked up he caught Grace’s father’s calculating look he send his way.
“So, Jake, What is it that you want from my daughter exactly?” He asked his pale blue eyes never leaving Jake. Jake felt a chill run down his spine seeing the expression in his eyes. For the first time that day he could understand why Grace said her father demands respect and why she was afraid of him and his judgement. Jake was not afraid of him, but he was cautious. He did not want to cause any reason for this man to blame Grace for anything ever again. He could see he dominated all and loved that feeling of power. He knew he had to show this man that he will not be dominated by him if he ever wanted to be with Grace now or ever.
“I don’t want anything from her, Sir. All I want is to love her.” Jake said confidently.
“And what is love, Jake?” Mr. Hayward challenged him.
“Love means different things to different people, Sir. To me it means mutual respect, trust, understanding, acceptance, I believe that if you love someone you will keep them safe, protect them till your last breath. Love is being kind and caring; it is selfless and never boastful. Love is a pure form of understanding and communication is the key to making love work. Love is not domineering and never forced.” Jake said, trying to put into words the way he felt for Grace. “Love is one soul fulfilling the other making it a whole.”
“Do you love my daughter, Jake?” Mr. Hayward stared at Jake, it felt as if he looked throw him, calculating every move he made and analysing every word he said.
“Yes, Sir, I do.” Jake said confidant looking him straight in the eye. Jake felt proud to be truthful in this conversation and he knew he respected the man in front of him for caring for Grace. Even when he never showed it to Grace, it could not be mistaken by the outsider. Grace’s dad loved her deeply.
“If you hurt her, I will hunt you down Jake. I will personally make sure you whished you were never born that I promise you. I may be a hard person, not able to show my feelings and be domineering to most, but I will not let the people I love be toyed with. I am a stubborn man and I won’t give up on my promise.” Mr. Hayward stood up and held out his hand to Jake. “I like you Jake, take care of my daughter.” Mr. Hayward indeed did like Jake. What he liked most about Jake was his honesty and he could see he has a backbone. His daughter would be safe with Jake. He just hope he could fix his mistakes he made with her himself.

*_*

“Grace, may we talk to you for a moment?” Her father asked her just before it was time for bed.
Jake stood up from the sofa next to Grace, but her hand shot out and grabbed his. The look in her eyes begged him to stay. Grace knew that now would be the time he told her why they came to visit and she needed Jake as support.
“You can stay. It involves you too.” Mr. Hayward said; cutting to the chase, just like he always did. “You have to get married on your birthday.” He said it in a way that Grace knew he expected her to do what she was told.
“Oh, hell no!” Grace yelled; she could not believe the words that left her father’s mouth or the way he said it with no room to argue.
“Grace, we have no choice.” Her mother said in a soft voice barely audible.
“What do you mean we have no choice?” Grace asked her mother, her whole demeanour spoke of confusion mixed with rebellion.
“Either you marry Jake before or on your birthday or we have no choice, but to hand you over to Brian.” Mr. Hayward gave Grace an ultimatum, he showed no emotion and Grace knew she would get no explanation from him. Mr. Hayward stood up and made his way to the spare room, leaving a sobbing wife to explain to his daughter.
“Mom what is going on?” Grace asked confused, moving closer to the chair her mother sat in she softly embraced her mother trying to calm her with encouraging words. “It’s okay, shhh, don’t worry we will be okay, but please mom I need to know what he meant.” Grace took a seat next to her mom on the coffee table beside her mom. Taking her mom’s hands in hers she looked at her pleadingly.
“I’m so sorry, baby.” Mrs. Hayward started tears still streaming down her face, her voice weak and defeated. Jake did not know what to make of all of this, but sensed that he should leave the two women to talk. He quietly left the room, knowing that Grace would tell him what is going on later when she knew herself. On his way to their room he heard soft sobs coming from the spare room. At that moment Jake new Mr. Hayward only pretended to be heartless and oblivious to the feeling of others. Jake could hear the women continue their discussion in the living room and he quietly resumed his way.