Each Scar Tells A Story (A Katy Perry Fanfic)

Chapter 13

“Shan, I need you to babysit for a little bit while I go sort some stuff out at home. Me and Tamra have a plan worked out, but it kinda helps if it's sorted before I take Grace home. Will you both be okay?" I ask Shannon, unsure as to whether or not it's too soon to be without Grace.
“Kate, we'll be fine. I think you're forgetting that I was a pretty awesome step-mom" She replies with a chuckle.
“That was scripted and we know it," I reply rolling my eyes. “I'll be an hour at the most. Phone me if there's anything at all" I inform Shannon, giving Grace a gentle kiss on her head.
“Yes, and we'll be fine. Now go" Shannon instructs, pointing at the door.
I leave Shannon's house and get into my car, already doubting the decision I've just made. I put the key in the ignition and drive home.

I reach home just as the delivery van is driving up the road. I wait in the doorway for the delivery man to get out of the truck and when he does I ask if he can take everything into the sitting room.

He complies and after 30 minutes everything has been unloaded and I'm left alone, surrounded by cardboard boxes of different weights and sizes.

I sit on the couch and let out a sigh. I can't be bothered to sort all of this out right now, and I miss Grace too much.
I get up, leaving everything exactly where it is, already knowing that I'll hate walking back into this chaos. I get in my car and drive back to Shannon's.
I swear I hit every red light possible and I get so impatient, annoyed and frustrated. Who knew that one tiny person could have such a huge impact?

I reach Shannon's after what feels like a lifetime. As soon as I open the door my ears are filled with the adorable sound of my baby girl's giggles. My heart instantly melts. I quietly shut the door and make my way to the source of the sound.
I can't help but smile like a lunatic. I slide my phone out of my pocket and record them both for a few minutes.
“You're such a creep you know that right?" Shannon interrupts my thoughts.
“Oh shut up Shan, it's not my fault that my daughter is adorable and she knows to laugh at Auntie Shanny already" I say with a smirk, taking Grace into my arms.
“Mommy's missed you so so much" I tell Grace, kissing her forehead and bringing her closer to me.
I sit on the floor and put Grace into her car seat, once I've done that I phone Tamra and ask her to pick us up, while Shannon stuffs everything back into the diaper bag - I was only gone just over half an hour, I had no idea she'd make so much mess (Shannon I mean).

Tamra arrives and Shannon decides she's coming with us too.

Shannon picks up Grace's bag and her purse, while I pick up the car seat.
I open the back passenger door, placing the car seat gently on the seat, ensuring both Grace and the seat are securely fastened.

“Haha, loser," Shannon childishly exclaims, sticking her tongue out at me before I've even done. I shake my head at her childishness, shut the door gently and walk to the other side to climb into my seat.

“Ready?" Tamra asks, looking at me through the rear view mirror.

“Yeah" I reply shakily, but with a smile. I look away so that I can look at Grace. “Oh and Shan, you might be sitting in the front, but I get to sit next to my little Gracie, so who's the real winner here?" I say to Shannon, though cooing most of it at Grace whilst never taking my eyes off of her. I'd stare at her all day every day if it meant she'd stay like this and not grow up.

“You know something Tam," Shannon says, and I know for a fact it's going to be something sarcastic, “new parents repulse me. You might actually have to pull over in a minute so I can throw up if she carries on like that" yup I was right. Tamra just chuckles in response.

“Oh shut it Woodward. You love her too and we know it"

Tamra parks the car.
I unfasten my seat belt and slide closer to Grace.
“I'm so sorry baby. I'm so so sorry," I say over and over a few times while stroking her cheek with the back of my index finger and placing gentle kisses on her soft skin. She continues to sleep which I'm grateful for. Blissfully unaware of the mayhem that we're all about to endure.
I unfasten the seat belt that's holding the car seat in place and pull the hood down as far down as it goes.
“Ready?" Shan and Tam both nod in agreement, “Tam, you get Grace" Tam nods again. I place Grace's pink blanket over the top of the car seat so that it covers the gap. All 3 of us open our doors at around about the same time.

Shan and I slam our doors shut at exactly the same moment

”Shit," I mutter under my breath at the fact that we've both just made Grace cry.
I rush to the door, not wanting to be surrounded by the flashes of the paparazzi cameras longer than I have to.
I leave the door open and Shannon follows closely behind. I start to make coffee, my mind over thinking the length of time it's taking for Tamra to get inside compared to me and Shannon. I start chewing my thumb and just stare at the doorway awaiting their entrance.

I hear the door slam shut and immediately rush to go make sure they're okay. I pull the blanket off the top as Tamra places the car seat on the floor. Grace is still crying while I fight with the buckle that's holding her in the seat.

I place her head in the crook of my neck and rub her back, which seems to calm her down instantly. I stand up and head into the kitchen where Shannon has finished making our coffees.
“I need your help to claim back my sitting room," I admit to both of my friends that are sitting in my kitchen arguing about something that I really don't care about.

I walk through to the sitting room and sit on the couch, mentally working out which boxes to open first. Tam and Shan join me not long after.

“Jesus Kate! How much did you buy?" Shan exclaims as soon as she sets her eyes on the number of boxes in front of us.

“I'm not even convinced that this is a quarter of the stuff that she needs," I reply, “I guess that means tomorrow's adventure is shopping for the rest of the stuff," I sigh, oblivious to how much stuff one tiny human needs.
“Can we do the Moses basket first please and then I'll help with everything else after that?" I ask them so that Grace has somewhere else safe to be while we're busy instead of in her car seat. After 20 minutes the Moses basket is up and the box with the crib in has been moved to Grace's room.

Tamra and I assembled the crib while Shannon was busy opening the last few boxes. After half an hour we were all sitting on the couch exhausted after this evening's activities. Thankfully Grace slept through most of it, but that does, however, mean she's about to wake up and she'll be hungry.

“Tam, would you go to the store please and get me some stuff please?" I ask.
“Yeah, just write me a list and I'll go in a bit" Tam replies, I can hear the tiredness in her voice and I feel a bit guilty, but it'll be me that gets woken up at 3am and when I remember this the guilt doesn't last long.