The Forgotten Past

Chapter 12

Blake

I loosen my arms around Grace and she takes a step back. God, what was that. I shake my head lightly and walk over to the counter to where the note lays and read it over.
Shit, this is bad.
I will never forgive him for what he has done, I don't think I would be able to do that but I can't leave Grace behind. I have to help her with this, it's the least that I can do. Seeing her sad is something I want to avoid as much as I can. I want her beautiful smile back. Her eyes filled with happiness instead of tears. Her heart full of love instead of her mind filled with worry.
God what is happening to me?
I look back into the living room and suddenly see Eddie running towards Ava who just entered the house. As she sees Eddie her eyes suddenly widen with excitement. It makes me happy to see Ava this way. She throws her small backpack near the wall and graps a pillow from the couch and sits on in while Eddie lays on the ground ready to be pet. They play, run and play some more.
I look at Grace and she's standing in front of the big window in the living room from which you can look out into the street. I haven't even seen her move. She turns to her side while looking to the right side of the street and I see the one emotion that I have gotten way too used to see from her, fear.
And then it hits me. Ava.
How is she going to tell Ava all this? She clearly doesn't want to and I understand that completely. I walk over to her and my hand on her bare shoulder. Her warm skin feels like silk under my touch and it takes all my self-control to put my hand to my side away from her skin.
She turns her head and looks at me with her wide eyes and I speak with a soft voice, "we can drop Ava and Eddie of at my house. Gran is home, she can take care of them and she will love the company." I take a deep breath and then continue, "Grace I understand that you don't want to tell her and that's okay, please don't you worry about that.''
Her eyes brighten up a bit and she nods her head and smiles a little smile. Thank God. Grace steps forward around me and speaks, "Ava, Eddie will have to go home soon, '' and the words come out uncertain and quiet. She is nervous, I can tell. Clearly she hates lying to Ava but it's the best thing she can do right now until she figures everything out.
Ava stands up from the ground she has been sitting on while playing with Eddie. The corners of her lips turn down and she looks sadly toward us. "But Blake said that you can go with Eddie to his house with his granny. You could stay there for a while if you would like but- "Grace starts but Ava doesn't let her finish. "Yes! I really want to go. Can I go Gracie, please?''
Ava is full of excitement. I look at Grace and see that tears are building up at the corners of her eyes while a smile plays on her lips. She has probably realized this and after a few moments she's blinking her eyes so that the tears disappear. She is probably sick of crying or doesn't want Ava to suspect anything or even see her sad. "Yes of course you can go,'' says Grace with a slight smile on her lips.
"Well, I guess we should go then,'' I announce but the look on Grace's face is making me anxious about what is about to come next.

After about thirtyminutes Ava and Eddie are running around in the front yard of my house. Graceand I roughly explained what's going on to Gran and she didn't seem to mind Avastaying here. On the contrary, she seemed really happy with their company. Granloves children and she is really good with them, so Ava will for sure be ingood hands. She was a bit scared at first about being here, but when Gran beganto talk to her about baking cookies or cake together Ava's eyes light up like aChristmas tree. We say goodbye to Ava and Gran, and step into my car. Theanxious look on Grace's face remains and for the first time I don't know whatto do about it. It feeling is horrible. I have never felt so helpless in mylife.