Graceful| Grace Helbig-Sequel #Wattys2017

Chapter 27

grimesalad note; Are you fucking kidding cherry. Write something you hoe

Hartley doesn't run up to Chester, she doesn't do anything. Doesn't make eye contact or even flinch.

"She is like that. Like I said she has post partum, so she doesn't do much. She has kind of gone mute." I explain and lie as we all walk to her bed. We both perch on the side of her bed, me closer to Hart than Chester. She acts like a mute and didn't do much for that visit.

"Hartley. I didn't mean to hurt you. I know that what I did to you was wrong but just know that I have had therapy and I have sorted myself out. I'm ready to start again, as a family." Chester sighs, holding Eve.

We spent the rest of the day chatting away to Hartley as she continued to be mute. We can't do much for her being 'mute'. We eat and chat a bit more.

"We have to go now Hartley but I will see you tomorrow yeah." I say winking at her. I slowly walk up to her and kiss her in her forehead and get Eve into her car seat. Chester walks up to her and also follows me by kissing her. She flinches a little as he kisses her but I don't think he notices.
We walk out and I give Chester the keys and Eve.

"I'm going to talk to reception about when Hartley can come home and what kind of medication we need to keep her on." I say, walking up to the desk.

"Do you want me to come with you...?"

"No it's fine. Go and get Eve in the car. She is probably getting tired."

"Ok." He sigh, walking out of the ward and making his way to the car.

I go up to the desk and talk to the receptionist.

"Hi, can you make sure. This man doesn't come in till without me. He is the father of her baby and he is also the father of her. I don't want him around her without me there." I say, pointing to Chester and giving them a photo of him.

"Um...ok so if he comes alone asking for Hartley, you want me to call security?"

"Yes please."

"Ok, I will put that on file now."

"Thank you bye." I say leaving the hospital, and heading out to the car. Chester had waited outside for me, lighting a cigarette.
We both walk to the car and Chester finishes his cigarette while I put Eve in the back.
We get in the car and drive in silence.

"Where you sleeping tonight?" I ask.

"Yours."

"No you are not. I just want a night away from you. Chester I stil don't feel safe around you, not enough to be with you everyday. So maybe you can find a B&B." I explain, driving into the driveway.

"Alright, let me just google a B&B. Then you can drive me to it." He says, getting directions to the B&B. I quickly go into the house and grab his things and put them into the car.

Reluctantly I drive him to the B&B and drop him off, he says goodbye to Eve then me and goes into the B&B. I drive back home to Hannah, sleeping on the couch. An empty bottle of wine still clutched in her hands. I realise how bad of a friend I have been. She must have felt so lonely, one friend out with her abusive husband and another in a coma. What have I done. I quickly sort out Eve and put her to bed. Shortly after I make my way back downstairs, I find Hannah still asleep. I pick her up and take her to her bed. She is very light for a small lesbian. I make a plan that I will spend the whole day with her tomorrow. I will get a babysitter or Chester to look after Eve, and I will spend the whole day with Hannah. I place her in her bed and pull the covers over her.

"I'm sorry, I've been such a shit friend."

I kiss her on the cheek and leave her room, slowly pulling her door shut. I go downstairs and tidy up the mess she had made,through the empty wine bottles in the recycling, and her wine glass, which she probably used once before deciding to just drink straight out of the bottle, in the sink. I wash up the glass before making myself some food. It's late so I decide on something quick and easy...a pot noodle. I sit on the sofa with my pot noodle, a blanket draped around me, watching TV. The house was quiet. As quiet as it will ever be for now. I sit and remember the last time it had been that quiet was before Hartley was born. I finish the pot noodle and bring it out to the kitchen. I place the pot in the bin and go and wash the spoon up, I read the calendar. It was only two weeks before it was Hartley's birthday. Sixteen, she would be sixteen.

The hell she has gone through and only fifteen years into her life. I call up the ward, even though it was eleven at night and book a day when she can come home for her birthday. Reluctantly they agree and let her come home. By the time the call was finished it was quarter past eleven, so I turn off the TV, put the blanket down the side of the sofa and head upstairs. Before getting into bed myself I check on Eve and then Hannah, who were both sleeping peacefully. I get changed into an old t-shirt, brush my teeth, wash the make up off my face and get into bed. I check my phone one last time before putting it on charge for the night.

Did anything happen?

Jeff, you are fifteen years too late for that.