Minding Grace

5: Spaces between us hold all our secrets.

Grace leaned back comfortably in her chair as she watched her girls try and eat their spring rolls with chopsticks.

They failed miserably each and every time, collapsing into giggles when they dropped one on the plate.

She was quite content with the warmth and surrounding chatter of the restaurant, hating the more formal, upscale places she was forced to attend with her other members of her family.

James wiped his mouth with his napkin before taking a sip of his wine.

"So, when does this British lad fly in?" he asked, "what's his name again?"

"It's Harry," Grace replied, "and within two weeks if all goes well."

"Splendid," James agreed, "having him around will definitely free you up more."

Grace put down her glass of water onto the table.

"Free me up for what?" she asked, a frown appeared on her face.

"Well...for more philanthropic work," he explained, as if it should have been already clear, "it wouldn't hurt you to look at becoming a patron of a few more charities..." he trailed off.

"Are you serious?" Grace asked, "that would have me out of the house constantly, ass-kissing people which you know I despise."

"Grace!" James whispered, "language, please!"

Grace folded her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrow at James.

"Ass," she repeated, "ass, ass, ass, ass, ass!" and rolled her eyes, earning a glare from him.

"Don't be so immature," James scoffed.

"And don't be so demanding," Grace replied, "Christ James, can't we just have a pleasant evening together for once without bringing your family into it?"

"Fine," he sighed, "I just don't see the issue with working a little more."

"I see two issues," Grace replied, a firmness in her tone, "and they're sitting right here."

"Grace..." James began.

"No, you listen to me," Grace leaned forward, "I did not have these girls only to have everyone else around me bring them up while I'm out ass-kissing people to bring in money and investors for your family. I chose to have them; therefore, I also chose to be here and raise them. If a woman chooses to work, fine. If she chooses to want to stay at home and raise them, then that's her choice too. And that is my choice. I do enough for this family as it is," she snapped.

They eyed each other across the table, neither one wanted to be the first to back down.

"Mama?" Dottie's voice however forced Grace to be the one to break first.

"Yes, my love?" Grace turned and smiled at her daughter, "did you finish your rolls yet or did you need to use a fork?"

"Oh! I...um..." she looked from Grace and over to James and back again to Grace.

"Because you know we can't open our fortune cookies until you're all done!" Graced smiled warmly at her, even though she was feeling quite the opposite on the inside.

"Ooh!" both the girls responded with excitement, quickly ditching their chopsticks in favour of forks.

Grace turned her attention back to James only to see him reading a message on his phone, smiling to himself before he looked up to see Grace, regarding him with an indifferent expression on her face.