The Journey Home

4 - Gracie

Alexander

Actually, it's my daughter.

It was as if the words wouldn't stop replaying in mind. How the hell was it possible that she had a daughter already? She looked so young, innocent to say the least. I noticed how she tensed as the words left her lips though, the fear of judgement present on what I think she hoped was a mask of indifference.

I couldn't help but glance at her, taking in her features as I drove. Not safe in any way, but she was too distracting. She licked her lips and I had to force myself to look away. I shook my head, hoping the thoughts that began racing through my mind would disappear and that the evidence that was began to show would also leave.

"Nothing to say, Moretti?" Eileen's intrigued voice asked when I didn't say anything.

I, on the other hand, was pleased that she had finally been the one to initiate conversation.

"Oh, there's always plenty to say." I stated, turning my attention back to the road. "How old is she? Your daughter?" Curiosity was now getting the best of me. There was much more to this young woman than I thought.

"She's five."

"And you? How old are you?"

Eileen looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking up. "Physically, twenty. Mentally I think I'm hitting my seventies."

I hummed, letting a comfortable silence rest between us for the rest of the way. She didn't bother speaking up either which at this point I think I would have appreciated to stop my busy brain but she looked consumed in her own thoughts.

Twenty with a five year old.

She was only a few years younger than my sister yet seemed to have struggled more than we ever had. I saw her eyes close as she leaned her head back on the seat, trying to relax.

She looked exhausted.

Shortly afterwards we arrived at the academy. Realizing where her daughter went to school I was brought back to reality. How the hell did she afford her daughter's tuition in this place? Eileen tensed when her eyes fluttered open and saw that we had arrived.

"I hate this place." She said quietly.

I scoffed, already knowing what direction this conversation was going to head towards.

"Why?"

"Some of the people here are assholes." She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door before I even got the chance to open my own. "I'll be back."

As Eileen walked towards the academy my eyes focused on the swaying of her hips and the way she walked. How was it possible that she was this attractive without even trying? Eileen was nothing like the women I was used to and it was driving me insane that I was even remotely interested in her.

I was even more frustrated at the images of the employees here treating her as less because of her age.

After all, I did grow up around these people. I knew how much they despised being around someone that they considered poor or less deserving. Eileen would more than likely fall under the latter being a young single mother.

I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel impatiently hoping whatever the hell this was would go away.

You have the maturity of a child, this will pass.

Don't get involved.

DON'T. GET-

"Fuck" I groaned, opening the door and walking towards the academy. "You just had to have those damned eyes."

I was sure I looked insane as I muttered curses all the way inside but as soon as I walked in all eyes were on me. Eileen's eyes widened in surprise as she saw me but soon they narrowed in question.

"Alexander!" Victoria, the receptionist exclaimed, nearly jumping after her seat. Of course, I hadn't thought this through and forgot that the woman I had several encounters with in the past worked here. "It's been so long, Alex. How are you? What are you doing here?"

I gave her a tight smile before standing next to Eileen who simply glared at me. If I wasn't smiling before, now I was. The fury in her eyes was evident and I found it comical that even if she wouldn't admit it, she was having a reaction to my presence. Perhaps not the one I wanted, but a reaction nonetheless.

"I'm actually here with Eileen, picking up little Ms. Gutierrez, so if you could speed this up for us Victoria, we would appreciate it."

"I didn't know you were seeing someone." Victoria said as she quickly typed into her phone, probably alerting the teacher that Eileen was here.

"We're not seeing each other." Eileen said quickly.

"It's a shame, really." I said, shrugging.

Eileen rolled her eyes before taking a seat in the office. She looked ready for us to be out of here but had no choice to fiddle her thumbs as we waited.

"How have you been?" I asked, turning my attention to Victoria.

"Good, really. And you? I haven't seen you in a long time." She smiled widely, the dimples she had now here full force and I couldn't help but remember the time we had spent together. I had always enjoyed her company.

"I've done well, busy with the company as usual."

"Well, we could meet for dinner, if you want?"

The door to the office opened suddenly and the sight before me surprised me.

In front of us stood a young girl with the curliest dark hair I had ever seen and green eyes like emeralds that sparkled with joy. She ran to her mother who pulled her into her embrace with a smile. Not the fake ones she gave everyone at the cafe, but a natural, true smile that made her eyes lose the dullness that usually filled them. They lit up.

Interestingly enough I found myself grinning at the image of mother and daughter talking animatedly about their day.

I forced my eyes away and cleared my throat before addressing Victoria again.

"We should get going Victoria. It's been nice to see you."

I didn't give her a chance to mention dinner again as I walked towards Eileen and her daughter. The little girl took her mother's hand and if I even thought that she was even remotely like Eileen, I was proved wrong in the next five seconds. Out of her mouth came a never-ending string of questions, some directed towards Eileen and some towards me. However, as many questions as she had, she didn't let either of us speak. Being the child that she was though, she immediately grew frustrated when she noticed no one had answered any of her questions.

"Soooo, mom? Who is he? Is he your friend? Is he your boyfriend?"

Eileen once again rolled her eyes (seemingly a habit of hers), now at her daughter. "His name is Alexander Moretti, baby. He was nice enough to bring me here to pick you up so we wouldn't have to take the bus."

At least she wasn't talking shit about me to her daughter.

"What's your name, dear?" I asked, kneeling in front of the girl.

Her face filled with pride as she spoke. "My name is Angela. Angela Grace."

And just like that, I knew that though her mother was constantly in mind, Angela had just taken my heart in her hands.