The Forgotten Past

Chapter 17

Grace

What am I supposed to do? What is the right thing to do?
I don't know, and I can't seem to figure it out.
But Blake makes it all easier somehow. I'm so thankful for him.
I'll take care of you, both of you. Hearing him saying that almost made my heart melt. He won't leave, he wants to help. He will help.
How did I ever deserve him?
As Ava came into the kitchen I had the feeling that she heard it all as we were talking about telling her a lie. Please let that not be the case, I just want the best for her.
I'm deep in my thoughts when I hear Ava talking really loudly.
''Gracie! You are burning that pancake,''
I snap out of my thoughts and immediately look down into the pan in front of me. The pancake is turning black at the edges. Well it could have been worse, but I still decide to throw the pancake away outside.
When I return to the kitchen I see Blake and Ava sitting at the opposite side of the counter island on the bar stools. They are both grinning at each other and trying to hold their laugh back. What have they done?
I throw a questioned look at Blake but the grin on his face just spreads and he doesn't say a word.
There is definitely something going on in here.
I walk over to the stove and lay a pan on it and spot the pot where the pancake batter is being filled up with fruit and whipped cream and what look like chocolate sauce! I look closely and see that it is a face. Strawberries are forming the eyes, the whipped cream was probably used to draw the nose which looks so funny. And with the chocolate sauce they drew a really big smiling mouth. Then I spot blueberries sank in around the edge which were probably meant to form the hair.
You can't be serious! They ruined the whole batter! How am I supposed to make pancakes out of this?
I look up them with my brows furrowed and cross my hands over my chest. The grin on their faces gets bigger and they burst out laughing loudly.
''Who's idea was this?!'' I ask while pointing the big spoon that was in the batter at them while it's dripping on the floor but I really don't care anymore.
''BLAKE'S IDEA!'' Ava says with excitement while bouncing up and down on the bar stool.
My eyes shot to Blake and he raises his hands in defense while keeping that grin on his face.
''How do you think I'm going to make pancakes out of this, huh?''
''Now we can eat the batter!'' Ava's voice sounds loudly through the kitchen.
This is something she always used to do when mom was making pancakes. She would come into the kitchen and eat the batter with the big spoon that was in it. Mom would always say that she shouldn't eat it because there wouldn't be enough pancakes or that her belly would hurt.
I remember that it usually ended up with there not being enough pancakes as mom planed on. Not once I remember Ava complaining about her belly hurting which is weird because she used to eat so much of it without mom even knowing.
I tried the batter out once because Ava kept complaining that I needed to try it, so I did... and I regretted it. Let's say that my stomach did not handle it well.
I don't understand how Ava can eat it.
Suddenly Ava leans up and takes the spoon out of my hand and runs into the living room while giggling for happiness.
''Ava! Don't eat- oh god. '' I yell at her but there is no point because I know she won't listen.
Blake is now standing beside me which I didn't even realize. There is still a smile spread on his lips and I don't know if I should hate him or love him for that he has done.
Ava is happy.
I let out a deep sign and close my eyes while gripping the counter with my hands.
It'll all be okay.
I feel Blake's warm hand fall onto my cheek and that makes me open up my eyes. My body turns toward him while my hands wrap around his middle and I pull him into a hug.
How could I do this without him?
His arms automatically pull me into his chest while his hand strokes my arm slowly and I never want this feeling to go away. How did this even happen.
After a while we face each other and I get lost in his eyes. He's staring right at me and his eyes are wide with hunger. The warmth of his hands is so satisfying.
The next thing I know are his lips crashing against me but with so much passion and hunger that it feels unhealthy. I find myself kissing him back and our lips are moving slowly but with the hunger that I have never experienced before. My breathing becomes faster by the second and suddenly Ava's voice sounds from the living room.
''Gracie! Can you bring me the batter please?''
As I hear her voice I realize that she's just around the corner and I'm standing here kissing Blake. What on the earth is wrong with me?
My eyes meet Blake's and I see that he's struggling to catch his breath just as I am. His eyes are still filled with the hunger but a different and much softer feeling replaces it fast.
Love.
Is it even possible to see love in someone eyes? It feels so weird, so different. But so amazing.
I don't want to let go of this feeling.
A smile spreads on Blake's face and all at once he's grabbing the big bowl of the pancake batter and running into the living room.
''NO Blake! Stop'' I yell at him but he's already rounding the corner into the living room and I know that I won't win this. I let out a deep breath and I find myself grinning. Luckily I haven't put the eggs into it so it's pretty safe to eat the batter. Still I find it disgusting though.
I come into the living room and see Blake and Ava sitting beside each other and eating the pancake batter together. Blake's holding the bowl and Ava is letting him lick the spoon then she scoops up the batter into the spoon and eats it herself.
You can't be serious, Blake also likes pancake batter? So it's one against two now, great!
For a moment I just stare at them while leaning against the corner. They are sitting there eating and I realize that I could get used to this.
Seeing Ava happy makes me forget about everything. And seeing Blake sitting beside her and making her laugh makes everything even better.
Thinking about it all gives me a warm feeling from inside that I don't want to let go of.
I spot the picture frame and the glass still laying on the floor just a few steps away from me. I go and get the broom for the kitchen to clean up the glass.
When I'm done I go over to the couch and sit beside Blake as it's the only place available because Ava is spread out on almost the couch.
The batter bowl is sitting on the small table in front of the couch and that it's almost empty.
Did they seriously eat it?
''Gracie I'm so full. You made such a good breakfast!'' Ava says with a laugh.
''Well if you would have left me make pancakes out it, it would have been even better.'' I say while looking at her smiling face.
She can eat as much pancake batter as she likes as long as she keeps that smile on her face.
I look at Blake and see the smirk on his face which makes me smile.
''You seriously liked to eat that batter?''
''There is first time for everything, isn't there?'' It was actually really good with the fruit and whipped cream,'' he says while his eyes stay fixed on me which is extremely distracting.
I laugh and just look at him because I don't want to do anything different right now. I want to remember these happy moments.
''Oh wait, there is something on your cheek,'' Blake speaks slowly with a deep seducing voice.
He leans toward me and I think that he's going to kiss me and-
His tongue licks my cheek in a hurry.
Eeewhhh. Oh God, why did he do that?!
I lean back quickly and I see that he's looking at me with such amusement that I want to slap it off of his face.
I let out a groan and Ava looks up at me, her eyes wide with excitement and a grin on her lips.
''Blake! Was that really necessary? You are so gross!''
His grin only widens before he relies.
''Well there was some delicious batter on your cheek. It would have been a waste to leave it there.''
He can't be serious.
My eyes don't leave his as he speaks and I feel that beautiful warmth inside my body again.
God what is he doing to me?
''You are disgusting Blake!'' I say to him but he doesn't look convinced.
''Oh I'm sure you enjoyed it quite a bit, didn't you?'' he says with a seductive but funny voice while whispering it into my ear.
Oh god, I cannot believe he just said that.
He really does know how to keep a good mood going.
I look over at Ava and see that she has fallen asleep right here on the couch. It just morning, how did she do it?
I smile to myself while looking at her. Blake made her laugh. He's such an amazing person.
''What are you thinking about?''
I focus my eyes on him and see the curiosity in his eyes and something soft that I can't quite put my finger on.

Blake

Grace's sitting beside me and I see a smile spread on her face. Good. I love making her laugh.
She's looking at me with her beautiful deep green eyes and it feels as if I'm drowning in them. It seems as if a whole new and different world is hidden behind them. Her own world. A world that I want to be part of.
''It's just- '' her voice fades but comes back just as quick after a deep exhale, ''I can't thank you enough but...thank you, thank you so much.''
She smiles at me and I know that those words mean so much more than what they sound like. I can see the smile reach her eyes and I can't help myself with what I'm about to do next.
My hands grip her cheeks and we are just inches apart. I feel her head lean into my touch and it feels so good, just holding onto her like this.
My lips meet hers softly and I feel her surprise but after a second that disappears completely. She kisses me back and after a moment our lips break from each other and we just stare while breathing heavily.
Grace is looking at me with her eyes wide and glossy but the smile remains on her face. She looks so beautiful.
''Where do we go from here?'' She asks me with a soft voice.
''I don't know Grace,'' I pause, ''I have no idea what's going to happen in the future and I wish I would. But what I do know is that I want to do everything with you by my side.''
Her eyes light with up and a tear escapes them.
I won't leave her.
We are in this together...

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT BOOK!
x Lucy