Having Grace

6.

Grace didn't talk much as I drove.

She didn't ask where we were going. Or why.

"I'm sorry about the way I acted last night." She said softly as she stared straight ahead.

It's okay. I know you are scared. That's what I wanted to say, but the message didn't make it to my mouth.

"I had a stupid thought."

"That I was obsessed with you?" I smirked at her.

She half laughed nervously. "Yeah."

"I wouldn't hurt you."

"That's what they always say before killing their victims." Grace smiled anxiously.

I stopped at the red light and looked at her. She was fidgeting with her fingernails.

I won't hurt you.

"Stop doing that." I told her before looking on to the road.

"Why do you still have that photo of us?"

"What photo?"

"The one that lady took of us at the markets. I found it last night on the floor."

Is that where it went? I've been looking for that. But I didn't answer her as I saw her still picking at her nails.

"Stop that." I repeated.

She kept doing it though, I told her again to stop, and she did, until she didn't.

I snatched her hand and held it as I drove on the highway.

"Roman, you need two hands to drive." She said to me.

I ignored her for several minutes until I did need that hand back.

It was a long and quiet drive and Grace finally stopped picking at her nails. She started getting interested in the things we had passed until she looked at me with suspicion in her eyes.

I parked the car and got out.

"Why are we here?" She asked in a bored tone. I looked at the entry. It was the markets I've taken her to before. The one my parents use to take me to.

"I told you another time. Here we are." I grunted as she slowly walked to the entrance.

"I don't know." I heard her say. "It looks crowded, Roman."

I turned to her and looked hard at her. Is this the same Grace? Is there a doppelganger of her out there? Has she got an identical twin sister that has swapped places with her?

Instead of grabbing or snatching her, I slid my fingers down her arm to her hand. I walked at a faster pace as Grace nervously followed, being half dragged by me.

We went in and I took a different path, one we didn't take last time as we leisurely looked at the random stuff.

There was nothing here I wanted to buy, personally, but last time we were here, Grace enjoyed herself. I wanted her to feel that again.

But every time I peeked at her, she was looking down at the ground. She was tense.

"I use to come here every Friday while on school holidays." I suddenly said.

Grace frowned as if she was trying to register what I had said.

"It was every Friday before I started attending school." I walked us up to a vendor and purchased us drinks. Grace accepted hers and took a sip before putting the lid on it.

I took her hand again as we continued walking. I saw her looking at me as if I was an alien before I spoke again.

"I haven't been here for six years, until I brought you here last time."

"Why's that?" She asked me gently, watching my face.

"When mum died in a car accident, my father couldn't handle life without her. He died shortly afterwards." There, I said it.

Grace placed her drink in her bag and squeezed my hand. "I'm so sorry." She said to me. "That's awful. For you to go through that and alone."

"My father never had the chance to get over his grief. His mourning was deeper everyday that passed without my mum in his life."

Grace stayed quiet as we continued down another path. I had deliberately taken her past stalls that had shoes and clothes, but she held no interest.

"So how old were you when you took over the company?" She asked me.

I looked down at her face as the sun shone on it. "Nineteen."

Her eyes widened. "That's so young!"

"That's your age."

"I know, but I'm not running a company." She looked stunned.

"Sometimes we have to make sacrifices."

"I know. But--"

"You sacrificed yourself for the sake of your family, your father." I reminded her.

Grace didn't answer me.

I wanted her to talk. I wanted to hear her voice. I felt myself soften and it was a bit easier to talk. Maybe it is when I don't over think things.

"Look," I pointed to a stall. I might regret this. "This one has shoes."

Grace looked at where I was pointing as I led the way.

"Nah."

I turned and looked at her. "What's wrong?" I needed to know.

"I have enough shoes." She tried leading me away, but I pulled her back to me.

"What's wrong?" I repeated myself.

"Nothing." She gave me the small fake smile I've been seeing all week.

I decided to try another tactic. "I guess so. That's all I see in my closet since you haven't come to collect the rest of your junk. I'm sick of seeing them there." I had my back turned to her and I gave her a tug to tell her we were going.

But she didn't budge. I smiled, but dropped it as I turned to her.

"Let's go, princess." I deliberately added that last word.

Grace frowned and she dropped her hand that was holding mine. "No." She stated boldly.

"We are going." I snapped.

"No. I think I might get some shoes." She spun on the spot to the stall, leaving me in the middle of the walkway.

A small smile had appeared on my face.

It worked.