Chapter 19 Cheers!
Grace woke to the smell of sugar and something unfamiliar and for a moment, she thought she was dreaming.
She opened her eyes and slowly got out of bed. The air smelled sweet. That was unusual; she put on her slippers and slowly walked out of her room. She followed the sweet smell down the staircase, past the living room, and was about to turn into the kitchen. Then she paused.
Balloons.
There were actual balloons, pale pink and silver tied awkwardly to the dining chairs. Streamers hung crooked across the wall, one already drooping like it had given up halfway through the effort.
Grace had to wipe her eyes, wondering if she was dreaming.
On the table sat a cake, not a cupcake, not something as small as she’d been used to. But a real cake!
Grace stood frozen in the kitchen doorway staring, her heart hammering in her chest.
Her father cleared his throat. "Good morning, sleep well?"
Grace turned to stare at her father for a long moment before slowly nodding and walking towards him. He was leaning against the kitchen cupboards, watching her.
"Here," he pushed off the cupboards and handed a tablet to her which she took in confusion till she saw her mother's face.
"Mama?"
Sarah slowly turned her head towards the camera and smiled at her, it seemed someone was holding up the camera for her as she lay in bed. It broke Grace's heart to see the machines and the needles stuck in her mom's arm.
"Happy birthday my baby," Sarah said slowly and with a smile, "I'm sorry I couldn't be there to celebrate with you which is why I made sure to send your papa. You know, he was stuck to my side like glue."
Grace gave a short laugh as tears filled her eyes while her father made a sound that was either a snort or a laugh.
She hadn't expected this, here her parents were doing something they had never done before, decorating? Normally, it was a cupcake with a little candle on it and her mom kissing her forehead but it was never like this. This was considered huge for Grace.
"Go on my girl, blow the candles." Her mom's voice came from the tablet.
"It's... for me? Really?" she asked, staring at the candles that were her age.
"Of course it is silly girl, who else would we be celebrating?" Sarah said weakly from the tablet.
Grant moved to pick up the cake to hold in front of Grace as she held the tablet in a way her mom could see what was going on before taking a deep breath and blowing all eighteen candles out.
"Yay," her mom's voice came weakly, "Did you make a wish dear?"
"Yes, mama," Grace said, wiping the tears that escaped her eyes now. “It’s not even my birthday yet…”
"Happy birthday my dear," Grant said as he put the cake down and prepared to start cutting it. “We won’t be around for your birthday, so we decided to celebrate a day early.”
Grace went to sit at the table and positioned the tablet properly as her father offered her a slice, she took a bite smiling as the vanilla and blueberry flavors filled her mouth.
From the tablet, her mother laughed lightly. "Do you like it?"
Grace's throat tightened.
It was the bare minimum she knew that, anyone else would laugh at it. But Grace wasn't used to even this.
"I love it," she said quickly, taking another bite. "Thank you."
Her father watched her closely as she ate the cake. She noticed his eyes linger on her hands then her face, almost like he was measuring something.
Maybe Vance had given him the money.
The thought soured the sweetness just a little.
Still, she smiled. She laughed when her mother sang weakly through the screen, she accepted the hug her father offered, stiff and brief, but it was a hug nonetheless.
And just like that, it was over as he told her she could eat the rest of the cake while he went back to the hospital to be with her mom.
Grace watched his car leave as she slowly went back into the house and took down the balloons, Grant had even taken the tablet with him when he left, Grace put the rest of the cake in the freezer and went up to her room to check her phone.
No missed calls.
No Maddox.
Grace smiled as she quickly got ready for school, telling herself not to worry about Maddox as he always showed up. Always.
But minutes stretched, then hours. School came and went Molly wasn't there to distract her, no dramatic whispering or teasing smiles. Her seat was empty. Grace felt oddly unmoored without her.
Near lunch, her phone buzzed.
It was from Maddox, I'm sorry I couldn't see you this morning but we'll meet later. I promise.
Her heart lifted.
He was planning something, he had to be.
The rest of the day crawled.
When school ended, she barely made it to the gate before she spotted him.
"Maddox!"
She ran, throwing herself into his arms without thinking. He caught her easily, holding her tight his chin resting briefly on her hair.
"There you are," he murmured.
"I missed you," she said, muffled against his chest.
"I know."
He pulled back and handed her a small bouquet. Simple. White flowers with soft green stems.
Her eyes shone. "You didn't have to."
"I wanted to."
They went to the movies first, it was a late showing. They sat close, hands brushing then intertwining. Grace's fingers fit perfectly between his. She leaned into him, warm and content laughing softly at scenes she barely followed.
After, he drove her to a restaurant she had only ever seen in advertisements or while passing by.
"Maddox," she whispered as they stepped inside. "This place is expensive."
"It's fine."
She frowned as she felt so out of place in her school uniform. "I don't want you spending all your money on me."
He smiled faintly, "Let me."
They talked over dinner about everything and nothing at the same time. Grace found herself laughing more than she had in a while. The tension she carried loosened, just a little.
Afterward, they went to the hotel that he had spoken of earlier.
They went to the bar first, which glowed gold and had music humming softly in the background. Maddox ordered for both of them. A single drink, it was sweet-smelling.
Grace watched him carefully he was calm and barely had anything showing on his face which was his normal.
He slid the glass toward her.
"For you."
"Thank you," she said, smiling. "For everything you really didn't have to do all this."
He didn't answer immediately.
She lifted the glass, studying it. "You're my best friend, you know that?"
His jaw tightened.
"Let's wait," she added quickly. "Midnight. We should toast properly."
She smiled but was tempted to taste it, even if just a little sip. And when he turned away, she took a little of the hot, caramel drink.
"Grace," he said quietly, turning back to find her straightening. "Maybe you shouldn't—"
But the clock on the wall ticked, then chimed softly.
Grace laughed. "Well, that marks the beginning of the new age. Cheers!"
She lifted the glass.
At the same moment, something shifted.
Maddox inhaled sharply.
Her scent changed.
It flooded him, overwhelming, rich, intoxicating. His world narrowed his instinct roaring to life, ancient and undeniable.
Mate.
The word slammed into him like a verdict.
"Grace," he said urgently, reaching for her hand.
She tilted the glass.
Before it touched her lips, a hand dragged the glass away from her causing the glass to spill some of its contents.
The glass was slammed onto the bar.
"Don’t drink it!" a woman shouted at Grace. "This man put something in your drink!"