Chapter 9 Help Or Hurt Her
It was 12:01 a.m., and the air was frigid. Maddox could see the cold air forming in front of his mouth as he breathed out.
He turned his jacket's collar up as he walked down the porch steps back to Ainsley's house, where he had parked his truck; his uncle wasn't home yet. The man worked night shifts as a security guard at a mall thus, Maddox expected him tomorrow.
He got to the house and jogged up to his truck pausing for a moment to stand and watch the house, he noticed her room light was turned off though that didn’t mean that she would be asleep.
Part of him wanted to go in there and know how she was doing but he couldn't do that to himself or her. Maybe later, he would know but not now.
More importantly, what did Grant want? The text message looked urgent and part of him knew this had something to do with that bastard, Vance. The lowlife Grace was supposed to marry.
Maddox got into his car and drove up to the location that was sent with the message, it was the basketball court where teens gathered and hung around, only tonight it looked empty and quiet. He thought it was partially due to the cold because normally there would've been a few teenagers hanging around or making out in the corner.
He pulled into the parking lot beside the court which was also mostly deserted since it was past midnight, aside from the street lights. He saw a figure leaning back against a wall and figured it to be Grant since the person started walking towards him.
Grant got to the passenger side of the truck and opened it, climbing into the seat and closing the door after him. They sat in silence for a while before Grant pulled out a cigarette pack, offering it to Maddox who declined and he proceeded to take one for himself, lighting it and blowing it out the open window.
"It's good comfort for cold nights like this," Grant began, "You sure about not wanting one?"
"I don't smoke," Maddox responded quietly but sharply.
"Why did you call me out? What's so important?"
The question lingered a little longer than necessary as Grant let out another puff of smoke.
"You're a good kid you know?" Maddox didn't respond as he just stared straight ahead, not in the darkness but the path created by his truck's headlights.
Grant continued, "You know, I wouldn't know how Gracie would've held up if it wasn't for you, she was always such a sweet and obedient girl. I'm really grateful for the fact you're always there for her, always watching after her—"
"I know you didn't call me out solely to talk about my good behaviour sir..." Maddox interrupted.
"It's always straight to the point with you eh?" Grant chuckled and put the cigarette to his mouth for another drag.
"What's so important that you called me out?" Maddox pressed again.
As if purposely ignoring his question, "What do you think about Vance? Do you think he would treat my Gracie well? Do you think he's a good man?"
"No"
Grant snorted at Maddox's straightforward answer and serious expression, causing him to cough a bit because the smoke went down the wrong way.
After calming down and clearing his throat, he continued, "I don't quite like him myself too you know, he looks like a sleazy fellow, I found it quite weird when he began sniffing Gracie's hands."
"The man has peculiar taste."
"True true... maybe Gracie would soon be accustomed to those tastes.”
Maddox narrowed his eyes at this but didn't say a word, "She's a very sweet girl so I'm sure Vance would like her very much as she's such a kind child."
Maddox didn't know where this conversation was heading but he was very sure he wouldn't like it He wanted Grant to finish.
"It's been nineteen years for Sarah and I," Grant continued what seemed to Maddox was a monologue, "nineteen years seeing her so full of life and bursting with energy. Oh, I remember the time I first laid eyes on her. She was tearing into a customer in a bar who seemed to touch her friend and was unapologetic about it.”
“The fury in her eyes and how she told the guy off made me think 'what a lovely woman this is' to the point I was no longer concentrating on what my buddy, Matt was saying. Though I had to step in when the man thought he could use violence to intimidate her.”
“I remember quickly standing up and going to stand between the both of them till the guy backed down and even then I had to hold her still because she kept trying to go out from behind me to claw at the guy's eyes," Grant chuckled, "she had so much life in her and she still does, she does..." he said more to himself like he was trying to convince himself.
He turned to look at Maddox who wasn't even looking at him but staring straight ahead, "I can't lose her son, I just can't." At that Maddox finally turned to look at him because deep down in his gut he was already hating what turn the conversation would take next.
Maddox stared down Grant and the latter seemed unnerved by it that he turned away and took nervous drags from his cigarette, "Vance had something to say concerning the marriage."
"What did he have to say?" Maddox asked still watching him, hoping Vance wanted to call off the whole thing.”
"Gracie has to get pregnant."
"What?" Maddox didn't waste any time, he immediately turned his body to face Grant as he asked in disbelief, just the mere thought of that bastard sleeping with Grace pissed him off.
"That was the condition he gave, son," Grant said looking everywhere else but him, "He said that was what he wanted before agreeing to get married to her."
Maddox was already frowning and almost trembling with anger at this point.
"I know my dear Gracie can be quite stubborn and might not listen to reason, which is why I want you to do me a favour, son."
He listened..
"It'll be Gracie's birthday in two days, she will be turning eighteen hence becoming a legal adult. I need you son to take her someplace, a hotel to be exact. You tell her it's a surprise or a celebration or something but I'm sure she would go with it if you asked."
Maddox’s first thought was of beating Grant to a bloody pulp for even daring to suggest such a thing. His second was how to dispose of the body without breaking Grace’s sweet little heart.
Grant let the finished cigarette butt fall to the ground outside the car and searched in his pocket, he pulled out a handwritten address and some pills.
"This is the place you'll take her to, it's all written in this address. And the pills, well I am worried for her which is why you would crush them up to put into her drink. I wouldn't want her feeling any pain, you know it'll be her first time and all."
"Also—"
Maddox didn't let him finish as he slapped both pills and paper out of Grant's hand.
"Your dear Gracie?" Maddox asked mocking Grant's earlier words, "What Father would plan this for his daughter? Tell me?!" His face was a bit closer to Grant's. "You claim you love her so much and this is what you do?!"
"He said he would stop paying for Sarah's treatments if this isn't done!" Grant yelled back. "If you cared about her, then you would do it so she... we wouldn't have to suffer."
Grant picked up the pills and paper, but didn't bother handing them to Maddox as he just shoved them into the glove compartment of the truck and stepped out, slamming the door shut behind him.
Maddox leaned forward, resting his head against the steering wondering what the fuck he was going to do about this situation.