“You mean, in the loneliest moments in my life, when everybody abandoned me? Any child of mine will never feel that type of loneliness. I’m blessed to have a partner who would never allow that, and I would never be a mother if I made my child feel an ounce of what I felt. And by the way, I do have alittle girl in my life who I consider a daughter. She might not be my blood, but she’s mine.”
I smiled genuinely for the first time in this interview. “I’m not identifying with my past. I was exiled from high society, and after having gone through a media storm myself, I can say I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. When people change, they deserve a second chance.”
“What’s this I hear about you and Nicky?” I asked Lucy as we waited for the producers to dismiss us.
I invited Lucy to come with me today so she could get a taste of what interviews would be like now that she signed a record deal. Yep, she was off to Hollywood. I was so freaking proud of her. She was going big places. Her support meant the world to me. It was reassuring to know she was here for me.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about?” Lucy said, but it came out more like a question.
I snorted, loving this new playful side of Lucy. From everything Caleb had told me, Nicky was a good guy. From the little time I’d spent with him at Bar, I saw he wasn’t a ladies’ man like Max or childish like some of the other men who came around. Nicky was also one of Caleb’s oldest friends, and Caleb had fabulous taste.
“Nicky told Caleb that Ms. Kenzie saw you guys in his truck.”
Lucy shook her head. I let her off the hook when Victoria walked by the dressing room.
“Thanks for coming on, Grace.” She smiled a generic, phony smile. “We could have used a little more scandal and outrage toward Cordelia and Grant.” Victoria raised an eyebrow and took a sip out of her coffee thermos.
“I’m trying to find peace,” I simply said.
She huffed. “You looked better as a blonde.”
I bit my tongue while Lucy muttered, “bitch,” and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Her eyes widened and she looked between Lucy and me for a moment before speaking. “I guess there are no good salons outside of the city.” Victoria shrugged and walked down the hallway, calling her goodbyes.
I no longer cared about other people’s opinions. I was free.
I glanced at the paper in my hand, rereading the headline before Lucy snatched it away, tossing it in the trash can outside the brownstone: “Dis-Graced Abernathy.” You would think the headlines would be more original, but no.
My phone rang and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the timing of the call.
“Hello?” I answered, holding up a finger to Lucy. She nodded and gestured that she was heading into my brownstone. It sold for above the asking price. The movers came and packed up the important things I was keeping to bring to Grand Haven. A few pieces of furniture Fiona wanted for the inn had earned me some brownie points.
“Grace,” my mother’s voice murmured through the phone. Never in my life had I heard Jacqueline so Zen.
I sat on the steps of my former home, staring at the spot I last saw my sister. Where we fought. Where she took her final steps. Where part of me died. I quickly looked away, heart clenching at the memories.
“How are you?” I asked, not in the mood to fight with her. The arguments we had were tired and played out. I quite literally had bigger fish to fry.
“I saw the news. I saw you told the truth about that night. About the night Julia …” My mother trailed off and inhaled a sharp breath. “... died.”
“Yeah?” I questioned, wondering where she was going with this conversation. Ever since Jacqueline tried to pay Caleb to break up with me, we hadn’t spoken. Only a simple text here and there to make sure the other was alive. Unlike my dad who just sent flowers and a simple note giving me his “best.”
But the more I thought about her, the more I missed her. I wanted her in my life even if I didn’t like her.
“I’m proud of you, Gracie Girl,” she whispered, almost like a prayer.
I smiled as she said my old nickname. My mother hadn’t called me that in years. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until this very moment.
I didn’t speak so she continued, “Coming forward is scary and brave. You always were brave. Braver than me.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I nodded, trying to remain composed. Apparently, I was doing a poor job as the tears streamed down my face.
Throughout my entire “career” as a socialite, I was my mother’s shadow, more or less, and never once did she say she was proud. Only now that I was living my truth, even to her dismay, did she say it.
“I love you. I really am sorry about writing Caleb that check. I thought I was doing the right thing. I lost Julia and I was losing you. I didn’t realize I was losing you to my world. This world wasn’t yours. You didn’t want it. I’m just sorry, Grace,” my mother rambled, and she wasn’t a rambler. She was carefully crafted in all areas of her life.
I couldn’t say I wasn’t enjoying hearing a less polished version of her.
