Page 2 of Falling for Grace

“I can’t come empty-handed Danny. It’s Ted’s birthday.”

“And Ted is fine, Baby Girl. He’s showing off his new golf set to my aunt. Who, if I’m completely honest with you, looks like she wants to shove one of the clubs where the sun don’t shine.”

I let out a laugh and head down the stairs through our small semi-detached house.

“I’m literally just leaving. My mum’s there already, right?”

“Yes, dear. Along with half of the neighbourhood. Can you please come and save me? They keep asking me nosy questions, Gracie. I’ve managed to scare them off by talking about my sex life, but I can’t keep going on about anal. People think it’s uncouth.”

I locate a rosé from the wine shelf in the kitchen. It’s covered in dust, and for a split second I wonder whether it’s expensive, but knowing my mother it has sat there untouched for years. I wipe it roughly with a dishcloth then head out the front door.

“So who is there then?” I probe.

“Why don’t you just come out and ask whether he is here? I can’t decide whether I should be hurt that you’re more excited about seeing my brother than me.”

I walk out into the warm sunshine of a June afternoon, the sound of my footsteps crunching on the driveways gravel filling the quiet road.

“Because I see you every day. You’re the bane of my life, remember.”

“Hero of your life, more like it.”

I roll my eyes.

Danny is my oldest friend. It seems like just yesterday his little face first appeared at the window, but 12 years have flown by, leaving a haze of memories, laughter and tears in their wake.“And in answer to your question, he isn’t here yet. Are you? I’ve aged another year.”

“Yeah, I’m here. Open the door.” I hang up and put my phone in my bag while attempting not to drop the wine. I can see a shadow through the mottled glass walking towards the front door, and Danny’s tall frame soon appears.

“Baby girl, it’s been so long,” he says, grinning, his brilliant blue eyes sparkling with mischief. He leans forward and hugs me, giving me two kisses on each cheek.

“Holy shit, look at you—you contoured.”

“Did I do it okay?”

He holds me at arm's length and admires my handiwork. “Not too shabby.” He steps back and holds the door open for me, and I walk straight into my second home. “My girl’s all grown up.”

“Shut up.” I hit his stomach as I walk past to deliver the bottle of wine that I was told not to bring, to the kitchen.

“Sue, where do you want this?” I say, placing my bag on the table and walking to the petite brunette at the sink. She turns around and smiles, her blue eyes twinkling just like Danny’s.

“Gracie, you didn’t need to bring Ted any more booze—he’s already pissed as a fart, and we haven’t even had the appetisers yet!” Sue, my second mother. My heart swells, being surrounded by so many loved ones.

“You’ve made the assumption it’s for Ted, when actually it’s rosé and it’s for us,” Danny says, reading my mind. He takes the bottle out of my hand. “Although it’s a bit warm. Shame on you, Gracie!” He pulls open one of the wooden cupboards and grabs three wine glasses. Sue turns her attention back to the sink full of dishes and switches off the tap.

“Now, let me look at you,” she says, wiping her small hands on a tea towel tucked into her little white apron. “I mean, goodness, Grace, you’re still just down the street, but we never see you anymore. And don’t you look beautiful? Danny, doesn’t she look beautiful?” she asks over her shoulder. “It really is a shame you’re gay—you’re perfect for each other.”

He snorts and hands me a glass of wine. “Yeah, like chalk and cheese, Mum.” He passes his mother one. “A toast,” Danny announces. “Here’s to not doing anything stupid tonight,” he says, directing his glass to me.

Sue frowns and looks up at her son. He’s got his arm wrapped around her. Both boys got their father’s height, and Sue fits snuggly under his armpit. “What a strange toast. Mind you, saying that we should probably think about repeating it for your father in another hour,” she says, giggling at her own joke. She takes a long draft of wine. “Oh, that’s good. I’ve been so busy in here I think this is the first thing I’ve drunk that’s alcoholic.”

“Well, we can’t have that. Give the woman some more,” I say, grabbing the bottle and topping up her glass, sloshing some over the edge.

“Gracie, stop it,” she says, laughing. “Now, I need you to help me again Danny. Where did you get to with those salmon parcels?”

Danny turns around and looks at the workstation he is supposed to be manning, an expression of sheer terror on his face. The salmon is all piled up in the packet, the cream cheese has a knife sticking haphazardly out of it, and the dill is scattered all over the place. It looks like a massacre.

The poor dill. What has it done to him?

“Sorry, what’s that Dad? I can’t hear you. Coming!” he shouts and makes a speedy exit into the dining room.

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