Page 53 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell

“Fine, fine, I drive you to drink, obviously. I just don’t understand why you would keep something like that from me!”

“Because I knew it was temporary and didn’t want to hear any lectures,” Gracie said.

Her mother scoffed. “Why do you automatically think I would lecture you?”

Gracie topped off her wineglass again. “Um, maybe because it’s all I ever seem to get from you?”

“Pour me some of that,” her mother demanded. “As far as your accusations go, that is just not true, Gracie Louise McAllister. I might not agree with your life choices, but we have always supported you.”

Gracie almost spilled the wine she was pouring onto the counter, she was laughing so hard. “Supported me? Are you nuts? You question every decision I make!” Gracie’s voice grew shrill as she mimicked her mother. “Gracie, are you sure you want to open up a coffee shop? You could go back to school and get your masters. Really, Gracie, pink lipstick? Why did you break up with your boyfriend this time?”

“I am not questioning you, I am trying to help you make the best decisions for your future! And it is still no excuse for not telling us that Gemma was having a hard time in her pregnancy.”

“I just figured I’d tell you when you got here!”

“Girls!” her father shouted from the living room, startling them both. Eric and her dad were standing by the TV, and her father’s face was screwed up in a dark scowl. “Now I’m not going to listen to the two of you bicker the whole time we’re here. If you can’t get along, we’ll just get a hotel—”

Gracie cut him off, ready to get the hell out of there. “No, that’s okay, Dad, you guys are welcome here. Eric already offered to let me stay with him, and since we’ve been crashing with each other most nights anyway, I said why not.”

The words were out of her mouth before she even processed what they meant.

And then her parents started talking at once.

“We’re not chasing you out of your house!” her dad exclaimed.

“You are not going to live with a man you’ve barely been dating!” her mother shrieked.

Gracie downed her wine and set her glass next to the sink. “You are not chasing me out, and honestly, Mom, I’ve stayed with guys I’ve known for less time than I’ve known Eric.”

“Not something you had to mention, Gracie Lou,” Eric said, finally chiming in.

She shot him a sour look that he just shrugged off. “Besides, we’d already discussed this before you got here. He’s got plenty of room for me, and you don’t have to worry about the expense of a hotel.” Before either of them protested, she held up her hand, “No. No. I think we’re all tired, and we should just say good night. I have to be at work early, but I’ll be over tomorrow afternoon, and we’ll go grab some dinner and pick out a Christmas tree. Okay?”

Her mother started in again. “No, it’s not okay—”

“Franny, shut up,” her dad said.

Her mother’s mouth dropped open before she squealed, “Ken!”

He ran a hand over his face with a groan. “For God’s sake, woman, I am tired, and our daughter has kindly opened her home to us, given up her bed, and I, for one, am going to take full advantage of it.”

Her dad reached out for Eric’s hand and shook it. “Eric, it was good to see you. You are welcome to join us tomorrow, if you can get over our rudeness tonight.”

“Honestly, it’s like Monday night dinner with my family. And while I appreciate the invitation, I have to work, sir.”

“Maybe we’ll postpone it till you can join us, then.” Her dad came into the kitchen, and kissed Gracie’s cheek. “Good night, baby.”

Still thrown by her father’s shouting, she could only whisper, “Night, Dad.”

Lastly, he kissed his wife briefly, then headed into Gracie’s room, shutting the door behind him.

Her mother shot her a bitter look before she hissed, “Now, look! You’ve upset your father!”

Gracie was about to lose her shit. Taking a deep, shaky breath, she reached out and hugged her mother. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and we’ll talk.”

She pulled away and headed to where Eric was now standing by the door.

“Don’t you need to pack a bag?” her mother asked.

---