Page 42 of Amazing Grace

‘Yes please.’ Archie yawned and his eyes looked heavy.

‘Fancy a piggy-back out to the car?’

Archie’s face lit up. ‘You bet I do!’

Ruth hugged Grace long and hard and thanked her for sharing her story. Grace conveyed what a fabulous evening she’d had and once again apologised for the emotional outpouring, but Ruth brushed it away, saying how much it had helped her to reach a decision. Mike dropped a kiss on his wife’s head as he stood with his arms around her shoulders at the door as they waved Vinnie, Grace and Archie off into the night, with promises of being in touch very soon.

Within seconds of being in the car, Archie was fast asleep.

‘You’re quiet, Vinnie, everything OK?’ she asked him.

‘Yep, fine, thanks. Just pondering on everything you said earlier. Do you really think that Michelle is the real deal? For the first time in a few years, I’ve seen Ruth really get excited about trying to make contact with Meredith. I couldn’t stand for her to build up her hopes and have them come crashing down around her and set her back again. I’m just worried, that’s all.’

‘I can only talk from my own experiences, Vinnie. And I know how I felt each time after going to see her. The last few times it felt like I was going to meet mum and have a coffee and a catch-up with her and I would give anything to be able to do that with her again.’

‘I’m sure you would, I just worry about Ruth, that’s all. I know she’s a big girl, but I only have one sister now and I want to make damn sure that she’s happy and content in her life. I can’t let her go through something that would devastate her all over again. I feel really confused.’

They pulled up outside her house and Vinnie dipped his head. Grace turned to him. ‘I’m sorry. Should I not have said anything, Vinnie?’ she asked.

‘No, you weren’t to know, babe. I’ve just never seen Ruth look so determined to do something. I just hope it gives her what she needs. Come on, let’s get this little fella indoors.’ He reached across and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

‘Do you know, Vinnie, it could be just what Ruth needs to help her move forward.’

‘You’re right, Grace, I know that, it just feels a bit strange. The thought that we might be able to make contact with Meredith is both exciting yet terrifying at the same time. It’ll sort itself out, I’m sure.’

As Vinnie lifted Archie out of the back of the car, the boy stirred and moaned a little but was in a deep sleep. Vinnie carried him straight upstairs and placed him gently on his bed. Grace took off his shoes and his jacket without waking him, kissed his forehead and whispered, ‘Good night, my little angel.’ Archie snuggled down under his duvet, rolled over and farted.

When they stopped giggling like a pair of teenagers, Grace put the kettle on and while they waited for it to boil, Vinnie put his arms around her and held her tight. She felt safe in his arms. Safe and loved. It was a feeling she hadn’t had for a long time. Half of her was filled with joy and the other half was petrified. Could she really pour her heart and soul into someone all over again, with the possibility that it could one day be taken away from her again? And now, there wasn’t just her to consider. She had Archie to worry about too. Could she let him get close to someone when there was a possibility it could all go wrong? She really felt like Vinnie was someone very special but there was just a nagging doubt in the back of her mind that he might just be too good to be true. Or was Mark right? Should she get her family back together so that her son could be with both parents? Her heart was saying one thing and her head was saying another. And she remembered that insecure feeling in the pit of her stomach when she’d seen that text message. Half of her wanted to ask Vinnie about it and the other half just wanted to ignore it and hope it went away.

Vinnie put his hands under her chin and tilted her head and looked her in the eye. ‘You know I’d never hurt you and Archie, don’t you, Grace?’ It was as if he was reading her mind. ‘I’m too old and sensible to play games. Watching you tonight with the people I love most made me realise how much I want that and how I’d love you to be a part of our family. Ruth adores you and I think I’m falling just a little bit in love with you. When I’m not with you I’m thinking about you. I can’t concentrate on my work. I want to talk to you all the time. I think I’ve got a huge crush!’

Grace felt her heart swell with joy.

‘I think I’d better go before I whisk you upstairs and ravish you,’ Vinnie said, grinning. While she wanted nothing more than for him to stay over, his words calmed Grace’s nerves. The thought of sleeping with somebody new after all those years still terrified her. She said that she’d speak to him tomorrow and waved him off at the doorstep. She went to bed thinking of what a fabulous evening she’d had and how much she’d felt like she fitted in with their wonderful family.

* * *

Oh darling, you have started something wonderful. Meredith has been desperate to get Ruth to see a medium and make contact with her. We’ve spent a while up here chatting and she knows that Ruth feels like she should have done more to help, or to spend more time with her. But none of it matters. Meredith just wants to show Ruth that she’s around her all the time and watching out for her and, more than that, she wants Ruth to stop worrying about her and move on. She wants that for Vinnie too. What better legacy to leave than to help your siblings live their lives to the full and enjoy every minute? That’s all I want for you too, darling. Don’t worry if this thing between you and Vinnie doesn’t work out. Sometimes you can ruin something by thinking the worst all the time and you’ll make it go wrong. You just have to let go and trust in something higher than you. Meredith and I are here and we’re always watching over you all. I’m your mum and I’ve never told you to do something that wouldn’t be right for you. Just open your heart and let love in! Trust me, darling. I love you, Mumxxx

20

Grace had invited Vinnie for an early dinner on the Sunday afternoon. At eight o’clock that morning, her phone pinged and she saw that she’d got a text from Ruth.

Hey gorgeous girl, how are you today? Such a lovely evening even if we did have a few tears between us. Can’t stop thinking about what you said last night. Can you pop me Michelle’s number over when you have a sec please?X

Grace replied:

Of course, here you go. And thank you again for a wonderful evening. Hope there’s lots more of those to comex

The reply that came back was:

Thanks sweetie. And I know there’ll be years ahead of evenings like that. You know we all love you and the kids adore Archie. They said they’d had the best night ever.X

* * *

Grace had put a beef casserole in the slow cooker on a timer, which had started cooking overnight, and the aromas emanating from the kitchen were divine and were making her mouth water. She thought she’d better do a bit of maintenance in the lady department and made the effort to shave her legs and her lady garden just in case. For the first time in what seemed like ages, she was wearing matching underwear under her jeans and shirt –orangeunderwear. She hoped Monica appreciated her taking notice of what she said. Grace was feeling good and, although nothing would probably happen, she wanted to be prepared. Nothing like getting a bit of bedroom action with your skanky old pants on and a manky old grey bra!

Grace and Archie had had a tiring and emotional morning which all started with a battle over homework. Archie never wanted to do it when he came home from school at night, so it was always a weekend job. Grace wanted to get into the habit of doing it before he went to football late on a Sunday morning but it was a constant struggle. Archie was good with his English but really struggled with his maths and got easily frustrated. That morning it had ended with him throwing his pen across the room and stomping off to his bedroom. She’d let him off before she took him to his football match where his team had lost 3–0. Reeling from the result, he answered her questions with curt responses all the way home, until Grace finally lost her cool when they were sitting on the drive.

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