The Other Grey Girl - part 6

Grace

“Kate please, let us handle it.” Grace says. But deep down I know I can’t. But for now I need to give it a rest. When we walk back to the kitchen Grace grabs my arm. “Kate, one more thing, don’t tell Christian or Ana or Elliot for that matter.” Grace ordered me. “But Grace, let us help. I won’t tell Ana or Christian. They’re in the Bahamas. Let…” “No, Kate, let us handle it.” Carrick interrupts me. Tears swell in my eyes. Carrack takes two long strides and grabs my arm, “Kate, we know you want to help, but we don’t want you to be in danger. Especially not with twins on the way. But we might need you help in accessing the database at the newspaper.” Carrick says. “Anything,” I nod. Then Elliot joins us in the kitchen. “Is everything all right here.” He asks a bit off. Like he knows something is wrong but he can’t put his finger on it. We hear small footsteps coming our way. It’s Ava who has come out of the children’s playroom Elliot built when Teddy was born. She’s running up to Grace, and hands her a drawing. “For you Grammy.” Ava says. Grace bends down and picks up Ava. “You made this for me,” she asks Ava and Ava nods. “Hug, Grammy?” and she spreads her chubby little arms and Grace kisses Ava on the cheek. “What about Grandpa? Do I also get a beautiful drawing like Grammy?” Ava nod and struggles to break free from Grace’s arms. Grace bends down and sets Ava to the ground. And then Ava kisses Grace on the cheek, “I wuv you, Grammy.” And she runs off back to the children’s playroom.

As we walk back to the living room, Elliot grabs me by elbow. “What’s going on?” He asks worried. I smile, “it’s nothing. She wanted to know what Dr. Greene said.” I lie to him. I feel awful, I hate lying to him. He looks at me deep in the eye. And I know I am going to cave. But luckily there is Carrick to the rescue. “Are you guys coming?” he says. I take my place at the dinner table. “I’ll go get Ava,” Elliot says quickly. I pat my tummy and look at Grace. There is something in her eyes. I can’t decide what it is. But when she sees that I am staring at her, she smiles. A gorgeous smile that reaches her eyes. When Elliot re-enters the room, he puts Ava in the children's chair and ties her bib, and takes his own chair next to her. Suddenly Grace shoves her chair back, “I like to propose a toast to my beautiful daughter-in-law who is pregnant with twins. Cheers” She smiles again. It is making me blush. Then Carrick stands up and says, “Grace and I are so happy that we have a gift for the two of you. We like to buy the nursery, a gift from us to you, my son Elliot and my beautiful daughter-in-law, Kate.” The tears are running over my cheeks. I stand up and walk to Grace and Carrick. I hug them. “Thank you so much. I love you guys.” I whisper. I look at Elliot and see that he is busy with Ava. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul,” I whisper again. Grace kisses me on the cheek and I sit down again. Then it’s Elliot’s turn. Even he is almost crying. “So, shall we start dinner?” Carrick asks.

Carrick 

When we the time comes to go home, Carrick asks, “Kate, are you at the office tomorrow? I am at the court house all day and I was wondering maybe we can do lunch?” I clear my throat, “Yeah. Sure. What time? You know what, call Brookelynne she can tell you a time.” We say our goodbyes and we stalk off to the car. On the drive home I stare out the window. As the trees and the bushes and cars fly by I can’t stop thinking about the conversation I had with Grace and Carrick. The question keep popping up, who is this woman with false allegations. And would they target Christian and Ana. I know I didn’t trust Christian in the beginning, but an illegitimate child? No way, it can’t be. “Penny for your thoughts?” Elliot brings me back to earth. As we pass the bridge on the I-5 heading south, Elliot turns and stops at the traffic light. “I am just thinking, I have a meeting tomorrow and I really don’t want to go. It’s a boring staff meeting.” I lie again. God, I hate lying. But Grace and Carrick ask me not to tell a soul. I wish Ana was here, but of course I have to lie to her too. And she always knows when I am lying. My phone is buzzing and I grab it out of my bag and check the screen. It’s a text message.

“Hi Kate, the weather is great here in the Bahamas, the sun is high in the sky and the sea water is nice and warm. We are on a yacht and get this, Christian bought me an island. My own little island. Shall we Skype tonight? Text me back!

Love you, xoxo Ana, Christian and the kids.”

This text message makes me smile. I am happy to hear from her. I press answer and start to typ.

“Hi Ana, the weather here in Seattle is as usual. Although today is a great day. I’ll tell to tonight on Skype, I have a big surprise for you. Your own island, who would’ve thought.

Tell me all about it tonight.

Love you lots, xoxo Kate, Elliot and Ava.”

Ana, on Skype camera

As Elliot turns the car on the drive way, I put my phone back in my bag and look behind me. I begin to smile; Ava fell asleep in the car seat. Grace and Carrick must’ve been playing a lot today with Ava. When Elliot stops the car and I step out I get a cramp in my stomach. But I manage to hide it from Elliot, so I push my bag on the ground and I bend down to pick it up and breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. When Elliot walks around the car and sees me kneeled on the floor, he say “baby, are you okay?” He sounds alarmed. “I am okay, I dropped my bag, and I am just picking it up.” I say while I stand back up. Elliot opens the rear door and lifts Ava out of the car seat. I walk up to the front door and I rummage in my bag for the keys and open the door. Elliot walks passed me up the stairs in the hallway and accidently knocks over a vase with flowers. It shatters in pieces on the tile floor. Elliot stops at the bottom of the stairs and looks at Ava. She stirs but she doesn’t wakes up and Elliot continues to walk up the stairs. I walk to the kitchen and grab the broom and the trash can and walk back to the hallway and start cleaning up.

When everything is cleaned up I put the stuff back and pull out the garbage bag and tie a knot in it and put it by the door. I was my hands and I walk up the stairs. I walk into Ava’s room and I see she’s already in her bed, vast asleep.

I walk to our bathroom and start to undress myself. I look in the mirror and look at myself. I rub my hand over my tummy. “Twins, who would’ve thought.” I smile. Elliot walks in and stands behind me. He snakes his arms around me and links his hands in mine and together we stand there. I turn around and I kiss him passionately. Our tongues entwine and I am lost. After a few minutes I take a step back, I need to breathe. Elliot kneels down and kisses my tummy, up and down and left to right. He stands up and kisses swiftly on the tip of my nose. “I am going to put the car in the garage.” He whispers. “Will you take the garbage bag with you and put it in the container. I put it by door.” I say. Elliot nods and walks away. I step in the step in the shower and take a quick shower and dry myself off. I walk to Elliot’s office and I open up the laptop and fire it up. I open up Skype and wait for Ana to come online. In the mean while I open up my email and check it, after an hour Ana comes online and I tell her the news, “Ana, I am expecting twins.” Ana claps her hands. “Are you joking me? I need to tell Christian”. She turns around and yells, “CHRISTIAN!!!”

I shake my head. And I look up and see that Elliot has walked in. I stand up from his desk chair and walk over to the leather couch in the corner but Elliot grabs my arm and takes me back to the desk. He sits down and pulls me onto his lap. We talk for a bit and suddenly the door bell goes… “Who could that be?” I say while I look at Elliot. He is talking to Christian so I stand up and I walk towards the door to the hallway. “You want me to go?” Elliot asks. “No, I got it.” I smile back, but my heart is beating fast. Slowly I walk down the stairs, “Who’s there?” I yell. But no one answers. “Who’s there?” I yell again. Still no answer but then a loud knock on the door follows. My heart beats in my throath……