The Falling of Love (13 page)

“She was so beautiful. There were so many times that I just got lost in those big dark eyes of hers. I could stare at her for hours. She loved to read, like I do, and I loved to watch her do it. I always found it so distracting to read in the same room as her, because I couldn’t focus on what I was reading because all I wanted to do was watch her.”

“That’s so romantic. I catch Ian staring at me all the time and it absolutely melts me.”

“There’s no greater feeling in the world than to be that in love and to have the person you feel that way about share your feelings.”

Grace smiles and her thoughts race to Ian’s handsome face and how he makes her feel cherished.

“Did I ever tell you about the first date I took Hattie on?”

Grace giggles. “Not yet, but I’ve been dying to hear about it.”

“Back in my day things
were
a lot more formal than they are now. Before I could even think about taking her on a date I had to ask her father’s permission. I was so nervous when I walked into their house. Her father was a tall, distinguished gentleman who made me feel unworthy of Hattie’s affections, but nonetheless I bucked up and strode into that mini mansion as respectful and confident as I could be. It went better than I thought it would.”

“Oh yeah?” Grace asks, with a grin finding its way to her eyes and his story warming her heart.

“Hattie had everyone wrapped around her little finger. It was no different when it came to her father. She already had him in agreement to our outing before I walked into their parlor.”

Grace takes her eyes off Grandpa Joe to study the photograph again. She admires Hattie’s seemingly flawless skin, dark wavy, perfectly styled hair, and her sparkling kind eyes. “She just has one of those faces where you know she has a good soul.”

“I tell ya what, kiddo. That woman was the most unselfish person I ever encountered in all of my days. She was the kind of woman that made you want to be a better person.”

“Tell me more about your date.”

Grandpa Joe reaches his hand out for the photograph and regards it before he continues. With a shaking hand he runs his finger over Hattie’s face and Grace can see the pain of her absence written all over his face and in his eyes. He clears his throat. “I took her to a soda shop and I swear it was like a Norman Rockwell painting. The two of us sitting on the stools at the counter, swinging our feet, and sucking on our straws at the same time. I remember how hard my heart was beating as I stared into those eyes of hers. Our noses were so close they were almost touching. I fell in love with her that day, Grace. That very day, sitting in that soda shop, sipping on that cherry soda with
Rumors are Flying
playing on the jukebox, that’s the day I fell head over heels. We sat there for a long time just looking at each other and it felt like we were alone in that little shop, even though it was packed full of other kids our age. I truthfully don’t think we said more than ten words between us the whole time we were there. There was just something that told me she was feeling the exact same way I was, so when we walked out of the soda shop I latched onto her hand and I walked her home. Back then you didn’t dare kiss a girl on the first date. It was bold of me just to take her hand the way I did. It was such a simple date, but it was the start of our love story.”

As Grandpa Joe reminisces on his time with Hattie, Grace associates it with her humble, but dreamy first date with Ian. The start of her own love story.

“You remember the song and the flavor of your soda?” Grace asks, with admiration in her heart.

“I sure do. That was our song from that day forward.” His smile fades and melancholy washes over his expression. “I played it for her the day she passed. I held her hand as she took her last, sweet breaths and sang it to her.”

Grace quickly wipes a tear from her eyes and tries to swallow, but it seems almost impossible due to the swelling of emotions caught in her throat. Sniffling, she rests her hand on Grandpa Joe’s. “I can’t imagine how much it hurts to be without the love of your life.”

“It’s life, kiddo,
the
hardest part of life. I’ll be with her soon and we’ll be dancing to our song just like we did on our wedding day.”

“Who sang the song?”

“The Andrew Sisters. I put the record in a box after Hattie passed. I haven’t listened to it since, but mainly because I’ve got no clue where that cotton
pickin
’ thing might be, and with my worn out old body I can’t go
lookin
’ for it.”

Immediately Grace recalls finding a box of records in the attic. “I’m sure it’s around here somewhere.” Not wanting to give him false hope she keeps her recollection to herself.

A moment of silence passes between them as Grandpa Joe’s breathing becomes labored.

“Why don’t you do a treatment and take a nap, Gramps?”

“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

Grace waits till Grandpa Joe is fast asleep before she leaves his room and searches for Ian.

Grace finds Ian on the phone in their bedroom, attempting to sell tickets to the band’s next show.

“Hey, babe.” He says after putting the phone down. “Wanna help?”

“Sure!” She sits on the bed next to him and he hands her a list of names with phone numbers jotted down next to them.

“I left off here,” he says pointing to a name, “Just read me the name and number of the next person after I hang up. Cool?”

“Cool!” she smiles, happy that he asked her to help.

After inviting the person on the phone to their next show, Ian hangs up and smiles, “The show at the Shadow Box will be the first one you’ll be able to go to.”

“I know. I’m so excited, Ian! I can’t wait to see you on stage.”

“And I can’t wait to see you standing in the crowd. Wait till you get a load of all the people that show up. It’s going to blow your mind.”

“So,” she says, biting the corner of her lip, “will I get a bracelet that tells them I’m underage?”

“Yep, just like me. Why? Were you planning on sneaking a drink or two?”

“Oh no! I was just curious. I’m a little nervous. I’ve never been to a club before.”

“It’s awesome! You’ll love it.”

“I’m so proud of you, baby.” She leaned over and planted a sweet kiss on his lips.

Early the next morning, Grace wakes with a sense of purpose. Not only is tonight the night that she will finally see Ian and Black Dog play live at a club, but ever since her talk with Grandpa Joe, she has made finding the album with his and Hattie’s song on it a personal goal. She whips the blankets from herself and rises to her feet. Her eyes catch Ian sleeping and her stomach drops. “You’re so handsome,” she whispers as she sits down next to him, being careful not to disturb him. Running her hand over his head she takes in a deep breath and lets it out, like a teenager swooning over her favorite movie star. She bends down and barely places her lips to his cheek. Lingering there for a while she loses herself in the vision of him. She feels giddy as he clings onto the pillow and nudges it with his head, as if he were holding her.

Remembering her plan, she gets up and goes to the dresser. After she dresses she hurries to the hallway. The house is quiet except for the snores that echo from the bedrooms.

In the hallway she pulls on the cord and stairs come down from the ceiling. She climbs up carefully and then flicks on the flashlight that is always left just inside the entryway. Grace closes her eyes trying hard to remember where she saw the box full of old vinyl records. The attic
creeps
her out just a little, so she takes careful steps pointing the flashlight at every step she intends to take.

She picks through the room, moving boxes that she had carried up months ago that have already collected dust. “Gosh darn it! I know I saw it here.” Finally her eyes find the frayed box she has been looking for. “There you are,” she says, as she strides toward it. Kneeling down, she fingers through the stack of records, the light shining through the paned windows near the edge of the room aiding her in her search. “Ha!” Pulling the Andrew Sisters’ record from the box she holds it to her chest and then rises to her feet. She giggles at her find and wipes the dust off the album cover. It is all she can do to keep from running to Grandpa Joe’s room that very moment, but she decides to wait until he is awake.

She cooks breakfast for everyone once they wake up and sets out to do her weekend chores of cleaning up the breakfast dishes, sweeping, mopping the kitchen floor, and doing a little gardening in the front yard.

Loud, hard, rock music bellows from the garage. She decides it is time to show him what she found. She grabs the record and runs up the stairs to his room.

Barely letting her knuckles hit the door, she knocks. “Gramps?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“Can I come in?”

“Of course. Come on in.”

Both of her arms are folded behind her back, concealing the album. “I have a present for you.”

“You do? Now, what did I do to deserve a gift from such a pretty young lady?”

“Close your eyes!” she says, unable to contain her excitement.

Grace rushes over to the record player and fits the hole in the album over the spindle. With trembling hands and butterflies in her stomach, she switches it on, then she drops the needle onto the record and the melody fills the room. She whips around to see the expression on Grandpa Joe’s face and is not disappointed by what she sees.

“Don’t cry, Gramps! You’re going to make me cry.” She runs and flops down on the bed with him.

Without words, Grandpa Joe takes her hand into his and places a kiss on top of it. Grace scoots down and lies next to him, using his shoulder as a pillow. As soon as the song ends he asks her to play it again. This time when she turns around he is sitting up on the edge of the bed and using his cane to lift himself.

“Come and dance with me, kiddo.”

Grace rushes over to him and takes his free hand, placing it on her shoulder to help balance him. The smile on his face fills her with joy and makes all the cobwebs and dust she sifted through to find the album worth it. They dance to the song three times before Grandpa Joe is no longer able to stand. Grace helps him into bed and kisses him on the forehead.

As she slides away he takes hold of her arm. “You’re just about the sweetest girl I’ve ever known and I’ve known many a sweet girl in all my years.”

“I’m so glad it made you happy to hear your song again.”

“You made my day. Hell, you made my entire year.”

“I love you, Gramps. You’re the grandpa I never had.”

“And you, my sweetheart, are the granddaughter
I
never had. Now you best go and get ready for the big show.”

Grace looks at the clock on the wall and her stomach twists with nerves.

Grace sits on her bed watching Ian with amusement as he fusses over himself. She has been sitting on the bed for forty-five minutes, ready to go, while Ian is still messing with his long auburn hair. He teases it a bit, and Grace cannot help chuckling.

Ian flips around and gives her a glare. “Got a problem?”

She shakes her head. She knows not to ever make any sort of constructive criticism when it comes to the way Ian looks, especially before a show. He is far too sensitive to handle that.

He finally finishes grooming himself and then grabs his leather jacket off the chair. “So, I’ll see you there, babe.” He bends down and kisses her on top of her head.

“My friend Becca should be here any minute. I’m so nervous.” Grace has only had a handful of lunches and a few classes with Becca, so when she approached her about going to Ian’s show, she was worried she would say no. Grace was delighted when Becca seemed thrilled about her invitation.

Ian laughs arrogantly then waves goodbye as he walks out the door. Grace follows him downstairs to wait for Becca.

A few minutes later, Grace hears a car pulling up in front of her house. She leaps for the large bay window in the living room and pulls back the curtains. Becca slinks out of the car, one sexy leg at a time. Her silky black, French bobbed hair, shines in the setting sunlight. Her haircut accentuates her features and her large brown eyes are the focal point of her pale, structured face. Grace’s mouth falls open when she gets a full view of her. For being only nineteen years old, Becca has always displayed a very good sense of fashion. Even if she is only going to school, she is always dressed to the nines. Tonight’s outfit is no exception. Grace’s eyes flow from the sleek red pumps, up Becca’s long, slender legs, and to the adorable matching red dress. Becca reminds Grace of Michelle in many ways. She is beautiful, and she knows it. Grace’s favorite thing about her is her headstrong and aggressive personality, another thing that reminds Grace of Michelle.

Grace hurries to the door and opens it. “Hey! You look fantastic!”

When Becca smiles she radiates a confidence that Grace envies.

“Do you want a drink or something before we go? We’ve got plenty of time.”

Becca steps past her into the hallway, her heels tapping on the wood floors, and then turns to her with an inquisitive look. “Sweetie, just what are you wearing?”

Grace grabs the edges of her modest dress and shrugs.

“This is all wrong,
kitten
. You’re lucky I just got back from Paris and I have some of my best dresses packed in my suitcase that’s in my car.” She sets her clutch bag down on the stairs after pulling her car keys from it. “We also need to do something about that hair.”

Grace is overcome with embarrassment and excitement all at once. She has always wanted to wear a dress as nice as the one Becca has on. “Okay, I guess.”

“You guess? Sweetie, you simply cannot go to Ian’s show in that, well, whatever that is.”

“This is my dinner dress.”

“Save it for dinner. We better hurry. I have a lot of work to do.” She says, as she takes strands of Grace’s hair into her fingers.