Shattered Grace (Fallen from Grace) (44 page)

The blankets shuddered as Amanda shivered beneath them. Grace figured the best way to get her warm was to run a bath. She hurried to the bathroom and leaned over to turn the tub’s faucet on full, then pulled a washcloth and towel from the closet before returning to Amanda’s side. “I’m running you a bubble bath. Everyone knows that bubble baths will cure almost anything. Come on.” Amanda let Grace help her up and lead her into the bathroom, but when they got there, Amanda stood stock-still. “Do you need help?” She didn’t answer.

Grace carefully peeled off her clothes that now fit like a wetsuit, leaving only her skivvies. And like a little girl, Amanda let her. Grace’s eyes fell on faint scars marring the soft curves of Amanda’s hips. A choked cry stuck in Grace’s throat. She blinked rapidly, forcing the tears back. “Amanda, I’m going to step out so you can take your bra and panties off. I’ll come right back in when you get in the tub, if you want.” Amanda nodded, and she left the bathroom.

In the middle of her room, Grace tried to imagine what would cause Amanda to cut herself. Her heart shattered. While trying to give Amanda a few extra minutes, and some time to wrap her own head around what was happening, Grace grabbed extra sheets from the linen closet down the hall and laid them on the chaise lounge in the corner of her room. She rapped her knuckles against the bathroom door. “Amanda? Can I come in?”

“
Uh-huh,” Amanda squeaked through her sobs.

Grace sat on the floor next to the tub. Helplessly, she watched her friend cry. Grace grabbed the washcloth and wiped it gently down Amanda’s cheeks, washing away the blackened smears.

“
You were right,” Amanda said. “He doesn’t love me.”

Grace swallowed. “I’m so sorry, Amanda.” She wished she could go back to the school hall and take back all she had said. An “I told you so” seemed like such a hollow and petty thing at this point.

Amanda turned her swollen, tear-filled blue eyes to Grace. “He said I did this on purpose, that I’m trying to trap him.” Amanda lifted her arms, water and bubbles falling like rain, as she covered her face with her hands. “God, Grace, what am I going to do?” Grace didn’t respond. “Even my mom doesn’t want me.”

“
Amanda, your mom loves you.”

Amanda’s arms fell back into the water with a splash. “No, she doesn’t.” She began to cry harder, her tears plopping into the bubbles with gentle plinks. “She told me to get out tonight and called me a
whore
.” Lips quivering, she barely got the words out.

“
She kicked you out because you told her about you and that guy?” Grace’s face flushed with heat, and she balled her hands into fists on the cold tile.

“
No.” Amanda turned away from her. “It’s because …” She choked up a little, before turning her face slowly back to Grace, her eyes brimming with pain. “I’m pregnant. And I don’t know what to do. I can’t be a mother. I have nowhere to go. I don’t have a job. What about school?” She dropped her face into her hands and cried harder. “What am I going to do?”

Grace pulled Amanda’s hands away from her face, wading through another onslaught of painful sensations, and held them in hers as tears fell from her eyes as well. “I’ll tell you what you are going to do, Amanda. You’ll stay here. And whatever you decide, I’ll be here to help you through it. You’re not alone.” Images of Amanda cutting herself had Grace pulling her back into her arms. “Not anymore.”

A while later, Grace stepped out to give Amanda some privacy and to grab her some clothes. The bed was already remade. She smiled, and promised herself she would thank Quentin tomorrow. Grace quickly changed into some pajamas and checked on Amanda. She took the clothes Grace offered through the crack of the door. “Thank you.”

Laney came in as Amanda was coming out of the bathroom, and hugged and cried with her too. She was the one who had made the bed. Laney brought some melatonin to help Amanda sleep, but Grace didn’t know how effective it would be, considering. Grace got her tucked in and laid down next to her, holding her as she continued to cry.

By the next afternoon, Amanda knew for sure she wanted to end the pregnancy. After she told Grace that Michael, AKA the jackass, had thrown money at her and told her to take care of it, Grace took the money and threw it in the fireplace. “But I don’t have any money,” Amanda cried.

Grace walked back to Amanda, wrapping her arms around her. “You don’t need his
.
I’ll give it to you.”

“
I don’t even have a job to pay you back,” Amanda protested.

“
Then pay me back when you can,” Grace countered softly.

The closest clinic was in Salt Lake City, only a fifteen-minute highway ride away. They didn’t have an appointment available until Thursday. Amanda knew she couldn’t go to school until after it was done; she would be too much of an emotional mess, and Grace agreed. She promised to get Amanda’s homework for her, and to take Thursday and Friday off with her.

The girls sat around the rest of Saturday and all of Sunday. Amanda didn’t eat much. Quentin was in and out, only coming into the family room with goodies and movies he thought they might want. He still didn’t talk to Grace, but spoke softly to Amanda. Grace appreciated his kindness all the same.

Come Monday, school was rough. Amanda’s emotions were hard for Grace to shake. She was glad Amanda stayed home. If it was tough for her, it would have been nearly impossible for Amanda.

All week, Emily and Leah tried cheering Grace up. They left her alone during lunches, hovering close in case they were needed, even though they were in the dark about what was going on. Zeke walked her to most of her classes, and even brought her a coffee Tuesday morning, and then again on Wednesday.

Darius surprised Grace at home twice. She ate up the surprise hugs and kisses like manna. With gentle hands, he cupped her face, and told her he’d be back over in a flash if she needed him. He promised he’d have his phone on him always.

On Thursday morning, Grace solemnly got ready for the appointment. She didn’t need to touch Amanda to know she was scared. She gave her a hug and assured her, “It’s going to be okay.”

Amanda gave her a forced smile, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. “I know.”

The fifteen-minute drive to the clinic was deafeningly quiet. Grace wanted to cut through the silence, but what could she say?

The clinic looked like a normal medical facility. No protestors marched with picket signs and miniature coffins like you see in the movies. Grace was glad for that, because she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t krav maga someone in the throat if they harassed her friend after all she’d been through.

Amanda didn’t have to wait very long in the waiting area. A nurse explained she was going to speak with a counselor first, then have some lab work done. She then told Grace that Amanda would be ready to go home in a couple of hours, depending on how long it took her to wake from the general anesthesia.

Exactly two hours later, the receptionist told Grace she could pull around and pick Amanda up. Slumped against the arm of the wheelchair, Amanda stared at the ground. Grace grabbed the pain medication and after-care instructions from the nurse, and drove Amanda home.

Amanda didn’t come out of Grace’s room for a few days. Grace had been worried about her, and was relieved when Amanda agreed to counseling. Although significant, she knew Amanda was haunted by more than an affair and an abortion; the scars on her hips were proof of that. Laney made a counseling appointment for Monday morning, telling Grace she could take Amanda so she could return to school.

“
Thank you, Mom.”

Laney gave Grace a hug. “You’re welcome.”

Other than the training Quentin told Grace they had for Saturday, she hadn’t spoken to him since Amanda arrived the week prior. The good news was that because of her Nephilim blood, she was already at black belt level in krav maga, and they only needed to train once a week. The bad news was, she’d only be speaking to him once a week at the rate they were going. She was beginning to feel desperate to know what was wrong.

By Sunday, Amanda practically pushed Grace out the door to see Darius. “Go! Don’t sit around here with me.”

Grace sat at Amanda’s feet on the couch. “Are you sure? I feel bad.”

Amanda nudged her with a foot. “I’m sure.”

Over the phone, Darius assured her they would do something low-key, and told her not to eat. Grace smiled to herself at the excitement in his voice. Because they still weren’t talking, Grace texted Quentin to let him know her plans. All she got for a reply was “Okay.”

An hour later, Grace heard someone pull up outside. It didn’t sound like the motorcycle. She really hoped Ari and Lux had stayed home. If not, she might have to fake a sudden bout of stomach flu. Peeking out the door, she was glad to see Darius in Ari’s truck, alone. She yelled out a general good-bye to the household, then met Darius at the truck.

Darius’ face lit up as soon as Grace opened her front door. Instantly he scooped her up into his arms, kissing her like it had been years since they last saw each other as he walked them to the truck. When they reached her side of the truck, he put her down, smiling as he took her hand, and placed a kiss in the center of her palm. Tingles ran up her arm. “Hungry?” he asked as he helped her into the passenger seat.

“
Famished.”

He chuckled. “Good.”

Before picking Grace up, Darius had stopped and picked up a large mushroom and sausage pizza. They talked about their week as he drove. She left out the parts about Amanda. Grace watched familiar houses zip by from the side window. When they turned down the road leading to the lake, she smiled. Darius did a quick three-point turn-around, and parked so the tailgate was facing the water.