This is part 3 of a three-part story. My apologies for taking so long to get this part published. You may want to re-read Parts 1 and 2 since it's been so long.
© 2022 Candy_Kane54
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The past four months have been hell.
Ever since Grace threw me out, I've been moping around. My boss pulled me aside this morning and told me I needed to get my head out of my ass, or he was going to let me go. Since I needed this job, I worked extra hard the rest of the day and even clocked out before I finished. I made sure he saw me do it so he'd know I was serious.
Every day, I'd drive by our old apartment, hoping to get a chance to see Grace and apologize for what I did. Every night, I'd suffer through the nightmare of what I had done to nearly kill Grace. I'd wake up in a cold sweat, hoping against hope that it was just a dream and I'd be lying next to Grace. I never was, and I'd cry, wishing that I could undo what I've done.
I noticed that she was hanging out with John Steiner, one of the guys we'd double-dated over the years. My heart hurt when I saw that, thinking that Grace was over loving me and would now be a normal woman. I followed them one time when he had picked her up, and they went to dinner and then to a nightclub for drinking and dancing. I'll admit that I was stalking her, and I was sure she had seen me a couple of times. Each time I saw her with him, I'd go back to my room and cry myself to sleep.
After putting in an extra hour of work off the clock, I left to go home and change out of my work clothes. After eating a sandwich, I headed out to drive by Grace's place once more to see if I could get a look at her, hoping that I'd get a chance to apologize. Grace must have heard me because, for the first time since I've done this, I saw her looking out the window as I slowly drove by on my bike.
When I saw her, I pulled to the curb and stopped, looking back at Grace, hoping that she'd come to the door. We looked at each other for a minute or two before Grace stepped away from the window. I waited, hoping that the door would open and she'd come out. Still, after several minutes it became apparent that wasn't going to happen. I pulled away and headed back to my room. I was sad that I didn't get to apologize but encouraged by the fact that Grace had stood there and hadn't immediately drawn back.
This continued for another week. I'd drive up to see Grace looking out the window and me looking back. Then, what I had hoped for finally happened. This time, as I drove up, the door was open, and Grace was standing in the doorway looking back at me. I pulled over and waited, looking for some sign that I could approach. I killed the engine and took off my helmet, all the while maintaining our eye contact, willing Grace to call me to her.
I saw Grace look around to see if any of our snoopy neighbors were out and about. Then she gestured for me to approach, and my heart tightened so hard that I couldn't breathe. "Oh, God," I prayed to myself as I crossed the street and walked up to the door, "Please let her forgive me."
As I approached, Grace stepped back without a word to let me enter. I watched her face, looking for a clue as to what would happen. I vowed that I would grovel and abase myself for however long it took to get Grace's forgiveness if she would let me.
As soon as I entered, I dropped to my knees and said, "Oh, God, Sweet Cheeks, I'm so sor...."
Grace came up, before I could finish, cupped my face with her hands, and silenced me with her lips as they crushed against mine. My heart nearly leaped out of my body for joy as the tears poured out of my eyes. Grace had forgiven me, and right then, I vowed to spend the rest of my life making it up to her...
May 1992
... Grace sobbed before choking on her tears. I started crying, too, knowing how bad Grace was feeling.
"Oh, Sweet Cheeks, I'm so sorry. I wish I could be there for you," I said, my heart breaking for Grace. No one should outlive their children, especially an only child.
"I know, Baby Doll. I wish you could be here, too. But I need you to get healed. I'll be back there soon," Grace finished.
"I will," I vowed. "I'll be here for you when you get back, Sweet Cheeks," I said.
"At least Virginia got back before she went," Grace said between the tears. "She got to say goodbye."
Grace started crying again, and I joined her. I was thankful that Virginia had managed to get back from her trip to the Pentagon in time. I knew Grace had been worried that Bonnie might go before Virginia got back.
Once Grace got herself under control again, I asked, "How are the boys doing?"