September

School started and Grace went in like she owned it.Not aggressively. Just without the adjustment period most thirteen year olds needed. She'd done the work over summer, same as she did everything, and she arrived at eighth grade knowing what she was and not particularly interested in revising it for anyone.She came home the first Friday and said, "Found two.""Two what," I said."People who are actually there." She dropped her bag. "The rest are still figuring it out.""Give them time.""I am." She got water. "I'm not writing them off. I'm just not adjusting for them yet.""Yet.""Some people figure it out." She drank. "I'll wait."The patience of it. The specific patience of someone who knew what she was looking for and wasn't going to pretend otherwise in the meantime."How are the two," I said."Good. One is interested in climate systems. The other one builds things." She paused. "We have enough to talk about.""That's enough," I said."Yes." She went to her room. "It usually is.

What Holds

January came in quietly.No big event. No milestone. Just the year turning the way years turned one day December, the next day a number that was one higher.Grace noted this at breakfast."New year," she said."Yes," I said."Same everything.""Yes.""Good." She ate. "I don't like when things change just because the number changed.""Things change when they change," Nathaniel said."Exactly." She pointed at him. "Not because of a date."She finished breakfast and went to get ready for school.He looked at me.I looked back.Still the same in every room.February. Mara turned three months.Nora called on a Tuesday morning, not the early hour, the reasonable hour."She smiled," she said."Real smile.""Real smile. At James first. Then at me." A pause. "I cried.""Good crying.""Yes." She paused. "I keep crying at things now. It's new.""It doesn't stop," I said."Grace still makes you cry.""Sometimes.""What kind of things.""When she's completely herself," I said. "The specific moment

All Chapters of MARRIED TO MY EX-FIANCE'S RUTHLESS UNCLE: Chapter 111 - Chapter 112

September

What Holds