chapter two, helpless smiles
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{two weeks prior}

"Is he alright?"

Grace glanced up from her cluttered clipboard, hair pulled back in a messy ponytail.

She reassured the person with a smile, "Yes, he's alright. Just an upset stomach; a few antibiotics, and he'll be fine in a few days."

The relieved client thanked her before returning to the waiting room.

Grace observed as they took a seat beside a little girl, her head hanging low. As the news sank in, the girl's relief became evident, her eyes lighting up and feet kicking in anticipation.

Grace couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

Her mother's voice slowly faded into her head, its sweet tone drawing her attention away.

...What does she have...

...That you don't?...

Grace let the words linger, looking back at the little girl with a smile on her face as her guardian tenderly moved a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Somebody," Grace murmured to herself.

Her mother's voice softened, interrupted by another familiar voice with a hand on her shoulder. "Grace, are you okay?"

Her mother's voice continued to whisper in the corner of her mind, but she chose to disregard it. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks Katherine," She replied, returning the smile.

Katherine gave her shoulder a reassuring tap before heading to the front desk, placing her clipboard down.

As Grace prepared to leave, Katherine called out, "We're having an end-of-summer barbecue. Your family should join us."

Grace hesitated at the invitation, gazing at Katherine with a sense of helplessness.

It had been so long since her family received an invitation, especially without her mother.

And yet, her heart raced.

It skipped a beat, and then a few more.

She kept count.

One... skip.

Three... skip.

She couldn't remember the last time she experienced this feeling— the excitement for something.

With a smile, she responded, "Yeah, I'll talk to my dad about it."

Katherine grinned, "Sounds good."

─── 

The Calaway house bore the marks of changing seasons. With the colder weather, the exterior of the house would frost, resulting in tinted windows and a snow-covered roof.

During warmer weather, the paint on the exterior would begin to peel, its once-vibrant color now faded.

Grace struggled to discern the original blue hue as she approached the front porch, where the signs of wear were more pronounced.

She opened the front door and was met with a creak that resonated throughout the otherwise quiet house.

Her father refused to replace the noisy door, as it held sentimental value.

Grace's mother had chosen the door when she first married her dad, James. Since then, it had remained unchanged.

Calling out her arrival, Grace removed her shoes and silence greeted her.

She stepped further into the house and paused in the kitchen. Grayson was seated at the kitchen island, with his backpack resting on the floor beside him.

"Hey," Grace greeted, placing her keys on the island. She peered over his shoulder, glancing at his paper. "What are you up to?"

"Summer reading," he replied, his voice laced with a lack of enthusiasm.

Grace contained a smile, responding, "Sounds like a blast," as she moved around to the opposite side of the kitchen island.

Grayson took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes, and remarked, "Believe me, it's challenging being this intelligent."

Leaning against the counter, Grace narrowed her eyes at him.

Grayson had followed in their mother's footsteps, diving into advanced classes since eighth grade.

The passing of their mother appeared to make his dedication to academics grow even more.

Grace, on the other hand...

Well, that's a topic left untouched.

"Shut up," she retorted, rolling her eyes.

A noise echoed from the hallway, drawing the attention of both Grace and Grayson.

They looked up to see their father strolling in, sleeves rolled up, and sporting his cowboy hat.

"Hey, guys," he greeted, passing by them to the sink, where he ran his hands under the flowing water. "How was your day, Grace?"

"It was good," she mentioned, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "Actually, my boss, Katherine, invited us to their end-of-summer barbecue."

Grayson's head lifted slightly from his paper as the water ceased running, and their father dried his hands with a towel.

A hush fell over the house.

It had been a long time since they went out together as a family, and though Grace's father wouldn't acknowledge it, a sense of nervousness lingered.

He turned, placing the towel beside him. Grace and Grayson stood before him, their gazes penetrating.

He took a deep breath. "Do you want to go?"

Grace hesitated.

"It's fine if you don't—"

Interrupting mid-sentence, he raised his hand. "Do you want to go?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go," he said, offering a gentle smile.

Grayson raised his head completely, pencil frozen on the paper. "Really?" he asked.

"If you both want to go, then yeah," he replied, shrugging. "Why not."

Grace exchanged a sheepish smile with Grayson before turning back to their father.

"It will be fun," she assured him, grinning.

Their father shook his head, smiling.

─── 

The Walters lived on the outskirts of town, their home boasting a two-story, yellow-toned siding with a wrap-around porch. It was unlike anything Grace had ever witnessed.

She couldn't tear her eyes away from it—the house or the swarm of a dozen kids engaged in playful pursuits.

Grayson mirrored her awe, his wild gaze shifting between the lively children and the remarkable house.

It was a world apart from their own. The house resonated with the sounds of conversation and laughter; even from the front porch, Grace could discern the joy emanating from within.

She struggled to recall the last time she experienced such genuine laughter.

Such genuine emotion.

Their father knocked on the front door, prompting movement behind it. Suddenly, it swung open, revealing an older man with a welcoming smile.

"Hello, you must be Grace's father," he greeted, extending a hand. Her father accepted it with a firm shake.

"I'm George, Katherine's husband," he added, rolling up his sleeves.

"I'm James," Grace's father responded before presenting a nicely wrapped bottle. "This is for you."

Grace admired her father for venturing outside, breaking the routine. It was something she had anticipated, yet after so long, she had almost given up hope.

Almost.

"Thank you," George said, grinning. "Come on in, sorry for the mess," he continued, ushering them through the front door.

Grace's gaze swept across the entryway. Shoes were scattered, jackets hung on hooks, and strewn on benches—it was a mess.

But, a lively one.

"You can keep your shoes on," George mentioned, casting a glance at the floor. "It might be for the best," he chuckled.

Grace smiled at his laughter.

They followed him into the nearest room, which seemed to be the living room. Several other people, likely the fathers of the kids playing outside, sat there watching TV and chatting.

George introduced some of them before getting sidetracked by a younger boy on the stairwell.

"What, Benny?" he said, poking his head around the wall to stare up the stairs.

"Have you seen my shoes?" Benny practically yelled, despite the short distance.

George looked over at the entryway, sighing. "Come down here and look with me," he said, then turned back to Grace.

"Katherine's in the kitchen if you want to join her," he added quickly, before walking into the entryway.

Grace considered asking for directions to the kitchen but opted against it as George began sorting through the shoes.

She ventured down the hallway, peeking into rooms until she noticed a younger guy walking in her direction.

"Hey," she called out, catching his attention.

"Hey," he greeted, lowering his head to meet her eyes. A lopsided grin formed as he recognized her. "You're the girl from the vet."

Grace tilted her head, scrutinizing his face.

Holy shit.

"You're the guy who shut the door on me," she said slowly, connecting the dots.

His grin widened, hand over his chest. "You remembered me?" he drawled out.

Rolling her eyes, Grace suppressed a smile.

"Not for a good reason," she quipped as he stepped closer.

She tensed at the proximity.

Leaning in slightly, hand still on his chest, he whispered, "Maybe I can fix that," smirking.

Grace couldn't divert her attention from his captivating smile. Which only widened as if he sensed her distraction.

"You okay, doctor?" he asked, the endearment slipping effortlessly from his lips.

Grace forced herself to focus. "Where's the kitchen?" she asked, burying his playful demeanor within.

He stepped back, arm dropping from his chest. "Just over there," he gestured, nodding his head to the side.

Grace smiled, walking past him. She wished he had stopped her, but he didn't.

Glancing back, she saw him walking away before turning into the directed room.

"Hey!" Katherine called out, spotting Grace.
"You made it."

Smiling, Grace entered further, stating, "Of course we did, wouldn't miss it for the world."

Katherine swiftly emptied her cutting board into a large yellow bowl, scraping the fruits as she poured.

"Can I help in anyway?" Grace offered, leaning against the kitchen island.

Katherine paused, surveying the kitchen in her colorful, messily tied apron.

She hummed before responding. "Could you bring these trays out? Otherwise, there's not much left."

Grace smiled, grabbing the nearest tray filled with crackers, cheese, and meat. Katherine took the fruit bowl and another tray beside it, ushering Grace to follow her outside.

The back door was open, and the sounds of chatter and children filled the air. Stepping outside, Grace noticed children running around with a camera and props.

Katherine noticed her gaze. "That's Jordan, he's really into film," she half-laughed.

Grace smiled and followed her to a table covered in an array of other food and a plaid table cover.

"Just place it wherever," Katherine mentioned, adjusting a few trays. "It's all going to be a mess anyways."

Grace put her tray at the end of the table next to a bowl of salad.

Katherine stood next to Grace, surveying the table. "Thank you," she said, smiling. "For the help and for coming."

Grace smiled back, her heart melting.

"But—you're going to want to be prepared," she added, yelling into the yard. "Time to eat!"

Children rushed to the table, their little hands reaching for plates and food. Grace stepped back, watching as more people joined.

Laughter and bickering filled the air; dads talked about sports and business, kids made jokes. Grace could only watch.

Grayson and a few others his age approached the table. One had curly, brunette hair, and the other was...

The guy from the hallway.

He grabbed a plate, passing it to another boy before taking one for himself. Walking down the table, he noticed Grace.

He smirked, walking over without a second thought. "Overwhelmed, doc?"

Grace observed two kids sharing a plate of fruit, laughing at each other's expressions. "No," she said, tilting her head to look at him. "This is really nice."

He paused, glancing back at the table, his family surrounding it. "It is, isn't it?"

Grace continued to look at him, her head quiet. No voices, no thoughts, no comments.

Just blank.

But none of that mattered when the boy next to her glanced back at her and smiled, encouraging her to go eat some food.

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━ Authors note!

Welcome back!

If anyone's wondering, the next chapter will be the start of episode one. So, Jackie will finally be joining the mixture!

Please vote and comment if you enjoyed!
It really keeps me motivated lol
I love you all. Stay hydrated.