assumed that with how close you and Robert have become, especially so quickly…I’d understand if you’ve moved onto that stage-”
“Janice, I know what you’re trying to get at, but please believe me when I say that Robert and I are taking things slowly. Very slowly. Almost too slowly.” I felt the tickle around my ankle once more and wished I had a vacuum at that moment…being sucked through a HEPA filter would do him a world of good…
“Well, I think that’s good, Grace. You’re young, you’ve got a bright future ahead of you—you don’t want to move too quickly on something that might only be a fleeting part of your life,” Janice said, her smile sincere, as she reached for my hand.
I snatched it out of hers roughly. Her words hadn’t been meant to hurt, but they did, and I didn’t like the way that made me feel. “Janice, Robert isn’t going anywhere, and neither am I. What we have isn’t fleeting. He’s going to be a permanent part of my life, just as permanent as you are in Dad’s.”
I saw her smile fade a little as she allowed my words to sink in. “Grace, please tell me you haven’t started to think about a future with him. It’s too soon!”
I swallowed down the bitterness and replied calmly, “I’m not talking about us getting married, Janice. But, I don’t know…maybe in a few years that might happen. But even if it doesn’t, Robert will still be a part of my life.”
Janice once again reached for my hand, and this time held it firmly between hers, unwilling to allow me to pull away again. “Grace, you’ve got to understand that I’m only asking you about this because I care about you. Your father told me that he hadn’t talked about any of this with you, and I don’t want you to make any foolish and avoidable mistakes.”
I understood what her reasons were, but I knew that my life wasn’t meant to follow the same path that every other girl that lived in Heath’s would. Robert entering my life had proved that.
I looked back at the ring on my finger and felt the need to ask the question… “Janice, what would you say if Robert said that he wanted things to be permanent between the two of us?”
Janice’s face expressed a look of shock and alarm. Me and my big mouth. “Why, Grace? Are you actually considering it? Did he ask you to marry him?” Her thumb pressed the ring on my finger into my skin, and I could feel the circulation begin to cut off.
“No, Janice, he didn’t ask me to marry him, but judging by your reaction, I can see that it wouldn’t exactly be a good thing if he had.” I knew that though my question had more to do with Robert’s desire to make my life more permanent in the literal sense, she had taken it figuratively, and the ramifications were now starting to rain down on my head as she stood up and began to pace the small space between the wall housing my window and my bed.
“He’s a nice boy, Grace, and I’m very glad that he’s in your life, but I think this is all moving a bit too fast for you. You only just turned eighteen. You’re still in high school. Who knows what will happen when the two of you graduate and head off to college.
“And what’ll your dad think? You’re his only daughter. He already thinks you two spend far too much time together as it is, and now with Graham here, what’s Robert gonna think? What will he feel he needs to do to keep your eyes on him?”
I coughed as a bubble of laughter tried to break through. “Janice,” I began, but was instantly cut off by her continued argument.
“Robert’s not from here, Grace. He grew up in Europe. Ameila and I had a long conversation about his childhood. Europe has different ideas about relationships and sex. They’re much more open there, much more…free. I don’t want you to feel pressured into doing anything you don’t want to. I know you said that
“Janice, I know what you’re trying to get at, but please believe me when I say that Robert and I are taking things slowly. Very slowly. Almost too slowly.” I felt the tickle around my ankle once more and wished I had a vacuum at that moment…being sucked through a HEPA filter would do him a world of good…
“Well, I think that’s good, Grace. You’re young, you’ve got a bright future ahead of you—you don’t want to move too quickly on something that might only be a fleeting part of your life,” Janice said, her smile sincere, as she reached for my hand.
I snatched it out of hers roughly. Her words hadn’t been meant to hurt, but they did, and I didn’t like the way that made me feel. “Janice, Robert isn’t going anywhere, and neither am I. What we have isn’t fleeting. He’s going to be a permanent part of my life, just as permanent as you are in Dad’s.”
I saw her smile fade a little as she allowed my words to sink in. “Grace, please tell me you haven’t started to think about a future with him. It’s too soon!”
I swallowed down the bitterness and replied calmly, “I’m not talking about us getting married, Janice. But, I don’t know…maybe in a few years that might happen. But even if it doesn’t, Robert will still be a part of my life.”
Janice once again reached for my hand, and this time held it firmly between hers, unwilling to allow me to pull away again. “Grace, you’ve got to understand that I’m only asking you about this because I care about you. Your father told me that he hadn’t talked about any of this with you, and I don’t want you to make any foolish and avoidable mistakes.”
I understood what her reasons were, but I knew that my life wasn’t meant to follow the same path that every other girl that lived in Heath’s would. Robert entering my life had proved that.
I looked back at the ring on my finger and felt the need to ask the question… “Janice, what would you say if Robert said that he wanted things to be permanent between the two of us?”
Janice’s face expressed a look of shock and alarm. Me and my big mouth. “Why, Grace? Are you actually considering it? Did he ask you to marry him?” Her thumb pressed the ring on my finger into my skin, and I could feel the circulation begin to cut off.
“No, Janice, he didn’t ask me to marry him, but judging by your reaction, I can see that it wouldn’t exactly be a good thing if he had.” I knew that though my question had more to do with Robert’s desire to make my life more permanent in the literal sense, she had taken it figuratively, and the ramifications were now starting to rain down on my head as she stood up and began to pace the small space between the wall housing my window and my bed.
“He’s a nice boy, Grace, and I’m very glad that he’s in your life, but I think this is all moving a bit too fast for you. You only just turned eighteen. You’re still in high school. Who knows what will happen when the two of you graduate and head off to college.
“And what’ll your dad think? You’re his only daughter. He already thinks you two spend far too much time together as it is, and now with Graham here, what’s Robert gonna think? What will he feel he needs to do to keep your eyes on him?”
I coughed as a bubble of laughter tried to break through. “Janice,” I began, but was instantly cut off by her continued argument.
“Robert’s not from here, Grace. He grew up in Europe. Ameila and I had a long conversation about his childhood. Europe has different ideas about relationships and sex. They’re much more open there, much more…free. I don’t want you to feel pressured into doing anything you don’t want to. I know you said that
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