Chapter 3

Grace-

Had I heard him correctly? Did he say he liked, me? He couldn't mean he liked, liked me I was a pregnant teenager and there was no way I could be pretty enough for him when I was ugly compared to all the women in the city.

But the speckled tears couldn't be held back from falling down onto his hand that was placed on mine. And then suddenly he pulled his hand away and got out of his car. I burst into tears what was I supposed to do I had upset him? At least I thought until my door flew open and the seat belt was unbuckled.

Being pulled out of my seat I was in his arms quicker than I could imagine. I had been in his arms before but this time it felt too real to be true why would he care for someone like me so much that he would take his time to worry about me instead of himself.

"Please don't cry?" He said. His hand stroked my back with the feeling of his fingers tangling in my hair.

When I calmed down I breathed against his chest and stayed for just a little bit longer. I don't want to ever forget the warm feeling he causes to erupt in my chest each time his arms are around me.

When my stomach growled loudly I pulled out of his arms feeling embarrassed. "Thank you for being so kind to me even though you don't have to?" I told. It's crazy to me to think there are actually good people out in the world after being raised by abusive people pretty much my whole life.

And I'm glad one of the many good people in the world is Derek Presley who I got to meet just yesterday and yet it feels like I've known him longer?

He had taken a hold of my hand and smiled I could tell he was trying not to laugh. "Why don't we go inside and get something to eat?" I nodded and we walked inside hand in hand. We stood in a short line before it was our turn and waited a little bit longer till we were seated at our table.

I've never been inside of Applebees in my life but it was quite nice inside. We were sitting by a window and even the outside view was somewhat nice. I could see all the people walking up and down the streets on their way to work and?!-

I quickly slouched down in my seat I didn't expect to see Mr. and Mrs. White walking around the city at this time of day and the worst part was they were coming straight inside. I couldn't let them see me who knew what they would do if they found out.

"Grace are you okay?" I slightly looked up to meet his when he was leaning over the table.

"Over there, is Logan's parents." I pointed over in the direction of the entrance where they were waiting to be seated.

"Oh okay well sit up straight you don't want to make it obvious that your hiding from them?" I sat up straight and tried to keep my eyes off of them. Soon after a waitress came over and asked us what we'd like to drink I had gotten some water and Derek got a black coffee. I don't know how some people like that stuff it's very strong and gross.

I couldn't help but not look over at the entrance but quickly looked away when Mr. and Mrs. White were coming toward our table with the waiter they were following. Then a familiar hand went over mine I looked up and Derek was looking into my eyes with reassurance that everything will be okay.

He was one great man I can't lie how could I when he has been nothing but good to me? So maybe it won't be bad if I lived with him? He didn't give off red flags and anything but even someone like Logan could be nice and hide all his bad intentions from some girl and get them caught in his nasty trap.

Understanding men is hard no one knows what's going on in their minds?

"I'll give you my answer when we leave," I said more in a whisper than what I wanted it to. "Now where are they sitting?" I leaned over the table and brought my hand that was under his to my chest.

"Oh, um there the next table down from the one behind you?" He told with a hint of confusion in his voice.

Maybe it wasn't the right time to tell him about when I would tell him? He seems to be confused and a bit nervous about it? Maybe he had changed his mind and don't want me to move in with him anymore. I wouldn't blame him if he didn't when I'm just a pregnant teenager with no beauty to show off. "Do you want me to live with you?" I sat back in my seat with my hand over my mouth. I had just said that out loud without thinking why did I say that!

He had tilted his head resting on his hand. "Would you like to live with me?" He asked, with another question.

"I asked you first?" I smiled resting my head on my hand as he did. "You want me to live with you?" I repeated.

"Here you are have you figured out what you'd like to eat or do you need some more time?" The waitress interrupted while trying to be all cute in front of Derek. I signed and crossed my arms over my chest there always had to be interruptions just like in the movies.

"Grace?" He whispered.

I looked over at him and up at the waitress. "I'll have a steak and mashed potatoes with green beans, please."

"Alright is that it for you?"

"Yes, that's it for us." He said.

When the woman finally left I stayed quiet in my seat without looking up at him I was too nervous too since I never got my answer. And having Logan's parents behind me didn't help how I felt.

"Grace I'd like for you to stay with me but I won't stop you if you choose not to?"

He still wanted me to stay he never changed his mind? But why did he want me to stay with him what are his intentions what did he want from me or worse my baby? Maybe if I get some information from him I'll find out what he's like?

"Why don't you tell me about yourself? I've told you about myself so it would only be fair right?" I asked with a smile. "And it will help me understand my clear answer for you."

"Okay." He nodded in agreement. "Well, I have my own writing business up here in the city and when I was seven I grew up without a mother or father my mother died from a sudden illness and my father left me with my best friend and his parents and until this day I've never heard from him, I don't even remember his face? As a child growing up I would always wonder when he would return to me up until my teenage years I don't want to get into much detail because I wish to not remember those days but I was a boy who would sneak out to go to bad parties that had heavy drinking and even drugs but I was pretty good at keeping my distance from the girls. But at that point, I gave up on wondering and just accepted that he would never come back to me. And that carried on until I turned nineteen when I found the solution for all my problems that I deeply struggled with I found that missing piece for my lost soul. His name is Jesus the Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords. Do you believe in God, Grace?"

"Oh um no I don't think so I've never heard much about Him? The White family weren't ones to go to church or pray and I was never to leave the house so I never got the chance to know about God?"

He was religious? If I choose to live with him that is a good thing to know it makes me feel more at ease for some reason by hearing that maybe because he had more self-control than Logan and his beliefs would be placed on good, moral?

And his story seemed quite sad his mother passed and his father had left him at such a young age? What kind of father could do such a thing like that to their own child. Just decide to leave without a care about how his son may have felt?

"Sorry for the wait I hope you both enjoy your meals." The waitress placed the plates in front of us on the table.

"Thank you." He said.

"Mm, it looks delicious?"

"Why don't you eat it instead of staring at it?" He said with a small laugh behind it.

"Your right I should thank you for the meal." I smiled.

A moment later we finished our meal I gave up on dessert while Derek got something called the blue ribbon brownie which looked mouth-watering delicious I felt full but I really wanted to try it. But I couldn't just ask him if I could try it when it was his dessert?

I should have gotten it when I had the chance I didn't know how delicious it looked though so that was a mistake I'd never do again.

I caught eye contact with him and quickly looked away I couldn't let him know how much I wanted to try that dessert of his.

"You want it?"

"What?" I said unsure if I heard him right.

"If I take another bite I think I might explode?" He chuckled his eyes sparkled so bright just like his smile he is so good-looking. I'm not sure if I should think of him in that way but it was true I can't lie to myself. The heart and mind know what it wants. But why do I seem to not know what I want?

All I know is that I want my baby to be happy and healthy but what about myself? It's never come to mind?

I slid the plate to my side of the table and picked up my spoon and ate the delicious-looking dessert. It tasted as delicious as it looked it was rich in chocolate and the vanilla ice cream was sweet. It had to of been the best thing I had ever eaten.

When I had finished it I put the plate aside and we got ready to leave but before I could stand up the tears began to form and fall. I wish I could just stop crying but I couldn't help it I finally felt happy after so many years of going through abuse. Derek made me feel happy and free like I didn't have to worry about what my past once was.

I stood up from a small tug on my arm and hid my face in his chest. "Thank you?" I whispered. "Thank you for making me feel happy even though I still don't seem to understand why you treat me so well?"

"Is everything okay?" A voice that spoken behind her could never be mistaken it belonged to Mrs. White the woman I despised.

My head was hidden and pressed against his chest with his hand. He held me tighter like a parent would when protecting their child. But I was pretty much nineteen I wasn't a child. My birthday was only a week away but I tell everyone I'm my coming age instead.

"We're alright it's happy tears that are flowing." He told them I could tell he said it using a smile but the way he said it also seem to be more of like a way to tell them to back off but I could have just imagined him speaking that way?

"Oh...wait? Can she turn around so I could see her?" She asked.

"Why do you want to see her face? If your think she's someone you know then you got the wrong woman. She's been with me for a year and she doesn't know that many middle-aged men and women?"

"I'm sorry if I've upset you in any way it's just that a young girl I took care of had run away from home and feeling how sad I am about her disappearance must have seen similarities in your girlfriend?"

How dare she say such lies she didn't miss me she only missed the fact that she couldn't boss anyone around anymore! Her son was pretty much an angel in her eyes so she wouldn't dare raise her voice at him.

I just wanted to leave this man and woman's presence and go to a place that she called home? I tugged on the back of his shirt and slightly looked up to see his eyes. He had gotten the idea and without another word, we left Applebees.