Chapter 4

Derek-

Mrs. White seemed to almost realize that Grace was in front of her if I didn't cover her face with my hand things may have gone down badly. Luckily she bought my little lie and just thought she had mistaken her for someone else which she wasn't wrong since Grace was the one there. We luckily got out of there pretty well without getting another word from that woman or her husband.

I wanted to say something to her since it's been quiet ever since we left but I wasn't sure what to say?

"I'm sorry for crying back there everything seems to be making me cry with a baby being on the way and thank you for what you did back there for me I appreciate it." She said with a smile.

"Of course."

"Well, I guess I did say I would give my answer after dinner so..." My heart felt like it was going to leap out of my chest she was giving me her answer that I'd been dying to hear for the longest time. "My answer to you is going to be a...yes, I thank you very much for giving me a chance to sleep under a roof and in a warm bed."

I didn't have to look at her to know she was crying again I could hear it in her voice. "Would you like to go shopping for all the things you need for yourself and your baby?" I asked. "That is unless you'd rather rest?"

"No, I'd like to go shopping but I won't be able to pay you back?" She told with a frown whipping away her tears.

"There's no need for that it's alright."

"Are you sure I don't want you to think I'm just some poor teenager trying to take your money for myself and my baby?"

"Yes, my sure," I told with a smile.

She nodded without a word leaving silence between us for the rest of the drive until we made it to the mall.

Walking side by side we went through clothing, shoes, beauty care, and handbag stores. Grace picked things off the lower price that she needed. The price came out to be three hundred and forty-six dollars which made her jaw drop to the floor.

We then went to the baby store which was on the other side of the mall and she looked through all sorts of clothes even though she didn't know the gender of the baby yet. Laughter spewed from Grace's body

"Oh my goodness look at this." He turned to face her and she held up a onesie saying 'I'm the cutest of them all.'

"I'm sure the baby will be just as cute as its mommy," I agreed with a smile. Grace's face flushed redder than a cherry from my comment. It was easy to make her blush it had only taken me to say very few words.

As she then continued to search and pick out things she'll need for the baby I stood back a few feet away and admired her beautiful smile. Her happiness spread like butterflies flying in the air it gave me joy, to see her all happy.

When the time continued to go by shopping came to an end due to the mall closing in the next thirty minutes. "Let me carry those for you?"

"No, it's okay your hands are already full from the other bags I can carry these four there not that heavy."

I held out my hand even though she told me, no but I couldn't help but want to help her carry the other four bags with completely full hands. But instead of handing over the bags, she slipped the two bags around her arm and put her hand into mine. I looked at our hands and up at her she smiled but I had no idea what to really think besides what did it mean or what was the reason she took my hand?

"Woah it's dark already!" She said in a loud surprised tone when we stepped out of the mall.

"Yeah, we've been shopping all day." I lead her to the car and packed all the bags inside the trunk then opened the passenger door for her and stood at the side with a small smile as I watched her protect her unborn child.

Why did those people have to hide her away in their house for all those years? If I had bumped into her sooner things may have been a bit better she would have been able to go to school and college if she chose to. She would have been mine and no one else's.

"Why are you just staring?" She asked in confusion.

I turned my eyes away from her. Oh geez "I'm sorry?" I shut her door softly and walked around the back of the car and smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand. "Derek how could you do that and embarrass yourself?!" I scolded myself in a whisper.

When I pulled into the parking lot in front of the apartment building I nudged Grace a little to wake her up from a nap and she shot up quicker than I expected her to. "Sorry, it's just we're home now?" I told.

"Hm oh?" She popped up in excitement. "Okay, can we go in now?" She smiled up at him before looking back at the apartment building and opening the car door.

"Wait a minute!" I held back her shoulder before she could hurt herself. "You need to unbuckle first?"

"Oh thank you." She unbuckled and stepped out of the car.

Taking a deep breath I unlocked the trunk and got out of the car then grabbing every bag, Grace snatches one away from me.

"I'll carry just one okay?" She said with her index finger in between us looking cute as ever.

"Alright follow me let's get inside it's quite chilly out tonight."

Walking her through the building I lead her to my apartment on the first floor. We stopped in front of my door and Grace grew more excited as I turned the key. Stepping to the side I allowed Grace to enter before me.

"Wow, it looks so nice! May I see my room now?" She asked with pure excitement looking into my eyes.

"Of course follow me?"

Walking through the living room and the first door on the left in the hall was her, now to be, bedroom, that she would sleep in for however long she wished to stay with me. Adjusting the bags in my hands I turn the knob and push the door open for her to see her room.

A gasp left Grace's lips and walked inside placing the single bag she carried and placed in on the bed. "Wow! I can't believe it is this really my bedroom? Am I really able to use this? It's like a dream and I don't want to wake up from it." She wondered and carefully looked around with tears starting to swell up in her eyes.

"All yours to keep for as long as you wish to keep it? You deserve it Grace and I'll do anything for you remember that?" I gently pulled her into a hug and caressed her back in a warm and friendly way.

Then slightly pulled away to see her eyes. "Are you hungry?" I asked and she surprised me by wrapping her arms back around my waist. I couldn't help but want to hold her a bit longer but I couldn't it wouldn't be right when we've only just met two days ago. Even if we were friends I couldn't do it it would frighten her when I had invited her inside my home for her to stay and I end up acting the wrong way?

"Yes, a little hungry?" She giggled when her stomach suddenly growled. Her laugh calmed my senses and made me realize how much I love to hear it.

"Okay how about I make spaghetti?"

"Mhm yes please."

"Alright while I cook why don't you go and wash up it's the next door down the hall?"

"Do I smell?" She asked.

"No, you don't it's just I figured you'd want to shower before going to bed."

"Mm, your right?" Grace walked to the bed and pulled, out a pair of new pajamas out of one of the many bags that lay on the bed. Letting her get ready for her shower I went into the kitchen and started filling a pot with water and set it on the burner to boil.

Then suddenly Grace walks in behind me. "Hey I'm sorry but where is the shampoo?" She asked. I turned around taking a sip of water to see her only wearing a towel around her small body causing me to choke from the sudden surprise.

Did she not know what she could get herself into if she looked like that in front of many other men? Why was she standing in my kitchen with just a towel covering her body? She couldn't possibly trust him that much already could she?

"Uh, there should be a new bottle under the sink."

"Okay thank you." She smiled shyly and walked away.

Standing there in confusion for a moment before turning my attention back to the bowling water I try to finish cooking without thinking too much about it.

When the spaghetti was done and put on two separate plates Grace walks at the perfect time. "Mmm smells so good?"

I chuckled lightly. "Why don't you sit down at the table right there?" I place a serving in front of Grace and sat at the table on the other side of her. I said a short and silent prayer then we began to eat.

When we had eaten most of the spaghetti we finished the rest of the day off by relaxing on the couch and watching a movie and I notice Grace beginning to rock in different directions from drowsiness then, plops her head on my shoulder in a complete sleep.

I turned my head slightly to the left to look at her. Her hand rested on her baby bump while the other rested on the side of her. Why did that boy hurt her in so many different ways what had she done to deserve so much physical and emotional pain in her life from the White family?

I don't believe she did, it was just unfortunate she was brought into a family to take care of her who only cared about themselves.

Grace...I think I'm...falling in love with you? No, I am in love with you I've fallen in love with your beauty your laugh and, smile everything about you is perfect as can be. And it all started on our first greeting?

I want you to stay with me forever but if you choose to leave I won't stop you since you are able to choose what you want for yourself and your baby as an adult? "I'll help and protect you for as long as you wish me to from that boy, I promise," I whispered taking my hand up by her cheek and gently brushing away strands of her hair from her eyes.

"I'll do all that I can to put him behind bars for a very long time and you'll be free from all the fear you try to hide underneath all that joy."

I hope you could trust and be patient with me for I also have struggles of my own? Things I can't bring myself to share with anyone except for Ryan a great friend of mine? A friend who stayed by my side when I cried myself to sleep as a child when my father vanished from my existence or when I missed my mother who now lived up in the heavens with no more pain or sorrow to live or think about?

"Grace?"