Grace

By Quinniqua Lindsey

Most teenage girls would be thinking about the latest trends, who is tweeting who, or what college theyre going off to, except Grace. Shes too busy dodging her mother and raising her four-year-old sister all by herself. That is, until her mother decides to take her own life plans and put them on her daughter instead. Graces life is about to get a whole lot more complicated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524606244

Quinniqua Lindsey

Quinniqua Lindsey has always been a lover of reading and writing. With her associate degree in writing from the Columbus College of Art and Design, she as well divides her time between family and photography. She currently lives in Fort Myers, Florida, with her husband and two children.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Shhhh. I heard a giggle in the darkness that alerted me that my mom had brought company over, again.

Three in the morning. Right on time. Where do you want me? My mom asked with a giggle, as they both fumbled noisily outside my bedroom door.

Don’t matter. A deep voice breathed out.

Boom.

A loud thud came from them both crashing against my locked, bedroom door.

Patience. My mom purred, seductively.

I knew they weren’t gonna make it to my mom’s bedroom. So I swiftly gathered up my pillow and blanket and opened up my window that led to a metal balcony. Before I could hear any other sounds I closed the window, threw the blanket over my head, hugged my pillow tight to my chest, and began to hum a nameless tune to myself, that I made up for situations suchas these, and several others. This was the same tune I would hum or sing wordlessly to my sister Lynn at night. It’s the only tune that could put me in a trance to sleep.

I woke up a few hours later, hesitant as always. I wasn’t sure if my mom had left yet or if she and her friend had decided to sleep through the night by my door. But if she was there or not I’d have to get up and get my sister ready.

Ever since Lynn was born, four years ago, I’ve been her primary caretaker since mom isn’t around and I’d like to keep it that way for her sake.

I stiffly stood up from the metal balcony with my pillow and blanket in hand. I took a quick glimpse at the scenery sprawled before me and marveled at its beauty.

There were buildings upon buildings stacked next to one another laid out in no specific pattern or order. Big and small buildings touched one another giving just enough space for the road in between them. I used to love the city, but ever since its underbelly had been tossed into my face, without any warning, I want nothing more than to be free of it and its horrid secrets.

I tediously opened the window and stuck my head in first to listen out for any movement. It seemed to be OK to go inside. I climbed through the window and placed my pillow and blanket on the floor next to my bed, still listening for any kind of sounds.

My first priority was Lynn, but I had to be sure that no one was here.

I walked to my bedroom door and pressed my ear lightly against the door to listen for any movement I might have missed.

Nothing.

I breathed out a sigh of relief. The coast was clear.

I walked to Lynn’s bedroom through our joined bathroom that we shared.

When I opened her door she was just beginning to rustle awake. Her room looked like a typical four-year-old girls room. She had a white bed with two white drawers with flowers to match the bed. Lynn even had pink curtains to go with her pink bedspread.

She had a daisy shaped rug positioned in the center of the room.

I watched as my young sister tossed in her bed. She was so small and innocent. How could mom do this to her child? This thought didn’t linger for too long because Lynn was now turned to me looking wide awake with a smile on her chunky face.

Hey, I whispered to her sweetly, stroking her hair from her face. Did you sleep alright? I asked.

Um-Hum. She nodded.

Did you hear anything last night? I would always ask her this question whenever mom brought one of her friends over.

Lynn shook her little head in response.

That’s good. I huffed with exaggerated relief. Let’s get you cleaned up. I held out my hand for her to take as I lead her to the bathroom.

Once Lynn was bathed and dressed, I gathered myself together after fixing her a bowl of cereal.

As I was walking back to the kitchen I saw a white piece of something on the floor. I figured it was a piece of trash. I was wrong. When I progressed closer it turned out to be a condom.

This was the third time this week.

I shook my head and gave a silent prayer that my mom wasn’t pregnant, again.

This was so annoying how comfortable I was getting with this sick routine.

Lynn had just finished with her breakfast and was trying to lift her bowl into the sink that was much taller than her. I came from behind her and took the bowl from her hands and placed it in the sink for her. Go get your things, Lynn. We’re going to be at Kaylee’s house all day. I cooed with excitement toward her.

Yea. She cheered before sprinting to her room.

I washed out all the dishes and wiped down all the counters in the kitchen. After I put the milk back in the fridge, I noticed that there was a note stuck to the fridge door along with a fat roll of cash.

How did she get so much money? I thought. But on the other hand, I did know how she got all that money.

The note was from my mom.

Now, what did she want?

Grace,

I’ll be home in a few hours. Leave you know who at Kaylee’s place. Take the money I left you and go shopping for a few outfits. I want to see what you got when I get home. This is urgent, so don’t mess up.

Your mom,

Sweets

Was she serious? Go shopping? Why would I do that? She was being ridiculous. I wasn’t doing this. And I definitely wasn’t going to talk to her. I didn’t even like being near her. So I just ripped the note in twenty pieces and left the money on the table.

Lynn, I called to her. She came running into the kitchen clutching her bag tight to her side."

You ready?" I smiled down at her.

Um-Hum. She nodded.

Let’s go then. I swung my duffel over my shoulder and took hold of my sister’s hand in mine, before walking out the door and locking it behind us both.

As we walked to the elevator and waited for the doors to open, a man walked out past us.

I instantly shielded my sister as we both moved into the elevator.

I knew this guy, unfortunately. He was one of my mom’s ‘friends’.

The doors closed and I let out a sigh of relief.

We were on our way to Kaylee’s place. Kaylee is my mom’s close friend and has become my friend as well, due to my mother’s change ever since we moved here. She’s made it a point for me to come by for any reason. She’s more like a mother to me, now.

More than my mom has ever been for me for the past four years.

Kaylee lived two blocks from our place, so we’d always walked. Well, I walked and would carry, Lynn.

I knocked on, Kaylee’s red door, then waited for an answer that didn’t come. I knocked again with a little more force this time. Still nothing. I pulled out my cell and dialed her number.

Hello. Came an exhausted voice.

Hey, it’s me, I said into the receiver.

Oh. She hollered into the phone. I’ll be down in a sec.

Just as she said, in no time, she was opening the door and escorting us inside.

Kaylee lived in a loft townhouse that looked normal on the outside but extraordinary on the inside. Her loft wasn’t big, but it was spacious. She made it seem that way by how she arranged the furniture. Each room she had was a different color. Her seating room was cream colored with black furniture and silver accent pieces. Her kitchen was gray and red. She had a spiral staircase that led up to her two bedrooms, one blue and black, the other purple and gold. The grand bath was all pearl white and bright silver. The bathroom was my personal favorite.

I’m sorry about that, girls. I guess I overslept. How are you? She asked, leading us to the seating room.

Fine, now. But I could use a shower. I told her putting Lynn down.

Of course. You know where it is.

Thanks. I looked down at, Lynn. Now behave yourself.

She nodded.

She’ll be fine. Now go get dressed. She reassured me with a smile.

So I left them both be and went to freshen up.

I don’t shower much at home, anymore, ever since three months ago when my mom brought home a surprise guest.

I hadn’t thought out my plans very well that day and was trapped. I remember that well.

My Grace. Your home. Good. My mom had said to me. I would like you to meet my boss, Martin. She pointed to him sweetly.

Martin wore a small chained necklace with two matching bracelets on each wrist. He had a shaved head and wore a sleek black business suit without a tie and his body was toned well.

I kept telling him about my beautiful daughter and he just had to come take a look at you for himself. She explained to me.

I glared at my mother before crossing my arms and then glared at, Martin, who was trying to hide a smile behind his dark lips. I already felt uncomfortable with him staring at me.

Nice to meet you, I said in a bored tone before turning to walk away.

Hold on, Grace. Martin wants to ask you a few questions. She smiled with pride.

Why? I asked harshly.

Just be appreciative, Grace. I didn’t know what she meant by that.

Martin rose slowly from his seat and took a few steps towards me with his hands in his pockets. I looked into his eyes but noticed that his eyes weren’t on mine. They were roaming over my body instead. He was evaluating all over me, every inch of me. He even had the mordacity to circle around me to get a more thorough look.

That’s enough. My mom told him.

Still his eyes didn’t leave me.

Tell me, Gracie. Is that your real hair? He asked, smiling, grimly.

I paused. What kind of question was that?

Your mother tells me it is. Was she telling the truth? He continued.

I looked to my mom and then back at, Martin, before answering.

Yeah? I answered questionably.

He looked back at my mother and then back at me.

"Your mother also tells me that you have a large cup size for a sixteen-year-old.

Is that true?" Martin asked, casually.

Why was my mother telling him these things about me? He had no right to know these things about me. He’s a complete stranger.

I was not answering this question. So I just looked away.

I can see I have my hands full. This can be settled very easily, Gracie. You could just answer the question or I could personally test your mother’s truth by testing their weight myself. He threatened.

My head shot up and my eyes went wide with rage.

I looked into his eyes. He was serious about his threat.

I cursed under my breath before replying.

Yes, I whispered.

He smirked menacingly, obviously pleased at the fact that he had won. Now, how tall are you?

You should know, my mom seems to be running her mouth off about everything about me to you. I hissed at him, angrily.

Grace. My mom yelled in outrage.

Martin silenced her with a raised hand. You’re smart. I like that. He praised.

Are we done here? I asked frustrated beyond reason and clear sense.

He just ignored me. Your height, please.

I huffed, Five three.

Perfect. What’s your hip size?

I glared at him. I don’t know.

Are you lying to me? He asked with a raised brow of skepticism.

No, I said flatly.

Alright then, I guess that’s all. But I’ll want to know for the next time I drop by.

There won’t be a next time. I guaranteed, before walking to my room to stay.

Ever since then, I’ve become much more paranoid.

I stepped out of, Kaylee’s, shower and took a look at myself in the mirror. I’m sixteen years old, but I sometimes feel older. My chocolate brown skin seemed to glow even more in the pearl white bathroom as my black curly hair stretched down my back in a thick heap of untamed curls.

Over the past four to six years there has been a love-hate relationship when it came to my body.

I’m not sure when it started but I don’t like the way it is with my body. It makes me sick because I don’t want to feel this way and I don’t feel that it’s my fault that I’ve become this way.

When I was through, I went back downstairs where Lynn was watching T.V. seated on the floor.

You look nice, Kaylee commented when I entered the kitchen.

Thanks.

So what’s new? She asked.

Nothing much, I’m afraid.

Oh, I’m so sorry, Grace. She placed her book to the side. Do you want to talk about it?

Not really. There isn’t much to talk about.

Well you know you can always come to me to talk about anything at any time.

I know. But right now I just wanna go to sleep.

Sure. She nodded.

Once I laid my head down on the pillows in the spare bedroom, I was unconscious.

Chapter 2

After I awoke, I made my way back downstairs. First I checked on, Lynn, then I went to the kitchen to find, Kaylee. You look rested. She smiled.

Thanks. I needed that.

No problem. So you wanna talk about it?

There was no hiding anything from, Kaylee. I could always talk to her. One, because I didn’t have any friends and two because she was the one person who wasn’t turning away from me when she heard about my situation.

Kaylee was tall for a woman. She has jet-black hair that she wears straight and is close to my skin complexion with a round nose, full lips, and small, dark brown eyes.

This morning, mom left me a note. It said to go shopping and to leave Lynn here with you. Why do you think she wants me to go shopping?

I honestly don’t know. Maybe we’re reading too much into this.

Maybe. Maybe not. But if she wants to talk with me alone she must be up to something, and that something, most likely isn’t good.

It fell quiet in the room all around us except for the faint sounds of the television heard from the living room.

Enough of this. Let’s eat something and I’ll drop you off at home later, OK?

Two hours later, Kaylee was driving me up to the entrance of my place.

Just in case. Kaylee handed me a knife from her purse.

I nodded.

Now you be a good girl, Lynn. I gave her a quick kiss before turning from the car.

My eyes roamed the outside hall of the apartment before I stuck the key into the lock and opened the door.

It was silent in the apartment. Mom? I called. Nothing. Mom? I called again.

Living room. I heard her say.

I put the keys on the kitchen table before trotting into the living room, where my mom was watering the plants at each corner of the room.

There was only two small windows, which made it hard for the sun to shine through.

We had a tan couch and sofa chair, with a few black, throw pillows, and a love seat pushed against the right wall. There was a glass coffee table with magazines spread across it.

My mom finally turned to me with a perplexed expression on her round, brown face and light brown hair extensions. My mom was very beautiful, but that beauty had changed into something else.

What? I jabbed.

Where are your clothes? Go get them; I want to see what you got. She told me walking from around the couch.

I don’t have any clothes. I don’t need any. Was all I told her.

I say you do. She stood in front of me, with her hands on her hips in disbelief.

Look I can’t do anything about it, now.

Grace, when your mother asks you to do something, I expect you to do it. There was plenty of money. I know you saw it.

Yeah I saw it and I don’t want it. I said, crossing my arms.

Why do you make everything so difficult? She huffed as she slumped down onto the sofa chair.

Difficult? I didn’t do anything wrong. You know I don’t use your money, anyways, ever since I found out how you get it. I said with disgust.

She just rolled her eyes at me.

What’s up, mom? What was so urgent that you had to talk with me with Lynn away?

Sit down. She smiled patting the spot beside her.

I’d rather stand. I said leaning my back against the wall.

She just laughed, which annoyed me. Will you get on with it?

I wanted to talk with you about your future. Ya’ know, like your career goals.

I was taken back. My future? I could tell from her eyes that she was hiding something.

What about them?

I wanna know what you want to do for the rest of your life. You’ll be seventeen this year, and these things should be thought about. She chirped.

Ummm, I want to do a lot of things. Dance, teach, run a business. Whatever I do I want to please and inspire others with my talent. I told her.

My mom grinned ear to ear at my reply.

What now? I tossed my hands up in frustration.

So you’re undecided? She asked.

No. I know what I want to do in life.

So you wanna teach, dance, and run your own business.

My eyes pierced into hers to see what she was getting at.

Great. She leapt from the couch, with joy.

Wait. What great? I asked stunned.

My plan for your future. Well, our future. She moved to stand in front of me.

I knew it. I erupted. I knew you were up to something. I pointed at her, before stepping away.

Grace calm down. My plan for your future is for us to work together. She smiled proudly.

I tilted my head at her still not understanding. What is going on? Was she serious? She didn’t have a real job, at least not a suitable one. I wasn’t working with her. I didn’t even want to be near her.

Just think of it Grace. We’d be a mother and daughter team. You and I. But of course, you my Grace, would be the star. Our main attraction.

Main attraction! I shouted. I’m not gonna become your personal piggybank! You can’t use me like that! I was furious.

You’ve got it all wrong, Grace. I don’t want to use you. I want to teach you." She said with a glint in her eye.

At that, I automatically knew what she wanted me to do. Who she wanted me