Grace

The Eight-Shaded Rainbow –Part 11

I lost sight of the 7 shades, though, once in a while, I’d have accidental peeks of some of the colours. 

Recently, I saw Grace and Janelle – on Jeff’s birthday party (remember him; my subject in my column?) Of course it was awkward!  But I didn’t go there for anything else but to celebrate Jeff’s birthday.  We said our “Hi’s” and “Hello’s” to show everyone around that we are civilized but it was just a shit show!  Oh, you should see that funny look on Janelle’s face when, Tara, her daughter, upon seeing me coming in by the door, rushed towards me, screaming my name with gusto and then hugged me like never before.  That was very sweet of the child if only she has an idea how her mother dreads the sight.

Jeff and I were then jumping by the dinner table when he saw the personalized birthday banner I made for him.  He hung it on the wall right away.  He liked it so much! (Phew! I’m relieved!)  And of course, the chocolate cake I made too, especially for the occasion.  Somehow, it was such a relief that I have another set of people I can be with on that side of the house.   Friends, who, despite of knowing what went wrong with my relationship with Janelle, chose to stand by me – not only because we are friends; but more than that, they believe in me.  They saw me through as a person and they embraced me as a human being.  I am truly humbled.

In the middle of such a loud crowd, somehow, I managed to find a spot and have a little chat with Grace.  She asked very nicely how I am.  I asked back the same thing.  I asked about her beau – Derek; do they have wedding plans coming up; is the relationship “levelling-up”?  Grace answered “no” to all of this.  In fact, with a very gloomy face, she told me that none of those things might actually happen after all.  She said Derek is way too occupied worrying about finances; the farm expenses and debts piling up; unpaid bank loans; the dilemma that almost all of the farm owners here are going through because of the drought.  Derek’s long time battle against Depression seemed to be not being tamed down by the regular medication anymore but worsened by the gruelling problems.  Grace told me that she is not expecting anything anymore.  (Sigh!)  How so very sad.

I still can remember how Grace started off “liking” Derek.  It wasn’t her choice in the beginning.  Remember she used to curse him?  And call him names?  That was real however.  Grace, for sure, never ever liked Derek to start with.  But her sisters do.  Yes, the sisters who didn’t even meet Derek yet.  All they know of is that, Derek is the youngest son of a Farm-Owner-Couple; “Farm” being the symbolism and synonym of “Big Bucks.”  I can imagine how dollar signs ($$$) popped-out of Grace’s sisters’ eyes (like that of “Tom the Cat” whenever he plans naughty tricks against Jerry), when they heard of Derek’s status.  Coming from Janelle, (back to the time when we were still BFF’s) Grace gave in and accepted her fate of becoming the “troubled-man’s-girlfriend” mainly because of her sisters’ persuasion.  I will have to give a nod on that.  At the back of my mind however, Grace being a sensible person that she is in my opinion, could have thought of the future as well.  I mean, if and when Derek asks her to marry him, she doesn’t have to work as a Caregiver for so long.  Come on, given the chance to be either the slave or the boss, you are well too dumb if you turn down being the boss, right?

As things are going these days however; and as I was talking to her on that birthday party, she is almost losing it.  Her face tells all.  And if only her almost twitching lips could spill it, it would utter only a quivering “REGRET.”

On the lighter side, I simply couldn’t miss out on Grace’s kindness; her devotion to her family and willingness to please her loved ones.  Oh, and did I tell you?  Maya could have had the most angelic face but, Grace is the most beautiful, I would have to say; petite, brown-coloured skin perfectly toned, deep-black hair draping beyond her shoulders, the most expressive eyes I have ever seen and the voice of a real angel – yes, she can sing, and I mean, really well.  To top it all, she is a degree holder – a Physical Therapist.

What I am trying to say is, Grace could have had options.  But she chose to listen to her sisters; because she loves them, because she respects them.  Maybe in her thoughts, it could work too; but it doesn’t seem like it as of this time.

In all fairness to Grace, she’s the only other person during that fateful night over Janelle and Adam’s house when things went awfully-wrong.  And although she went off to bed early on, she was half-asleep the whole time she said and that made her half-convinced that those disgusting things actually happened.  Right after the falling apart, Grace was the one person who continued calling me and kept me close however possible.  If only for that, I am more confident that I have nothing to be ashamed of after all.

And to end this episode without sounding like I wanted an ally, I just wanted for things to get better for Grace.  Friends or not we may be, I believe she is a very kind-hearted person; a very religious being too -she deserves only the best.

Anyway, Beatriz has had Eric for a “rebound.”  

I finally confirmed that.  I will tell you more next time.