She makes a sobbing noise. “I know that now, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you to end the relationship, and I should have encouraged you to pursue your art. I’m glad that despite my interference, your work will be displayed for everyone to see.”
She has a wariness in her eyes as she waits for my reaction. I can choose to be angry about the past, but she meant well. The situation I am in right now takes me back to when Kyle told me how Adrian Martin reacted to the news that he was a father. He had chosen to focus on the present rather than the years he had lost with Kyle. I do the same and choose to focus on here and now.
“I’ve missed you so much, Mom,” I tell her.
Tears fall from her eyes. “You’re a much better person than I am, Gracie.” She opens her arms, and I walk into them.
“I want you and Dad to come to the show,” I tell her.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she says.
***
I’ve been working since noon when Greg dropped me back home and sharp pains in my stomach let me know that I actually need food to survive. I reluctantly put down my paintbrush. I’m on a flow, and if I didn’t have to eat, I would have kept going. Since returning from my parents’ house, I’ve been on cloud nine, and I can’t wait for Kyle to return home tomorrow so that I can tell him all about it.
I stretch and reach for my phone, which has been on silent mode. I see five missed calls from Isla, and my heart skips a beat. With trembling hands, I call her back while my mind tries to figure out what the matter could be. It’s not like her to call me five times. She knows that if she calls me once and I don’t pick up my phone, I’m most likely working and will call her back.
She picks up on the third ring. “Hey.” I immediately sense tension in her voice.
“Hi, Mrs. Cole.”
She doesn’t laugh or acknowledge the name. Something is definitely up.
“What’s going on?” I ask her. “Is Mark all right?”
“Yeah, he’s fine,” she says. “It’s about you, actually. You’re all over the tabloids and TV channels, Grace.”
My insides turn to water. “What about?”
There’s silence on the other side.
“You’re scaring me,” I tell her, clutching the phone tighter than necessary.
“They’ve found out the identity of your parents. They’ve dug out old pictures and articles of you and your parents. I’m sorry, Grace.”
I shake my head and feel as if the weight of the world has settled on my shoulders. It’s been so peaceful the last few weeks, even with Kyle’s father’s death. The media had not found out the connection between him and Adrian Martin, which would have caused a sensation for weeks.
“How did they find out?” Isla says.
“It could be anyone from my past. It doesn’t matter, and to be honest, I knew it was only a matter of time before they did. I guess they’re camped outside the gate now. It’s a good thing I’m not planning on leaving the house.”
“There’s more,” Isla says quietly.
I can’t imagine what more there would be.
“There’s an article claiming that your adopted parents are in debt, and that’s one of the reasons why you’re with Kyle.”
“That’s bullshit,” I explode. “My parents were in financial trouble, and I helped them out of it. I did go into debt, but I’m almost done with it. Besides, it was a long time ago. Oh, God.” I feel nauseous at the thought of all my family’s dirty laundry being aired out in public like that.
My father had made bad financial investments, and in the process, they had almost lost the house. I’d had to take out loans to pay off their debt, and it’s taken me years to recover. I’m embarrassed to tell Isla all this, and I gloss over it. “Thanks for letting me know,” I tell her when we’re done.
“Are you okay? Do you want me to come over?” she says.
“No, I’m fine, I promise.”
Against my better judgment, I go online and type my name on the browser. I see the subject headlines, and nausea rises up my throat. There’s even a picture of my parents’ home side to side to my biological parents’ massive home back in the day.
From This to This, the headline screams.
Tears sprout into my eyes, and I find myself defaulting to wondering whether it’s worth it. Don’t be silly; I scold myself. Kyle is worth it. I know I shouldn’t do it, but I find myself reading the articles. They have most of the facts right, but the one thing they have wrong is the timeline. They make it seem as if all this is happening currently. As if I’m still in debt.