Page 70 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell

“Well, I’m a little thin on relatives willing to step up and help me with her, even her own grandmother, my eldest daughter.”

Gracie’s jaw tightened. She couldn’t imagine not being there for her family, especially if they needed her.

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Gracie said. “I was a little surprised to find out you were her great-grandmother.”

“Well, I had my daughter when I was barely twenty, and my daughter had my granddaughter when she was just sixteen. I guess you could say I was the only one who ever had my life together; Lord knows all of my children seem to have struggled through life and their children, well…” Margaret shook her head. “I was ashamed when I heard what my granddaughter did to Jocelyn, leaving her with that woman. Makes me so mad and sad at the same time.” Margaret seemed to get a hold of herself. “But I don’t mean to burden you with all my family drama.”

“I don’t mind. I was curious about you all, but I am sorry that your children aren’t stepping up to help you.”

Margaret shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do about it now. I thought I raised them better, but apparently, I failed.”

The older woman’s voice was so dejected that Gracie reached out for her hand to squeeze. “You know, sometimes kids are just screwed up through no fault of their parents’.”

“Well, I wish that were true, honey.” Margaret used her free hand to wipe at her wet eyes. “You’re a good soul, you know that? I could tell over the phone I was going to like you right off.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

“Which is why I want you to adopt Jocelyn.”

Gracie jumped in surprise. “But…why? Don’t you want her?”

“Of course I do. She is the sweetest thing, but I… The week before Jocelyn came to live with me, I had some tests run. Turns out I won’t be around to raise Jocelyn like I’d hoped.”

Gracie’s chest ached for her, and she put her other hand over their clasped ones.

“And I’ve been asking the rest of my family if anyone would take her in, but they just…they’re just selfish.”

“Do they know what’s going on with you?” Gracie asked.

“Yes, but…they have children of their own, lives of their own, and the rest I wouldn’t give a dog I didn’t like.”

Gracie bit her lip to keep from laughing, which would have been very inappropriate. “Are you sure you want me? What if they change their mind?”

“They won’t. I guarantee it. Besides, as her legal guardian, I plan to relinquish my rights, and as long as no one contests it, you can file for guardianship, then adoption.”

Her heart wouldn’t stop drumming. “When?”

“I’d like to keep her through the holidays if it’s all right with you,” Margaret said. “And visitation.”

“Of course, that isn’t even a question.”

Margaret gave her a small smile. “According to the doctors, you shouldn’t have to deal with me long.”

“Stop, please.”

Margaret was quiet for several seconds, and Gracie broke the silence. “Can I see her? Soon, I mean.”

“Yes, I think that would be good. We can set it up and plan where to go from here.”

“Great. Oh, I brought Pip’s Christmas present with me. I left it in the car in case…well, in case this didn’t go well.”

Margaret smiled. “Why don’t you hang on to it and give it to her this weekend? We’ll make arrangements.”

“Thank you so much.” Gracie was so filled with warmth and excitement, she couldn’t wait to tell…

Eric.

She wanted to be able to call Eric and tell him all about it, but she’d been a shit. A lily-livered coward, and all over her own mixed feelings about what they were to each other. They were friends who occasionally fought, had sex, and confided in each other. There was nothing wrong with that. She just had to remember that was all this was.

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