Change of Heart

Part 38

As Grace ran to the door, Connie rolled her eyes hurrying after her. "Okay, okay... Anyone would think they were your guest Grace." Unlocking the door and pulling it open she looked down to see Jacob on the porch smiling up at them. Moving out of the way, Grace ran forwards as Jacob stepped inside. "JACOB!" He laughed dropping down to her level as he wrapped his arms around her with a bright smile. "Hey there firecracker." Standing up with her in his arms, she giggled wrapping herself around him while he closed the front door.

Connie moved to the living room turning the TV over before Jacob placed Grace down as she ran into the room stopping her mother from changing the channel again. Sitting down on the floor she grabbed her rabbit watching the TV while Connie moved to step out again. Before she could walk into the kitchen Jacob stopped her, enveloping her into a hug from behind. "Excuse me Mrs Beauchamp but aren't you meant to greet your guests-" "She did." He smiled pressing a kiss to her neck before loosening his grip glancing back round to Grace.

With her watching the TV, he wandered down into the kitchen with Connie who pulled two glasses from the cupboard. She poured two cold drinks from the fridge before passing one to him as he smiled gently. "Thanks, did you get that message from Hansen?" She nodded rolling her eyes as she wandered back across the kitchen placing her glass down. "I've been back two weeks and already I'm asking myself why I came back with him still here."

Jacob smiled gently watching her as she remained across the other side of the room. Although she was back and things were seemingly good, she'd been more reserved than usual. "Is everything alright?" "Fine, why wouldn't it be?" Jacob shrugged standing up as he left his glass on the side moving closer to her, his arms slipping around her waist easily. "Because you've been a little more than distant since you've been back." She sighed placing her hand to his chest a small smile coming and going from her lips.

"It's nothing, really." Stepping out of his arms he watched as she wandered towards the living room where Grace was still sitting on the floor. She put down a fresh drink for her as Jacob walked in. "You okay Grace?" "Yes Jacob." "Good, I'm just gonna talk to your Mummy okay?" Grace nodded with a smile before turning to Connie pulling on her hand. "Hey!" She pulled her hand back as they stood in the kitchen again, her arms folded against her chest. "Was there any need for that?" "Talk to me..."

He closed the space between them brushing his fingers over her cheek as she released a breath quietly. "I said it's nothing-" "Clearly it's something. You're regretting coming back aren't you?" She scoffed stepping away shaking her head. "You're very clearly not as good at reading minds as you like to think muscles." He smiled gently as she moved towards the sink before turning back round to face him. "I want to do it properly this time-" "What?" He laughed watching her as she shook her head. "I'm being serious."

Jacob rolled his eyes moving closer taking hold of her hands gently. "And you couldn't have just told me that instead of being all weird?" She shrugged her shoulders looking down as he laughed with another shake of his head. "You're a pain in the a-" "Remember you told me you didn't want easy Masters-" "Mummy?" "Yes baby..." Stepping out from in front of Jacob she wandered to where Grace stood bending down to her level. "I think if you ask him nicely he might."

Grace moved from before Connie to stand in front of Jacob. "Jacob will you play with me?" "Of course I will." She smiled moving to take his hand as they wandered back past Connie. As he sat on the floor beside her, Connie stood in the doorway. "I've got a few things I could do with finishing off, do you mind watching her for a bit?" "Course not, don't worry we'll be fine down here won't we firecracker." Connie smiled quickly before backing out of the room and heading upstairs.

Jacob lay on his back as Grace continued giggling and laughing before he pulled her onto his stomach. Lifting her into the air, she laughed a little louder as he spoke up to her before placing her down across himself. "Where's your Mummy got to hmm?" Turning his wrist over, he saw that almost an hour had gone by without seeing her since she'd gone upstairs. Grace clambered off of his chest and sat on the floor once again continuing with her colouring. Sitting forwards Jacob ran a hand through Grace's hair before kissing her forehead. "I'm just gonna go check on your Mummy okay?"