An Inheritance

Chapter 30 - FINAL

"See you two on Sunday."  Gracie said as she glanced up from the directions given her. 

"We'll be looking forward to it."  Lauren smiled, then walked out the door as Gracie turned to her friends. 

The sisters walked to the car in silence, then Danielle touched Lauren's arm. "I'm glad you made me go, I needed that closure whether I knew it or not."

Lauren nodded her head.  "It was good for both of us, and Gracie is really sweet."  Then laughingly she added.  "I've always wanted a little sister, someone I could torment as much as you did me. 

"And that was so nice of you to offer dinner, I only get invited over to eat on special occasions.  You're continually complaining you'd have to clean; as though family cares." 

"Yeah, well, I guess it's because I've just volunteered you to do the cleaning."  Danielle laughed as Lauren gave her a gentle push on the shoulder. 

On Sunday, Gracie arrived with a bottle of wine and a bulging canvas bag.  It was a little awkward in the beginning, but by the time everyone sat down at the table to eat, a rhythm had started between the three sisters, an inclusive patter of gentle teasing, questions and answers.   

Jack was thrilled that his new aunt was so young and Lauren had to laugh at his attempts to get Gracie's attention trying to act older than his thirteen years.  As soon as dinner was completed, Kerry recruited his son to help clean up with the promise of heading out to the mall arcade afterwards.  Danielle mouthed 'thank you' to her husband and ushered Lauren and Gracie into the family room.      

"Would you like to see the pictures I brought?"  Gracie nodded toward the canvas bag. 

"Yes"  Lauren and Danielle chimed in together. 

Gracie sat between Lauren and Danielle and dug out the first album.  The first half contained pictures of the farm, her mother and her grandmother, then a picture here and there of their father; pale, drawn and not too healthy.  But as they got closer to the end of the book, Lauren could tell the difference; he had gained some much needed weight, some color and his smile became much more prominent. 

Another album depicted her mother and their father as newlyweds, and shortly thereafter, the parents of Gracie.  They made a nice family and again, Lauren tried hard not to be jealous, not to wish it could have been that way with them.  

As Gracie talked about their father and her mother, she also talked about her schooling and her hopes to be a pharmacist.  "I graduate this spring from Rutgers.  Then I'll be going back to Wisconsin to attend the State's pharmacy college."  She glanced at Danielle and Lauren.  "Would you mind ... or would you like to attend my graduation?  It would mean a lot to me." 

"Of course we'd be happy to come.  We're family aren't we?"  Danielle jumped in, the 'big sister' instincts all in place.   

Lauren inwardly sighed, she would have to get Gracie on the side one of these days and warn her of Danielle's shtick, she'd hate to see Gracie fall down that same hole she's been in since forever. 

From pictures, to graduation, to Lauren's description of Slidell, they talked and laughed and enjoyed each other.  Gracie really was everything her father had said, and more.  She was interested in seeing Baton Rouge, where their father's family was from, and extremely interested in what Lauren was doing in Slidell.  

"Why don't you come down to Slidell after graduation?  The house may still be in renovations, but the apartment I'll be living in has enough room for you, and we can even squeeze you in, Danielle.  Before you come, I can check out Baton Rouge to see if I can find some of Daddy's relatives.  It could be a real nice time for all of us."  Lauren was excited, this would give all of them a chance to get to know each other better and to find out some of the history of their father's side of the family.