Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.9

A few days after my afternoon with Jonas I got a call that was another moment in life I was unprepared for. Mom called to tell me Grammy Sha had a stroke while they were working in their yard. Grams had called 911, Mom was on duty when they arrived. I needed to contact Hope then get to the hospital, Dad was already on the way. The hospital, like the library, was a place I'd not wanted to ever visit again. The idea of going back there had me temporarily frozen in fear. I couldn't not go, my family needed me. After making the call to Hope I hopped in my truck and made the drive into town.



Seeing the look on Dad's face, it took me back to the day they found me. The heartache was so clear. Grams was crying, Mom was trying to console her. The doctors weren't hopeful that Grammy Sha would make it. When Jonas called me that evening, I was comforted, surprisingly, by the sound of his voice. He offered to come to the hospital which I thought was very nice of him, but I told him it wasn't necessary.

I'd never lost anyone I loved before. My family was always there for me, I don't know why I never considered life without them. I got my first dose of reality that night when Grammy Sha passed in her sleep. Death is a fact of life, I knew that, but that didn't make losing her any easier for any of us. Grams was very distraught so Dad and Mom took her home with them while I headed home to check on Vor who I'm sure was very confused as to why I had been gone all night. I was comforted to receive his excited greeting when I walked in. Hope texted me that she had arrived at the airport and was taking a taxi to my house, from there we would go to Grams and stay with her a few days.

Soon as I saw Grams she pulled me and Hope into hugs. Grams has always been so lively, and upbeat, seeing her like this was heartbreaking. She just looked so sad and lost, with good reason.

Her eyes were red from crying. I felt bad for her, she and Grammy Sha had been together for many years. Dad had tried to convince her to move in with him and Mom. He didn't want her in the big house all alone especially since she was older. He was making the arrangements for the funeral.

When Grams walked into the house, she started crying again. Hope took her upstairs while I prepared lunch. Grams was all alone now. Not really alone, she had all of us, but it was different. If she didn't want to live with Mom and Dad maybe she'd move in with me. I had an extra room. I'd have to remember to ask her after the services.

The funeral was small, mostly family and a few of their friends they'd made over at the senior rec center. Jonas had sent a floral arrangement and Grams took that opportunity to grill Hope and I about giving her great grandkids. We both humored her since it took her mind off the grief. I doubted Hope ever wanted to settle down, she was like Dad, but then again he did so anything was possible. Me on the other hand...they like a lot of things weren't in my future. Not unless I decided to adopt at some point, but who would really give a child to a single woman that basically lived as a recluse. Nope, no kids for me.

Hope had taken vacation, she spent a few days with Gram who decided to sell the house and move into one of those planned senior communities. Apparently she and Grammy Sha had been discussing it since the larger house was becoming too much to handle. Mom and Dad tried to get her to live with them and I offered my extra room, but she said she already had friends there, and wanted to go. It wasn't a 'nursing' home but they did keep medical staff on the premises so that did put Dad at ease. Her mind was made up so Dad and Mom spent time helping her get things in order preparing for the sale. Hope and I did get to spend some time together. I'd missed having her around.

"So tell me about Jonas."

"You already know about him. There's nothing to tell."

"Really? You smiled every time his number showed up on your phone. I think there's a lot to tell sis. Is he cute? Is he funny?"

"He's just...a friend. Someone I talked to other than Vor or you guys. I guess you could say he's cute and he is funny at times."

"Uh-huh...well I want to meet him so call him up."

"What? I...I can't just call him up. He works he can't just drop what he's doing because my crazy sister wants to meet him."

"Fine! I'll call him."

With that she snatched up my phone off the table and ran into my room locking the door. I jiggled the door, banging on it in vain to have her let me in. A few minutes later she came out all smiles and handed me my phone.

"Let's hop in that heap of yours and head to town. He said he'd love to meet me. He's taking us to lunch."

I made sure Vor's bowl was full before begrudgingly heading to town. Hope was very excited, but I was nervous. They'd made plans for us to meet at Hogan's Hideaway. Jonas was waiting for us when we arrived. I made introductions and Hope elbowed me in the side and gave me a wink for some reason.

"Nice to meet you. I've heard soooo much about you."

I just hung my head listening to how she stretched that word. This was a bad idea, Hope was a lot to take. Always so vibrant and full of life. Jonas just laughed and shook her hand.

"All good things I hope."

"Yeah, Grace has never talked about having a friend before. You're like some rare creature that needs to be studied."

"Well, as long as dissection isn't involved, study away."

They both laughed and I was feeling like the third wheel. This was how I'd always felt when she'd drag me out with her group of friends. It was time for me to fade into the background like usual. During lunch, Hope and Jonas talked and laughed easily. They really could have had this meeting without me, but Jonas would make a point to ask me questions directly to bring me into the conversation. He made sure I didn't feel forgotten.

On the drive home, Hope kept smiling at me.

"Gracie, he's a hottie! I like him."

"I could tell."

I had never been bothered by Hope's friendliness before. We were exact opposites but got along great despite that fact. However seeing how easily she got along with Jonas did bother me and I didn't understand why.

"Oh, Gracie, I didn't mean like that. No need to be mad, I would never move in on your territory."

"I'm not mad. And what do you mean my territory?"

"You are mad. I can always tell."

I didn't say anything. I wasn't mad, her behavior wasn't anything new. She was the outgoing one. She could talk to people, anyone just like Dad. She always had a flock of people around her. It's who she was, people liked her and Jonas was no exception.

"He likes you Gracie. A lot. You may not have paid attention but I did. He was always sneaking glances at you. He hung on your every word when you did talk. Jonas is a man that has it bad. If I had to guess, I'd say he might even be in love with you."

I gave a quick glance in her direction, frowning. She was making things up just to make me feel better. Jonas and I were friends, barely. No way did he like me like Hope was implying and he certainly wasn't in love with me.

**A/N**

The hardest part of doing a legacy is watching characters you have grown to love die. :( I am dreading the fact that Kerri will most likely not be far behind as they were only a day apart in age. Hopefully Kerri will be like the other Gruber women and live a while past the age limit.

R.I.P ShaSha Parks

**Grace is now level 6 of the gardener career and has 4 perfect plants growing. Apple, lettuce, tomato, and grapes. Three of those have been replanted. Her LTW does not appear to keep track of the plants like Davis' did on the girlfriend thing. Bummer! So I am manually keeping track and hopefully the game will do what it's supposed to when she grows that 8th perfect plant.

Bonus shot: This is how Jonas likes to spend his day when I'm not using him for shots. This and cleaning the house. He comes in handy.