Not the worst news

You were expecting the message to be one that made you both go into panic mode but Emma reacted calmly and showed you her phone.

Grace: Do you think I could join the two of you?

The spy gear had only really been there if Izzy had reacted poorly to you turning up but with her being as hospitable as she was it didn’t feel like a horrible idea for Grace to get involved. Emma gave you a shrug to say it was your call and after you got back to the kitchen, you brought it up with Izzy. You also suspected that Grace had been a little nervous as she couldn’t directly hear what Emma and Izzy had talked about while you were out of the room, leaving her oblivious to what was going on until you got back or when you all reviewed the audio later.

“So just to tell you the truth, Emma’s mom is in a car outside who came and dropped us off. We didn’t want a group of us at the door in case it was a bit too much and it was also a precaution in case my father came home early and we could get a warning” you started to say.

“He isn't, is he?” Izzy asked, her voice having a bit more tension in it than before.

“No he isn’t. And we’d have left pretty quickly if that was the case to make all of our lives easier. It’s just that she texted Emma a minute ago asking if it’s okay to join us. We can just text her to say we are alright as we have been here for a while but this is your home so I don’t want to intrude by inviting her in without your permission. It’s also completely fine if you don’t want another stranger in the house with Jack but I will say she’ll be on her best behaviour just like we are” you explained, not wanting Izzy to be put on the spot with your request.

“Oh sure, that’s fine. I appreciate the heads up though” Izzy replied, not too bothered about the news about Grace and seemingly relaxing more at the fact that your father wasn’t nearly home as she put Jack in a high chair to one side of her.

You hadn’t gotten to that part of the conversation yet or even mentioned anything about your relationship with your father, keeping the topic further away as if both of you didn’t want to spoil the mood.

You nodded for Emma to reply to Grace and it seemed like having her here would be helpful if you were to bring it up, having another witness to him cheating on your Mom all those years ago.

Izzy asked you to meet her at the door to avoid Jack getting startled by a knock at the door, which Emma quickly got up to do before you could agree yourself. That left you with a brief moment alone with Izzy and knowing that Grace wouldn’t be able to listen in while she was heading to the front door.

“Her name is Grace by the way. She’s amazing but… she’s got a worse opinion of my father than even I have so she might be a bit on edge. She would never blame you or anything like that but she might try and snoop around or ask you some prying questions. Just shoot me a look if it gets to be too much. Or you can slyly send me a text if you want to give me your number?” you suggested, wanting to make this as smooth as possible for her.

Plus if you were to do anything with her Cybersex kink, getting her number would be pretty much mandatory.

“Yeah sure, that’s fine with me. And I get it, I’ve been there before” Izzy replied, moving to get out her phone and understanding Grace’s potential behaviour in a way that gave you more questions.

You exchanged contact info and put your phone back in your pocket just in time to hear two sets of footsteps heading towards where you were in the kitchen. From the way you were positioned, you had to turn around to see Emma walk in followed by Grace, walking sheepishly behind as she intruded in someone’s home.

You got up to greet her and took the chance to take a seat next to Izzy instead of opposite her, with you on one side of her while Jack’s highchair was on the other. Emma and Grace sat down after a brief greeting and you could see Jack staring over at Grace who was the new face in the room.

Before an awkward silence took over, you decided to catch Grace up on what you had talked about so far even though she had already heard it through Emma’s spy gear, making sure there was less chance of a slip up later down the line.

“...So Izzy only really met my father about a year and a half ago and with the baby, little Jack over there, being my half-brother I would like it if we somehow stayed in contact as well. While Grace and Emma have less of a connection, they both know my father and I don’t think they would decline you if you ever reached out for help” you explained, first focusing more on Izzy and then moving over to Grace.

Emma gave a very enthusiastic nod but Grace chose this time to speak up.

“Hi again and Max is right. I’m not a huge fan of John and while I’m refraining from bad-mouthing the father of your child in front of you…” Grace went to say.

“Oh don’t stop on my account. He’s a fucking asshole” Izzy replied, shocking the three of you and even herself when she turned to look at Jack in the hopes he was too young to pick up what she said.

“Just ignore what mommy says okay?” she added, rubbing Jack’s cheek with a guilty expression.

“Right well, I agree with you wholeheartedly and if you ever need help I’m a phone call or an email away but I’ve gotta ask. My friend is still married to him and doesn’t seem to believe he’s that bad but you clearly do. Why are you still with him?” Grace asked, the question plaguing your mind ever since Izzy started agreeing with you.

“Well like I said to Max and Emma before you were here. The first few months were great. Just when I found out that I was pregnant and that I wanted to keep it, he got a lot more distant and it was as if he was trying to slowly faze his way out of my life before Jack was born. The only reason I think he stays is so he has someone to see when he’s in town and I’m willing to keep up the act as long as it means Jack has a roof over his head and he gets to have some other family than me” Izzy explained, going more in-depth into her situation than she had done before.

“Wait so he isn’t here all the time?” you asked, the KDK tracker telling you otherwise since you had been using it.