Short Story: Gray Days

*Disclaimer: I don't own anything, least of all Good Witch. Just playing for my own sake

The house was quiet. It was the first thing Grace noticed as she rolled over in bed. Her clock read 7:15. While that was still early for most people on a Saturday morning, it was unusual not to hear her mother in the kitchen. Grace spared half a thought that maybe her mother was outside with Sam instead of in the kitchen. That scenario had recently begun to be as familiar and comfortable as her right arm. So, without another thought she crawled out of bed and began to head downstairs. Halfway down the hall something made her pause. She slowly turned and looked at her Mothers closed bedroom door. An uneasy feeling was crawling its way into her chest.

Ok, Mom's door is closed, she thought. Unusual, but not unheard of, especially after the insanity that this week had brought. But still, maybe her door was just closed. She was probably outside with Sam or in the living room reading, or potting plants in the alcove. That had to be it. But as she crept down the stairs the feeling of unease intensified. It was eerily quiet in both the living room and the alcove. The kitchen held the same result as the sinking feeling grew into a fully blossomed pit in her stomach. Everything looked as it had last night when they went to bed.

Laying her hands on the kitchen counter Grace closed her eyes and tried to sense her mother.

Nothing. No happiness radiating from outside or any other part of the house. The only thing she could pick up on was a heavy ache suspiciously coming from the upstairs family bedrooms. Opening her eyes and heaving a sigh, she set out to make tea, resigning herself that today might be a rare gray day.

Honestly, now that she thought about it, she supposed it was only a matter of time. She had never really thought about how few days like this there were. As she grew older she began to recognize how well her mother hid her pain and grieved in silence, keeping her emotions hidden. Since her father had passed away, she had been so consumed by her own personal grief that she often forgot that Brandon, Lori, and especially her mom, had lost him too. They all had bad days missing him, but whenever it was any of the kids her mother always knew how to help, be it in silent support, a hug, or sharing happy memories. But when her mom showed her grief it came in the form of a haunted and blank stare or a sad smile. It was very rare for her mother to let her emotions be visible to anyone for more than a minute. As the months and years had passed, Grace, Brandon, and Lori were private witnesses to a few rare occasions when Cassie let her grief shine through. They referred to these as gray days, the days when the grief and longing latched on and was unforgiving.

"You're the only one down here? Mom's door is still closed." Grace glanced up as Lori wandered in the kitchen. "Have you seen or heard her this morning?"

Grace shook her head and sighed. "I am afraid today might be a gray day"

Lori sighed too as she leaned a hip on the counter watching Grace make a pot of tea.

"We were probably due, especially after this week. It's been a long time since we've had a gray day"

"Yes it has" Grace agreed. "We probably should text the others as a heads up"

Lori silently nodded and picked up her phone, sending out a quick coded text to those in the "need to know" circle, knowing everyone would respond quickly and do what needed to be done on a gray day.

Grace strained the tea she had been brewing and began to prepare a tray to take upstairs. Unsure what, if anything, her mother would want to eat this morning.

"I don't think she is going to want to eat yet Grace" Lori said as she watched Grace search for something to put on the tray. Lori's phone chirped with several responses, Abigail would mind the store, Stephanie would make lunch and dinner and deliver them this afternoon, and Brandon and Tara would be over in an hour. All essential gray day members reported in, taking on the duties necessary to get through today. Lori fiddled with her phone and glanced at Grace.

"Should we tell Sam?"

It made Grace pause. Her mother's relationship with Sam was complicated for several reasons and she honestly didn't know how to respond. Would her mother want Sam to see her in her grief for her deceased husband? They have been dating quite a while now but Sam had never been privy to a gray day. And before today, he hadn't been considered part of the "need to know" circle that came with this particular family pain.

Lori watched Grace as she stilled her movements. Lori knew this might be challenging and she also, honestly, didn't know what to do. Though gray days were rare, they had been happening for years now and they had a system. Sam added a new cog to the machine, a different dynamic, and she wasn't sure of the outcome.

But as usual, fate had plans unbeknownst to them as Sam stepped through the back door at that moment.

"Good morning girls! It's a beautiful crisp morning out there! Where's your mother? I figured she'd be half way through her daily chores by now"

The girls shared a look and neither spoke. Resting her hands on the counter and sighing a little, Grace looked up at Sam and gathered as much courage as she could.

"Sam." She paused to glance at Lori. "Sam" she tried again. She didn't know what to say.

Thankfully Sam picked up on her unease. "Is everything ok? You guys look like something is wrong"

"No we are ok. Everything is ok" Lori answered "Its just going to be a difficult day I think" she said gently "mom isn't up yet."

Sam glanced between the two girls again. They didn't look panicked but there was pain. He'd never known Cassie to sleep in. She was up with the sun everyday without fail.

"Anything I can do?" he asked quietly, unsure of the issue but if Cassie wasn't out of bed, something was indeed wrong "Is she ok? Is she sick? I can take a look at her."

"No, no" Grace shook her head, "she's not sick. She's ok. Kinda." She glanced at Lori, "its just a gray day. She will be ok." she repeated.

Sam kept quiet and just observed the girls. She wasn't sick but something was up.

"Are you sure she's ok?"

"She will be" Grace repeated, "I'm going to take her some tea and she'll need a few hours but she will be ok." Grace picked up the two mugs of tea she poured, "check in this afternoon Sam, something tells me she'll be ready by then." She gave him a slightly watery but gentle smile.

"I'll call Brandon and Tara. It might be a photo album kind of day," Lori offered, "I'll get them caught up and be up in a few."

Grace nodded and turned to head upstairs.

"Lori?" Sam questioned quietly.

Lori shook her head, "She's not sick Sam but I don't think she is ready to see you yet today. Maybe by this afternoon"

Sam began to feel uneasy. Not ready to see him? Did he do something?

"Did I do something? Is it me?"

Lori shifted her weight, "you didn't do anything and its not you directly but it is related to you." She paused, "just give her a few hours. Like Grace said, maybe by this afternoon she'll be ready. Just," she smiled, "give her a little time and space. It'll be ok Sam. I absolutely promise."

Sam didn't know entirely what to do. The girls were being quite cryptic and though something seemed to be really wrong, that apparently may have something to do with him, it didn't seem as though the girls were willing to let him see Cassie to find out. And they seemed to have it handled; he could be patient he guessed. He took a breath, "ok. Well I guess give her a kiss from me and I'll check back in later. But Lori, please call me if you, or she, needs me. I'll just be at home" he turned and headed out the back door with one glance over his shoulder.

Lori watched him go, a small smile on her face. They were lucky, she thought. Their family was close and they supported each other through everything, no matter what. And she knew Sam was close to being a full time member, already ready to support in any way he could. She sighed and began to fix breakfast for George and the guests, waiting a few minutes to call Brandon and update him on the plan for the day. Today was a gray day, but that was ok. They loved and supported each other and Sam, their new element, might just make this gray day easier.

Grace gently padded up the stairs, concentrating on not spilling the tea in her mugs. Just as she reached the landing George came out of his room and stopped mid stride. Silently he noted the two mugs of tea, her direction of travel, and Cassie's closed bedroom door. His face fell immediately and he stepped forward to press a kiss to Grace's temple, "gray day?" he asked. Grace nodded; she knew Lori would fill him in when he got downstairs. Giving her cheek a gentle pat he turned toward Cassie's door, "Give her a kiss for me" he whispered as he opened the door for Grace.

Grace nodded quietly and stepped into the master bedroom as George pulled the door shut behind her.

Her mother, her beautiful, strong, independent, loving, extraordinary mother, lay on her side in the middle of the bed, curled into a pillow, wearing her father's old college sweatshirt. Normally she was the sunshine in every room, the brightest star wherever she went. While she still radiated light and love today there was a large gray energy encompassing the entire room. She was awake, Grace knew that, but Cassie didn't stir.

Quietly Grace padded across the room and placed the mugs of tea on the nightstand. She turned toward the bed to see her Mother's deep brown eyes watching her.

"It's a gray day momma" Grace whispered as she pulled back the covers and slid into the bed, snuggling right up to face her mom, giving her two quick kisses on the cheek murmuring "from me and grandpa." She gazed into her mother's eyes and gave her two more quick kisses, "from daddy" she paused and took a chance, "and Sam."

Lying nose to nose with her daughter Cassie closed her eyes and sighed. Grace thought she heard her mother mutter, "my baby" before she slowly slid her arm around her daughter, pulling her to her chest. Grace closed her eyes and relaxed in her mothers arm, content in her presence. Today was a gray day, but the sun would come out later, she just knew it.