It was the next day that Mr. Brubaker showed up at her house, and that Grace took the large envelope from him with shaking hands. "This is the last of it, isn't it, Bru?" She questioned softly.
   He nodded once, his double chin waggling under the effort. "Mostly, yes. If there is anymore, I'll come to find them just a little while before you do." He smiled wearily, "She has a thing for cropping up secrets like this, but only when they need to be told, huh?"
   Grace nodded slightly, her own chin starting to wobble. "If she had a secret to tell, she would wait until it needed to be told. Never before though, never needlessly."
   They waited out a small silence before Bru nodded once more and turned to walk away. "Take care, Gracie girl." He told her gruffly. "Emma would have wanted you to."
   Her tears spilled over at the silly nickname, but she nodded just the same.
   "Oh, by the way." Halfway out the door, Brubaker turned around again. "Your father caught that Brent guy. He made some odd threats," he smiled understandingly and winked. "But your father and I convinced him that it would be in his better interest if he didn't say much."
   Smiling weakly, Grace thanked him and he walked out whistling. Closing the door behind him, she leaned up against the wooden surfaced and worked to control her breathing.
   When her lungs stopped feeling as if they would burst, she stood up straight and headed for her room. In it's safe confined space; she spread herself out on her bed and reverently opened the top.
   As expected paper fell out, and Grace set herself up to read the secret words of her dead friend.

Dear Gracie girl,

   Bet it's odd hearing from me like this, now that I must be gone, huh? But take care to know, I am not haunting you. If I were, I would be having much more fun with it than just sending letters.
   As you already know by now, Zoë is my daughter. But technically, I did not give her up for adoption. She was more taken from me, than me giving her away. In the beginning I did want to put her up for adoption, as I stated in my last letter.
   Mrs. Hanson's baby was dying, and they suspected that it may not survive the birthing, but they were worried more about Mrs. Hanson than anything. I always thought it to be funny that everyone said she had had a baby boy around that one Christmas, when in fact she nearly did have her fifth son.
   I had Zoë in December, and Mrs. Hanson went into labor in January. When she went home, she had my daughter as hers.
   Mostly I wasn't aware of what was even happening. But a kind nurse helped me out greatly. Helped me with getting the apartment, and car. Helped me back onto my feet, and helped me find my daughter since I had no clue she where was taken, and who she was given to.
   When I had heard the story, I understood that I could not say anything then. Was even told by an "unknown source" that I must stay away.
   I would only give the consent to acknowledgement of my daughter if I felt I could not keep an eye on her anymore. Which this letter proves that I cannot. That is why I am choosing you, Gracie girl. You are compassionate, loving, and all around good. Did I ever tell you how much you sucked for those qualities? However, it is because of the qualities that I always envied you, and shared this great secret and responsibility with you.
   Always take care, of yourself and my daughter, or I will haunt you!

Until my next secret... Love always,
       Emma Jacqueline Riley

   Faintly hearing the doorbell from her perch, Grace rubbed at her wet cheeks and eyes and stumbled off her bed and ran down to answer it.
   Taking a deep breath to compose herself somewhat, she grabbed the metal handle and pressed the button down and pulled.
   "I heard about Brent."
   Grace watched them as they forced the words out of his stiff lips. She nodded tensely, "Bru just told me a little while ago himself."
   When they grabbed her hand and dropped the roll of candy in her hand, she waited stiffly before looking back up at him. "Will you be my last lifesaver, Zac?"
   He nodded slowly as well, "If you'll give me one more chance, Grace."
   She smiled suddenly and threw her arms around him. "We need to talk." She told him when she pulled back. Grabbing his hand and pulling him inside.

   Sometimes secrets are hard to keep, but sometimes, sometimes... they are even harder to tell.