“Well, I saw you two over here and wanted to tell you that if you don’t have plans today, you should stop by the farm.” She playfully booped Harper on the nose, which made her giggle. “Holly had puppies a couple of weeks ago if you wanted to go see them.”
“Puppies!” Harper squealed in excitement as she sat up on her knees. “Mommy, can we please go see the puppies? Please?” She held out the word longer than necessary, and Alexis knew exactly where they would end up after they left the restaurant. With any luck, Blake would be home, and that alone made Alexis as eager as Harper to get to the farm.
“This better not be some twisted way to get me to adopt one of the puppies.”
“You’ve wanted one for years.” Isla grinned. “Maybe this is the litter.”
Rolling her eyes, Alexis handed Isla her credit card and the check, essentially ending the conversation as Isla headed to the bar to process the payment. Harper could barely contain her excitement and jumped up from her side of the table and ran over to Alexis’s side. She scooted over on the vinyl seat beside Alexis and hugged her arms around her neck.
“Mommy, can we get a…”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence.” Laughing, Alexis scooted Harper off the vinyl seat, picked her up, and put her on her hip. She walked over to the bar and took her card from Isla as they said their goodbyes.
“Be sure to let me know which puppy you like the best, Harper.”
“I will!”
Alexis held up her middle finger to Isla before leaving with a smile on her face.
Maybe it would be a good day after all.
Chapter 17
Having her days absolutely free was both a freeing and a daunting feeling for Blake. Up until the last few weeks, every minute of every day had been planned out for her. Her entire life had been arranged by people who thought they knew what was best for her when in reality, none of them knew what she truly wanted.
Granted, Blake had no idea what she wanted either, especially lately.
She’d slept in late nearly every day she’d been in the Cove and had stayed up way later than she should have. There had been more family dinners than Blake could count in which the younger kids recounted their days at school and their after-school activities while Vera and Isla listened intently. Besides Isla, the person Blake had wanted to talk to the most was Mason, so it made her happy when she found Mason in the sunroom with the puppies.
Blake tapped on the door as she pushed it open. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Mason didn’t look up from writing in a notebook. One of the puppies was in her hand while the others were in a small basket on the table. Pulling out one of the chairs, Blake sat and picked up one of the puppies from the basket and cradled it in her arms. “What color is that one?”
“What?”
“The collar.” Looking up, Mason pointed at the small yellow ribbon tied around the puppy’s neck. “The colors identify them, so I know which puppy I’m working with.”
“And what exactly are you working on?”
“We keep track of the puppies from the time they’re born. We make sure they’re reaching their milestones, and they’re healthy and growing up nicely.” She pushed her black-rimmed glasses up on her nose as she sat the puppy she was holding back into the basket with its siblings. “I partner with a local vet in town to try to find which genes determine what in dogs.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Not as impressive as being on TV.” The comment stung Blake, but she didn’t dare mention it. Mason thought about what she’d said for a moment, then shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be a bitch.”
“It’s ok.” Blake winked at her to let her know there were no hard feelings.
Blake had heard bits and pieces about Mason’s organization in the few weeks she’d been in the Cove. It was a volunteer organization supported by donors and Taylor Memorial Hospital, the hospital in town. They trained the puppies to be service dogs for those with special needs, and some of the dogs were used as therapy dogs at the hospital. She loved that idea and made a mental note to volunteer her time there.
“We’ve found some amazing links by following up with the puppies over the years.” Mason was still rambling on about her pet project, and Blake loved listening to her talk about her passions. The puppy in her arms squirmed and nuzzled into the crook of her arm. “You’re good with puppies.”
“I love all babies.”
“I don’t,” Mason snarked.
“Not a baby fan?”
“Not the human kind.” Setting down the pen in her hand, Mason leaned back in her chair as it creaked under the shift in weight. Holly, the puppies’ mother, rested her head on the arm of Mason’s chair for head pets. “Do you want kids?”
“I don’t know.” Blake sighed heavily. Deep down, she knew the answer. She’d known it for years. She wanted to find someone, fall in love, and start a family with them. There was a pang of sadness in her chest at the thought of never finding that person. “Maybe someday.”
“Maybe with Lex?” Her sister teased with a knowing smile on her face. Blake blushed and rolled her eyes. “Don’t act surprised that I know that. I’ve known Alexis for a long time, and I’ve never seen her look as happy as she has the last few weeks.”
“You two are the same age, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, we went to school together until I became too smart, and Mom took me out to homeschool me.” Mason’s blunt self-confidence was still taking Blake some time to get used to.
“Wait, Mom homeschooled you?”
“Well, she tried. She didn’t have a clue what she was doing.”
“She said you and the other kids were too smart for her.”
“Mom doesn’t give herself enough credit. She’s super smart and is always doing whatever she can for other people.” Propping her feet up on the chair beside her, Mason shrugged. “She’s a lot like Alexis in that sense.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lex is everyone’s biggest warrior. She will spend hours telling you how wonderful you are and how the woman that broke your heart was a bitch, and you’ll find someone else, but she doesn’t believe it for herself. No matter how many times you try to convince her.”
“I take it you’ve tried?”
“For years,” Mason said dramatically. “She’s stubborn and won’t listen. Michelle fucked her up, and then a bunch of shit happened, and well,” she held her hands out to either side, “here we are.”
“Why does everyone keep saying it like that?”
“Like what?”
“You, Mom, and Alexis have all been super vague on whatever happened with and after Michelle.” Leaning onto the glass tabletop, Blake narrowed her eyes at Mason. She wanted to know more about Alexis’s past but was afraid to ask. There had to be a reason everyone talked about it the way they did.
“All you need to know is that Lex has been through hell and back, and she’s who she is today because of it.” Picking up her pen, Mason went back to work on whatever she was doing. Blake settled back into her seat as she contemplated what Mason had said. “Oh, and if you want to stay on her good side…”
“I do.”
“…then be sure to tell her you are Team Captain America when she asks.”
“But I’m Team Iron Man.”
Mason inhaled sharply. “That’ll be a deal-breaker for her.”
Blake playfully flipped her arm as Mason suppressed a laugh.
“Knock, knock.” Alexis tapped on the window of the back door before opening it. She sheepishly smiled at them as she waved. “Are we interrupting anything? Isla told us we could come over and see the puppies.”
“No, you’re fine.” Pushing her chair back from the table, Mason patted her lap and Harper ran over to her. It was surprising to see that miss not-a-fan-of-human-babies was perfect with Harper. The pair looked beyond comfortable around each other, which was a clear signal that they were used to each other. That knowledge set heavy on
her stomach. It was weird to think of her sister being friends with the woman Blake had fallen for. Blake winked at Alexis, and it made her blush. “I can watch Harper if you two want to hang out or anything.”
“Oh, well, I, um…” Alexis hesitated as she twirled the ends of her hair around her finger. She looked at Blake for help, but Blake was already picturing them walking hand in hand along the lake on the farm. Returning the puppy to the basket, Blake stood.
“Do you want to go for a walk?’
“Um, sure.” She shook her head then nodded. “Yes. I mean, yes. I’d love to.”
“And they say I can’t communicate well.” Mason’s sarcastic comment resulted in a flip of the ear from Alexis. She dramatically recoiled as Harper laughed. “Geeze, Lex, warn a girl first.”
“That takes the fun out of it.” Leaning down, Alexis kissed the top of Mason’s head, eliciting an eye roll from Mason. Alexis took hold of Blake’s hand as they walked out the backdoor and into the warm summer sun. She was more dressed up than the typical jeans and a T-shirt Blake had gotten used to seeing her in. It made Blake self-conscious of the cropped shorts and tank top she was wearing.
“You look gorgeous, Lex.”
“Thank you.” She blushed and dropped her eyes to the ground. Twirling her hair around her finger once more, she looked Blake up and down before landing on her eyes. “This is a new look on you.”
“Well, I wasn’t expecting company, or I would have dressed up.”
“No, I like it.” Stopping her walk, Alexis turned to face Blake directly. There was a large tree off the worn path, and Blake led her over to it. Blake pressed her up against it gently as their lips met softly. She savored the sweet taste of Alexis’s lip balm and the way her hands slowly ran up her bare arms. Her touch left a trail of goosebumps on Alexis’s arms, and she shivered under the touch. “You cold?”
“No, just loving this.” She pulled Alexis toward her as Alexis wrapped her arms around her waist. They resumed their walk down the secluded path with Alexis’s head resting on her shoulder. Blake slipped an arm around her waist as she kissed her head. She loved the height difference between them more than she’d ever expected.
“I didn’t interrupt things with you and Mason, did I?”
“No, we were talking about the fact she doesn’t like babies.”
“Oh, please.” Alexis scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to her. I basically had to pry Harper out of her arms when she was born. The only time Mason willingly gave her up was when she needed a diaper change, or I had to feed her.”
“I should have known by the way she lit up when Harper entered the room.”
“Harper has that effect on people.” Swinging their hands between them, Alexis tilted her head toward Blake as her eyes narrowed slightly. “Do you want kids?”
“I do,” Blake answered without hesitation. It was something Blake had wanted for a long time if she were being honest with herself. There had been a storyline on her show in which her character Avery became pregnant, and it had been one of Blake’s favorite storylines. Not only did it give her character more depth, but it had made Blake wonder what it would be like to be pregnant in real life one day.
However, the writers of the show had decided that Avery was going to have a miscarriage. That entire storyline had been the most challenging scene to film in her life. She felt the loss of the fictional baby in her soul as she became her character on the screen. Blake had received countless letters from fans thanking her for how she’d portrayed the loss of the baby. Deep down, Blake knew that would always be one of the storylines she was proudest to have the opportunity to tell.
“Do you want more kids?”
“You know,” Alexis laughed, “I never saw myself as a mom until I found out I was pregnant with Harper. But yeah,” she shrugged, “I’d like her to have a sibling or two at some point.”
“You’re such a great mom.”
“Thank you.” Sighing, Alexis twirled the end of her braid around her finger. “I didn’t think I could do it. When I found out I was pregnant, there was a moment – however brief – that I thought about…well. You know.”
Blake could tell this was something Alexis didn’t talk about often, if ever at all. Taking Isla’s advice to heart, Blake didn’t push her to talk about it. She simply stayed quiet and squeezed Alexis’s hand. Her hand pulled back slightly as Blake turned around to see Alexis standing in place.
“I had an appointment and everything.”
“Alexis, you don’t have to…”
“No.” She shook her head. “I know. I want to, though. Opening up is how we do this,” she motioned between them with her free hand, “right?”
“Right.” Blake nodded as she took Alexis’s other hand in hers. She pulled Alexis in close, placing a quick kiss on her lips. “I’m listening if you want to talk.”
“I didn’t think I could do it. Be a mom. Especially after…” All color drained from Alexis’s face, and for a moment, Blake thought she was going to pass out. Instead, Alexis took in a few deep breaths and shook her head. “Ok, maybe I’m not ready to talk about this right now.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I will. Just not right now.”
“Totally ok.” Resuming their walk once more, they headed back to the house to hang out with Harper and Mason. “Hey, Alexis?”
“Hmm?”
“For what it’s worth, I think it’s brave you decided to have Harper.”
Alexis shyly smiled up at her. “Thank you.”
“Have you ever thought of getting her a puppy?”
“What?” Alexis laughed at Blake’s abrupt change in conversation.
“You said you wanted Harper to have siblings. A puppy could be a surrogate sibling until you decide to have another kid, yes?”
“I’ve thought about it, but I don’t know.”
“Harper would love it.”
“So would I, but puppies are a lot of work. Between Harper and work, I’m pretty well maxed out with responsibilities. Especially now with the show thrown in the mix, too.”
“I could help, you know.”
“Really?” She arched an eyebrow at her. “How so?”
“I could watch Harper for you or take the puppy or whatever else would help you relax.”
The porch door opened as Mason ran outside; Harper trailing closely behind her. Blake and Alexis stopped and watched the two play together. They each had plastic lightsabers in their hands and dramatically turned to duel each other. Alexis jutted her chin toward them.
“You want to help with that?”
“Hey, I’m a big kid myself. I could totally play with a lightsaber or LEGOs or watch Disney movies with the best of them.” Looking from Mason and Harper then back to Alexis, Blake took off in a light jog toward the dueling duo. Bumping her hip against Mason’s, she was relieved her sister gave up the lightsaber without any protest. Blake dramatically fought with Harper until the kid playfully hit her in the side with the lightsaber.
“It’s over, Anakin.” Harper proudly declared. “I have the high ground.”
“Master, please.” Blake held up her hand to Harper, who took a few steps back.
“You were the chosen one.” Giggling, Harper hopped off the stairs and ran over to Blake. She plopped down on her chest as Blake let out a huff of air. Harper’s small arms wrapped around her neck as they rolled around in the grass for a few moments while giggling. Blake caught Alexis’s eyes when she sat up and put Harper in her lap.
“I can handle it.” Shrugging, Blake handed Mason her lightsaber back and they resumed their playing a few feet away. “She’s one hell of a kid.”
“Yeah, I kinda like her.” Alexis’s eyes sparkled as she teased.
“Hey, I have a question for you.”
“Shoot.”
“Team Iron Man or Team Cap?”
“What kind of question is that?” Alexis snarled her nose in mock offense. “Team Iron Man, all the way.”
“Did Mason tell you I was Team Cap?”
“She did indeed.”
“She loves playing tricks.” Alexis laughed. “You’ll get used to her antics.”
“I knew no woman of mine would be Team Cap.” Blake regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. It made Alexis seem like she was Blake’s property when that was entirely not how she meant the statement to come across.
Thankfully, Alexis seemed to enjoy the choice of words. “I’m your woman, huh?”
She leaned forward ever so slightly as their lips touched once more. Blake was relieved that Alexis didn’t seem bothered to be kissing in front of Harper or Mason. Maybe the walls she had built up around her heart were starting to fall. If that were the case, Blake would kiss her until they were nothing but heaps of rubble on the ground.
Chapter 18
Saturdays in the park with Sophia and Harper were Alexis’s favorite part of the summer. While Harper ran around with the other kids on the playsets, Alexis and Sophia enjoyed their lunch at their favorite picnic table under the large maple tree. Alexis had been anxiously awaiting the lunch so she could finally tell Sophia about what had happened with Blake after game night a few nights before.
Alexis was still processing it herself. The last thing she’d expected to happen after her panic-ridden meltdown in front of Blake was for them to be lip-locked several times in her apartment after putting Harper down to sleep. She knew that if Blake hadn’t left when she did, something more would have happened, and that fact scared Alexis.
It’d been years – nearly six of them, to be exact – since Alexis had wanted to be touched the way her body ached to have Blake touch her each time they were together. She hadn’t been in any relationship since she’d become pregnant with Harper, and Alexis had already resigned to the fact she’d be single forever. Dramatic, she knew, but it was how she felt nonetheless. But Blake was making her question that whole mentality. Blake made her want to open up.
State of Grace: A Moonflower Cove Romance Page 16