When Least Expected

by Allison B Hanson

  She stayed with Uncle Jimmy because Ian’s mother was afraid people would talk if he had his girlfriend shacking up at his house. It didn’t matter. Uncle Jimmy only lived a block over from Ian’s house, so he was over there until all hours of the night, falling in love with Alexis.

  Jimmy taught her how to cook and, most importantly, taught her that loving someone, namely Ian, wasn’t a scary thing. Jimmy had been in love with his wife Linda for thirty-eight years before she died, and he’d never regretted a minute he had with her. Ian knew what that felt like. Despite the rough times, he’d never regretted a minute of the time he’d had with Lexi. Not even this moment, standing in a cemetery holding her while she cried.

  Eventually, Lexi backed away from him. Without a word he followed her to the car.

  They got to the law offices of Johnson and McCabe and sat on the fancy chairs in the dark wood office, waiting for the attorneys to begin. There were two of them, as opposite as two men could be. One tall, skinny, and pale, the other short, round, and red-faced. The only thing they had in common was that they both looked ancient.

  The round man began reading the document on the desk in front of him.

  “As stated by James William Montgomery in the matter of the property held in Floyd County at Eighty-Nine Stoney Mountain Road, he leaves it to named beneficiaries, Ian Scott Montgomery and Alexis Joy Grant Montgomery.”

  Ian closed his eyes and heard Lexi gasp next to him.

  “The cabin,” Alexis whispered on a shaky breath.

  Naturally he would have left it to both of them. How had Ian not seen this coming? He and Lexi had honeymooned there. They’d also spent every available weekend at that cabin together. Hiking the mountain, relaxing, and being in love.

  Of course that was before project baby took over and they forgot how to relax.

  He wanted to walk over to that cemetery and take the damn flowers back. How could Jimmy do this to them? To her?

  He glanced over to see her hands shaking and tears starting down her cheeks. His own hands clenched into useless fists.

  “Can I just sign it over to Ian?” she asked, her voice cracking. “I’m sure Jimmy hadn’t revised his will since we split. I’m actually not part of the Montgomery family anymore,” she explained further. It wasn’t true. She would always be a part of his family. Always. A tear fell from her chin and spotted her khaki pants. “Please just tell me where to sign.” She wiped at her cheeks desperately.

  “Actually, Ms. Montgomery, he updated his will just last month, and he was adamant about wanting this left in, even after we discussed the dissolution of your marriage to his nephew.” Lexi visibly flinched at the thin man’s words.

  Dissolution? Ian was going to dissolution someone if they didn’t stop hurting her!

  “James stated there were personal items in the structure that you both would want. After the two of you review the items, and if it is determined you want no further holding in the property, you would be permitted to sign over all rights to Ian Montgomery at that time. As the executor of his wishes, I ask you to please at least go to the property and see if there is anything there you want before signing off,” the larger man explained.

  She nodded. “If that’s what he wanted, I guess I can do that.”

  The other attorney cleared his throat to speak. “In an effort to make sure there is no further litigation, because the two of you are recently divorced, we strongly recommend you evaluate the property at the same time, so no blame can be assigned for missing or damaged items.”

  “You think I’m going to accuse her of stealing from me?” Ian said loudly, startling the scrawny man.

  “I wasn’t insinuating anything. I’m certain this can be handled professionally and courteously. These situations tend to leave people with heightened emotions, and we sometimes find people wanting to hurt one another to get even.”

  Hurt Alexis? How could he ever hurt her more than he already had?

  “So you’re saying we need to go together?” Ian asked flatly.

  “That is our recommendation,” the thin man hedged, not willing to boss Ian around when he was already pissed.

  “The only thing I can think I would want is that painting. If that would be okay, Ian,” she said.

  “Of course, Lex. Anything you want,” he told her and reached his hand toward her before pulling it back.

  “Maybe you could bring it back with you and then I could sign the papers?” she asked while looking at the men hopefully.

  She didn’t want to go to the cabin with him. He couldn’t blame her.

  “Sure. Which painting?” Ian asked.

  “The one in the main room. It’s of a stream with the forest. It’s about halfway up the wall.”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t remember it.” Generally, when they were at the cabin, Ian was too busy trying to get Alexis out of her clothes to look at the art. “I’ll bring all the paintings back and you can pick. How’s that?”

  She nodded as more tears fell down her cheeks, causing more wet marks on her pants. He wanted to make them stop.

  The scrawny man cleared his throat again.

  “What now?” Ian glared at him.

  “We can’t legally sign off until Ms. Montgomery has been to the property and determines the value of the contents herself.”

  “Fine. I’ll go. I have a long weekend coming up. Would that work for you?” She only half-turned toward Ian, not meeting his eyes.

  “I’ll make it work.” He would do anything he could to make this easier for her.

  “Thank you.” She jumped up from her seat to flee out the door.

  “Please wait. There’s one more thing.” The chubby lawyer held out an envelope.

  Alexis snatched the paper from his hand and ran out of the room before the lawyer could turn and hand one to Ian as well.

  Ian opened the envelope to find a piece of plain old notepaper with familiar writing on it.

  Damn it, Uncle Jimmy. What have you done?

  “No margaritas,” Lexi said with a laugh as she answered the phone the next afternoon. She had spent the night before crying uncontrollably while she’d tried to gather enough courage to open the letter from Jimmy. She never did.

  She was barely able to get herself together to go to work, but she made it. Now the night was dragging out in front of her. Seeing Kelly’s name on her phone’s display made her feel less alone.

  “Do you have Aidan?” Kelly asked, sounding panicked.

  “No. Why? Was I supposed to?” She quickly racked her brain, trying to remember if she’d been supposed to watch him that afternoon. There was nothing on her calendar.

  “No. But something’s happened. I sent Ian a text asking if he could pick him up. I got a text back saying he would, but now he doesn’t have him and he says he never got the text. Aidan’s not at school, and I don’t know where he is. I’m so scared.”

  “Shh. Don’t worry. We’ll find him, okay. Where are you now?”

  “At the school. They’re not being very helpful. I think they’re more worried about procedures and if I can sue them than helping me find my son.”

  “I’ll be right there. Try to stay calm.”

  Lexi arrived at the elementary school five minutes later. The place was flooded with police cars. She found Kelly crying in Ron’s arms as she approached.

  An officer stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

  “She’s with us,” Ian’s voice called. She turned to see him, grim-faced.

  “What happened?” she asked as he put his hand on her arm and led her to where the rest of the family were huddled.

  “I have no idea. I went for a run. I don’t take my phone with me when I run, you know?” She did know. Running was like meditation for him. He didn’t like to be disturbed. She used to worry that he wouldn’t be able to call her if he needed to. “When I got home I checked my phone before I went to take a shower. I didn’t have any messages. Then, later, Kel called and asked when I was bringing Aidan h
ome and we realized something went wrong. We came here and he’s gone. I don’t have any messages on my phone, Lex. Not the one from Kelly, and not the one to her saying I could pick him up. Who could do that?”

  “Was the door locked at your apartment?”

  “No. I—”

  “Don’t like the jingling,” she interrupted him, remembering. “So anyone could have come in.”

  “I guess. Or maybe something happened with my phone. Maybe he was here alone and someone grabbed him up.” Ian took a shaky breath.

  “I don’t think anyone at the school would have left him standing here alone. If kids aren’t picked up, they’re brought back inside so a parent can be called.”

  “We’re going to start searching as soon as the police figure out a grid or something,” Ian explained, waving a hand of irritation at the group of officers. Kelly and Ron were surrounded by another group of official-looking people, being swarmed with questions.

  “Screw that. Let’s go.” She was the one pulling Ian away. Her car was on the other side of the parking lot so it was easy for them to get out.

  She started driving up and down the streets, looking for Aidan. The windows were down, as if they’d be able to hear him yelling for help.

  After the third block, Lexi began to really think about the situation.

  A stranger wouldn’t have just wandered into Ian’s apartment at the exact time Kelly sent that text. She had an idea. Maybe someone wanted to be . . . helpful.

  “Ian?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Is Meeghan working today?”

  “Um. I’m not sure. Why?” She didn’t ask why he didn’t know his girlfriend’s schedule, though she did wonder.

  “Call her. See if she has him.” Lex started driving toward Kelly’s house while he fumbled with his phone.

  “I don’t think she would have done this,” he said, holding the phone to his ear. “Hey, it’s me. Do you—”

  They were already pulling up in front of Kelly’s house. Lexi could see Aidan running around in the front yard while Meeghan sat on the steps with her phone in her hand.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” Ian started yelling as he jumped out of the car. Lexi hadn’t even gotten it in Park first.

  “What the hell are you doing with her?” Meeghan fired back as Aidan came over to Lexi looking upset.

  “Why are they fighting?” he asked, giving her a hug. Lexi already had her phone to her ear.

  “He’s at your house. He’s fine. He’s safe. He’s home,” Lexi said to a hysterical Kelly as soon as she answered.

  “Oh my God!” Kelly cried. “Thank you. We’re on our way.”

  “Mommy’s coming,” Lex told her nephew and led him down the sidewalk, away from the screaming coming from Ian and his girlfriend.

  “Is Meeghan a stranger?” he asked. “I wasn’t sure. She said she was picking me up because Uncle Ian was out for a run. I figured it was okay because she was at my house before. Did I mess up?”

  “No, sweetie. You did not mess up. Sometimes grown-ups mess up. It was a miscommunication.” He laughed at the big word. Lexi smiled and rephrased for her smaller audience. “Grown-ups don’t always tell each other important things.” She couldn’t help but think of how true that was. All the important things she’d never told Ian. She glanced over, seeing him still yelling. Ian and Lexi had never fought. He’d never screamed at her. Not once.

  “Ahh,” Aidan said, like he understood completely. “She took me for ice cream at that place you always take me. That’s where I picked.”

  “That sounds like fun.”

  He shrugged like he wasn’t sure.

  Seconds later, Kelly’s car squealed into the driveway. She ran to Aidan and picked him up, hugging him fiercely.

  “Mama? Why are you crying?” he asked, his bottom lip beginning to quiver. “Aunt Lexi said I didn’t mess up.”

  “You didn’t, baby. You didn’t. Mommy is just so glad to see you.”

  “Grown-ups have mix-communal-cations,” he butchered the word, making Kelly laugh through her tears.

  “They sure do.” Kelly looked over at Ian and Meeghan. It was a good thing for Meeghan that Kelly was holding her son, or Kelly most likely would have beaten the girl to a pulp. Lexi gave herself a moment to appreciate the image.

  When the police arrived, Lexi excused herself to leave. The family crisis was over. She had to admit, it felt pretty good to still be included. She still had a family.

  As she was in bed that night, reading but not seeing the words on the page, her phone rang.

  She answered it, assuming it would be Kelly, but it wasn’t.

  “Hey,” Ian said. His voice was rougher than normal, probably hoarse from yelling so much.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked.

  “Yes. Thank you for coming today.” He sounded so tired.

  “Thanks for calling me. I know I’m not technically part of—”

  “You are part of this family, Lex, and . . . and I don’t want you to change your name in the fall. I should have told you that.” He took a deep, shaky breath. She wished she could reach through the phone and hold him. She knew he needed someone to hold him. “Unless you want to change it. Whatever you want. Shit. I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. It’s been a long day.”

  “It sure has.” He took another long breath. “I’m glad you were there today. I’ll see you this weekend.”

  “Yeah. I’m planning to head up Thursday after school.”

  Chapter 4

  Ian was back at his uncle’s the next day to take care of some things for the estate. He tried not to think about where he would be the next day.

  On the way to the cabin with Lexi.

  One minute he was excited and happy. The next he was sick and reluctant so he stopped in to check on Kelly and Aidan. He still felt responsible for her panic.

  “Hey, Aidan. Tell Uncle Ian why Meeghan said it was okay to go with her yesterday,” Kelly said with her brow raised.

  “She told me she was going to be my new aunt and Aunt Lexi wasn’t going to be around anymore.” Aidan frowned. “I would rather have Aunt Lexi, if it’s okay.”

  “Sure, bud. It’s fine.”

  “Is Aunt Lexi not going to be around anymore?” his nephew asked, sounding worried. Ian wanted to find Meeghan and yell at her some more.

  “Aunt Lexi loves you so much. She’ll be around whenever you want her. All we need to do is call her and she’ll come,” Kelly said, putting her son’s fears to rest.

  “Really?” Aidan looked up at Ian for verification.

  “Yes,” he assured him. “She’s not going away.”

  “Good!” he said and ran off to play a video game.

  “What kind of witch says that to a kid?” Kelly said. “Oh, I know. The kind who kidnaps kids. What was she going to do next? Stuff him into an oven?”

  “For the last time, she didn’t kidnap him. She picked him up, took him for ice cream, and brought him home.”

  “Don’t defend her.”

  “I know she didn’t go about it the right way, but I don’t think she intended any harm.”

  “Scaring my son by telling him his favorite aunt won’t be around anymore is harmful, Ian.”

  “I know. You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. I really don’t know what you see in her. She’s not your type at all. Do you stay with her because it pisses me off? Because if that’s your goal, you do plenty of other things that piss me off.”

  “Actually . . .” He hadn’t wanted to get into it with his sister, or anyone else for that matter. “I broke up with her last week.”

  “So she took Aidan to seek revenge?”

  “No, no. She told me she stopped by my apartment to pick up a sweatshirt she left there. She heard my phone go off and looked at it.” He rolled his eyes. “She thought I had a new girlfriend until she saw your text. She wanted you to like her
, so she thought if she and Aidan bonded, you would have to like her. I think she thought if you liked her, I would take her back.”

  Kelly snorted.

  “Please! I like Lexi and you haven’t taken her back.”

  “Don’t you want the best for Lexi, Kel?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Well, it isn’t me,” he said before he left. “Don’t say anything about the breakup. I mean it.”

  “You’re not the boss of me!” she yelled after him.

  Ian stopped in at his parents’ place around dinnertime in the hopes of scoring a good home-cooked meal. To his surprise, Alexis was there.

  Both of the Mrs. Montgomerys were in the kitchen, laughing and talking. When he stepped into the room, they stopped and stared as if they’d gotten caught.

  “Oh, hi, Ian. Did we have plans for dinner?” his mom asked.

  “No. I was just over at Kelly’s and thought I’d stop in.” He looked at Lexi, who seemed intent on cutting up a piece of red pepper into tiny bits.

  “Well, you’re more than welcome to stay for dinner; it’s just that I invited Lexi over.” His mom gave him a dismissive glance and continued stirring whatever was in the pot that made the house smell so damn delicious.

  “Oh.” He wasn’t sure if he should leave. He didn’t want to leave, but his mother sure wasn’t making him feel invited.

  “It’s okay. I can go,” Lexi offered, making his mouth fall open.

  “No!” his mother said at the same time he said, “Absolutely not.”

  “Alexis, you’re my friend, whether you’re married to my son or not. He made his choice; I’m making mine. You stay. He can either deal with it or go.” His mother gave him her don’t-mess-with-me look.

  He turned to Lexi. “I’m actually fine with it, if that’s okay.” It was her decision. If she didn’t want him there, he would go.

  Both women nodded.

  “It’s fine,” Lexi said quietly, directing all her attention to the poor pepper, which was now divided at the molecular level.