Catching Fox

by Aimee McNeil

  ***

  Adalynne sat in her car and cried. A crushing weight felt heavy against her chest. When she finally pulled herself together enough that her tears were under control, she pulled out her phone and dialed John’s number.

  “Adalynne, are you okay?” John’s voice was urgent, fearing what Adalynne would say.

  “It’s late. I’m sorry.” Adalynne’s distress was still apparent in her words, despite trying to control herself.

  “What’s wrong?” John asked.

  “It’s Damon. He needs help but he won’t let me,” Adalynne sobbed. “He always pushes me away. I don’t know what he’s taking…I’m so worried about him.”

  “Where is he?”

  “I just left him at his place…he was drinking heavily and taking pills.”

  “I’ll head over now. I’ll do whatever I can to help,” John assured her.

  “What about all the liquor? Is it going to be hard for you?” Adalynne wiped her eyes, taking a deep calming breath.

  “Not as hard as it will be for me to see my son following in my footsteps.”

  “He’s strong like you,” Adalynne said encouragingly.

  “He’s stronger than me…” John’s words trailed off.

  “John?” Adalynne asked quietly to see if he was still on the line.

  “When Damon was a small boy, I heard him talking in his room. I suppose it was not too long after he had met you. He spoke to his mother a lot back then when he thought no one could hear him. He told his mother he met an angel and she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He asked her if she had sent the girl from heaven to love him because she couldn’t anymore.” John’s voice broke off as he could no longer speak through his emotions. “I walked into his room and I told him there is no such thing as angels. I still remember the look on his face when I told him that his mother didn’t love us enough to stay…” John broke off in tears. “I was wrong, Adalynne. You are an angel and you are the best thing that happened to my son and me. We owe you so much.”

  “You don’t owe me anything. I am so grateful that you both came into my life. I wish I could help Damon but I think he needs you.” Adalynne struggled to keep her words calm. The emotion in their conversation was overwhelming.

  “I will do everything in my power and then some, I assure you.” When John spoke she knew without a doubt he was telling the truth. “I do love my son, you know.”

  “I know.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  John informed Adalynne that Fox refused to speak to her. Even though his rejection hurt, knowing Fox was taking steps in the right direction gave her great peace of mind. John was rebuilding his relationship with his son and helping him down the difficult path to recovery.

  Her thoughts never strayed too far from Fox and when John informed her that Fox had entered a rehab facility, she was torn between relief and sadness. He was taking the time to heal but it meant that she wouldn’t see him for an extended period of time. Things were left unfinished between them but she pushed her selfish thoughts aside and began focusing on her life as it unfolded in front of her. He would have no contact with her while he stayed in the rehab facility and she didn’t know what would happen upon his release. The uncertainty haunted her.

  Katie and Steven made the move, buying a house within walking distance to Adalynne. It was a beautiful property with a large fenced backyard. It gave them a luscious oasis in the middle of the city. Steven’s job had begun immediately after he graduated and now they were frantically trying to settle into their new place around his busy schedule. Adalynne spent most of her free time with Katie, helping her unpack and making sure she didn’t do any heavy lifting on Steven’s orders. Their time together was a perfect distraction for her.

  Katie was in full swing preparing for the baby and decorating their new home. She insisted Adalynne help her with every detail, which Adalynne delightfully welcomed. They bought every decorating magazine and narrowed the style preferences down enough to take action. The house was newly renovated when they bought it. Luckily, the only room that needed to be painted was the nursery. They decided to decorate it in various tones of greens and yellows because the sex of the baby was going to be a surprise.

  “Whose idea was the stripes again?” Adalynne jokingly complained as they painted the walls.

  “You showed me the picture,” Katie defended herself. She was currently taking a break, sitting next to the window so she could feel the breeze blow through her hair. “It is so hot!” she complained, fanning herself. “We have to get this done so we can air this place out and get the air conditioner working again.”

  “Yeah, it’s actually hotter for those of us who are working. Did you give up? I think you have taken more breaks than you have actually worked.” Adalynne laughed.

  “The baby is tired,” Katie whined. She patted the spot next to her. “Come take a break with me and tell me about hot Brolan Pierce, aka Damon, or what you like to call him by, Fabulous Fox. Did you hear anything yet?”

  Adalynne sighed and placed the paint brush down before situating herself beside Katie. “No, he’s still at the rehab place and that’s all I know. Even John doesn’t have contact with him until he checks out.”

  “I heard them saying on the radio he was admitted, so I guess it’s not top secret anymore. They said he overdosed and almost died. I guess they’re trying to make it sound more tragic. He’s so famous you know, like girls throwing their panties on the stage and tattooing his name on their bodies famous.”

  “I know.” Adalynne nudged her playfully. “He’s always been so talented, it’s about time the world saw how great he is.” Adalynne smiled sadly.

  “I’m sure you’ll hear from him once he gets better,” Katie said encouragingly. “You share a beautiful history together and the most amazing connection. You guys are meant to be together and of course there is the fact that there is no one more gorgeous than you. Why would he want to be with anyone else?” Katie laid it on thick.

  Adalynne shook her head at Katie’s relentless optimism and laughed. “Thanks for trying to make me feel better. I would like to think that was true, Katie, but I have no idea what’s going to happen when he gets out.”

  “But it’s so romantic he asked your father for permission for years. That’s why he was at the hospital that day, wasn’t it…to speak to your father.”

  “Yeah maybe, but he never needed my father’s permission because he always had mine,” Adalynne added with a shrug.

  “He thought he needed it. He had honorable intentions, Addie. In his mind he needed to be seen as good enough to be with you and that’s why he wanted your father’s permission.”

  “The letter may have come too late,” Adalynne’s breathed.

  “You love with a love that is more than love. How can it not work out? It’s fate.” Katie smiled at her own logic.

  “I wish everyone could see the world like you do. Life would be so much easier.” Adalynne smiled.

  “And crazier.” Katie laughed.

  “That too. But at least it would be good crazy.” Adalynne laughed.

  “Ooh, baby kicked.” Katie ran her hand over her stomach. Adalynne placed her hand on her stomach. There was no mistaking Katie was pregnant anymore, her belly was round and growing so fast. Adalynne found it amazing watching the baby grow inside her. It truly was a miracle to watch the beginning of a new life, especially with someone she loved as much as Katie.

  Everything in Adalynne`s life was coming together harmoniously other than her love life. Adalynne’s mother became a regular presence in her life, making an effort to become familiar with her musical career. Their relationship had developed into more of a friendship, something they never had before. She found she could open up with her mother and discuss the things she previously avoided around her, like music and her plans for the future with the Music House. She also spoke of her concern for Fox and the depths of her love for him, something she thought she would never be able to d
ivulge with her mother for fear of the repercussions.

  Adalynne’s mother even shared with her the stories of Fox’s visits and how her father grew to enjoy their weekly chess games and how angry she had become with her father when he had grown fond of Fox. Adalynne even laughed at some of the happenings her mother retold because there were no hard feelings left between them where Fox was concerned. Adalynne understood her mother’s belief that she was doing what was best. Adalynne didn’t want to hold onto anything negative, she no longer wanted to live in the past. After all, Adalynne’s mother didn’t know Fox like she did. She had only heard the stories of a troubled boy from a broken home. Adalynne never did tell her mother of their secret meetings in the woods, or how he spent so many nights in her bed when they were younger. She created a bond with him that would always claim her heart. She had only shared those memories with Katie and she wanted to keep those close to her heart.

  Her mother developed a new appreciation for Carmen. Her rigid view of Carmen’s position blurred. When Adalynne visited her mother always insisted Carmen join her and Adalynne for tea. Her mother’s change of heart shed great light for Adalynne’s peace of mind. They were the two women who raised her in this life and it brought her so much joy to see the relationship grow warm and friendly between them. Her mother was making a wonderful effort for Adalynne’s benefit, she knew the change could not have been easy for her and she appreciated the depths of her mother’s love. It was the first time she saw how strong and beautiful her mother really was and understood the vast depths of her father’s love that he had held for her. She was every bit of the woman he claimed her to be.

  The construction of the Music House was running as smoothly as possible. There was so much outreach from the community, it made Adalynne push even harder. John was there as often as he could to lend a hand to the workers and doing more than his share of work to contribute to the cause. She loved having him close, his company was comforting. Adalynne considered him family. The relationship they had formed was easy and natural. She valued his strength to turn his life around for his son.

  Adalynne remembered the afternoon when they had sorted through the remains of his wife’s belongings that did not perish in the fire. She had arrived early that day to check on him, she stayed close those couple of weeks because they had been especially hard on him. The call to drink dug at his very being and Adalynne watched him go through a full range of emotion. She and Meredith both encouraged him to remember why he was doing this when his mind became so rattled he could not see the light.

  “We can do it together.” Adalynne gave him a comforting squeeze on his shoulder as he hesitated at the entrance to the shed. The scorch marks still scarred the side of the structure. Adalynne walked in the dark space. Most of the boxes had significant fire damage but there were some boxes that seemed relatively unharmed. Adalynne struggled to lift a plastic container. Although the exterior looked slightly melted it still held its shape which gave hope to the survival of the contents inside. John lifted the box for her and walked out of the shed. She followed him into his living room as he dropped the box on the floor. They both sorted through the contents. They did this for the remainder of the day, box after box, salvaging everything that was not burned.

  “You shouldn’t try to forget her. She was your wife, and the mother of your son. She should be remembered as the woman you loved, not for the pain that she caused.”

  “She was a beautiful woman. I loved her so much. I hated her for leaving us,” John said softly as he looked at the photographs of her.

  “This is how she should be remembered.” Adalynne set a picture up on the mantle in the living room. It was a framed picture of Fox’s mother. She wore a beautiful smile as she cradled her swollen stomach. John looked at the picture Adalynne had placed in the bare room. He was lost in thought as he studied the picture. “I took that picture, you know,” he said after a few moments in silence. “I was so happy then…and so was she.”

  “Then that’s a good picture to have there.” Adalynne smiled.

  “She would have loved you, Addie,” John said warmly as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and placed another picture beside it on the mantle. It was a picture of their wedding day.

  Things with Kent were awkward at first, but his admiration of Fox made things easier. He had almost seemed proud he had sported a black eye from the lead singer of Outcome. She owed him an explanation after what happened. She told him about her history with Fox in a brief and need to know basis. He seemed to take the news in stride and Adalynne was glad when their relationship seemed to fall back into its normal working state shortly after. Adalynne was relieved things did not go further between them. She knew she would never feel anything more than friendship for him. In her desperation she had almost tried to make it something that it could never have been, ultimately leading to the possible loss of his friendship. Luckily it seemed that they had not crossed the line of no return. Kent eventually even began innocently flirting with her again, like he had always done before. It felt normal and that was exactly what she needed.

  Adalynne was on site for the Music House, talking to John about some interior details when Adalynne’s phone rang.

  “Hey Katie,” Adalynne answered.

  “It’s Steven, the baby is coming,” Steven blurted in the phone. “I’m fucking freaking out!”

  “Give me the phone,” Katie hollered from the background before she came on. “Addie, I need you. This baby is ripping me apart. Oww…” Katie started moaning in the phone.

  “I’m on my way,” Adalynne informed her. She gave John a quick heads up before running toward her car. John waved goodbye excitedly as she pulled out of the lot. Adalynne had been over the moon excited Katie’s baby was due to come any day now. It was all she was talking about to poor John and Meredith. Now the time had arrived she could barely contain her excitement.

  Adalynne drove to Katie’s as quickly as she could without breaking any laws. Steven was too panicked to drive so Adalynne insisted she pick them up. Adalynne couldn’t help but laugh when she pulled up in front of their house and saw the two of them. Katie was still in her slippers and a shirt that didn’t cover her large stomach. Her hair was in a knot on the top of her head. She was holding onto her stomach like she was afraid the baby would fall out and Steven looked as freaked as he sounded on the phone. He threw the bags in the trunk and then helped Katie in the car like he was nervous she would explode.

  Katie was in a Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde state of mind. With every contraction she seethed anger and screamed profanities but as soon as it passed she would be overwhelmed with excitement for the arrival of their baby.

  “How is it even possible to flip through emotions like that?” Adalynne commented nervously. Katie sat beside her smiling, only seconds after she threated to do bodily harm to Steven.

  “I don’t know. I can’t believe this is finally happening,” Katie said breathlessly. “It feels like I was pregnant forever and now we finally get to meet our baby.” She looked back at Steven, who only managed a very awkward smile. He was so quiet in the backseat. Adalynne wondered how he was going to make it through the delivery when he looked like he was going to pass out already.

  “God dammit this hurts like a motherfucker!” Katie screamed as Adalynne pulled up in front of the hospital. Steven jumped out and grabbed a wheelchair from the front door and brought it over.

  Katie’s labor progressed quickly and the doctors were surprised how far along she was already when they arrived. It was only an hour after they arrived at the hospital when Katie started pushing. Katie tried to leave and give Steven and Katie privacy to welcome their baby into the world but Steven refused to let her go. He needed the emotional support, while Katie threatened to take his life. With Steven and Adalynne by Katie’s side, she delivered a beautiful healthy baby girl. Much to everyone’s surprise, Steven stayed conscious the entire time.

  “She is so beautiful, Katie.” Adalynne held Katie’s
daughter who was swaddled and sleeping peacefully in her arms. “What is her name?”

  “We are naming her Taylor Bee Holston.” Katie beamed happily from her hospital bed. Steven held her hand; they were both still overwhelmed with emotion from the birth of their daughter. Katie’s murderous words were long forgotten as they gazed at each other with boundless love.

  “I like it very much.” Adalynne smiled. She was honored.

  “We thought you would.”

  Soon the delivery room filled with family. Katie’s parents arrived, followed by Steven’s, and then it continued until the room was full of people welcoming Taylor. It was a perfect way to enter the world surrounded by the love of family.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  It had been twenty-four days since Fox was released from rehab. Adalynne had seen the pictures in the gossip magazines lining the shelves on the street corner when she picked up her tea every morning since. The first title read “Brolan Pierce leaves rehab.” There was a picture on the cover with his favorite leather jacket wrapped around his broad muscled shoulders. He was so handsome she couldn’t help running her fingers over the glossy pages.

  “Will the band get back together?” So many questions about his future printed on the pages. “What was the reason for Brolan’s downfall?” She didn’t know any of the answers. He hadn’t contacted her since his release. She had thought of every possible reason why he did not seek her out and none of them meant a happy ending for her. The only title that came to her mind was “Fox doesn’t love Bee after all.”

  As hard as it was when he was in rehab not knowing how he was doing, it was worse knowing that he was out, recovered, and still didn’t want to see her. So many times she sat in her car with the intention of driving to his place and demanding to know why he continued to shut her out, but it wasn’t fair to him when he was getting his life back together. She was proud of him and wouldn’t get in his way.