by Terra Kelly
Alyssa hopped off the barstool and knelt down. “That sounds like a plan, Stan.” Then they gave each other a high-five and giggled. “Well, don’t have too much fun without me,” he said, visibly pouting. “I won’t be home until after midnight, so don’t wait up.”
Alyssa stood and walked into his embrace. “We will miss you today. Tell Anna and Stu I will be in tomorrow.”
Once Alex left, Alyssa and Lexie were snuggled on the couch watching cartoons. “Momma, I like you happy,” Lexie said, out of the blue.
Alyssa didn’t know what to say. She looked down at those big blue eyes, “I like feeling happy again, baby.” She brushed Lexie’s hair away from her face. “I want you to know, you always made me happy. I just missed your daddy so much.”
“You don’t miss him anymore?”
“I will always miss him. He was special and gave me the greatest gift. You!” She pulled Lexie closer to her. “From now on we will celebrate daddy and talk about all the great things he did for us.”
Lexie smiled. “Tell me a story Mommy, about daddy.”
Alyssa just sighed, determined to not cry. She kissed Lexie on her forehead. “I remember when we were planning your third birthday party. You loved everything bears. So, your Daddy decided we needed to fill the house up with tons of stuffed bears. There was a stuffed bear bigger than him even.” Lexie giggled and snuggled closer. “We found plates, napkins, cups, hats, you name it, we found it, all covered in bears. He even printed pictures of cute bears. My job was to make recipes using honey, because bears love honey.”
“Just like Pooh Bear, right Momma?”
“Yup, just like Pooh Bear. The funny part, we went to all the trouble to make the house filled with cute bears and guess what?”
Lexie looked up excited. “What?”
“Your Grandma brought you home from playing at the park. The moment you walked in the door, you were scared. You ran to your room and cried. So, we de-cluttered the house of bears but kept the big gigantic bear. For two days you walked around the house afraid you might bump into a bear.”
“Where is the gigantic bear Momma?”
“He’s stored back in Michigan. We will get him the next time we go there.”
“Michigan?”
“That is where we lived and where you were born.” She beeped her belly, and Lexie giggled.
“Why are we here?”
“After the accident, Momma needed to get away. So she drove, and drove, until we were tired of driving, and ended up here.” She lifted Lexie’s chin, and said, “We will go back someday soon, okay? I think I may be ready to go back and I think we should drag Alex along with us. What do you think?”
“I think I would like that Momma.” She leaned up and kissed Alyssa on the cheek. “Can we go to the library?”
Alyssa laughed, just like that she was done with talking about her daddy or even Michigan. “Yes cutie, let’s go grab our coats and boots.”
When they walked into the library, Lexie was in awe. She stopped and looked all around. “Momma, there’s a lot of books!”
“There sure are, baby girl! You go explore over there.” She pointed in the direction the children’s section and Lexie’s eyes grew even bigger. She ran over to the first shelf, grabbed a few books and sat down to look at them. Alyssa had her laptop with her to go over the Thanksgiving dinner. She sat down where she could see Lexie and typed out their meal plan.
About an hour later Lexie walked over with her arms full. “Momma, I love all of these. How do I choose one?”
Alyssa loved her daughter so much. “Well, sweetie, you can check out more than one. Let’s make sure we grab a few Christmas stories, too.”
They ended up checking out twelve books and six of them were Christmas stories. Alyssa grabbed all the classic stories she loved growing up. Once they got to the car, Alyssa asked, “You hungry?”
She clapped. “Yes!”
“Let’s go say hi to Alex, Anna, and everyone else then. How does that sound?”
“Yes, yes, Alex, Alex, Alex!”
Alyssa laughed, one thing was for sure, her daughter loved Alex as much as she did. Loved? Did she love, Alex? Was that possible to love him? She sat there for a moment lost in thought. From the back seat, Lexie called her name. Alyssa shook her head. “Okay, okay, I’m going.” She knew if she did love him, it was okay. After two years, this is what Derek would have wanted for her and Lexie. To find happiness again.
Lexie was snuggled in Alyssa’s arms as they walked into the cafe. Alex peeked through the pass-through window. “Well, this is a surprise.” He walked up front wiping his hands on his apron. He gave Lexie a kiss on the cheek and Alyssa a kiss on her lips. They heard “Ohhhh’s and ahhhh’s” from the cafe and laughed.
Alyssa looked at everyone and demanded, “Oh stop, and just eat up.” She pouted. “The library made us hungry.”
“Reading can do that to you.” He beeped Lexie’s belly, “What are you having, cutie? The usual?”
Lexie loved the mac n’ cheese. Which is why she thought of a mac n’ cheese pizza? “Yes, mac n’ cheese, hmmmm!” She rubbed her belly in happiness.
Alex turned to Alyssa. “You want your favorite too, love?”
There was that word again and coming from Alex’s lips. She smiled. “Yes, please.” Alyssa never tired of eating the pork shoulder, arugula and mushroom pizza.
Alyssa found two barstools at the end of the counter. Anna and Rachel walked over, both with grins from ear to ear. Anna smiled. “Well, good afternoon. You both look happy!”
Rachel laughed. “We found Alex singing today. Anything you would like to share?”
Alyssa looked at Lexie, then at the girls, “Things are great right now. So, I guess you might have to get used to this new look we all are sporting.”
Rachel and Anna giggled, and at the same time, “It’s about time, sweetie.”
Chapter 10
The next week flew by, Alex and Alyssa included the extra inventory for the dinner. They had to video chat with Connie and Jim one more time about logistics. Isabel called four times asking questions and just excited to see everyone. Lexie decided she needed to draw pictures for everyone coming. On Wednesday afternoon, they all piled in a van they borrowed from Anna and headed to the airport. Lexie was in the back singing and laughing.
“You doing okay, baby?” Alex asked, reaching to squeeze her hand.
Alyssa smiled. “More than okay. I’m excited for this weekend with your family.”
They parked the van and walked to baggage claim. Lexie was in between them and holding their hands. She was swinging back and forth. Alex and Alyssa were laughing as they would swing her forward then back. They were so lost in the fun, that they missed everyone waiting for them by the doors to go into the building.
Grant smiled. “Hey there.”
Alex, Lexie, and Alyssa looked up, and laughed. Lexie hopped in place. Alex walked over to Grant and hugged him. Then everyone was hugging.
Connie bent down, and said, “Sweet Lexie!”
Lexie hopped up and down more. “Yes, yes!”
Isabel and Connie looked at Lexie, then at Alyssa. Isabel pulled Alyssa into her embrace. “Oh, it’s so good to meet you in person finally.”
Connie hugged her next. “It is wonderful to meet the woman who has settled my boy down. Maybe now y’all could move to Wilmington?”
Alyssa glanced over at Alex who was talking to his brothers and father. “Um... we will have to see about that.” She felt a flush move up her face. Then, to ignore the uncomfortable feeling, she asked, “So how was your flight?”
Jim walked over and hugged Alyssa. “It was smooth sailing. It’s wonderful to meet you, dear.”
“Okay, we have a van to fit us all,” Alex said. “Anna, the pastry chef at the cafe let us borrow it for the weekend.”
“Where will we be sleeping?” Joshua asked, grabbing his luggage. “Do you want us to get a hotel room?”
Alyssa looked startled.
“No, please, we have enough room between our two homes.”
Lexie looked at Joshua. “You can have my room if you want.”
Drew punched Joshua in his side. “Perfect, you will have stuffed babies to help you sleep.”
Joshua punched Drew back. “Just as long as there is a stuffed bear, we’re good.”
Lexie gasped. “Yes, you can use Sammy Bear.”
Everyone erupted in laughter. Isabel shrugged her shoulders. “Boys will be boys.” She put her arm around Alyssa. “So, I hear turkey day will be epic?”
“I have a feeling it might be. You like to cook and bake, don’t you? Drew told us about your old-fashioned cocktail sweet rolls you made him. I may need that recipe.”
They all continued the chatter as they packed up the van and headed back to Alex’s place. He had a two-bedroom house, so they decided Isabel and Drew in one room, Connie and Jim in the other. Grant said he would take the couch and Joshua said he would come back to Alyssa’s and sleep in Lexie’s room. Lexie was excited to stay in Alyssa and Alex’s room with them.
Once they were all settled, they headed over to the cafe for dinner. The family was blown away by the menu options, and that there was a wood smoking pit and a brick pizza oven. They each ordered something different, so they could try more than one option.
Isabel was snuggled into Drew. “Alyssa, what made you open the cafe?”
Alyssa was sitting close to Alex, she grabbed his hand. “It was something I had wanted since I finished culinary school. Derek was determined to make the dream into a reality. After the accident, we ended up here, and Lexie found this building. I realized it was meant to be. So, this cafe has little pieces of Derek everywhere.”
Isabel smiled. “Did he love wood-smoking meat or devouring pizzas?”
Alyssa laughed. “I’m the pizza lover, he was the wood-smoking king.”
Connie sighed. “That is beautiful, Alyssa. I love you have this cafe to celebrate him. He sounds like he was a good man.”
Alyssa looked down, then she looked back at Connie. “He was a wonderful man.”
“So, Mom, didn’t we have beans to spill?” Grant teased.
Connie looked at Isabel and Drew. “Oh, please spill the beans, please?”
Alex leaned toward Alyssa. “You okay, love?”
She nodded and kissed his cheek. “Just fine, baby.” They stared at each other for a few moments then joined in the conversation taking place. Alyssa looked confused. “Beans to spill?”
Isabel squealed. “Okay, okay, so Drew and I have set a date for the wedding.”
“Seriously?” Alex asked. “When is it, and please tell me during warmer weather!”
Drew laughed. “Um, Alex, did you forget it’s always nice in Wilmington?”
“True, I have been gone too long.”
Connie smiled. “Yes you have, but now I understand why.” Then she looked at Alyssa and Lexie who were talking with Joshua. In almost a whisper. “They both are beautiful.”
Alex looked over toward Alyssa. “It has been a long two years for them both.”
Grant asked, “Is her family coming out here for Thanksgiving?”
“Not this year, but maybe next year we will see them.”
Jim looked toward the kitchen, excited. “Here comes happiness now.”
Stu was helping Rachel bring all the food out. “Okay, who ordered the mac n’ cheese?”
Lexie started bouncing in her seat. “Me, me, me! It my favorite!”
Stu seemed puzzled. “This is your favorite dish? No!”
Lexie giggle. “Uncle Stu? Stop teasing!”
As they all started to eat, there was a moment of silence, followed by several moans. Isabel spoke first. “I don’t know about you, but I plan on moving here.”
Alyssa laughed. “If you did, I would put you to work. The word on the street is, you make killer bread.”
Drew sighed. “Yes she does. I think you planned on making some homemade bread with Mom, didn’t you?”
Connie clapped her hands together. “Yes, let’s do it. I would love to make dinner rolls and those amazing sweet rolls of yours.”
Isabel laughed. “Well, alrightly then, bread making will begin on Thursday morning. Be there or be square, Connie.”
Connie leaned over and hugged Isabel. “So sweetie, when is the official date of the wedding?”
“We decided on April 20th. Oh, I hope you can make it Alex and Alyssa?”
Alyssa smiled. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world. Plus, I know Alex has a soft spot for you, so he will be there.”
Josh made a smart-ass sound, teasing Alex. “Soft spot? Interesting Bro, and Alyssa is okay with this?”
Alyssa punched his arm. “Oh stop, just wait till you meet someone. They will tease you like crazy.”
Josh went serious. “I won’t be meeting anyone, so I’m safe.”
Alyssa sounded confused. “Have you sworn off women?”
Drew laughed. “His heart only belongs to one woman, and she disappeared years ago.”
Josh scowled. “Bite me, Drew.”
Jim spoke up. “Okay, okay boys, let’s drop the subject. Alyssa, you think you can come for the wedding? Will you have someone to watch the cafe?”
“Stu and Anna run it when I’m away. I set it up that way because Lexie got to an age where she needed more of my attention. Her birthday is after September, so she can’t start Kindergarten until next year.”
“How wonderful,” Connie said. “You all seem like you are very close, like you’re family.”
Alyssa paused for a moment. “Well, when I left Michigan over two years ago, I didn’t know where I would end up, or what I would be doing. I knew I needed to get away from the memories for awhile.” She looked at Lexie. “Somehow life takes you on some crazy adventures, all for a reason I guess.”
They continued to talk, eat, and laugh. It was almost nine when they headed back to the houses. Little Lexie had her head resting on Isabel’s leg and was sound asleep. Alex picked her up, and they piled in the van.
After everyone was settled, Josh and Alex were sitting on the couch talking. Alyssa crashed because she knew tomorrow would be a big day. They put Lexie on the floor in her very own little fort. Alex clinked his beer with Joshua’s bottle. “So tell me, is it true? You still hung up on that girl, remind me her name?”
Joshua just sighed. “Kenzie, and I guess the answer is yes.”
Alex sounded a bit confused. “Hasn’t it been like, eight years or something?”
Joshua laughed. “Ten, but who’s counting, right?”
“Maybe it’s time to let it go? I mean, have you even heard from her?”
“No. It’s fine, I’m busy with teaching and bar tending. So, you with a woman that has a little girl, never thought I would see the day.”
Alex nudged Josh’s side. “Whatever. Have you really looked at them yet? They are hard to resist.”
Joshua laughed. “Good point. Do you think you will ever end up back in Wilmington? Especially since Alyssa has a cafe here.”
“I have no idea. I’m just enjoying every moment with them. We’re not looking too far in the future yet. She still has a lot to deal with, especially her family.”
“What do you mean?”
“She hasn’t seen her family in two years. We are talking about going soon. I don’t know what soon means to her. I don’t plan on pushing her though.”
Joshua patted Alex’s leg. “She’s lucky to have you, really lucky.”
It was early on Thursday morning, the house was still, except for giggles coming out of Alyssa and Alex’s room. Joshua woke up earlier than normal. Lexie’s bed was short for his long legs but he didn’t care. He looked into their room to see Lexie giggling and petting something. She noticed Joshua in the doorway. “Look Josh, Blueberry and Chocolate are sleeping with me.”
Josh walked in and sat down in front of her little fort. “Where do they normally sleep?”
From behind Joshua. “W
ith me,” Alyssa said, leaning over the bed. “Did they sleep with you all night, cutie?”
Lexie hopped up and startled both cats. Josh moved out of the way. “I think so, Momma.” She climbed onto the bed and hugged Alyssa. Then she climbed on to Alex and hugged him. “You waking up, Alex?”
Alex moaned. “I am now.” Then he grabbed her and tickled her. “Who is this cute little creature waking me up?”
Lexie was laughing so hard. “It was Blueberry who woke you up.”
Alyssa sounded shocked. “Blaming the cat?”
Lexie laughed harder. “Wait no, it was Josh.”
Joshua’s eyes went wide. “What? I was just checking on you, now you blame me? I see how this works.”
Lexie stood, put her arms up in the air, and nodded. “Okay, okay, it was me!”
Joshua chuckled and headed out of the room. He loved seeing his younger brother so happy. It was easy to be put under the Lexie and Alyssa spell. Hell, it was happening to him already. He shook his head and went into the kitchen to find what he needed to make coffee.
Lexie was watching cartoons with Joshua in the living room. Alyssa was in the shower and Alex was in the kitchen making a massive breakfast. There was already so much sound coming from the little house, it was almost difficult to hear the doorbell ring. Lexie pulled Joshua to the door to help her open it. She had the biggest grin on her face as she opened the door wide. Everyone whooped and hollered and said their good mornings.
Isabel walked into the kitchen and inhaled the aromas. “So, is this just something you’re throwing together, because it smells amazing!”
Alex turned toward the doorway. “Good morning!” he said, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “Yes, just simple scrambled eggs, toast, and roasted root vegetables. Does that sound okay?”
“Okay? Sweetie, you could feed me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I would tell you it was okay. If any house smelled like this, I would never want to leave.”
Alyssa had a towel wrapped around her head and she was snuggled into her bathrobe. She walked in at the tail end of the conversation. “Who’s not leaving?” She walked over to Isabel and gave her a hug. “Good morning.”