Chapter 18
ALEXIS
Weeks turned over as Austin and I adjusted to our new life after moving in with my parents. Dad had been discharged from hospital with ongoing outpatient rehab. I resigned from my previous job and found a replacement in the closest hospital. Austin was signed up to pre-school and had already made a best friend.
My boy was thriving in the new environment and was happy and spoilt by his grandparents. We did miss Aunty Alicia and living with her, but we spoke every day if only to make sure she was okay on her own. The town had welcomed us back with open arms, and that familiar sense of “home” settled in.
And then there was Owen. After his apology, I began seeing him everywhere but also not at all. He remained my dad’s physiotherapist, assisting with his recovery beyond the bounds of professional obligation. And Dad was more than receptive to his care, his condition improving beyond our expectations. I also bumped into Owen on shift, since we both worked in the same hospital.
Despite the proximity, he kept his distance, which had me questioning his motives, his actions and words. I didn’t know what to make of the whole scenario. He had apologised, which was sincere and raw. What I wasn’t prepared for was my reaction. I wanted to find out what had happened. I finally felt strong enough to know the details, although I couldn’t pinpoint why his answers would matter after so long.
Am I looking for closure? To finally make peace with the situation? Does it even matter anymore?
After Owen’s confession in the car park, I subtly dug for more information from my parents. They didn’t budge, and refused to get involved.
“You shut us out for so long, sweetheart,” Mum said, voice reserved but resolute. “You refused to hear anything that was remotely associated with him. We couldn’t even mention his name. And that’s okay because that’s how you had to heal. But, Alexis, if you want to know more, you have to ask him yourself.”
Her statement hit me with the hard slap of realism. When I had ditched town, I left everything behind, not wanting a single reminder of my life in Acacia Falls since it was so systematically linked to Owen.
I knew it was an unhealthy way to live, but for me, it was a matter of survival. However, my parents unintentionally became a part of the fallout.
In those initial months, I slowly iced them out, constantly terrified that something would be brought up to trigger me, purely based on their location and proximity to my ex. I had forgotten that I wasn’t the only one who lost something—they had lost a son and daughter, both in one hit.
It was unfair and unwarranted, and I had hurt them deeply. Things got better after I got pregnant with Austin. I had a newfound purpose—another human being depending on me to be the best version of myself.
Austin brought us back together. With a baby comes unconditional love, and there’s so much more to spare and go around.
So, after that reminder of my past regrets, I hugged my mother from behind, squeezing tight. “You’re right, Mama. Thank you for being there for me… through everything. You’re the best parents, and I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Mum squeezed me back, a silent gesture to say she had heard my words and accepted them.
It was Saturday, and Austin was bouncing around his room like an overexcited puppy, checking and rechecking his sports uniform.
Mum had signed him up for micro soccer to play in the same team as his new best friend, Cooper. It would be his first run around, and I was excited to see him try something new.
“Hurry up, Mum! Come on!” Austin screamed.
“Okay, okay,” I muttered before grabbing my sunglasses and heading downstairs.
My parents were on the couch, wide, identical grins geared towards my boy, who was bobbing impatiently by the door.
When I said goodbye, they both looked at each other with a suspicious gleam that I should have taken note of.
I stood on the outskirts of the field, watching my boy join his new team, his little face serious.
Unfortunately, my attention waned—again—as it had been for the past half hour. Owen stood proud as their coach, gentle in his teaching but firm when he had to be.
He was great with the kids, and they all seemed to love him. And they weren’t the only ones.
Soccer mums waded on the sidelines, gleaming teeth and bunched up bosoms, waiting for their moment to shine. I didn’t know why they had to get all dressed up to watch their kids run a set of drills… Which they were pretty much shit at anyway. Hello, they’re three .
Owen, on his part, kept his focus on the kids, despite a couple of soccer mums getting a bit too close.
Becky, their ringleader, took that opportunity to introduce herself to me and give the rundown of who’s who and what’s what. She didn’t know who I was yet, since she had moved to Acacia Falls one year before. But I was sure she would find out soon enough since she had successfully elevated herself to Top Bitch.
I tuned out for most of her musings until she got to the interesting part.
“Mm, look at that smile. He has a great smile, doesn’t he?” I followed her gaze to none other than Owen, his hands moving as he explained some steps to the team.
That’s not his real smile.
I blinked, contemplating the passing thought. Owen did have a great smile, proven by the amount of women swooning over it. However, that was his public one—the polite show he put on for others.
He had a private one. A secret one that he only reserved for me. A little sideways tick of his lips when he said he loved me or just before he kissed me. It was pure and it was ours —well, used to be ours.
“He’s single, you know,” Becky continued. “All the women in this town have been trying to hook him for years, but he won’t even agree to a date.” By her pouted lips, I didn’t have to imagine who he’d rejected.
I shrugged. “He seems a bit sketchy to me.” Becky’s brow lifted from the contrast of my observation versus the sunbeams practically glowing from Owen’s good guy aura.
He isn’t as innocent as he looks. Opp, talk about bitter.
Thankfully, Owen called it, and practice was finished. As the mothers rounded up their little ones, Austin dragged a boy over, stopping in front of me.
“Cooper, this is Mummy,” Austin said as a way of introduction.
“Hi, Mummy,” Cooper replied.
Austin stared back, affronted. “No. She’s my mummy.”
I chuckled, crouching down to their level. “Hi, Cooper. Although I go by Mummy, people also call me Alexis.”
Cooper smiled, shaking my offered hand. “We’re going to the park after this. Can Austin come? Please?”
“Ah, maybe you should ask your parents—”
“Uncle!”
Then, Owen raced over, and when his eyes met mine, something shone beneath before it was shut behind blinders.
“What’s up, Coop?”
“Can Austin and Alexis come to the park? Pleaseeee, I want to show them the new slide that’s really high.”
Owen hesitated, his expression turning awkward as hell. But I didn’t want to linger on that. Austin had found a new friend, and I wasn’t about to ruin their new bond because of our grown-up issues. I wasn’t going to let my fucked up past affect my son.
“We’d love to come… If that’s okay with you?” I asked, pitching the question to Owen.
His eyes widened with surprise before he accepted.