Chapter 18 #2
I chuckle out my relief. “I work with … Monty? At Middle Peak. She’s a friend and since she’s been out for the last few days I wanted to check and make sure she was alright.”
The girl nods and pulls her knees up to her chest. “She’s never mentioned you.” Way to boost my ego there, kid.
“Ah, well, I haven’t heard about you either. What’s your name?”
“Sunny. I’m nine years old but I’ll be ten soon.
Monty says when I turn ten I can finally get my own TV in my room so I don’t have to fight with Skye about what to watch anymore.
She likes the Kardashians, but I like Say Yes to the Dress better.
The Kardashians are really annoying and their butts are too big.
How do they even fit in chairs? It doesn’t make sense. ”
This kid is not shy, that’s for sure. She continues to ramble and I sit and listen, not quite understanding all her references to various reality TV programs. I’m lost in a flurry of Randy, slore, lace, Bible, and bridesmaids when Alis appears in the living area, two mugs of tea in hand.
“Sunny, you do know that Dexter has no idea what you’re talking about, right?” Alis hands me a mug and I nod in thanks. She sits at the other end of the couch, nearest the hallway and kitchen, and Sunny rolls her eyes.
“I was just telling him about when Randy talked that crazy lady out of wearing a black wedding dress just because she wanted to be different. Seriously, who wears a black wedding dress?! That’s just ridiculous.” I laugh at her blatant disregard for Alis’s attempt to change conversation topics.
“Who indeed,” I reply, smiling at Sunny before taking a sip from the mug.
“Sorry,” Alis says to me. “She watches way too much reality TV for her own good. I’ve tried to steer her more toward books, but she’s one of those ‘rather watch the movie’ people. I don’t even know how we’re related.”
Related. So, this is her daughter? Maybe? Sister? I have so many questions but I don’t know where to begin. I also suspect Alis will close up as soon as I ask anything probing. I’m insanely curious, and also so completely confused right now.
I decide to avoid personal questions and direct my attention back to Sunny. “You’d rather watch the movie? But the book is always better!”
Sunny scoffs. “Gah, you sound just like Monty. ‘You need to read a book. Movies are worse than cliff notes. They never get it right.’ blah, blah, blah.”
Gotta hand it to her, this kid’s Alis impression is pretty spot on. She’s hilarious. And she tells it like she sees it. I am smitten.
“She’s right, you know.” Just as Sunny goes to roll her eyes again, Alis touches my arm and exclaims, “Finally! Someone in this house sees things my way instead of constantly succumbing to Skye’s influence!”
Alis touched me. The contact was brief, yet intentional — a gentle, voluntary squeeze on my arm. That's not something you do to a colleague, is it? Arm squeezes are for friends. She’s never engaged in such casual contact with me — at least, not since our reintroduction in my office months ago.
“Skye?” I ask. Before Alis can answer, the front door opens, and in walks a short, curvy, pixie-looking woman with bright purple hair.
She’s wearing rolled-up overalls with a red and white striped t-shirt underneath and combat boots.
She drops her keys into the bowl on the entryway table as she steps on the heel of her boot and wiggles a foot out before tossing it into the basket underneath the table.
“You’re not going to believe what that asshat suit said to me this morning. I swear he’s infuriating!” She huffs and turns to face us. Stopping in her tracks, a huge grin spreads across her face. “My, my, if it isn’t Sexy Dexy!”
I nearly spit out my tea just as Alis buries her face into her hands.
“I’m sorry, what?” I’m trying not to laugh, to no avail, because just as Alis groans into her hand, Sunny jumps up and yells, “THIS is Sexy Dexy?! Ohmygosh. I didn’t know you still talk to him?! Why am I just now meeting him?!”
Alis pulls her hand away from her face and gives Sunny a stunned expression through beet-red cheeks. “How do you know who Sexy Dexy is in the first place?”
She doesn’t realize her slip-up — she referred to me as Sexy Dexy. That’s all the confirmation I need. I am not just a colleague.
“I mean, Dexter. Dr. Belanger. Whatever.” She corrects herself. She wouldn’t have tried to save face by correcting herself if she wasn’t talking about me, right?
Sunny looks at the purple-haired woman and says, “Skye was talking about him with Tori in the car one day! She said you needed to stop being such a prude and date the guy.”
If Alis’s eyes could pop out of her head, they’d be rolling on the floor right now. “WHAT?!” Alis looks at — Skye? I’m guessing — and her friend bats her hand like Alis is overreacting.
“Psh. Don’t act surprised. It’s not like I keep anything from Tori. You know this.”
“That’s not the point!” Alis’s voice grows louder with frustration. “Why the hell were you talking about my sex life in front of a nine-year-old?!” Sex life? That escalated quickly.
Alis covers her mouth with her hand and squeezes her eyes closed. Her cheeks burn brighter. I don’t think she meant to say that in front of Sunny. Or me. I try to stay quiet. I’m so glad I came over.
Skye laughs. “Be careful, Alis. Your word vomit is spewing.”
Alis gives Skye a death glare and Sunny takes that as her queue to leave. “I’m going to my room. To read a book. Dexter has officially inspired me. You guys have fun! Bye-eeeee!” And then she bolts down the hallway and shuts what I assume is her bedroom door behind her.
Alis is still fuming, her eyes matching her red cheeks; Skye is still laughing. I have no idea what all just happened, but I know that I definitely don’t want to leave.
I try to lighten the mood and nudge Alis with my elbow. “So, Sexy Dexy, huh?” I wink at her and she rolls her eyes, blushing again, and lets out a huff. “This is not happening.”
Skye walks across the room to Sunny’s previous sitting location and reaches out her hand before sitting down. “Hi, Dexter. It’s nice to see you again.” Ah, she must be the friend from the club.
“Nice to see you again, too. I like the hair,” I say, nodding toward her purple locks. “I don’t remember the purple from the first time we met.”
“Yeah, the purple is new. I think that night my hair was red? Or maybe black. I don’t remember.” She shrugs. “So, what brings you to our humble abode?” Our. Ok, so they all live together. Does Sunny belong to Skye, then?
“I just came to check on Alis. She’s been out for a while and I wanted to make sure she was feeling alright.”
“Aw, Alis! He came to check on you,” Skye croons, hands folded over her chest. “You are so sweet to think of her, Dexy-Poo. And now that you’re here, you should stay for dinner!” She claps excitedly. Alis isn’t having it. Dexy-Poo?
“Sorry, Skye, but Dexter was just leaving.” She stands and gestures toward the door. I don’t want to leave, but I take the hint, set down my mug on the coffee table, and stand to follow.
“Aw, but I just got home! I didn’t even get to talk to him!” Skye whines.
“You’ll live,” Alis replies and she opens the door and steps out into the hallway. I wave goodbye to Skye and follow Alis, pulling the door closed behind me on my way out.
Alis is leaning up against the hallway wall, watching as I exit her apartment. “I am so sorry about that. I swear those two have no filter. I hope they didn’t make you uncomfortable.”
I smirk at her. “I think you were the uncomfortable one. They’re hilarious! I didn’t realize you had a roommate, or a …” I purposefully leave the sentence hanging, hoping she’ll fill in the blank.
“Spitfire? Yeah. They’re both crazy.” Way to avoid the question, woman. Looks like I’m going to have to ask her straight up.
“Is she yours?” Alis looks at her feet. Her face doesn’t look ashamed, but worried about answering my question. Why would she be worried about answering?
“Yes. And, no.” I quirk an eyebrow at her. That makes no sense.
Returning her gaze to meet mine, a myriad of emotions fill her eyes. She seems to be wrestling internally about what to say next. Finally, she makes the decision to trust me and shares a bit of her story.
“I adopted her when she was a baby. Her mother was my sister. She and Sunny’s father died in a car accident when she was nine months old.” Nine months old, and she’s about to be ten, which puts the car accident around … eight? Nine years ago? Right about the time Alis dropped out of grad school.
“You left school to take care of Sunny.” It’s a statement; not a question. Alis nods her head.
“Yeah. I had a lot happening around me and ultimately decided it would be best for Sunny, and for myself, if I left school and focused on raising her. We lived with my parents until we moved here in August.”
This woman continues to intrigue me. Becoming an adoptive mother in her early twenties? Losing her sister and brother-in-law at the same time? I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been for her, for her entire family. God, this woman is incredible.
This is the most information she’s given me about herself since the night we met. It’s nice to see Alis, the woman, and not just Alis, my grader.
“Wow.” I don’t know what else to say. I’m overwhelmed by Alis, and I’m sure there’s so much more to learn about her. “Why didn’t you tell me that day in my office when I asked about why you left school?”
“Because I didn’t really know you, and I had no reason to divulge personal details about myself to you.” She makes this statement so matter-of-factly, so directly, that I don’t know how to respond. After a few seconds I recover from the jab her words aimed in my direction.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” Not knowing how to steer the conversation from here without prying, I look toward the exit and then back at Alis. “I should be going. I’m glad you’re feeling better, Alis.”
She stops me with a hand on my arm before I can take a step away from her and looks into my eyes. That’s twice now she’s touched me, casually, dare I say, affectionately.
“Dexter, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be rude or overly closed off; I just haven’t opened up to anyone new in a very long time.
Aside from college, I’ve lived my entire life in the same place, with the same people.
I’ve always had the same friends, interacted with mostly the same crowd.
Moraine isn’t very large, so everyone already knew what happened with my sister.
I’ve never had to explain things about my life to anyone because they all lived through it with me. ”
Her hand is still on my arm. I want to place my hand over hers, but I know if I move an inch she’ll retreat.
I want to tell her she doesn’t have to rehash all of this right now, but I’ve felt drawn to Alis from the moment I met her and I won’t waste any opportunity to get to know her better.
After another deep breath, she continues.
“Moving to Grand River has been … different. I had a plan in place to move here and finish school, to keep focusing on work and Sunny. I never considered how moving to a new city would impact me personally.” She laughs.
“For crying out loud, before the night we met, I hadn’t kissed a man in nine years! ”
That catches my attention. “Really?” I ask. She nods slowly, a small smile gracing her lips. “Really. My life has revolved around work and Sunny. And now, work, school, and Sunny. I didn’t even consider meeting someone or changing up my routine.”
Screw caution. I take a small step closer to her and sweep an errant hair behind her ear. Looking into her eyes, I ask, “Is changing up your routine so bad?”
Alis swallows. “I don’t know if it’s bad, but it’s overwhelming. Not to mention terrifying.” I want to kiss her again so badly, but the vulnerability in her eyes assures me that kissing her will only scare her away.
I smile at her and slowly take a step back. “I understand. And I’m sorry if I’ve contributed to you feeling overwhelmed.”
“It’s not just you. It’s everything. I’m still trying to find my footing in a new place, with new people.
I’m not only working through my own transition but also helping Sunny acclimate to a new school and new friends.
I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it eventually and be more open to people, but right now I need to navigate within my own boundaries. At least for a while.”
I nod. “I respect your boundaries — well, today’s behavior aside.”
She laughs. “I definitely didn’t expect you to show up on my doorstep.”
I run my hand through my hair. “Yeah, well. I really was worried something serious was wrong with you. Your emails haven’t been very forthcoming.”
“I know. And I apologize for that. Last week when I left it was because Sunny was throwing up and had to leave school. I thought I’d be back in a day or two, but then I woke up Friday with the same virus.
I finally started feeling better yesterday afternoon and took today as a final recovery day before Sunny and I get back into our normal routine. ”
“I’m glad you’re both feeling better and that you took the time you needed,” I assure her. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”
She nods, her smile gentle and soft. "Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow."
As she opens her door, she offers a small, warm wave.
I pivot, steering myself toward the exit.
The sound of the door closing doesn’t reach my ears, but I don’t dare turn to check in case she’s watching me.
That’s not true. I don’t turn to check because I don’t want to feel the disappointment of not seeing her watch me leave.