Chapter 7 - Alice
This has to be a dream.
I'm sitting across from Carter, former MC member, current single father, possibly the most dangerous man I've ever had breakfast with, watching his daughter demolish a mountain of pancakes while my dog gazes at her with complete adoration, and everything feels surreally perfect.
Too perfect. Like I'm going to wake up any second in my bed with Biscuit drooling on my pillow, and this whole thing will have been my imagination working overtime.
But the coffee is real. The morning sun is real. The way Carter's looking at me over the rim of his mug, guarded but warming, like ice beginning to thaw, that's real too.
"So, what made you become a teacher?" he asks, cutting into his pancakes with the movements of someone who's very aware of his surroundings at all times.
I take a sip of my coffee, buying myself a moment. "I've always loved kids. The honesty of them, you know? They don't have all the filters adults have. They just... are who they are."
"Until we teach them not to be," he says quietly.
"Yeah." I look down at my plate. "I guess I wanted to be the kind of teacher who lets them stay themselves as long as possible. Who makes them feel safe being whoever they are."
"Sounds like you're good at it."
"I try." I stab at my pancakes, not really hungry despite how good they smell. "My ex used to say I cared too much. That I let my students' problems become my problems."
The words slip out before I can stop them. I shouldn't be talking about my ex. Definitely shouldn't be oversharing about my failed relationship to a man I barely know.
But Carter doesn't look uncomfortable. He just nods slowly, like he understands. "Your ex sounds like an asshole."
I laugh, a surprised, genuine laugh that makes Maya look up from her pancakes. "He really was."
"How long's it been? Since you split."
"Three months. Found out he was cheating with a girl from his gym.
" I wrap my hands tighter around my mug.
"Which wasn't even the worst part, honestly.
The worst part was how he'd spent two years making me feel like everything about me was wrong.
Too emotional, too invested in my work, too. .. much of everything."
Carter's jaw tightens. I watch the muscle jump, watch something dark flicker across his expression. "He said that? That you were too much?"
"In various ways, yeah." I force myself to look at him, to not hide from this. "He had a lot of opinions about my weight, too. Always disguised as concern, always framed as 'I just want you to be healthy,' but really he just wanted me to be smaller. Take up less space."
"Jesus Christ." Carter sets down his fork, and his voice when he speaks is low and dangerous.
"I don't know your ex, but I know men like him.
Men who tear down the people around them because they're too fucking weak to build anything themselves.
Men who need someone else to feel small so they can feel big. "
The intensity in his voice makes my breath catch. He means it. Every word.
"You're not too much," he continues, meeting my eyes.
"You're not too emotional or too invested or any of that bullshit.
You're a teacher who gives a damn about her students.
You walk your dog at the same time every night because you're loyal to routine.
You came looking for me yesterday just to say thank you because you're the kind of person who does the right thing even when it's awkward.
" He pauses. "That's not too much. That's exactly enough. "
I have to blink rapidly to keep from crying. No one has ever—my ex certainly never—
"Thank you," I manage, my voice rough. "You didn't have to say that."
"Yeah, I did." He picks up his fork again, goes back to his pancakes like he didn't just say the most perfect thing anyone's ever said to me. "Someone should have told you a long time ago."
Maya is watching us both with wide eyes, her fork paused halfway to her mouth. "Ms. Alice, are you sad?"
"No, sweetie." I smile at her, wiping quickly at my eyes. "Just happy. Sometimes people cry when they're happy."
"That's weird," Maya observes, but she accepts it and goes back to her pancakes.
Carter clears his throat. "What about you? Any family in town besides the ex?"
"No. My parents died four years ago. Car accident. It was..." I pause, swallowing hard. "It was fast, at least. They didn't suffer. Left me their house, which is the only reason I can afford to live here on a teacher's salary."
"I'm sorry." And he sounds like he means it. "That's rough. Losing both of them at once."
"It was. Still is, sometimes." I take a breath. "But the house is good. Full of memories, you know? My mom's bookshelf is still in the living room. My dad's tools are still in the garage. It's like they're still there, in a way."
"My parents died too," Carter says. "Different circumstances, but yeah. I get it. That feeling of wanting to hold onto the pieces they left behind."
We sit in silence for a moment, both of us lost in memories of people who aren't here anymore. It should be depressing, but somehow it's not. Somehow it feels like understanding.
"Daddy, I'm full," Maya announces, pushing away a plate that still has half a pancake on it. "Can I give the rest to Biscuit?"
"No, baby. Dogs can't have that much human food. It's not good for them."
Maya looks heartbroken, and Biscuit looks equally devastated, like Carter just told him Christmas is canceled.
"He can have a dog treat, though," I offer, pulling a small bag from my purse. I always carry them for our walks. "If your dad says it's okay."
"Can he, Daddy? Please?"
"Sure." Carter smiles slightly. "Just one though. Don't want to spoil his breakfast."
Maya takes the treat reverently, holds it out to Biscuit like she's presenting him with a royal gift. He takes it gently. He's always careful with kids and she giggles with delight.
"Alice!"
The voice cuts through the morning air like a siren. I close my eyes because I know that voice. Know exactly who's about to descend on our table like a well-meaning tornado.
Claire.
She materializes at our table in about 3 seconds, smiling brightly and gleefully. She's wearing workout clothes, her hair in a ponytail, clearly on a morning run that just happened to take her past The Grind.
Sure it did.
"Hey! I was just running by and saw you guys and thought I'd say hi!" The lie is so transparent, I'm amazed she can say it with a straight face. "You must be Carter. I'm Claire, Alice's best friend and the person who's been hearing all about you."
I want to die. Actually want to sink through the floor and disappear forever.
"Claire," I say through gritted teeth. "This is Carter and his daughter Maya."
"Hi!" Maya waves enthusiastically. "This is Biscuit! He's the best dog ever!"
"He really is," Claire agrees, giving Biscuit a pat.
Then she looks at me with an expression I know too well, the one that means she's about to do something I'm going to want to kill her for.
"Hey, you know what? I was actually thinking about heading to the park for a cooldown.
Maya, would you want to come with me? You and Biscuit could play on the swings while your dad and Alice finish breakfast? "
"Can I, Daddy?" Maya is already bouncing in her seat. "Please?"
Carter looks at me, then at Claire, clearly trying to assess whether this is safe. Whether he can trust this stranger with his daughter.
"I'm a pediatric nurse," Claire says, reading his hesitation. "I work at Blackwater Memorial. Alice has known me for ten years. I'm very responsible, I promise. And the park is literally a two-minute walk from here. You can see it from the outdoor seating area. We'll stay where you can see us."
"Claire, you don't have to—" I start.
"I want to!" She's still smiling, but her eyes are saying *let me do this for you*. "Besides, I love kids. And dogs. And giving my best friend some alone time with her breakfast companion."
The emphasis on "alone time" is not subtle. Not even a little bit.
Carter looks at Maya, who's practically vibrating with excitement. Then at me. "What do you think?"
"I think Claire is meddling," I say pointedly.
"I think Claire is being helpful," Claire counters. "There's a difference."
Carter's lips twitch, almost a smile. "If Maya wants to go, it's fine. But you stay where I can see you, understand? And you listen to Ms. Claire."
"I will! I promise!" Maya is already sliding out of her chair, taking Biscuit's leash from me. "Come on, Biscuit! We're going to the park!"
Claire grabs Maya's hand, gently, like she's done this a thousand times. "We'll be back in twenty minutes. Thirty max. You two take your time."
And just like that, they're gone. Maya skipping between Claire and Biscuit, heading toward the small park visible from our table. I watch them go, watch Carter watch them, his whole body tense until he confirms they're staying in sight.
"Your friend is subtle," he says dryly.
"As a brick through a window." I cover my face with my hands. "I'm so sorry. She means well, but she has absolutely no boundaries."
"It's fine." He's still watching Maya, making sure she's safe. "She seems good with kids."
"She is. She really is a pediatric nurse, and she's amazing at her job. Also amazing at interfering in my life when she thinks I need it."
"And she thinks you need it?" Carter looks back at me, "Me, I mean. She thinks you need me?"
My face is burning. "She thinks I need to give people a chance. She thinks I've been hiding since my breakup. She thinks..." I trail off, not sure how honest to be.
"She thinks what?"
"She thinks you're good for me," I shyly admit. "That you make me smile. That I came looking for you yesterday because I wanted to, not just because I felt obligated to say thank you."
Carter leans back in his chair, "And what do you think?"