Chapter Twenty-Three
Liam
My phone blared from somewhere, where, I didn’t know. It was early, too early after the late night I’d had with Alyssa.
I lifted my head from the mattress, hanging it over the side to scan my bedroom floor. The light guided me towards it, nearly under the bed.
One eye opened, the other squinted tightly shut so I could read the screen. Bailey. What was she calling for?
“Hello?” I asked slowly.
“Liam, thank God you answered,” her voice filled with panic.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine; it’s Xander,” she gasped.
My heart raced. A million horrible scenarios rushed through my mind before I asked, what was wrong.
“He’s in a really bad place; he needs you, said you’re the only one he’ll talk to,” she insisted.
“Put him on the phone,” I said, sitting up in my bed.
“I can’t; that’s the problem. He’s locked himself in the cabin, refuses to come down, and with the weather changing fast, I’m afraid no one will be able to reach him soon,” Bailey cried.
“I can be there this afternoon, early evening at the latest,” I said, telling Bailey not to worry, and that everything would be okay.
I wasn’t sure everything would be okay. I knew it was hard for Xander to come out of that damn cabin, of the seclusion he lived in, but he did. Bailey had done wonders for him, and as far as I knew, he’d been doing fine until now.
I hated to leave, especially after what happened with Alyssa. Now, she wasn’t the one running away, but I was.
I looked at the time; Holly was already in school, and Alyssa probably already at work. I sent a quick text to Holly, letting her know I had to go help a friend, and that’d I may not have reception for a few days, and then dialed Alyssa’s number.
No answer. Shit!
I left a voicemail at the beep, explaining as much as I could in the little time given. I called the airport, made the arrangements for the next flight, less than an hour to pack and get there, but if I didn’t, another fight wouldn’t leave until tomorrow morning.
“I’ll take it,” I told the lady on the other end of the phone.
I shoved some warm clothing into a duffel bag, along with the basic necessities for climbing that nasty mountain. Why hadn’t Xander gotten rid of that place by now?
I headed to the airport with an aching feeling in my gut, one that told me Alyssa wasn’t going to be okay with me leaving so abruptly.
Airport security was quick, surprisingly quick, although I was stopped, told to leave some items behind or check my bag. I handed it over, letting the woman place a tag on it and shove it on a cart.
The plane took off on time, and even though we ran into some bad weather, landed on time. I called Bailey as soon as I got my bag, her voice still filled with desperation.
“I’m here,” I told her.
“Thank you, Liam,” she gushed.
“I’m gonna head on up the mountain unless you need me there first,” I suggested.
“No, go, please,” she pleaded.
The cab driver played classical music, which most would find soothing, but I found irritating. I gave him directions, and when we stopped at the bottom of the mountain, he looked confused.
“Thanks, man,” I said quickly, handing him a fifty, and grabbing my bag from the back.
“You’re sure this is where you want to be?” he called to me as I rushed towards the path.
I lifted my thumb in the air behind my head to signal I was fine and ran up the path.
About a mile up, the path split: one way offered a smooth trail, while the other looked barren, barely used, and treacherous. That was my path.
I reached down and grabbed a stick from the ground, using it to push brush out of my way, as well as to balance myself as I made my way up the steep hill.
It was starting to get dark, and strange noises roared through the tress. It wasn’t cold and isolated like it had been on my first visit. The weather was still good enough for animals to be wandering the hillside, all searching for food before the cold came.
The thick jacket I’d packed was barely enough to keep me warm the higher up the mountain I traveled. By the time I reached the clearing, noticing a dim light through the trees, I was nearly frozen.
Fuckin’ Xander couldn’t just hold up at a bar like other guys.
I knocked on the heavy wooden door. Of course there was no answer. I pushed on it, unable to make it budge. My fingers were frozen, aching as I made a fist to pound again.
Finally, the door opened, and there stood Xander, my good buddy, my brother from the SEALs, my family.
“What the fuck are you doin’ here?” he asked, barely able to force a smile on his wooly face.
“I was in the neighborhood,” I joked.
“Bailey?” Xander asked.
“Yeah. Can I come in or what?” I snipped.
Xander moved from the doorway, letting me into the warm cabin. I moved straight to the fire, pulling off my gloves and warming my hands over the flame.
“Why do you still have this place?” I asked.
“You never know when you might need it,” he shrugged.
Guess he had a point. But if it wasn’t here, he may have been forced to the bar to drink his sorrows, anxiety, or whatever it was that was bothering him away.
“What’s goin’ on?” I asked.
“I can’t breathe,” Xander said.
“You’re breathing fine,” I laughed.
“No, I mean, it feels like an elephant on my chest. I’m scared of myself,” he sighed.
This was serious, but we’d gone through it before. I was actually surprised he lasted this long without a PTSD attack.
“What can I do?” I asked.
“Just give me room to breathe, but don’t leave me,” Xander suggested.
“You got it,” I smiled, moving from the fire towards the kitchen.
Thank God he brought beer up with him. I grabbed one, and then pulled another out for Xander. I sat on the couch beside him, handed him the bottle, and then took a long drink, not saying another word.
When Xander fell asleep, I found a spot outside the cabin where I got a signal and called Alyssa. No answer.
I left another voicemail, and then quickly dialed Holly’s number.
“Holly,” I exclaimed as she answered the phone. It was so good to hear her voice.
“Dad, where are you?” she questioned.
“I’m in Maine with Xander,” I sighed, still gushing with relief that she’d answered.
“Are you coming back?” she asked, her voice shaky and scared.
“Of course, kiddo. I’ll be gone a few days. I have to help my friend, that’s all,” I explained.
“Okay,” Holly said sweetly.
“Your mother hasn’t answered my calls,” I stated, hoping Holly could shed some light as to why.
“She’s been working on the carnival stuff all day,” she said calmly.
Okay, so maybe I was just overreacting. She’d call me when she got the message, when she had a chance.
“Please tell her to call me,” I pleaded.
“I will. I love you, Dad,” Holly’s voice made my heart ache.
This was the first time I’d been away from her since I found out she existed. I knew at that moment there was no way I’d have been able to stay away if I knew. I would’ve been there, been a dad. That meant no SEALs, no Aiden, and no Xander, but I would’ve given it all up to watch her grow up.
“I love you too, pipsqueak,” I choked out, doing my best to fight back the tears.
It was no use. My cheeks warmed with the salty tears rolling down my cheeks, instantly freezing from the cold winds blowing through the top of the mountain.
Hopefully, Xander would get it together soon, and I’d be back on my way home to my girls, my family.