32
Alex drops the bag by the front door and goes to the kitchen in search of Ben. Allie is leaning against the sink, looking out the window and he joins her. Together, they watch Ben throwing a ball for Bart. He doesn’t have his cane Alex notices and he thinks about opening the window to yell at him then decides against it since he’ll be ignored anyway.
“I wish you didn’t have to go back,” Allie says.
Alex puts his arm around her shoulders.
“I know, but we’ll be back down in a fortnight, promise.”
She nods but says nothing and after a moment, when he glances down, he sees tears on her pale cheeks.
“Hey, hey,” he says pulling her closer, keeping an eye on Ben through the window. “Allie, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I’m being silly,” she says, wiping her eyes with a tissue from her pocket.
“Allie, please, tell me what’s wrong.” Alex turns his back to the window so he’s looking directly at her.
“I’m being very selfish right now, because I’ve been so blessed already to have a son like Ben and then to have you become a part of our family,” she says, fresh tears starting, “but I really hope you find someone soon. You know, a surrogate. I want to see the baby before I...”
“Oh Allie.” Alex wraps his arms around her. She feels brittle and weak against his chest and when he lays his cheek on her head, her hair is fine and sparse. He swallows what feels like a boulder in his throat.
“I have no right to ask for anything when I’ve already has so much but is it so wrong to want to see my grandchild?”
“Of course not,” he says. “And we’re going to do everything we can to make that happen, okay?”
“I’m sorry,” Allie says and steps back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, “I shouldn’t be putting this on you. It must be the chemo, making me so emotional.”
“Allie, the past two weeks have been intense, if you weren’t emotional, I’d be worried,” Alex says. “Hell, even Mister Cool, Calm, and Collected has had his moments. And I’m my usual screwed up, neurotic self –”
Allie reaches up and pinches his ear. He yelps and pulls out of reach as she scolds him and tells him he’s not screwed up.
He grins at her.
“I note you didn’t say I’m not neurotic.”
Allie smiles and holds her thumb and finger tips close together to indicate that well, maybe a little bit. From the corner of his eye he sees movement outside.
“Hey, he’s coming in,” he says, squeezing her hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just being silly,” she says. “I’ll go and wash my face and find Polly.”
As the door swings shut behind her, Bart skids across the kitchen tiles toward Alex, leaving a trail of sand behind him. Before he can stop he’s knocked his water dish spinning, soaking Alex’s jeans and splashing the kitchen cupboards.
“Dude!” Alex yells and grabs Bart’s collar. Looks up at Ben who is leaning against the fridge laughing. “Not funny.”
“Yeah, funny,” Ben says and throws a dry dish cloth at Alex.
“Guess you don’t want to stop for fried chicken on the way home then,” Alex says as he mops up the spilled water.
Ben goes to the laundry and comes back with the broom and begins sweeping up sand, a task made difficult by Bart’s decision that the broom is the enemy and must be eaten immediately. The Labrador throws himself on it barking and biting, wagging tail spreading the sand around the floor and when Ben groans, Alex concedes that yeah it is funny after all. By the time they’ve restored order to the kitchen, Polly and Allie have returned and Ben’s smile fades.
“I guess we have to get going,” he says. Silence fills the kitchen, broken only the sound of Bart snuffling after crumbs by the table. Ben hooks his finger in his collar as he passes. “Come on Dork Dog, let’s get you sorted.”
On the steps, Alex waits while Ben reminds his mother and grandmother that he’s being forced to stay home for at least another week and that he’s installed Skype on their computers so they can chat while the jailer is at work. Alex pushes him out of the way and hugs Allie while Ben hugs Polly.
“It’s going to be a long week,” he says.
“For better or for worse, kid,” she says as he pulls away.
“Was that even in our vows?” he asks, dodging an elbow from Ben.
As they drive away Ben leans out the window and waves, and Alex gives thanks for the life he has and the one about to unfold.
FIN