Alex's Destiny (Racing To Love) (5 page)

“Well then, I appreciate the food, but I will not keep this. I will consider it a donation in your name to our foundation.” The dark eyes of the older Italian man teared as he laid his hand atop his heart. Alex understood he was choked for words and reached out to hug him instead. Letting go, she could see his smile return, and then he patted her cheek and turned back toward the swinging kitchen doors.

Smiling to herself, she glanced at Tasia and they both stepped outside into the summer heat. Not more than three paces from the restaurant, someone called her name.

Turning she recognized the same eyes, but on a much younger man. In black slacks, a dark blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled-up and a red sauce stain on the pocket, the grin he had was contagious as he hurried to catch up to her and Tasia. “Miss Sterling. I’m sorry to stop you, but I just had to…well, explain. My grandfather, he helps me run this restaurant, or so I let him think.” The younger man grinned. “I’ve never seen him so overcome by emotion like that. I’ve heard the stories from my father, but I want to thank you again. My grandfather had a rough life growing up. I think that was obvious from just the few moments you spent with him. I want to give you my card.”

Reaching out, Alex read the name and grinned, the pride making her heart heal from some of the earlier events of the day. “Anthony—”

“I know…Italian—Anthony—how original, right?” He chuckled.

“No, it’s just been a long day and your grandfather”—she pressed the business card to her chest—“has touched a soft spot.”

“Well, it’s mutual my dear. I know about your work, your family’s work. I’ve heard your mother speak on behalf of abused children. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room that night.”

Alex felt Tasia rub a hand down her back, as Alex fought her own tears, just as Anthony’s grandfather had only moments before. “Yes, well. I tried to apologize to your grandfather for raising my voice and making a scene, but it seems you understand how little tolerance I have for that kind of monster.”

“No, Alexandra—I’m sorry, may I call you Alexandra?”

Grinning, his old-fashioned manners dried her tears before they had a chance to fall. Hiding the smile that the contradiction that threatened to both, make her giggle and embarrass him, he acted as if he was from the old country, like his g
randfather, but looked her age. “It’s Alex, please.”

Anthony nodded, “Alex, I would really love to do more, but getting this restaurant up and running over the last year or so has been, well, time-consuming would be a giant understatement.” He smiled, the pride sweeping across his face despite the stress and tell-tale sleep deprivation Alex noted. “But take my card and please, let me know when you have your annual fundraiser gala. I’d like to purchase a table—in my grandfather’s honor.”

Her jaw almost dropped, but professionalism kicked in for a second time in one night. Seats ran upwards of a thousand dollars apiece. Pricey for a couple, let alone for a whole table for ten. New businesses didn’t generally have excess cash, but this seemed less about business to Anthony, it was personal. Well, she could relate. “Definitely, Anthony. I will put you at the top of the list. You have my word.”

With a quick squeeze of her hand he smiled at her and Tasia. “Ladies, I must get back to the kitchen, I can practically hear my chef shouting from here. I’d hug you both for your kindness to my grandfather, but”—he waved a hand downward of his attire—“you see, I wear as much food as we serve. And, Alex…please don’t let that jackass deter you from visiting our restaurant again.” Alex’s smiled widened at the curse word. “I’ll seat you at our family’s table. You won’t be bothered.” He stopped, then a face-splitting grin appeared. “On second thought, you won’t be safe from my mother or grandmother. I don’t know if I want stories of my childhood brought up. They’d assume we were…well… you know. And I don’t think that would be a very gentlemanly thing of me to subject you to.”

For the first time all evening Alex laughed—almost as hard as Tasia. Both girls laughter turned Anthony’s cheeks pink. “Tell you what, Anthony. We’ll take you up on that offer, and we’ll bring some of our own family. It’ll be even swap, one of our stories for every one of yours. Make it an embarrassing evening for all involved.”

“Perfect.” He smiled. “Gotta return to the heat, but have a great evening ladies. Ciao.”

She barely waited until he was out of earshot, “He was really sweet.” Tasia hinted.

Alex looped her arm through Tasia’s. “And he smiled at you—a lot.”

Red flamed up Tasia’s chest and over her cheeks. “I wasn’t just imagining that?”

“Nope, you weren’t my dear.”

“How old do you suppose he is? I mean, seriously, can you imagine Mom and Dad letting me anywhere near a man over thirty?”

Alex shook her head. “You’ll be of legal drinking age in a couple of years, and to be honest he didn’t look like he could be more than twenty-three, maybe twenty-four?”

“But he owns his own restaurant?”

“And that, my darling, will help win over Grandpa.” Alex winked as they walked backed down the brick sidewalk underneath the young trees draped in blue twinkling lights. Her day had been filled with such heartbreak and sadness with
Dallas, then anger and frustration with the dick in the restaurant. But the ending, knowing her mother’s legacy would carry on, helping to heal others…that was a positive she could sleep well on.

CHAPTER FIVE

The breeze died down and unfortunately Alex had already removed as many layers of clothes as she could. Grateful for the thin tank top, she was left to deal with the heat in thick riding pants and boots, and the temperature had sweat trickling down the back of her neck. A dip in the pool sounded great, but that wasn’t a possibility for several hours yet. After her classes were done for the day, she still had three hours of paperwork to do before she could even begin to think of relaxing for the night. Alex wouldn’t complain though. It was exactly what she needed to keep her mind off Dallas. He’d been gone three days. Three long days with no texts, no emails, and what hurt the most—no phone calls.

“Why in the hell are you telling him to go to the outside? He needs to be down in second gear and cutting to the inside.” Parker’s father proceeded to yell at the top of his lungs from across the track as he neared her.

Alex didn’t bother to look around to gauge the other instructors’ reactions. She didn’t care who the hell heard the man. Pointing to the corner the young rider had just sailed through, she employed every bit of professionalism she could gather from deep within. It was fairly uncommon to be questioned on the skills and methods taught to the students who came to the academy, mainly because their reputation spoke for itself. However, there was always one once in a while who thought they knew more. It didn’t matter that most of the parents who wrote the checks had no professional experience, there were just a few who thought they did.

Rolling her shoulders, Alex pulled in a long breath through her nose, catching her words before shouting back the first thing to come to her mind. Like telling him to take a flying leap, or telling him to ask one of the mechanics to help him remove the giant stick from his ass. Counting to five in her head, she told herself this was her livelihood, her academy, and the man with the bulging vein in his forehead was a paying client. However, that didn’t keep her from calling him a fuckwad—silently of course. “Look…Mr. Barnhardt—”

“Oh missy…just go get your dad. I want him to teach him to corner like he should be doing.”

Oh my God. No way. He did not just call me that.

“Excuse me? Sir, you need to leave. This is now a closed session. You pay a lot of money for your rider to be taught, based on years of experience and expertise, neither of which you have. So, based on the need for my students to be able to concentrate, and for me to be able to focus my attention on them instead of you, I am asking you to leave the track. Now.”

“You can’t tell me what to do. I am paying for my son to be here—”

“She has every right to ask a parent to leave. You signed an agreement stating you understood that fact. Alex, what is going on hon?” Carter asked, walking closer to her side.

She proceeded to explain to her father what she saw Parker doing, what he needed to be doing, and what she’d asked him to do to fix the problem. Going one step further, she instructed Parker to show off his new technique, despite the fact it only served to enflame the boy’s father even more. Parker seemed overjoyed with his new talent, and afterward gave Alex a high-five with a wide smile across his dirt-streaked face.

“Parker honey, why don’t you go put your helmet back on and I’ll meet you at the gate. We’re going to practice starts with a couple of the boys Eli is working with.” Alex grinned. Only for the child’s sake, inside she was still fuming. His dad was a jackass, but it wasn’t Parker’s fault. She had actually felt sorry for the ten-year-old more than once. His father was harder on him than necessary, pushing him to do things he wasn’t ready for, then criticizing him for not performing to his expectations. It didn’t matter that the man had no clue what he was talking about.

The young rider was a sweet kid, a soft-spot for Alex. She really cared for her students. Parker was a great listener, always gave his best effort, and never complained. His father gave Alex the creeps, but she was in a tough spot because she knew the minute she spoke up, Mr. Barnhardt would be asked to leave—permanently. It wasn’t Parker’s fault, and she didn’t want her skepticism to affect him. It didn’t help she was leery of Mr. Barnhardt’s temper. A second reason she didn’t want to risk putting Parker in the middle of the situation.

“Barnhardt…I can assure you my daughter knows more about racing than you could ever hope to. Now I suggest you go sit on the other side of the fence, or maybe in your motorhome, but do not disrupt the classes again. Parker is a great kid, he’s learned a ton and you should be proud of him.” Carter waited for the young boy to walk further away. “Now, just a piece of personal advice, take it as you will. I have been in this industry for more years than you’ve been alive. He’s a great racer, but if you don’t back off, you’re going to burn him out. Or worse—he’s going to push too hard and get hurt. Then what will the time and money you’ve invested be worth?”

Alex knew the instant the words ‘a piece of’ came out of her father’s mouth what was to follow. She’d heard him and her uncles give that speech to parents across the country more times than she could ever keep track of. Most of the time, they were random people at various tracks who had no connection to the academy at all. Her family was always interested in the child first and racing second. Unhappiness was easy to spot. The one downfall of her family legacy was maybe they all cared too much. But if those words helped one child over the years, then that was a flaw she was proud to bear.

Pointing Parker toward Eli, Alex turned, locking eyes with the pissed off father. Ice ran down her spine. Breaking his gaze she hurried to follow her student.

~~~

A bag of M&M’s in one hand, her cell in the other, Alex wandered out to the deserted track. Dusk was giving way to evening, the students had all returned to their family’s motorhomes. She knew a couple had caught a ride to her Aunt Emery and Uncle Jesse’s house where they were staying for the week during camp. It was this quiet part of the evening that Alex loved and the peace that settled when the day was done. Making her way to the tabletop, she unconsciously kept her eyes down, always looking for rocks that had made their way to the track. She picked them up and tossed them aside to leave the dirt as close to clean as possible. It’d become habit over the years. It had been her job as a tiny little girl, one she had prided herself on. She caught herself grinning, it seemed some things just never changed. She still loved her job even though the description of it had grown tremendously, and she still loved chocolate. The M&M’s in her hand had also been her payment as a child for cleaning the track.

Alex sat down on the dirt tabletop, the highest flat point on the grounds. It had, for one reason or another, always been the one spot everyone used when anyone in her family needed space. It was the place they were drawn to. She was close enough to see her grandparents moving about in the glow of their kitchen lights. It was a comforting feeling knowing they were always so close. Gazing out over the horizon, the pale pinks and oranges turned more vivid, adding in purple to God’s painting. Pulling in a deep breath, she started to dial.

“Hey, sissy.”

Immediately her mood lightened. “Jack.”

“What’s wrong?”

How he knew could be eerie. To Alex it was normal. She’d grown up used to the twin connection she and Jack had. It never startled her. A grin tugged at the corner of her mouth, and she ripped the pack of plain M&M’s open. “I guess I don’t need to bother with ‘nothing’, huh?”

“Nope, don’t even try.”

“I really would have thought the distance between us would make it…I don’t know—less?”

“Lex, I can’t explain it either. I’ve been here at school for almost five years, yet I can still feel it. I know when you’re upset…and I know when you’re hurt. So spill it.”

“Can’t you just hurry up and graduate already, and come home?”

“Once a smartass, always a smartass, huh?”

That was one thing she could always count on Jack for. He was been a man of few words, and he always cut to the chase. He always managed to at least get a smile out of her, even when no one else could. Alex thought about it, and if there was one person she couldn’t hide her feelings from, it was her brother, her twin. The connection that often sparked some of the most heated debates was the same connection that kept her from hiding anything from him. There would be no holding back, not unless she wanted him boarding a plane and knocking on her bedroom door in a matter of hours.

“I just miss you. It’s not the same around here without you.”

“It takes, even a genius such as myself, time to earn a master’s degree my friend. And I think you’re missing
Dallas more than me.”

“That’s not true and you know it.” It was an attempt, but one he clearly saw straight through.

“I call bullshit, sis. Now, what’s wrong?”

Stretching her legs out in front of her, she leaned back on one elbow. “You ever wonder if you made the wrong decision about your life?” As she continued to crunch one candy after another, it was almost as if she could hear the gears in Jack’s head processing her question over the phone line. It was her brother’s way. Always searching for the perfect words. Where she usually was lively and bubbly, he was quiet and contemplating. Their list of differences was as long as the list of the things that made them almost the same.

“Do you know how hard it was for me to tell mom and dad I didn’t want to go pro?”

His question was as sincere as it was out of left field, taking her totally by surprise. “I know they were never upset, Jack. You do know that, right?” She didn’t even take a long enough breath, let alone give Jack time to pipe in and answer. “And I know for a fact grandpa couldn’t be more proud, or more excited, about you finishing school and joining his firm. Knowing you wanted to follow in his footsteps, and carry on his legacy as an architect, has him walking on air. And you’re not supposed to know this, and I hate to spoil the surprise, but he’s already changed the company name.”

“He hasn’t. No, Alex…please tell me you’re kidding.”

“Please don’t let on. And please don’t be embarrassed. I can hear it in your voice. I know you want to work your way up the ladder and all that, but everyone at that firm knows their place, and although he’s loyal to each of them, and treats them like gold, they all know you’re his grandson. You’re the heir to the firm. Be proud.”

“I am proud. I just didn’t want to come in, and on day one have everyone think I’m somebody special. Anyway, you got me off-subject. What I was starting to tell you, was just like early-on when I knew I wanted to design, to create something, and I knew that was my passion—yours has always been teaching.” He paused for a quick second. “I loved racing, I still love to ride. I know you love to ride. But it’s not the winning that excites you…it’s the face of a student who just nailed a skill, one you helped teach him or her. I was destined to follow grandpa and become an architect. You…you were destined to be on the academy track. Now, I’m guessing, because you haven’t argued back yet, some prick said something to make you second-guess yourself. I’ve seen it before, it’s happened to Dad, Uncle Jesse, and Uncle Eli, too. And a lot to Uncle Brody, since he went into freestyle instead of racing pro. There will always be those parents who want that thrill of victory so bad they don’t care who they hurt in the process.”

Alex let his bulls-eye assessment sink in. Good old Jack. Always straight to the point, and always with the right answer. Parker’s father had made self-doubt start to sink in. Yes, she’d raced.

Yes, she had her fair share of wins, even at the top amateur level. But more than that, she could see what Parker needed from her and knew how to train him in a way he would gain the most advantage. Sometimes it wasn’t as simple as taking a different line in the dirt, sometimes it was breaking things down to a life lesson, and then taking that and applying it to the dirt, the bike, the race, and ultimately the win.

“How’d you know, Jack?”

“It’s that twin thing, honey. I’ll always know.”

“I guess that’s what makes you my favorite brother.” Alex grinned and popped the last two candies in her mouth…both blue, her lucky color.

“Well that, and the fact I’m your only brother—so the odds are pretty well stacked in my favor. It’ll all be okay, Lex. Don’t let that guy get to you, but know this is bound to happen again. You just have to smile, and after he turns his back—flip him off. But, please, be professional enough to wait until he can’t see you!”

“Ah there’s the business advice I’ve been looking for.” Alex laughed as she stood, then dusted her butt off and crumpled the empty brown candy wrapper in her hand. “Thanks for always being there. Hurry up and come home to stay, okay?”

“I’m working on it as fast I can, my darling sister, I can promise you that. As I already said, even with my extreme intellect, superior organizational skills, and unsurpassable work ethic, it’s a struggle. I am working as fast as humanly possible to get school wrapped up and get back home. I want to be there as bad as you seem to want me there. Plus, to be honest, booking my class logs so full to achieve my degree and masters in as little time as possible, has me just about sick of school and ready to sleep for a month straight.”

Every once-in-awhile pieces of the man only she got to see peeked through. Like that one-line complaint that Alex would bet all the money in the world, no one else would ever hear him say. Pieces of him made her feel special, made their bond unique, and made Alex aware of those special secrets between them that the outside world would never know about.