Aligned: Volume 3 (8 page)

She pushes into my condo as her hands pull my face to hers. Her lips lock with mine, and she quickly pushes her tongue into my mouth desperate to get more.
 

I grab her hips and gently push her away from me, trying my best not to upset her before she hears me out.
 

“That’s not why you are here,” I say as soon as I get free from her.
 

Her eyes narrow and her smeared red lipstick can’t disguise her grimace. “Why am I here then?”
 

I wipe the rest of the lipstick from my own lips and walk into the kitchen.
 

“Do you want anything to drink?” I ask. Caroline stands on the other side of the island from me. Confusion still reads on her face.
 

“Um ... white wine.”
 

I walk to the fridge and pull out a bottle of Pinot Grigio. I uncork the bottle and pour her a glass. I place it on the island in front of her before walking to the liquor cabinet on the far side of the kitchen. A liquor cabinet that only exists for Drew because I never drink from it. I pull out a bottle of whiskey. I pour a double shot into a glass and then walk past the kitchen out onto the balcony.

 
I notice Caroline raise her eyebrows at me as I walk past. She knows better than anybody else does why I don’t drink. Why I shouldn’t drink. But right now, I need the alcohol to get through the rest of this morning. Later, when we negotiate details, I’ll need to be sober, but now, I need liquid courage.
 

I take a seat on a usually comfortable chair that overlooks the ocean. Today, it feels like I’m sitting on a hard stone. I sip from the whiskey, feeling the burn from drinking the liquor straight. I wait for Caroline to follow me out with her glass of wine. She takes a seat in a chair next to me so that we are both looking out at the ocean.
 

She sips her wine, patiently waiting for me to tell her why she’s here. But I’m not ready yet.
 

“Do you believe in love?” I ask. I don’t look at her. I keep my gaze glued to the ocean as I drink more whiskey waiting for her answer.
 

“No,” she says easily. “I don’t. I believe whatever people call love isn’t really love. It fades too quickly to be real love. And even love between a mother and child doesn’t come easily.”
 

She stops and takes a sip of her wine.
 

“That’s a sinister way to look at the world.”
 

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch her roll her eyes. “It’s the only truthful way to look at the world. Anybody trying to find true love is just chasing a fairy tale that doesn’t exist.”
 

I nod although I don’t agree. Love isn’t just a fairy tale. It exists. But I can understand Caroline’s point of view. Growing up as we did, it’s hard to believe that love could really exist when it doesn’t exist in our world.
 

Caroline will be able to help me, though. I have no doubt she’ll turn me back into the stone I was before Alex. I lift my glass to my lips and down every last drop of alcohol. It’s now or never. I don’t move from my chair to get down on one knee. Although I’m sure when I do this again in public, I will.
 

I just say the words that I already know the answer to. Words that hurt so much to say but have to be said. “Will you marry me?”
 

She smiles at me when I take a seat. That’s when I notice she’s not wearing a bulky sweater. Instead, she is wearing layers upon layers of clothes.
 

“Let me buy you a drink. Wine? Cosmo? Champagne?”
 

Her smile doesn’t falter as she says, “Whiskey.”
 

Home. Today, I get to go home with Alexa. I never thought that was going to be possible. All of the internal bleeding is gone. The broken bones healed. The swelling and bruising have lessened. No permanent damage has been done.
 

“You must be happy to be getting out of here today?” my nurse says. She’s a new nurse who hasn’t taken care of me before. I think her name is Melissa or Sara. Something ordinary and bland that isn’t worth remembering.
 

I smile at the woman. “Yes. You have no idea how happy I am.”
 

She smiles happily as she takes the IV out of my hand. The last piece of medical equipment tethering me here. She glances at the recliner where Alexa is sleeping.
 

“Do you want me to wake her?”
 

“No, let her sleep. I’ll wake her right before it’s time for us to go.”
 

She nods. “I’ll leave you to get dressed then.” She scurries out of the room to take care of the more critical patients. I climb out of the bed that has held me hostage for over a week. I walk over to the small duffel bag Alexa brought me from home. I find that Alexa has picked out a pair of jeans, underwear, and simple t-shirt for me. I shake my head staring at these inappropriate clothes. Alexa really doesn’t remember our life at all.
 

I begin to get dressed, happy to be getting out of the hospital gown. I look at Alexa sleeping so peacefully; the tiniest drop of drool is visible on the recliner under her lips. I’m happy she’s sleeping because she hasn’t been sleeping well. I probably wouldn’t either if I had to sleep in that recliner every night. She’ll be happy to get back to our old bed.
 

I frown when I look at her clothes, though. She’s wearing another pair of sweatpants with a ratty t-shirt. She’ll regret that choice later.
 

I slip on my own t-shirt, not sure how I’m going to make this look any better, when the door opens. Mother stands in the doorway with a look of disgust on her face.
 

“You are not wearing that.”
 

“I don’t really have a choice. It’s all Alexa brought.”
 

“Don’t fret. I brought suitable clothes for the two of you to wear. I saw what Alexandra was wearing earlier and knew that wouldn’t do. I honestly don’t understand why you married the girl, Ethan. She’s a complete disaster.”
 

I give my mother a stern look as I take the bag from her, but I don’t argue with her. It’s not worth it. Not when Alexa can so easily wake up and hear us.
 

“Hurry up and get dressed. We can’t keep everyone waiting.” I watch my mother leave the room before I open the leather bag. Inside are khaki slacks, a button-down shirt, and loafers. For Alexa, a simple long green dress with nude heels.

I walk over to Alexa and kiss her softly on the cheek.
 

“Wake up, baby.”
 

She smiles and stretches her arms over her head before opening her eyes. Her smile disappears when she sees me.
 

“It’s time to get dressed and go home.”
 

She looks down at her clothes. “I am dressed. I just need to comb my hair and I’ll be ready to go.”
 

I soften my expression at how adorable she is. “You’re going to want to change.”
 

“Why?”
 

“Because waiting for us outside are a slew of reporters.”
 

“Oh, my God. Really? But I don’t have anything else to wear.”
 

“Don’t worry. Mother brought clothes for both of us.”

Her face reddens, but she doesn’t say anything. I take her dress and heels from the bag.

“Here, put this on.”
 

She takes them from me and stands up from the recliner. She looks more closely at the heels.
 

“I can’t wear the heels,” she says.
 

“Why? You aren’t walking very far. I’m sure you can handle it.”
 

“The prosthetic leg I’m wearing doesn’t adjust for heels.”
 

I run my hand through my hair as I glance down at her leg. I forgot. Forgot she is no longer perfect. I forgot that her leg is gone.
 

“Just put the dress on. Let me worry about finding you shoes.”
 

 
She starts walking toward the bathroom, but I stop her.
 

“You can get dressed here. You don’t need to hide in the bathroom. We are married, after all.” I wink at her.
 

“I really need to pee,” she says, hurrying past me into the bathroom.
 

I sigh. This is going to be harder than I thought. I change quickly and then head out to look for shoes. Mother approaches me as soon as I exit the hospital room.
 

“You look as handsome as ever.”
 

“Thanks, Mother.”
 

“I’ve talked with security and they assure me everyone will be safe so you can talk with the reporters like we planned,” she says, refusing to call the members of our small security team by name.
 

“Good. Alexa is just getting ready, but she can’t wear the shoes you got her.”
 

She sighs. “And why not?”
 

“Because her prosthetic leg won’t allow it. We have to find her something flat.”
 

“I’ve seen her walk in heels before with
it
on.”
 

“Apparently, she has to wear a certain type to wear heels,” I say, shrugging.
 

“For heaven’s sake,” Mother says.
 

Thirty minutes later, we have finally found some simple flat tan shoes that will do after we paid a woman, waiting for her grandfather to have cataract surgery, a small fortune to give us her shoes. They are a little big on Alexa, but they will have to do for now. Nobody is going to be taking pictures of Alexa’s feet anyway. Alexa finally emerges from the bathroom looking beautiful and nervous.

“Beautiful,” I say. I walk to her and take her hand in mine to trying to erase the uneasiness from her face.
 

“Presentable,” Mother says before turning to exit the room.
 

I press my lips to kiss her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll do all the talking. Just stand next to me and smile and look like your gorgeous self.”
 

She swallows hard and nods. I guide her out of my hospital room. The nurse stops me to sign some papers, which only takes five minutes to my surprise.
 

When I’m done, I take Alexa’s hand back in mine. “Ready?”
 

“Yes.”
 

We walk hand in hand down the hallway. We hold hands while riding down the elevator. We hold hands walking through the lobby. I feel like I have my partner back. Now, I just need my lover back.
 

Nick, the head of my three-person security team, meets us at the door to the exit of the hospital.
 

“Everyone’s in place.”
 

“Let’s go then.”
 

Alexa walks next to me as we exit the hospital. Flashes of light blind us as we walk down the sidewalk. We only make it ten feet before the microphones are shoved into our faces.
 

“Ethan, what does it feel like to come back from the dead?” the first male reporter shouts over the crowd.

“It feels amazing. I never thought I would see this beautiful woman again.” I beam at Alexa a moment before continuing. “Wouldn’t you find any way possible to keep living if you had this beautiful woman to come back to?” The reporters chuckle and nod their heads accordingly.
 

“How were you able to escape?” another reporter asks.
 

“I’m not supposed to talk about too many details until the investigation is complete and the perpetrators caught.”
 

“Do you worry about your wife’s and your safety?” the same reporter asks.
 

“Of course. But if they come after us, we will be waiting. I hired the best security team in the world. If they come after us, they will pay.”
 

“Are you suffering from any long-term damage?” another reporter asks.
 

“No. Nothing that a nice warm bed and a beautiful wife can’t fix.” I wink at Alexa before kissing her passionately on the lips, giving the reporters a nice show. She keeps her eyes open initially, startled by the kiss, but she doesn’t pull away. It gives me hope.
 

“Alexa, how does it feel to have your husband back after thinking he was dead for so many months?”
 

I smile at Alexa encouraging her to talk. “It’s been a dream come true.”
 

“Alexa, do you plan to return to the world of photography and entertainment?”
 

Alexa looks at me with a blank stare.
 

“I think we’ve had enough questions for today. We’d like to get home and enjoy our new life together.”
 

Nick and James walk over to us and guide us past the reporters and cameras to the waiting SUV. Nick opens the door for us, and I help Alexa into the car before I climb in next to her.
 

I look up at Curt, the last member of my security team seated in the driver’s seat.
 

“Take us home please.”

***

The drive to our apartment is long, slow, and quiet. Curt is a professional who kept his eyes on the road throughout the forty-five-minute drive. Alexa spent the first five minutes in the car bouncing her legs obnoxiously up and down. I rested my hand on her right knee, trying to calm her, but immediately pulled it away when I felt the metal of her prosthetic instead of the flesh I’m used to. She didn’t say anything when I did, but I know she was disappointed in me. I’m disappointed in me. It will just take some time to get used to her leg. After being together for so long and expecting her to be a certain way, it’s hard to adjust.
 

Alexa pretended to sleep the rest of the car ride instead of talking to me. I could tell because her breathing was short and rapid instead of long and calming, and her legs still bounced slightly throughout the ride.