Long Way Home (16 page)

“And the buttons can just sew buttons.”

“Indeed.”

He moved a stray hair from her face, drinking her in.

“What?” she asked.

“I just want to remember this moment. Remember how much I love you.”

She kissed him back. “That’s sweet and completely unnecessary. I’ll never let you forget how much you love me.”

Shaking off the memory, Alexis snapped back to the present as the waitress brought her a whiskey. She thanked the girl and offered to pay, but the waitress waved her off and disappeared into the crowd. Her gaze shifted to Tyler as he sat onstage looking completely at ease. He truly loved playing live music and it showed. In that moment, Alexis envied him.

People immediately started calling out song titles. When the bartender demanded White Christmas, everyone started cheering.

“In a holiday mood, are we?” he asked the crowd. They responded with fierce clapping. “All right then. Let’s sing it since, as long as we’re on Mangrove Island for Christmas, we have no chance of actually seeing one.”

The audience laughed. Trey and Patty were beaming with pride. Everyone was cheerful and Alexis embraced the positive energy swirling through the room.

Tyler began to pluck the strings and his deep, melodic voice filled the room. His was a slow, beautiful rendition of the song and Alexis noticed that several people were moved to tears, including Trey and Patty. When he finished, the crowd sat in awed silence.

“This next song is one I wrote a long time ago, but it’s always held a special place in my heart. It’s called Mermaid’s Kiss.”

Alexis listened to the words of the ballad about a boy who meets a mermaid while out at sea and falls in love with her. He manages one kiss before she disappears beneath the waves, never to be seen again. The boy grows into a man and lives out the rest of his days, dreaming of the mermaid and their single kiss.

It was a stirring, wistful song and Alexis was amazed by the complexity of emotions Tyler could bring to a simple song like Mermaid’s Kiss. He was even more talented than she’d first thought.

The patrons gave him a standing ovation at the end of it and Alexis thought that even Tyler looked a little teary-eyed.

“I don’t know how he’ll top that one,” Alexis whispered to Patty.

Patty sighed. “He hasn’t played that song in years. It’s one of my favorites.” She pressed a hand to her heart. “I’ve always been proud to have raised a son who’s in touch with his emotions. I feel like I did something right.”

“You did a lot of things right,” Alexis told her as Tyler began his next song.

Alexis recognized the chords instantly. Yesterday by The Beatles. His soulful version of the song was so heartbreaking that Alexis found herself wiping away tears with her beverage napkin. Embarrassed by her response, she excused herself and went to the restroom.

Thankfully, no one was in there and Alexis closed herself inside a stall and cried in earnest. The tears cascaded down her cheeks and she grabbed a handful of toilet paper to wipe away the evidence. She cried for Mark; she cried for her unborn children. She cried for futures that would never be, hers included. She had been a wife and nearly a mother and now she was neither. Faint strands of the song still echoed in the stall and Alexis pressed her cheek to the cool wall and let the music engulf her. She stayed there until the song finished and she was sure that she could keep it together. She splashed cold water on her face and blew her nose one last time for good measure. Inspecting her face in the mirror, she could see flushed cheeks and pink eyes, but in the dim lights of Gatsby’s, she’d probably get by. She reapplied her lipstick and practiced her smile before returning to the table.

“That was beautiful, wasn’t it?” Alexis said to his parents as she seated herself.

Patty’s hand clutched her heart. “I’ve never heard him sing that one before. It was amazing.”

“He sure got all the talent in our family,” Trey said approvingly.

“And the looks,” added Patty.

“Oh, come on. Have you two looked in a mirror lately?” Patty and Trey Barnes were a good-looking couple, period. Alexis didn’t think anyone could argue with that.

Patty blushed and Trey smiled at his wife. “It’s all down to a love of family, music, and the great outdoors.”

“Sounds like an ideal combination,” said Alexis and turned her attention back to the stage as Tyler geared up for another song.

He played two more of his original songs and ended with Silver Bells, a Christmas crowd pleaser. By the end of the evening, Alexis found her spirits gently lifted. She’d cried more in the past few days than in the months following the accident. It was as though the island was determined to cleanse her soul.

Chapter Fourteen

Alexis studied herself in the mirror and noticed that she looked a bit fleshier than she had back in London. She was relieved that her appetite finally seemed to be returning. Alexis suspected that it was due to more than just good island food.

Tyler had invited her to spend Christmas Eve with him since she planned to spend Christmas Day with her family. He claimed to have something special planned but wouldn’t divulge any details. Alexis decided to play it safe with her outfit. She wore black, slim fit jeans and a white silk top with silver hoop earrings. No matter what the evening involved, she figured she would be sartorially appropriate. He seemed so enthusiastic about his secret plan that Alexis, who generally wasn’t fond of surprises, couldn’t help but feel slightly giddy. It was part of his charm, she realized, that he could wrangle giddiness out of her.

Tyler texted her at seven to say that he was out front. Alexis chuckled to herself. She felt like a teenager sneaking out to meet her boyfriend. Even though she’d spent a lovely evening with his parents at Gatsby’s, she wasn’t ready for Tyler to endure hers. She was still rebuilding those relationships and she didn’t feel comfortable throwing Tyler into the mix. He seemed to respect her feelings on the subject.

Alexis popped her head into the family room to say goodnight to her parents. Her father was snoring in front of a game show she didn’t recognize while her mother sat beside a stockpile of presents, both wrapped and unwrapped. Tilly removed her earphones when she noticed Alexis in the doorway.

“What are you listening to?” Alexis asked.

“My Christmas favorites. Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby. Betsy bought me an iPod a few years ago and I use it when your father doesn’t want to be distracted by music.”

“I think you mean woken up,” Alexis said, gesturing to her snoozing father.

Tilly smirked. “He’s always tired anymore. I’m starting to think maybe you were right about retirement.”

“So how’s that elf workshop going?” asked Alexis.

“Almost finished,” her mother replied with a grateful sigh. “It was easier when I just had two girls to wrap for. Add three boys and a son-in-law and I’m pooped.”

“They look really nice,” Alexis told her, admiring the pristine creases and perfect red bows.

“Thank you. Do you need to borrow anything? Scissors?”

“I’ve taken care of it, thanks.”

“So where are you off to on Christmas Eve?”

Alexis felt a pang of guilt, leaving her mother alone with a sleeping father to go enjoy herself elsewhere. “Tyler Barnes invited me out.”

“Naturally.”

“It’s been good for me, I think, to reconnect with old friends.” Never mind that he wasn’t technically an old friend. “Tyler’s waiting, so I should go. Goodnight.”

She carried on out the front door before any further questions were asked. Tyler stood outside, looking gorgeous in a blue crew neck top that highlighted his eyes and tight, dark jeans. Alexis wondered what was inside the black bag slung over his shoulder.

He whistled appreciatively as she approached him. “More beautiful by the day.”

She blushed. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”

“I try not to disappoint. Wouldn’t want you to forget me again.”

“No golf cart?” Alexis queried.

“We’re bipeds tonight, my lady.”

She tried to think where they’d be going within walking distance and came up empty. She was glad that she chose flat shoes, a fact that Tyler noticed immediately.

“You’re picking up my casual vibe,” he said, nodding toward her aqua flip-flops. “I like it.”

“I’ve realized there’s something soothing about the sound of flip-flops,” she admitted. “Certainly better than getting my heels stuck in the sand.”

His eyes widened. “Oh, so you think we’re headed to the beach. Well, smart girl, not so smart after all.” He held out his arm and she looped her arm through his.

“Okay, you’ve outwitted me, Barnes. Are we going to raid Jo’s Convenience Store? Lowry’s? Because there aren’t many places I can think of nearby.”

“How quickly we forget,” he said, clucking his tongue with disappointment.

The stars shone brightly against a black sky as they walked to the end of her road and turned right. When he reached for her hand, a jolt of electricity coursed through her. She felt the rough skin on his fingers from years of playing guitar and instinctively wanted to bring them to her lips and kiss each one, but she withstood the urge. Alexis noticed a couple of dog walkers coming toward them, illuminated by the streetlights.

“God, I had such a flashback of passing all the dogs on my way to school every morning. I guess that dog park is still there.”

She glanced at Tyler and noticed his sly smile. “Are we going to the dog park?” she asked in disbelief.

He shook his head and could hardly contain his laughter. “Not quite.”

As soon as she realized their destination, she felt like an idiot. School. He was literally taking her back to high school.

“You can’t be serious,” she said.

“C’mon,” he urged her. “It’ll be fun. I think you need to replace some of those twisted memories of yours with better ones.”

He squeezed her hand as they carried on walking toward the school. Alexis surveyed the neighborhood on the way.

“Everything looks the same.”

“Places like this don’t change very much,” he said. “You don’t fix what isn’t broken.”

“You should work for the tourist board.”

“I’d happily write them a catchy jingle for their commercials. For free.”

Alexis laughed. “You’re nuts. I’ve never known anyone so in love with their hometown.”

“Then clearly you haven’t met anyone from Pittsburgh.” He glanced over the fence. “There she blows. The mother ship.”

Alexis stopped and stared at her past. Woodrow Wilson High School. The building looked so small now, apart from a wing she didn’t recognize.

“Did they add on to it?”

“Yep. Population boom. It wasn’t like they were going to build another high school on the island.”

Alexis studied the grounds and the lot for golf carts. It was funny to think of it now, a school where kids rode golf carts instead of a bus or a car. How many people could say that?

“Do you remember Mr. Bodner?” she asked suddenly, having a sudden vision of her old soccer coach.

“He’s retired,” Tyler told her. “Comes into The Blue Heron sometimes. His wife died a few years ago, but he’s been dating Mindy Larkin’s grandma so he’s not lonely.”

“That’s a shame about his wife. I remember her. She was sweet.”

“Breast cancer.” He paused. “She threw a party and made sure to invite all of Mr. Bodner’s friends so that he was forced to reconnect with people before she died. She was worried about him becoming the town hermit.”

“No man is an island, even if he lives on one,” Alexis said.

“I believe that.” He fixed his gaze on her. “Do you?”

Alexis fell silent. The truth was that she did believe it, but she felt ill-equipped to build the necessary bridges.

“Let’s see if we can get inside,” Tyler suggested, breaking into a sprint.

Alexis stumbled after him in her flip-flops. “Tyler, wait!”

She watched as his long, lean frame grew smaller. When she finally caught up to him, he was standing at the top of the front steps, tapping his foot with mock impatience. She, on the other hand, was doubled over with a pain in her side and struggling to catch her breath.

“Someone’s gone a bit soft,” he said. “I thought city people were all gym obsessed.”

“I never had time for the gym,” she told him. “Too many billable hours.”

“Must be genetics then,” he said, admiring her figure. “See, your parents were good for something, after all.”

She blushed, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “How are we getting in?” she asked, shifting the focus away from her body.

He produced a key. “I have friends in high places.”

She cocked her head. “Let me guess, the janitor drinks at your bar.”

Tyler grinned. “He does, but he also plays poker with me.”

“High places, indeed.”

Tyler turned the key in the lock and swung the door open with dramatic flair. He gestured for her to go first. Hesitantly, Alexis walked into the darkness. She felt Tyler’s hand move to the small of her back and felt that electric current spread throughout her body. He filled the space behind her and closed the door. She couldn’t see her hand in front of her face.

“These lights are here somewhere,” he said, feeling along the wall.

Suddenly, Alexis saw a small circle of light appear beside her.

“What’s that?” she asked with a start.

“Flashlight app.” He swirled it around in the darkness. “Oooh, scary.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she said, laughing.

“Ridiculously sexy.” With that, the hallway lights were switched on and Alexis was transported back to high school.

“Holy crap,” she breathed, taking in the entrance hall. She was instantly flooded by memories. “It looks the same.”

“It does,” he agreed.

“Have you been here since graduation?” she asked.

“I have. Sometimes they have evening classes here or charity events. It’s used by the whole community.”

“I never thought I’d see it again.” She touched the light green walls and wondered which color-blind administrator thought light green was the right color for the school hallways.

“Welcome to Woodrow Wilson High School,” Tyler said, imitating a tour guide. “Today you’ll be learning how the most unique of humans, the teenager, eats, exercises and learns within these hallowed halls.”