Long Way Home (8 page)

Alexis glanced around them in annoyance. “You must be off the deep end wanting to come shopping this week.”

She turned to look at her sister, but instead of annoyance, she saw a flicker of nostalgia in Betsy’s brown eyes. “I don’t get to the mainland for shopping very often. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a little booked up with three kids, a husband, and a salon.” Her eyes turned toward two small children tugging on their mother’s shirt. She was visibly relieved to be without children for the day. “Besides, this whole scene is sort of interesting.”

Alexis bumped into a large man passing her in a hurry. Obstacles everywhere.

“Look, this might be some kind of sociological experiment to you, observing gorillas with credit cards in our midst, but it’s giving me a migraine,” Alexis huffed.

Betsy stopped walking and a woman stepped onto the backs of her shoes. The woman cast the sisters a dirty look before veering around them. “By all means, let’s put our efficiency caps on. What is it you would like to accomplish here?”

“I’d like to find that scooter for Brian.”

Betsy blanched. “The scooter? Why?”

“Oh, did you already buy it?” asked Alexis.

“No, it’s expensive. And he’s getting other presents.”

“I don’t mind buying it.”

Alexis noticed Betsy’s irritation but didn’t understand it. Then Betsy shocked Alexis by dropping her bags right in the middle of the bustling crowd and pointing a finger at Alexis.

“Why are you here?”

Alexis blinked. “Because you invited me.”

“No, I mean why are you on Mangrove Island? Why did you come back?”

Alexis’s heart began beating harder. “Excuse me?”

“No one has the balls to ask the mighty Alexis why she has fallen so far from grace that she needs to flee Mount Olympus and join us mere mortals on our insignificant land mass.” Betsy’s angry hands flew to her hips. “Well, I do. So tell me Alexis, why are you really here? I’m finding it hard to believe it’s because you missed us when you haven’t been in touch in God knows how long.”

Too exhausted from the pain-inducing environment to be reasonable, Alexis immediately shifted into bitch mode. “I’m surprised you could make a mythological reference. Where’d you learn about Mount Olympus? In a cartoon?”

“Still a smug little bitch. You haven’t changed one iota.”

“Changed from what? I’ve got news for you, Elizabeth,” Alexis sneered, using her sister’s much-hated given name, “the fact that you and the rest of the family labeled me an apple, doesn’t make me an apple.”

“Label you?” Betsy roared. “We didn’t have to label you. You were all too happy to tell us who you were. Too good to cook, too good to sew, too damned good. I’m surprised your built-in hoi polloi alarm didn’t go off when you set foot in this mall.”

“If by cooking you mean tossing iceberg lettuce with string cheese and full fat mayo, then you’re absolutely right. I am too good to do that.”

Betsy crossed her arms. “Oh, come on. That was a one-time experiment and you know it.”

“What are you really worked up about? The fact that I got out in the first place or the fact that I’ve returned successful?”

Betsy snorted. “You and I clearly have different definitions of success.”

Alexis studied her older sister’s flushed face and willed her own anger to dissolve. Taking a deep breath, Alexis drew enough strength to walk away from the argument before it escalated further.

“I’m going to get Brian that scooter,” she said evenly. “I’ll find my own way back to the island.”

“Do me a favor,” Betsy called after her. “Don’t say the scooter’s from you because when you disappear again, I don’t want him to be reminded of you every freakin’ time he rides it.”

Betsy snatched up her bags and stalked off in the opposite direction.

Alexis seethed all the way through the shopping center. Hot, angry tears sprang from her eyes and she could barely see where she was going. Tired of fighting the crowds, she took refuge on a bench and closed her eyes to ease her pounding head.

She absolutely hated lashing out at her sister. Betsy was clearly harboring deep resentment and Alexis didn’t really blame her. Her eyelids fluttered open and she took a moment to observe the shoppers more closely. She noticed a family of five trying to walk together despite the tide of people rushing around them.

“Single file line,” she heard the father say. The three children scrambled into formation with the youngest at the front. Between that and the man’s crew cut, Alexis guessed they were a military family.

“You look like you need a strong coffee,” an elderly man said, setting himself down beside her. He rested his cane on the end of the bench.

“A strong drink,” she agreed. “Not sure it should be coffee, though.”

He chuckled. “A woman after my own heart.” He took note of the absence of shopping bags. “Having trouble with gift ideas?”

Alexis shook her head. “Not the kind of problem that would stress me out.”

The elderly man smiled kindly. “I always accompany my wife on her shopping trips. Helen, she’s a real worrywart. What if little Jimmy is too old for this toy? What if I insult Janie with the size of the sweater I buy her?”

“Let me guess, it always turns out fine.”

He leaned back against the bench and sighed. “Always. She gets herself all worked up for nothing.”

“I’ll bet you love being on the receiving end of that,” she commented.

He scratched his chin. “You know what? That’s my job. I love her and that’s one of the ways I give her what she needs.”

“You’re very sweet.”

“Hey, I didn’t say it was a one-way street. She puts up with a lot of my nonsense, too. Nobody’s perfect, not even close.”

Alexis watched as two little girls skipped ahead of their mother, singing and holding hands as they went. She and Betsy had never been that close. In fact, she couldn’t think of a single activity that they liked to do together. They didn’t even listen to the same music. Alexis had plenty of memories of disagreements and aggravations, but not much else, yet Betsy seemed to have so much bitterness stored up over Alexis’s voluntary alienation. Was it because she viewed the departure as a personal rejection or was it because Betsy actually wanted Alexis in her life? The former seemed more likely.

“Do you know where the nearest bus stop is, by any chance?” Alexis asked.

“Sure do. You got plans?”

“I do, actually. I need to get back to Mangrove Island to meet a friend.”

“Mangrove Island?” he queried. “Such a nice place. My wife and I have spent time there over the years. Good fishing.”

“You couldn’t choose a better place for it.”

“Don’t I know it.” He gave her directions to the nearest bus stop and Alexis thanked him before standing to leave.

“I just need to do a little shopping first,” she said. “I came all this way, I don’t want to leave empty-handed.”

“Good luck,” said the elderly man.

“Merry Christmas,” she called over her shoulder as she hurried to find the much-desired scooter.

Her phone rang as she studied the directory and, when she saw Ty’s number on the screen, an involuntary smile tugged at her cheeks.

“Hey, stranger,” she answered.

“Wow, have you fled to Madison Square Garden?” he asked.

“Noisy, huh? It’s a shopping center. Betsy keeps a car on the mainland for excursions so I went with her.”

“Last minute Christmas shopping?”

“Can you blame me? I’ve been distracted by someone who keeps inviting me to spend time with him in the vain hope that I’ll remember him from high school,” she said.

“Ah, you’ve seen through my ruse. Is it working?” She could practically hear him grinning.

“Not yet. Listen, I hope I’m not late to dinner. Betsy and I had a fight and I’ll need to grab a bus to the water taxi once I’m finished. I have no clue how long that takes, but I’m guessing long.”

“A bus?” he echoed. “Don’t do that. It’ll take ages. I’ll give my buddy Paul your number.”

“Who’s Paul?”

“Friend of mine who owns a car service. It’ll be faster.”

“Don’t trouble yourself.”

“Trouble? I’m being completely selfish here. I don’t want you to miss our…evening out.” He deliberately avoided the word ‘date.’

She laughed. “Fine, you’re a selfish bastard sending a car for me.”

“I’ll see you tonight,” he said.

“Thanks, Ty.”

By the time she finished her shopping, her mood was elevated and she found herself whistling Christmas carols as she waited for Paul to show up outside the mall. A sleek black limousine pulled up to the curb, blocking her view. Alexis was still craning her neck for a car when a limo driver appeared in front of her.

“You must be Alexis,” he said. “Tyler described you perfectly.”

“Paul?” she queried.

He wasn’t wearing the usual limo driver attire. In fact, he looked more like he stole the limo. Wearing ripped jeans and a faded Rolling Stones t-shirt, Paul did not exactly scream respectable chauffeur.

“Don’t look so shocked,” he said. “I’m not a chauffeur.”

“Then why do you drive a limo?”

“I have a fleet of limos. It’s kind of important when you own a limo company.”

“Oh.”

Paul held the back door open for her, but Alexis shook her head.

“Do you mind if I ride in the passenger seat up front? I’d feel foolish riding in the back.”

“Be my guest,” he said, closing the back door and opening the passenger side door instead.

She slid inside and admired the tan leather interior. It was a beautiful limo. Paul hopped into the driver’s seat and set off.

“So is this a busy time of year?” Alexis asked.

“Fairly. Corporate holiday parties and such.”

“Well, I appreciate the ride.”

“Anything for Tyler Barnes.”

“How do you know him?” she asked.

“We met when we were about thirteen. Took guitar lessons together.”

“Are you from Mangrove Island, too?” It wouldn’t surprise Alexis to learn that Paul, too, had attended Wilson with her.

He shook his thick head of wavy, black hair. “He took lessons in Fort Myers, where I’m from.”

“Are you as talented as he is?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Not by a long shot. Then again, I played cover songs to meet chicks. Ty writes his own lyrics and music, too. He’s the real deal.”

“Do you still play?”

“Not as often as I’d like. Running a company takes a lot of time and I like to see my family on occasion,” he joked.

“You’re married?”

“No, but Deena and I have been together for eight years. We’ve got two kids.”

“Boys or girls?”

“One of each. Penny is five and Luke is three.”

“You’re lucky.”

He gave her a sidelong glance. “How about you?”

“No,” she said. “No family.”

“Ty’s a great guy,” Paul said. “He seems to think you’re pretty special.”

Alexis felt her cheeks color. “Me? He said that?”

Paul wore a lazy grin. “He didn’t have to.”

“There’s nothing going on,” Alexis protested hotly. “I’m only here for the holidays.”

“Pipe down, Lexi. I’m not accusing you of anything indecent. If two single people like each other, what’s the harm?”

Alexis squirmed in her seat. She didn’t mean to lose her cool.

He raised a thick eyebrow. “Maybe not so single?”

Alexis stiffened. She wasn’t about to get personal with Paul, no matter how close he was with Tyler.

“It’s not that simple,” she said.

Paul sighed loudly. “Of course not. It never is. Deena was married when we met, so I’m not judging.”

“It isn’t like that,” she objected.

He held up a hand. “Okay, I hear you. You’re welcome to your secrets.”

“Will I see you at any of Tyler’s shows?” she asked, trying to steer the conversation back to neutral territory.

“Not unless you’re staying into the new year.” He pulled up to the marina and idled. He clearly wasn’t opening any doors this time.

“I appreciate the ride, Paul. Thank you.”

“No problem. I’ve done you a favor, now do one for me. Don’t break my buddy’s heart. He’s one of the best people I know.”

“I have no intention of breaking his heart.”

“You know what they say about the best intentions.”

“Merry Christmas, Paul,” she said, grabbing her shopping bags and closing the door. Although Paul had touched a nerve, she liked the fact that Ty instilled such loyalty in his friends.

She dragged her bags to the water’s edge and waited for the taxi. Glancing at her watch, she figured she’d have just enough time to make herself presentable before heading to The Galleon.

Chapter Seven

When Alexis left London for Mangrove Island, for once, she didn’t have a grand plan. Life had reached the point where she had nowhere else to go except the place she’d spurned. Now that she was back, she was beginning to think it had been the right move. Even though her family fence mending had its obstacles, it no longer felt as insurmountable as it had back in London. Even her fight with Betsy didn’t seem so horrible in hindsight. They yelled and said what they needed to say and somehow Alexis knew that her relationship with her sister would improve. And then there was Ty, such a welcome surprise. Alexis wished she could simply enjoy his company without the guilt that plagued her.

The minute she arrived at the house, she escaped to her room and dressed hurriedly in a black, sleeveless shift dress and black pumps. She ran a brush through her hair to tame the wild pieces. She told herself that she wasn’t primping for Tyler; she was primping because she was going to a nice place like The Galleon and needed to look respectable. The Galleon was a beachside restaurant known for its unobstructed view of the incredible island sunsets. It had been many years since she’d enjoyed a sunset and she looked forward to it.

Tyler was already seated at an outside table when she arrived. Her cheeks burned as she felt his appreciative gaze travel from her bare legs up to her perfectly coiffed hair. When she reached the table, he stood up and pulled out her chair.

“Why thank you, kind sir,” she said.

“I guess Paul got you back safely,” he surmised.