Compass (38 page)

His eyes swept back and forth out in front of them. The faster the plane barreled down the pavement, the faster her heart raced in her chest. It took everything she had not to claw her way out of the aircraft. She did the only thing logical to her, aside from closing her eyes and praying for a quick death. She turned her head and focused on Ryan. Awe sparkled in his eyes. Sheer joy emanated from him. If only she could appreciate the beauty of the man sitting beside her instead of dwelling on the panic that flooded her bloodstream.

He reached over, taking her by the hand. Her pulse jumped, not from the flight, but from the fire that always burned through her when he touched her. “Alexis, trust me,” Ryan pleaded, his tone calm but heartfelt.

That one little word─
trust
─triggered her memory, pulling her back in time.

The day Ryan returned home from the hospital, everyone had gathered together to celebrate. Her apartment had never felt so cramped, but filled with so much love. Ryan sat in his favorite chair, in the middle of her living room, being catered by everyone. The sounds of laughter reverberated everywhere.

Off in her kitchen, Alexis caught sight of Kellie talking to Dan. The interaction infuriated her. This was the same woman who’d stolen her father from her mother, and now that wasn’t enough. Now she wanted her mother’s boyfriend. Alexis wouldn’t have it.

In a fit of rage, she set off to give Kellie a piece of her mind. She didn’t care if everyone heard her, including Henry. It was time this woman was called out for her home wrecker ways.

Just as she was about to approach them, Melanie grabbed Alexis by the arm. “Don’t you dare, young lady.”

Alexis snapped around to her mother, only to find her father standing beside her. “What the hell? Do neither of you see an issue with that!” She threw her arm in the direction of a laughing Kellie and a smiling Dan. “You can’t tell me you don’t, Mom. Not after…”

“Enough!” Melanie barked. Alexis stood cold still. Her mother had never taken a tone like that with her before. “You need to grow the fuck up.”

Taken aback, Alexis’ mouth dropped. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Melanie fumed.

Miles stood there, watching his ex-wife and daughter, his arms crossed over his chest and an amused smirk on his face.

“But, Mom,” she snapped.

Melanie shook her head. “Alexis, I love you, but this has gone on for way too long.”

“I don’t understand. After what that woman did to you, to our family...?”

“Now hold on…” Miles started but Melanie lifted her hand, stopping him mid-sentence.

“Let me tell you a little something. It takes two.” Melanie’s mouth was stern.

“Yeah. I know. Dad had his hand in this.” Alexis glared at her father. His chest rose and fell, but he continued to allow Melanie to run the show.

“You’re not understanding me, Lexi. I’m talking about your father and me. Not Kellie.”

Puzzled, Alexis stepped back, her face drawn. “You’re right. I don’t understand. You did nothing wrong.
They
cheated on you.
They
tore our family apart.”

Melanie shook her head. “Oh, my darling. How wrong you are.” Melanie took Alexis by the arm and led her to the bottom step of the staircase. She sat down next to her daughter and rested her hands over Alexis’. Miles joined them, leaning against the bannister.

“I don’t see how I’m wrong, Mom. They did cheat on you.”

Melanie looked up at Miles, a sad sort of expression clouded her face. “But not before I cheated on your father.”

“What?” Alexis and Miles echoed in unison.

“You never slept around on Dad!” Alexis exclaimed.

Miles cocked his head. “I agree with her there, Mel. You never did.”

Melanie reached up and took Miles by the hand. “I may not have physically cheated, but my checking out the way I did while Cora was sick, was cheating. I cheated you of me.” She turned to Alexis. “You see, I neglected this family, starting with your father. But sadly, I also neglected you. I thought by putting all my energy into Cora, I could save her. My heart was in the right place, but it was also wrong.”

“That doesn’t mean you cheated on Dad, though. And he didn’t have to sleep with Kellie.”

Melanie nodded. “True, but I didn’t have to leave the two of you alone either. Do you even remember how many nights you ate at the Fisher’s because I didn’t feel like cooking dinner?”

“Well, yeah, but I was already over there playing with Ryan,” Alexis countered.

“I could’ve called you home to eat, but I didn’t. I was selfish.” Melanie dropped her hands to her lap. “I’m not condoning what your father and Kellie did, but I’ve accepted my part in why it happened.”

Alexis shook her head, furious. “You act like this was your fault. But it’s not. You’re a good mother. You were a good wife. He,” she pointed to her father, “betrayed us both. He betrayed Cora.”

Miles knelt down in front of Alexis and Melanie. “I did betray you. I will never deny that, but Alexis, I love you. I love Cora. Not a day goes by where I don’t miss her. And this might shock you, but I still love and miss your mother. You’re all a part of me. You always will be. I never meant to hurt you. You have to believe me.”

Tears swam in Melanie’s eyes. “I believe you.”

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, cupping the side of Melanie’s face in his hand.

Melanie pressed her palm over the top of his hand. “I’m sorry, too.”

“I’m so happy to see you happy again. Dan’s a great guy.”

Melanie released a soft laugh. “He’s amazing.”

Alexis rushed her fingers through her hair, confused and perplexed. “Wow! I don’t get it. Your significant others are over there flirting and you two are apologizing to each other.”

Melanie leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, looking out toward the crowd. “Do you trust Ryan?”

“Of course I do!” Alexis squelched.

Melanie pointed toward him. “Yet there he is, talking to Reagan right now. Dare I say, they’re even flirting.”

“That’s different.”

“How so? Dan’s a good man. I trust him just like you do Ryan,” Melanie stated plainly.

“And I trust Kellie,” Miles added.

Melanie shifted, pushing her knees against Alexis’. Taking both Alexis and Miles by the hand, she clasped them all together, as a family for the first time in years. “A relationship is built on trust.”

“I get that, but Mom aren’t you afraid that you’ll get hurt again?” Alexis tried to pull her hand from the trifold, but Melanie held her tight.

“You can’t let fear steal your chance to love. If you and Ryan part ways, which I don’t ever see happening, but if it happens, don’t let that deter you from loving again. Love is learning. It’s taking chances. It’s making mistakes. But most of all, it’s allowing yourself to trust and be trusted.”

“But how?”

Melanie looked to Miles and back to Alexis. “For starters you forgive your parents for being human.”

Alexis chuckled softly.

“And then,” Miles included, “you allow yourself to be human. Life is messy. Enjoy it.”

“Open your eyes,” Ryan’s voice broke through her thoughts.

All those years she’d spent hating her father for tearing her family apart, but she never looked past the indiscretions to the man who she’d always loved. Since that night, she had a different relationship with her parents. She had a better understanding of who they were and who she was.

A smile appeared on her lips and her eyelids fluttered open. In front of her was the expansive, pale blue sky filled with white clouds for as far as the eye could see. The sun dominated the heavens, ruling the birds and air. When they’d become airborne, she wasn’t sure, but she knew, somehow, her fear was gone. In its place was nothing but love.

Ryan rubbed his thumb over hers. She turned her head to find him staring at her. “You okay?” His voice filled with worry. “I thought this might help you get past your fear, flying with me, but if you need me to land…”

Her eyes scanned the sky, serenity wrapping around her. “This is amazing,” she ruminated. “Is this how you always see things from up here?”

The tone of her voice relaxed him. Ryan returned his eyes to his instruments. “Oh, yes. It makes you respect the universe for its immense beauty.”

Skylines speckled the ground. People appeared no bigger than ants. From that distance she felt invincible.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Lex?”

Alexis leaned over, pressing her lips to his jaw. “Very much so. I trust you.”

They were cruising the air, free. Ryan dared a glance at Alexis. Her smile was more magnificent than any sunset he’d ever witnessed. “You trust me,” he repeated. His face bloomed with happiness.

“Absolutely. I trust that you’ll always be there to catch me if I fall.”

His smile broadened. “Then let’s go on an adventure.”

“Every day’s an adventure with you.” All of the noise in the plane faded away. The very world was at their feet. Nothing could touch them. Their love was timeless, and their hearts beat as one. Where they were going, she didn’t know. And while there may be turbulence ahead, as long as they were together, that was all that mattered. She smiled and relaxed back into her seat, tilting her head to take in his handsome face. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

It felt strange being back in this place, where it all started. Alexis stood on the porch of the Fisher residence and stared out at the house that held so many childhood memories for her. A bright red “For Sale” sign sat in the front yard. Shannon had told her the family who purchased the home from her parents had recently moved to Charlotte, leaving the house vacated. Sadness weighed her heart at the thought of no one living there.

A light September breeze ruffled her hair. It felt good against her heated skin. Summer was almost gone, but it still clutched the small North Carolina town in its grips. From inside the house, she could hear the joyous laughter of family and friends. Everyone had convened to watch Ryan run his first marathon since the accident. She was so proud of him when he crossed that finish line. He’d completed his therapy, trained hard, and while he still had a ways to go to qualify for an IronMan, he’d done amazing.

Her eyes drifted heavenward. The sun started to set and the sky filled with stars that couldn’t be seen in Dallas or New York City. There was a clarity about small town life that she’d lost living in big cities for so long. Out there she felt different, like a piece of herself she’d lost had been found.

Drawn to her childhood abode, Alexis stepped off the porch. The front door was no longer blue, as it had been when she lived there, but painted white. The trim was still the same, peeling a little, but unchanged. Time was frozen with that little house. It was where she grew up. Where she learned about life and love. It was where her family was still whole. While they were unified now, it was different.

She missed Cora, but loved Henry. He was growing up so fast. Many times she found herself watching him play his cello and thinking about how much Cora would’ve adored him. They would’ve been the best of friends. She was certain of that. And her animosity toward Kellie had subsided. The more she thought about what her parents had said, the more she realized how blinded she’d been by her own hurt. Besides, Kellie wasn’t all bad. If not for her, Henry wouldn’t exist.

The warm asphalt of the street heated her bare feet as she meandered across it. She stepped on the plush grass of the front yard she and Ryan had spent so much time in as children. It wasn’t as full and green as she remembered, but that didn’t take away from the memories she held dear to her heart. In her mind, she could almost see the lanky boy that was now the man she loved, racing around in the grass, pretending to fly his favorite plane. She would lie in the grass and watch him, while telling him of her own plans. So many hopes and dreams were made in that yard. If the lawn could talk, it would share secrets she’d long forgotten.

Her next steps led her to the concrete drive. A huge grease stain filled the center of the pavement, but next to it were three sets of handprints that were forever embedded in the slab. Ryan and Cora had played along when she wanted to turn the driveway into their own Walk of Fame. Her father had been furious with her for leaving those imprints after he’d spent so much money to repave the driveway. She chuckled at the memory of Ryan trying to convince her dad it was his idea. Even Cora tried to cover for her. Her smile faltered at the sweet memory of her little sister before she got sick.

Alexis let out a tender sigh and walked up the driveway. Above the garage was her old bedroom. Gone was the ladder Ryan had used to sneak in. The tree that had guarded her window was cut down. Now it was a shell of the place where she’d spent her nights dreaming big, talking to Ryan, and growing up.