This Too Shall Pass (14 page)

“What?” Bernie questioned, eyebrows turned to the bridge of her nose.

“Cory. Oh my God, Bernie. I called him right before you came in here. Twenty minutes ago!”

“So?”

“I didn’t hang up. The call says twenty two minutes. He heard everything.”

“Oh boy. Maybe he hung up.”

“You think?”

“I hope. You ordered a sex toy.”

“I fucking hate you!”

Bernie laughed the kind of laugh that brought tears to your eyes. Alexis didn’t really say that word, and for whatever reason every time she did, Bernie gut laughed. “Lex, you’re being too dramatic. Look at it in a positive way.”

“This isn’t funny. I just ordered a sex toy with Cory listening. No! You ordered the damn thing.”

“So use it to your advantage. That’s just one more reason not to need Cory, and you did call him a douchebag. Let’s hope he heard that too.”

Alexis stood again and followed Bernie out, mortified. She was never going to be able to look at him again. Thank God he took the girls to Sam’s and she didn’t have to. How was she ever supposed to face him again? Maybe Bernie was right. Maybe he hung up when she dropped the phone to her desk. One could only hope.

“You know what I really hate about all this, Bernie?” Alexis asked while locking up the studio for a while. Bernie answered with a hum as the two best friends walked the sidewalk, arm and arm. “That I can’t just call to check on them, or expect a picture or anything when he has them. Drives me crazy.”

“Does he expect you to do that, like does he text and call to check on them?”

“No, but I think things are different for men and women in that scene. Oh my God!” Alexis exclaimed with a fistful of Bernie’s shirt. She pulled her to the step, hiding at the door of Clayton’s old shoe store.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Bernie yelled with flailing arms, straightening her shirt. That’s Cory. That’s his new truck.”

“Sweet. Bet that thing cost a pretty penny.”

“Shut up, I’m not talking about the truck. He’s got someone with him. A girl.”

Bernie squinted her eyes to see. Yup, sure enough there was a female in the passenger seat. “Oh my God. They’re going to Aprils.”

“Cool, now you can check on the girls. Let’s go.” Alexis stumbled a little when Bernie pulled her from the door, down the one step from their hiding cubbyhole.

Alexis pulled her right back. “No way. I’m not going to April’s. He’s with a girl. Wow.”

“Yes, you are going in there. This is exactly what I am talking about. You’re doing everything around Cory. Of course he’s with a girl. He’s a douchebag, remember. Now come on. This is your town.” Bernie took her hand that time and Alexis let her. She was too distraught to fight it. Cory was with a girl. Ouch, that stung a little.

“Slow down. I need to get a good look at her before we go in. I want to see if it’s a nurse from Canterville. It better not be someone I know.”

Bernie took an exasperated breath and stepped up to the bakery step where they watched Cory pull to the curb, get out, and retrieve Kinley. His new friend helped Riki, sending an instant red face right to Alexis. The man had nerve.

“What now?” Bernie asked when Alexis sucked in another surmising gasp.

“I do know her. That’s Ellen.”

“She’s a little old for him,” Bernie determined while her hand shielded the glare on the glass.

“No, it’s not a girl, girl. It’s Ellen from Chicago, Cory’s nanny, I love her.”

“Then let’s go say hi.”

“I can’t, Bernie. Let’s just go to Drakes Valley.”

“No way. I’m about to teach you a thing or two about break ups. No best friend of mine is going to cower away and give him the upper hand. Come on.”

Alexis felt a surge of adrenaline when Bernie slowed her pace, giving them time to get inside. “Bernie, I can’t.”

“Okay, this is what you’re going to do. You’re going to walk right up to the table and say hi to Ella.”

“Ellen, and Kinley’s going to want me.”

“Good, that’s rubbing it in a little more.”

Alexis stopped her by her shirt again. “Wait. What if he was on the phone that whole time?”

Bernie straightened her shirt again with a frown. “Get the hell off my shirt. Geesh. Who gives a shit? So what? If he says something, come back with something better.”

“But I’m not good at that like you are. My comebacks happen an hour too late.”

“Just say the first thing that comes to mind. Now come on.”

Alexis groaned and reluctantly followed. This was bad. This was so far out of her comfort zone and she didn’t like it. Not one bit.

The diner was fairly quiet, a lot of empty tables, but it was early for lunch yet. Riki saw them first and ran right to the door. Alexis’s eyes landed on Cory’s and held his gaze.

“Lexis! Aunt Bernie!” Riki called. Alexis broke the scrutiny by hugging Riki.

“Hi, baby. What are you doing here?”

“Ellen comed to visit us. We’re having lunch here.”

“Came, Ellen came,” Alexis corrected, not really knowing what else to say.

“Come on, let’s go say hi,” Bernie coaxed. Alexis pulled up her big girl panties and stood tall. She could do this.

“Alexis, hi. How are you?” Ellen greeted. She stood and hugged her tight.

Alexis hugged back. “I’m doing great, Ellen. How are you?”

“Much better since I got to see these little girls.”

Kinley whined while reaching for Alexis and twisting her body to get to her. Alexis didn’t even hesitate. She removed the tray and picked her up. “Hi, baby girl. Do you feel better? I presume you bought this outfit? It’s adorable,” Alexis questioned with a smile toward Ellen, trying like hell not to look at the smirk on Cory’s face.

“Yes, and Riki’s.”

“See,” Riki said with a twirl, showing off her new jeans with gems on the back pockets.

“I love them. You can wear them to school.”

“Do you need a few minutes?” Carole asked around Bernie.

“Is it possible to slide that table over?” Ellen questioned. Alexis’s heart dropped like she was going over a speed bump. It went up and floated down. She didn’t want to eat with Cory.

“That’s okay. We don’t have a lot of time,” Alexis explained. She tried to place Kinley back to her seat, but she wasn’t having it.

“Sure we do. I’ll help,” Bernie offered. Of course she sat by Ellen, leaving Alexis to sit beside Cory. That was probably better. At least she didn’t have to worry about the eye locking thing.

“Will this be two checks?” Carole questioned, pen in hand.

“Yes,” Cory replied at the same time Alexis responded with, no.

“Make it two,” Alexis ordered..

Once the orders were placed, the conversation consisted of talk about the small town, Riki going to school, Kinley growing like a weed, and the food. Cory sat right beside Alexis, barely speaking a word. Ellen treated Alexis like her own mother would treat Cory, with respect and kindness.

It wasn’t so bad, and Alexis relaxed fairly quickly. Ellen was easy to talk to and she was happy to see Riki and Kinley for a little while. It helped in missing them so much. Kinley sat on her lap the entire time and ate Alexis’s food. It wasn’t until Ellen took Riki to the restroom, and traitor Bernie walked out to the sidewalk to talk to Travis that Alexis had to deal with Cory.

Cory moved his arm over the back of her chair, sending an aroma of his cologne through the air and right to Alexis’s nostrils. Maybe she did need a toy. “I want to take Riki to school her first day.”

“No, she’s too excited about riding the school bus with Emily.” Alexis avoided eye contact, focusing on feeding Kinley soup.

“Then I’m coming over to see her off. You do know you have no rights to her, right?”

Alexis looked straight at him with that, clinched jaw and all. “Yes, Cory. You’ve made that perfectly clear. I’m sure if it was only me you were hurting, you’d already have her away from me. I’m well aware of that.”

“You’re not taking either one of them to Florida,” Cory whispered close to her ear. Now he was just being an ass.

Alexis turned to face him, keeping her mouth close to his. “And you’re not taking Kinley to Chicago, nor am I sending you the video when I try out my new toy.” Cory’s eyes moved to her lips before turning toward Riki and Ellen.

“Do you want to go to the movies with us, Lexis?” Riki asked with a mustard covered french-fry to her mouth.

“Alexis is going to a bar tonight,” Cory answered for her, dipping his own fry in mustard. Alexis shot him a dirty look.

“Don’t tell her that,” Alexis ordered out of anger. Idiot. “I’m going to watch John work. He’s DJ-ing there tonight.”

“Our Johnny?” Riki questioned.

“Yes. John that always plays music at the farm.”

“I want to come, too.”

“It’s only for big people. You can see him at Thanksgiving.”

“I’m going to see Ellen at Thanksgiving, right Daddy?”

“Yes, we’ll be out of town that weekend.”

Alexis refrained from stating the chant in her head aloud.
Kinley won’t.
She didn’t say a word when Cory got up and took both checks to Carole either. Kinley went to Ellen and Alexis kissed Riki. She walked out with Bernie coaching her from behind.

“Don’t look at him. Start laughing like I just said the funniest thing in the world.”

Alexis did that. She laughed so hard she thought she might pee her pants. Laughing made her laugh harder and it felt good, like she upped him one. Finally.

SEVEN

Alexis dressed in maternity jeans and a red satin shirt. The good thing about being pregnant was the cleavage. She could never pull off this much cleavage without the pregnancy help. The mirror told her what she really looked like and she groaned, plopped back on her bed, and dialed Bernie.

“You on your way,” Bernie asked after half a ring.

“No, I’m not going.”

“What do you mean, you’re not going. Why not.”

Alexis set up and fluffed her hair. “I’m pregnant. I look pregnant, and I don’t want to be seen in a bar. Someone will be on the phone with my dad before I ever reach the bar.”

“You’re almost thirty. Your dad can’t beat your ass anymore. Get over it. Come on. What else are you going to do?”

Alexis stood and turned for a side view. Yup, very pregnant. “I don’t know, Bernie. I just don’t think this is such a good idea.”

“Meet me at the County Line or I’m coming after you.”

Alexis looked down to her blinking phone and slid her feet into a pair of cowboy boots. One more once over in the mirror with an approving expression and she was off. Not bad for a pregnant girl.

“This is crazy, Mr. Dog. This is so crazy. Who goes to a bar pregnant? You want in or out?” Alexis questioned while gathering her things, head darting around the room for her keys. Mr. Dog followed her out and plopped to his rug in front of the swing¸ ready to stand guard.

The inner chatter while driving to the bar was filled with how crazy she was for going to the bar with Bernie. Her cousin the DJ would probably be the one to tell her parents. Part of her wanted to go, to get out of the house, and part of her thought it ludicrous. People were going to stare and talk, she knew they would. It’s what small town folks did. Her name may as well be in the Brady County Gazette.
Alexis McKinley, pregnant parties at the County Line.
Her mind was made up when she pulled beside Bernie’s car and she left her. She wasn’t going in alone. She could have at least waited on her. With little help, Alexis mustered up an attitude and dialed her number.

“What?” Bernie answered.

“I’m not coming in there. You could have at least waited on me.” The tap on the window to the left, and seeing Bernie standing right beside her with a big smile did little for her uptightness.

“Have I ever left you alone?” Bernie questioned.

“Oh, yeah. Lots times,” Alexis assured her with mater-of-fact assurance.

“Name one.” Alexis and Bernie walked up the old steps and Alexis did just that.

“Janie Sue, third grade. You went to her birthday party instead of mine. Mike Sims, seventh grade, you left me alone with Brandt Thatcher to kiss him under the bleachers. Sherry Winters, ninth grade, you left me alone with her while you lost your virginity to her brother.”

“Yeah, yeah, okay, but Sherry Winters doesn’t count. She was a little kid.”

“Yeah, and you left me alone with her and Barney for hours.”

“It was not hours. That boy shot his load three seconds in. Where do you want to sit?”

Alexis looked around at the loud, crowded bar and groaned. Yup, bad idea. “The bar,” she replied with a nod, holding her jean jacket over her growing baby. Maybe if she sat down nobody would notice.

Her cousin John waved from behind his setup and both girls waved back, taking a seat at the corner of the bar.

“What’s your flavor ladies?” Olivia questioned.

“Liv! You got a tattoo. Let me see that,” Bernie exclaimed.

Olivia placed her arm on the bar and showed them the writing down the back of her arm, “This too shall pass,” was spelled out in a fancy font.

“Rough year?” Alexis questioned with a smile. Olivia’s dad was a deacon with her dad at the same church.

“You might say that. I heard you and Cory broke up. I’m sorry to hear that. I really like him. You two made a cute couple,” Olivia said while wiping the counter with a bar rag.

“Yeah, shit happens,” Alexis replied with only that. Olivia was a super sweet girl, but they weren’t what you’d call friends and she wasn’t going into any more detail than that. No way.

“I’m swamped. I’ll come and talk to you guys when I have time. What do you want?”

“I want a draft,” Bernie Ordered.

“I’ll just have a coke, fountain,” Alexis said in a yawn. Oh boy. This could be a long night and she could suddenly foresee the future. Bernie was going to get trashed and Alexis was going to babysit. Sigh.

“Coke, really? How about a volcano. I just learned how to make it on YouTube. Tequila and Rum.”

“She’s pregnant,” Bernie blurted while her fingers tapped to an old Merle Haggard song, forgetting about the filter she wasn’t born with. Great. Olivia read the annoyed expression on Alexis’s face and pointed to her new tattoo with a wink.

Despite the fact that Alexis was the only one in the entire bar not consuming alcohol, she had a good time. Bernie got drunk on beer, but not shots, thank God. Alexis could handle that Bernie. The position of their seats allowed Alexis to watch the pool table and the dance floor. Bernie kicked ass in pool and danced while Alexis watched.

“Where’s your boyfriend,” the familiar voice spoke behind her. So much for her good time. Alexis breathed in a deep breath and spun on her stool. Cory’s eyes went straight to her cleavage and she used it to her advantage. With an elbow on the bar, she sat up straighter, moving her firmer than normal breasts toward him.

“If I would have known you were just going to dump the girls off on someone for the night, I would have taken them home. You have them every other weekend. What are you doing here?”

“It’s ten o’clock. They’ve been asleep for a while, and they’re not dumped with anyone. Ellen is with them.”

“And you came here because?”

His eyes remained focused below her neck. “For the beer.”

“My eyes are up here,” Alexis pointed while she fought control herself, trying not to move her eyes down his body as well.

“Yeah, I know where they are, but when you dress like that it’s hard for a man not to look. Of course you knew that, right? Why else would you be in here dressed like that?”

Alexis laughed. “Do you want something?”

“Yeah, let’s dance.”

“No, let’s not.”

“Why not?”

“I’m pregnant if you haven’t noticed. I’m not going out there.”

“I’ll hold you close. Nobody will see.”

Alexis tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“You. You’re wrong with me.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Come dance with me.”

No way. Alexis wasn’t about to be that close to him. She could already smell him and there was no way she would make it through a dance without melting in his arms, succumbing to his poison again. Nope. Not happening. “I’m not dancing with you.”

“Why? Afraid your boyfriend will see you?” Cory asked with eyes that drove her crazy, pursing his lips to the bottle of beer. Alexis licked her lips as his met the rim. Oh brother.

“No, Cory. Because I don’t want to.”

“Cory! How the hell are you?” Bernie slurred. Okay, maybe she was sneaking shots.

“Hey, Bernie. How you doing?”

“I’m doing amazing. You wanna do a shot. Come on, let’s do a shot.”

“No, I’m driving. I hope you’re not.”

“Am I, Lex?”

“No, Bernie. You’re not driving. I’m calling Travis.”

“He’s locked in a gym. I should go there and have sex with him.”

“Bernie! You shooting pool or what?”

“Gotta go.”

“Good old Bernie,” Cory joked with a grin.

“Cory, what do you want?”

Cory’s eyes went to the yelling, guys hooting a greeting. The beer bottle made contact with the bar a little harder than needed. “Not a damn thing, Lex. Not a damn thing.”

Alexis shook her head. What the hell? She couldn’t keep up. Her eyes went to his ass, walking toward the door and then she knew what the hell. Oh my God. What else could happen? Mitch strutted around, shaking hands and bumping shoulders. Fantastic.

“Give me another shot,” Bernie called from the corner.

“No, Bernie. I want to go. Let’s get out of here.”

“Why? Where’d Cory go?”

“He left. I want to leave now.”

“But I’m having fun,” Bernie whined with a pool-stick, supporting her sway.

“Bernie, please. I don’t want to have to deal with—.”

“Hey, ladies,” Alexis once again heard the familiar voice from behind.

“Okay, we can go,” Bernie quietly offered. “Hey, Mitch. We were just leaving.”

“Can we talk, Lexi?”

“No need. You were drunk. I was drunk, forget it. It was my fault, too.”

“I wasn’t apologizing, Lexi. If anyone should be doing that, it’s you. That’s not what I wanted to talk about,” Mitch confessed with his eyes now going to her cleavage. His fingers ran down her arm as his eyes joined hers again.

Alexis pulled her arm away from his touch. “Really, what else is there?”

“Us.”

“Oh, my God. I can’t do this. There is no ‘us’ Mitch. There will never be another us. Let’s go, Bernie.” Alexis kept her jacket over the swell in her abdomen and came to her feet. He probably already heard, but she wasn’t about to talk to him about it. No way, no how.

“One dance?”

“No dances. I’ll see you around.” Alexis pulled Bernie by the arm. She pulled back and downed her last shot.

“Aren’t you proud of me, Lex? I didn’t leave you,” Bernie slurred while Alexis kept her from walking into a group of people huddled in a circle.

“Yes, I’m very proud of you for not leaving me here,” Alexis replied with a frown. She was the one dragging her out of the bar drunk, not the other way around.

Once Alexis had Bernie safely home, she drove herself home in a fog. She should have known better. Mitch coming in there actually crossed her mind. Although she hadn’t run into him yet, she knew he had to be moved and settled by now. Football season was in full swing and he knew everyone around there. Never in a million years did she think Cory would show up there. Never. He came there for her. He heard the plans while he eavesdropped on her stupidity, when she didn’t bother hitting the end button on her phone. Her gut told her not to go. She didn’t even want to go. Why the hell did she keep putting herself out there for more, and why the hell was Cory there to see her? Did he think she was going to be vulnerable enough to let him have is way with her again? Pffft, she probably would have.

Alexis went to bed in her bed, hating her life. How much more could she take? It had to be out. What else could go wrong?

****

Just like every weekend after Cory had the girls, Alexis left work early to get them from Sam’s. She had to. She missed them too much to make it a whole day. Normally she made it until at least two, but not this day. The studio was still slow and would remain that way until about the middle of October. Her work was caught up, and Bernie was fine handling it alone. The only problem with that was, the girls weren’t there.

Sam didn’t answer the house phone, but answered her cell phone on the first ring. “Hey, where are you. I’m on my way to get the girls.”

“Um, I’m not home. I don’t have the girls.”

Alexis pulled to the curb, heading out of town. “What do you mean you don’t have them? Where are they?”

“I don’t know. Cory didn’t bring them.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I didn’t know I was supposed to. I just figured you guys made other plans.”

“Okay, I’m going to call him. Next time call me.”

“The last time I called you when you didn’t show up, you got mad at me.”

“Yes, but I had them then, not Cory, and I wasn’t mad. I had morning sickness. I’ll talk to you later. I’m not mad at you.”

Alexis tried Cory’s cell phone first and of course he didn’t answer. She dialed his office next.

“Dr. Baker’s office. This is Jackie, how can I help you?”

“Hey, Jackie. It’s Alexis. Is Cory busy?”

“Hi, love. He just stepped out for lunch. You might try his cell phone.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Alexis looked for the town cop and made a U-turn. Cory was just backing out in his stupid new truck when she blocked him with her car. They both got out and she stomped toward him with fire in her eyes.

“What the hell, Lex?”

“This is not okay. You have to tell me what’s going on. You can’t just do what you want.” Alexis was mad. She was pissed and her heart thumped loud and hard in her chest.

“They’re fine. They’re with Ellen.”

“You still have to tell me. Don’t you ever do that again,” Alexis stood her ground, demanding through gritted teeth.

“Calm the hell down. What’s wrong with you?”

Alexis took a deep breath and tried to relax. “I thought…”