CHAPTER THREE
It was Christmas Eve and Alexis wasn't expecting anyone to drop by. Kristina was at the table with her crayons and papers, coloring a picture. Alexis sighed silently as played with Molly down on the rug. It was getting close to her nap time and she was getting fretful and was being very vocal about it. Alexis sat her in her car seat and settled her down. She should put her in her bed, Alexis knew, but she wanted her close.. She wanted both of her girls close. She was feeling better today, but to tell the truth, she didn't know how many days like this she would have - so she'd cherish each one as they came - no apologies.
As Molly drifted off into sleep Alexis turned her gaze back to Kristina and sighed to herself. Not a word. Not even when they'd decorated the tiny tree set on a table before the living room window. She and Ric had planned to get a big tree with all the bells and whistles. But then again, she and Ric had planned a lot of things. And it looked like none of them were going to happen.
So, on Christmas Eve, since she wasn't expecting anyone, who was that knocking on her door?
Alexis adjusted the scarf on her head and went to open it. And stopped short to see Sonny standing at the door.
"Sonny. I heard you were at your island."
"I was. Now I'm back. And the first thing I wanted to do is see my daughter." Catching the arrogant tone in his voice, Sonny paused and continued in a more apologetic tone of voice. "If that's all right with you?"
Alexis was still a little startled by Sonny's unexpected presence on her doorstep. She stepped aside suddenly. "Oh, of course. Come on in."
Sonny stepped inside and while Alexis closed the door behind him, he took the time to study her. She looked...tired. His heart ached as he wished that was all it was.
Alexis caught his glance and tried for a smile. "I really am much better than I look, Sonny." She pulled off her scarf. "See."
And Sonny could see. He remembered her devastation when Alexis had realized that her hair had started falling out. But he could see where it was already growing back in.
"That's great, Alexis." he told her, suddenly feeling lighter than he had in the last little while. "That's got to mean something good."
Alexis shrugged. "One small baby step. But I'll take it."
"Talking about baby steps, where's my daughter?" Sonny asked. He'd already seen her at the table drawing, of course. And she'd seen him. Kristina had stood up and was watching him with big brown eyes. It broke his heart to see Kristina take nothing more than single hesitant step towards him. Sonny took a few steps forward and then bent down to eye level. "And how is my favorite girl this Christmas Eve? Are you all excited?"
He glanced at the table-top tree and had an idea. "I'll bet your excited this much..." he said, going to the Christmas tree and measuring it out with his hands. "But I bet I know how to get you excited ...this... much!" Sonny said, stretching his hands apart as far as he could. "Do you want to know how?"
After a moment, Kristina nodded her head, just a tiny bit.
Sonny knelt back down in front of his daughter. He smiled at her, then Alexis and then back at Kristina "I've got an idea... you like Christmas trees, right?" When Kristina nodded again, her smile reached a little wider. "Well, what we need... is a tree this high," and Sonny stretched his hands far apart again. "It can keep this little fellow company. Do you think that's a good idea?"
This time, he was rewarded with a full blown smile blossoming widely across his little girl's face. Sonny felt his eyes sting with unexpected tears. He chanced a quick glance at Alexis and wasn't surprised to see the same sheen of tears that he knew was in his own. He blinked them away before turning back to Kristina. So, why don't you hurry up and get your hat and gloves and coat, and we will go out and find us a tree, okay?"
Kristina went running off to her room, the smile still on her face.
Sonny stood and faced Alexis with one almost as big as hers.
"Where in the world are you going to find a tree - a big tree, in your own words - on Christmas Eve?"
"Never underestimate me, Alexis." Sonny said with a wink.
"I never have before, why should I start now?" she answered, with a touch of their old banter in her voice. They both fell silent for a moment, as they shared the memory. Alexis broke the silence first. "I'd better go help her choose, or she's liable to pick out a polka-dotted hat and a plaid scarf with rainbowed mittens." she said.
"Hasn't picked up her mother's impeccable fashion savvy yet?"
Alexis laughed. "You obviously haven't seen her wardrobe choices of late. Speaking of which, I'd better get in there before your little princess comes to a decision. She can get incredibly stubborn once she's made her mind up. I can't even begin to imagine where she got that from." This time Alexis threw Sonny a wink of her own before she followed Kristina to her room.
Sonny walked back over to the little Christmas tree. It wasn't bad, considering. It just that it should be...bigger. He doubted if Alexis had bought much as far as decorations went, so they would need to pick those out as well. Sonny smiled. Kristina should like that. What little girl doesn't like picking out pretty sparkly things?
That gave him the beginnings of another idea. But his thoughts were interrupted by a tiny wail. He turned, his ears instantly tracking the sound to where baby Molly lay in her seat. She'd lost her pacifier and was fussing, still half asleep. Without thinking, Sonny rushed over to her and replaced the pacifier, but Molly continued to fuss softly.
Instinct moved Sonny to scoop her up into his arms. He began to walk her and rock her gently, and then started talking to her softly. After a moment, he began singing an old Hispanic lullaby to her. Sonny reached up a gentle finger and stroked one plump dimpled cheek softly, not even realizing what he was doing until a tiny hand reached up and grabbed his finger and held on tight. As she did, Molly gave out a sigh and settled herself into his hold.
Sonny's heart almost stopped at the sensation of those soft tiny fingers curling around his. It was blood calling to blood. Despite her being Ric's daughter -and up until now, in his mind, that was all Molly had been - she was a part of him. They carried the same blood, the same heritage flowing in their veins. She was a link to his mother but in his hatred towards Ric, Sonny had forgotten all about that.
That knowledge stilled him in his tracks. He looked down at Molly. "Hey little one;" he told the sleeping child in a soft whisper. "I guess you're gonna need me too while your growing up. Somebody to teach you about boys and maybe teach you how to cook ...seeing as that's a skill that is definitely not going to come from your mama." Sonny laughed to himself. "Somebody has got to teach you and your sister some culinary skills. And I guess I'm gonna be the man that steps up to the plate. I'm going to make sure that you and your sister have everything you ever need. I swear it on your abulita's head."
He looked up then, just in time to see Alexis standing in the doorway, looking at him. "Well, I guess we're all ready for your next great surprise." Her eyes said that while showing up had been the first one, he'd just given her the second.
"I could take Molly too, if you need to get some rest." Sonny offered.
"No, no... you and Kristina go and have a good time. It's Molly's naptime, and I could use one myself."
Sonny looked at Alexis closer. He took a candy cane from off of the tree and then took Kristina by the hand and walked with her to the door. Opening it, he gestured to his driver and then bent down to Kristina. "Could you do me a favor? Could you take this to Max? I happen to know that he loves candy canes...especially the colored ones. I'll be right there as soon as I talk to mommy for a minute."
Kristina nodded solemnly and took the candy from Sonny and went out the door.
Alexis had followed them to the front door., so she was standing right there; together they both watched Kristina head for Max. Sonny turned back to Alexis. "Are you sure you're okay? Should I call somebody to come stay with you?"
"No, I'm fine. Well, okay not quite fine. But the worse of it is over - until my next treatment. That's why I gave Viola the day and tomorrow off. It's just me and my girls. And that's fine with me."
"Well it's not fine with me." Sonny said. To her puzzled look, he gave no reply, but daring himself - and surprising them both, Sonny suddenly bent over and brushed his lips against her cheek. "Get some rest, and we'll see you later."
