Chapter Three

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Six Years Later

Howard, Williams and Lansing Law Offices

May 25, 1990

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A knock on Alexis' office door prompted her to look up from her work. She smiled when she saw Ric Lansing standing there, leaning against the frame of the door.

Alexis had been offered a job at Howard, Williams and Lansing before she had even graduated from law school and passed the bar exam. She had been recommended by several of her law professors and she was hired the day she graduated. The first person, other than the three partners she met was Ric Lansing, the son Trevor Lansing; single best criminal defense attorney on the eastern seaboard.

Ric was thirty-two years old and a graduate of Harvard Law. He was handsome and driven and extremely arrogant. He was also the first man she'd met since Julian's death who she actually liked. They'd slowly gotten to know each other over the past year with a date here and there.

"You busy?" Ric asked as he stepped into her office.

Alexis shook her head. "Not especially. What can I do for you?"

He perched on the edge of her desk and picked up the photograph she kept there of Sam and Zander.

"You can let me take you and these beautiful kids to dinner," he said with a smile.

She chuckled and dipped her head. While they had spent some time together, Sam and Zander didn't know Ric well and Alexis had yet to share her past with Ric in regards to Julian.

Maybe now is the time, she thought.

"We'd like that," she told him after a moment. "Someplace kid-friendly."

Ric nodded. "Absolutely. I know just the place. I'll pick the three of you up at six-thirty tonight."

"We look forward to it," she returned with a smile.

Ric walked out and Alexis let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

/

Sam and Zander were sitting on the curb outside the Dalton School when Alexis pulled up. Both kids jumped in quickly; Sam in front and Zander in the back.

"Sorry I'm late," Alexis said. "How was school?"

"It was good, Mom," Sam said while Zander was quiet.

"Son, how was school?" Alexis repeated as she watched her son in the rear-view mirror.

Zander shrugged but said nothing. His eyes were downcast and Alexis thought she caught sight of a few tears welling up.

"Tomorrow is the father/son baseball game," Sam told her mother softly.

Alexis glanced again at her son and her heart broke for her boy. They'd had a few instances over the years when father/son or father/daughter events had crept up. In those instances, Julian's brother Evan had been on hand for the events; more than happy to stand in for his deceased brother. But four months ago Evan had accepted a job in California and he had moved away, devastating his niece and nephew. He'd become a wonderful friend to Alexis and an acceptable stand-in dad for the kids.

"We'll figure something out, little man," Alexis told her son.

Zander looked up and Alexis saw his tears. "I miss Uncle Evan, Mom. I miss…I miss Dad, too."

Alexis felt her own tears begin to form as she drove. "I know. I miss your dad, too; so much."

As she drove to their apartment building on Park Avenue, she thought about the dinner date with Ric and she began to wonder if maybe it wasn't such a good idea. With Zander upset, she considered calling Ric and cancelling so she could stay home and comfort her son.

"Mom, are you gonna see Ric again?" Sam suddenly questioned as they pulled up in front of their building; 740 Park Avenue.

"What makes you ask that?" she asked as they entered the building together and took the elevator to their apartment on the eighteenth floor.

Sam shrugged as the trio entered the apartment. "Just wondered. I like Ric. He's nice."

Zander tossed his backpack down and nodded. "He's sure better than Jerry."

Alexis frowned. "I thought you guys liked Jerry."

Both kids flopped down on the sofa, one on either side of Alexis as she took a seat as well. Sam leaned her head on her mother's shoulder while Zander just leaned into her a bit.

"I like Uncle Jax," Sam said. "But…"

"But Jerry's weird, Mom," Zander finished. "He's…creepy."

Alexis had met Jasper Jacks when he moved into the same building in 1988. Jax, as he liked to be called, was the second man Alexis had dated after Julian's death. It had only taken a few dates for them to realize that they were much better off as friends. Jax had two things going for him; Sam and Zander adored him and he was the one person other than family who knew all about Julian.

Six months ago, Jax's older brother Jerry had come to New York and had immediately asked Alexis out. Jax hadn't offered his opinion on her dating his brother, so she'd agreed.

"Well," Alexis began. "You don't have to worry about that. Jerry has gone back to Australia for now. I don't think we'll be seeing him any time soon. As for Ric, he's offered to take us to dinner tonight if you want. You can stay with Jax if you don't want to go."

Sam looked at her twin brother and knew Zander was still a bit upset. "Mom, I don't really want to go. I'm kinda tired and I have a lot of homework to do."

"Me, too," Zander agreed. "I'd rather stay with Uncle Jax."

Alexis nodded. "Okay, I'll give him a call. You two go get changed and get started on that homework."

The kids went to their rooms as they were told while Alexis called Jax and asked him if he could babysit the twins while she went on a date.

/

The clock had barely struck six-thirty when the buzzer alerted Alexis to the fact that Ric had arrived and was waiting downstairs.

Jax, who had come over half an hour earlier, jumped up from the couch. "I'll answer it."

Alexis laughed. "If you must."

"I must," the tall Australian answered. "I want to check this guy out. This'll be the first time I've actually gotten to meet the bloke."

He pushed the intercom button. "Yes?"

"Oh, Mister Jacks, it's Paul in security," the man identified himself. "There's a gentleman here by the name of Ric Lansing to see Mrs. Jerome."

"Send him up," Jax answered.

"You are entirely too pleased with yourself," Alexis said as she came to stand next to him.

Jax turned around and shrugged. "You're my best friend. I have to look out for you."

Alexis wrapped her arms around his waist and melted against his chest. Jax rested his chin on the top of her head.

"Am I doing the right thing?" she whispered.

Jax took a deep breath and held her tighter. "Yes. Believe me, I understand losing the love of your life and how hard moving on can be. But, it's been six years. I never met Julian but I'm sure the last thing he'd want is for you and the kids to spend your lives alone. He'd want you to move on and be happy."

She pulled away and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "I love you, ya know."

Jax beamed. "I know. Love you, too."

Just then there was a knock on the door. Jax grinned and swung around and pulled open the door.

"You must be Ric," Jax said as he held out his hand. "I'm Jax. Come on in."

Ric was a bit startled by a man answering the door, but he covered well. He shook Jax's hand as he caught sight of Alexis.

"You look very nice," he complimented.

Alexis smiled. "Thanks. Listen, the kids didn't feel like going out, so it's going to just be us."

Ric was a bit disappointed. He liked Sam and Zander. They were good kids who loved their mom a lot.

"Not a problem," he told her.

"So, where are you crazy kids going," Jax asked as he settled on the couch.

Alexis laughed. "Ric, don't pay any attention to him. He's the babysitter."

Jax clutched his chest. "Just a babysitter? I'm wounded."

"He's also my best friend," Alexis tossed in. "Jax, don't let the kids stay up too late, and no slasher films this time. Sam had nightmares for a week."

Having already said goodnight to her children, she led Ric out to the sounds of Jax's laughter echoing behind them.