Cheryl woke to find Alejandro next to her and light streaming down the hall from the living room. Sitting up, she stretched herself awake. Awake, she thought. What was it he had said... Furrowing her brow, she pieced the words back together.
'...you need to be awake to ask me that.'
What had she asked? The thought hit her, followed by a realization. Alex Thomson is a very sweet, smart man. Not that she hadn't already known this, but he certainly had demonstrated it last night. She blew out a long breath, thinking about 'maybes', 'should have's' and possibilities before catching sight of the alarm clock at the bedside: ten fifteen. She was supposed to be at Tiffany's by eleven thirty for lunch. Rather then incur additional inquiries for being late, she got up and headed toward the shower. Once clean, she fixed her hair and makeup and perused the closet for something to wear. Feeling particularly feminine, she selected a lacy white top to go with her black jacket and skirt. By the time she was dressed, there was no opportunity for coffee so Cheryl grabbed the phone, keys and credit card from the jeans on the chair, stuffed them into her jacket pocket, and left the penthouse anticipating a good grilling from her sister on the previous day's activities. She was not disappointed.
"Well it's about time you showed up," was the greeting she got when Tiffany answered the door. Cheryl leaned against the jamb, and casually looked at her watch. Right on time. "I can't believe you disappeared on your birthday."
"Hi. Nice to see you, too."
Tiff sighed. "Alright. Happy Birthday, then," and gave her sister a hug. "Come in. Would it have killed you to answer your phone, though? I mean, really. Do you have any idea how many times I tried to get ahold of you just to say 'Happy Birthday'?"
"Oh," Cheryl exclaimed, pulling the device from her pocket. "Actually, I don't know..." she said, turning it on for the first time since late Friday night. Her stomach growled as she checked the messages and missed call list. "What's for breakfast?"
"Breakfast? Darlin, it's lunchtime."
After a sly smile, "If you say so."
The grilling began in earnest. "What is with you? When did you get out of bed, anyway, that you think it's breakfast?"
The younger woman responded in mock innocence. "Quarter after. Ten."
Tiffany's jaw dropped, and she narrowed her eyes. "Are you serious? You must have had one hell of an evening. And frankly, you look like the cat that ate the canary. Tell me something... did you wake up alone?"
Cheryl looked at her incredulously. "You know, if I wasn't in such a good mood, I'd be offended by that. As a matter of fact, yes, I did. What difference does that make to you anyway?"
"It's just... well it's been months since you really smiled about anything so I figured there had to be a reason. Not that I'm complaining, mind you."
"I had a really nice day, and didn't get home until... I'm not sure when exactly, but it was definitely well into the morning," she admitted.
Tiff's curiosity was now sufficiently piqued. "And you were out all day and night, alone?"
"Didn't say that," she replied, nonchalantly.
"Cheryl!"
"Oh come on, can't you just let me savor my day and talk about something else?" she grinned broadly.
Mildly annoyed but satisfied that her baby sister was fine, and apparently enjoying herself, Tiffany complied. "Fine, but only because you seem happy. One day I expect all the details."
"Agreed. So what's up with you?"
The two women chatted for a little while before Sean came in carrying bags of takeout. The three of them enjoyed lunch together, and Sean was immediately conscious of the improvement in his sister-in-law's demeanor. While still guarded, he could see that she was much more the flirty, brighteyed woman he had met a year and a half before. Something had changed, and it was certainly for the better.
"Cheryl, honey, I have to tell you, you look fantastic. What have you been doing with yourself lately?" he inquired.
"Oh don't bother, Sean, I already tried and she won't tell me anything," Tiff interjected. Cheryl rolled her eyes, eliciting a laugh from him.
"Whatever it is, keep it up," he said, giving her hand a quick squeeze. "I have to go meet Anna about a case. You two play nice," he finished, kissing his wife good-bye.
"I'll try, on both counts," the youngest replied, looking pointedly at her sister. After he had gone, she changed the subject in an attempt to divert attention from herself. "So, how's the newlywed life going?"
Tiffany considered for a moment, and answered. "You know, I think Sean and I have just been together for so long, nothing really changed when we got married. Of course we had our honeymoon, but we fell back into our everyday routine pretty quickly. Which is great, by the way. Sean's been doing a lot less of the 'cloak and dagger, run around the world' kind of thing and staying around home."
Cheryl feigned amazement. "Don't tell me you're actually domesticating him. You're going to get bored."
"Oh, no honey. I am so relieved to not worry about him day in and day out. I'm telling you, now I think we actually have a chance to be sortof normal." Tiffany took a sip of iced tea, then a more serious tone. "And speaking of staying around, I have to admit I'm really glad you decided to. I know when everything first happened, you were going to leave after the wedding." She watched her sister squirm a little, looking to avoid the subject. "Come on Cheryl, we've never talked about this."
"And you figure since I was in such a great mood, now would be the time, huh?" She shut her eyes, and took a deep breath. "So, which parts do you want to know about? Why I didn't leave, or Robert, or something else?" she asked, looking at Tiff with a calm that surprised her sister. A bit taken back at her openness, but not about to miss the opportunity, Mrs. Donely suggested she start with the first two, and see what else came up. Exhaling a long, slow breath, Cheryl confessed her seemingly simple reason for staying in Port Charles. "I think it boils down to the fact that I just didn't have the energy to figure out how to pick up and start all over, again. I've done it enough, and maybe just got tired of leaving on someone else's terms."
"Defiance?"
"No, I don't think so. Not outright anyway. Just that I was more inclined to decide what to do, instead of doing it and figuring out why later. After being controlled by the Jeromes and Robert all the circumstance, I didn't really like the idea of feeling railroaded anymore. Subconsciously, of course. Six months ago all I wanted was to be left alone and have my life back, and staying put was how I did it."
Tiffany expressed a question. "You felt controlled by Robert?"
Cheryl considered it carefully. "I don't think I felt it overtly, but there was always a feeling like I had to measure up somehow, even before he found out about Julian and the family. And looking back, I don't think he ever took me seriously. When I wanted to talk to him, it was as if I was a child he needed to pat on the head and tell to go play outside. He wanted me to be someone, something, I couldn't be. Uncomplicated, innocent... in his words, an 'island of sanity.' We never really communicated."
"But you two seemed so happy together."
"Oh we were. We had fun, and there was certainly chemistry. But I don't think either of us trusted the other enough to survive in the long term. There were so many not 'us' things in the way. Besides, maybe it's me getting older, but I think 'normal' sounds pretty appealing too. Not sitting around worrying about shootouts and kidnappers and whatever else might happen."
Tiffany processed everything that her sister had said, and observed the attitude in which they had been presented. There was no anger, no hurt, left in any of the observations. "Cheryl, I'm so glad you told me all of this. And I'm really happy you are ok, and moving on and doing whatever it is that's put a smile back on your face."
"I'm still not telling you what I did yesterday."
"Damn, I thought I might sneak that past you."
"Not gonna happen," Cheryl informed her, smiling. "Done with the questions for today?"
"Yes, let's have dessert!" Tiff decided. "I have cake for your birthday."
"Yum, sugar."
The two of them cut angel food cake with lemon glaze and the doorbell rang halfway through their treat. "Speak of the devil," Tiffany announced, licking lemony sugar from her fingers. It was Robert. He took two steps into the penthouse and froze, realizing who else was present.
"Look, uh... I can come back some other time..." he started cautiously. Tiffany rolled her eyes a little, and opened her mouth to protest but was cut short by her sister.
"Robert," Cheryl said with purpose, standing and straightening her skirt. She walked to stand in front of him, confidently. "We're both adults. Don't you think it's about time we stopped avoiding each other? You came here for a reason. Stay. Have some cake," she invited.
He looked a little dubious, but the easy manner with which she had asked led him to accept. There didn't seem to be any motive behind the invitation other than to ease the unspoken emotional battering they had subjected each other to for the past several months, continually evading the other's presence. He and Tiffany sat at the table while Cheryl went to the kitchen. She came back with a small plate laden with a large slice of cake. As she set it in front of him the cell in her jacket vibrated silently. Retrieving it, she gave a quick smile at the contents of the message she had received, then returned the phone to her pocket.
Tiff witnessed the sequence and squinted at her sister with an 'I saw that' kind of look, which Cheryl ignored. She did, however, notice the time on her watch and crinkled her brow at it. "Gee, I really need to get going."
"What was that you were just saying about avoiding?" Tiffany countered.
"I'm not avoiding Tiff, I have a ton of things to do before work tomorrow."
"Like what? It's Sunday."
"Like, all the things I should have done yesterday but didn't. Getting clothes ready to drop at the cleaners, doing the rest of the laundry, cleaning the kitchen, reading at least three reports, and I haven't even checked my email."
Standing to close the space between them, her older sister whispered a suspicion. "And maybe, answer that message?"
Cheryl put on her best poker face and replied. "I have no idea what you are referring to."
"Brat."
"Nag."
"I see nothing's changed with you two," Robert commented.
Both women laughed, and then embraced as Cheryl said her goodbyes and disappeared out the door.
Despite all efforts, Alex and Cheryl could not meet paths for most of the week following her birthday. Hurried Monday to get to the dry cleaners before work, she bypassed stopping at the rental to leave the freshly washed shirt he had loaned her Saturday evening, and had crisis after crisis with clients through the entire day. By the time she had finished putting out fires, Cheryl was exhausted and went straight back to the penthouse.
Tuesday she called several times and finally tracked him down only to find that he was swamped in preparation for the presentation and travel plans for Friday. The laptop he needed to take along had died, and Alex was forced to have a new one overnighted to the house, where he would then spend most of Wednesday formatting and installing everything necessary for the trip. In addition, he was still finishing details, and having plans printed which meant traveling forty-five minutes to the nearest place capable of the large formats necessary.
By the time they finally coordinated seeing one another, it was a brief Thursday evening dinner. Brief because her week had already been a long one, and more importantly because Alex had an early shuttle flight to New York followed by a longer flight to see the prospective client and present his designs. They ate takeout Chinese that Cheryl had picked up on her way, and discussed the upcoming weekend.
"So," she surmised, "you're leaving early tomorrow, and coming back...?"
"Um, I'm really not sure. Earliest would be Saturday afternoon, latest... Sunday night or Monday morning. Depends on the client, if they want to talk again after the meeting tomorrow...then whether I can get a flight to Chicago or not on the way back."
"What's in Chicago?"
"I thought I'd stop and see Todd for a little bit."
Cheryl remembered now, his younger brother lived in Chicago, having moved there only about six months ago with his new wife, Megan. "Does it feel strange, that he's six years younger than you, but already married?" she wondered.
Alex gave a wry grin, "Nooo, not at all. We all knew as soon as he talked about her, that she would be part of the family. It was easy to see he had found the right person. They just go together."
"You really believe it's possible to just know that?"
"Of course. I think some people do right away, and for others it takes a while to figure it out, but eventually you know." He looked at her the same way he had a week earlier, sitting at her dining table with only his boxers on. Direct, with everything open for her to see. It had been a little unnerving then, but now it was a comfort. Probably helps that he has clothes on, she thought.
On that note, she decided it was time to let him be, and prepare for his travel and meeting. "I think it's about time for me to get out of your hair. Call me when you get back. Or before," she suggested, snagging her fortune cookie from the counter before heading for the door.
Alex called after her. "We're not going to share fortunes?"
"Save it for later, and tell me if it's true," she winked and let the screen door fall shut behind her.
Picking up his own, he ripped open the cellophane wrapper, snapped the cookie and read the message:
Everything will now come your way.
While he seriously doubted the sentiment, he nevertheless stuffed the tiny ticket into his wallet for later reference, as she had requested. Somehow Alex felt that 'everything' would be a little much to hope for.
After more than six hours either on a plane, waiting in airports, or finding the complimentary Hotel shuttle bus, Alex was glad he had arranged for an early check-in. It allowed him to grab a sandwich from the hotel restaurant, make a quick change of clothes from the travel khakis and polo into his suit after a quick onceover with the iron. Gathering the laptop and other materials he needed for the presentation, he headed out to meet the prospective clients.
They were an older couple, in their early sixties, with a mixed air of distinguished respectability and the working class. They obviously had money, marked by the fact that they had hired four independent architects to create plans for the expansion of their home. Rather than guess at what the final product would be, they wanted to make sure they were getting the right thing, paying a flat fee for each one's time tp create more complete designs rather than general proposals. The logic was that they would save money in not making major revisions during the process, having a close to final product at the beginning. Hiring three unnecessary designers would be offset by the savings, in the long run. Alex was impressed by the idea, although he wouldn't necessarily agree to its accuracy. In any case, it gave him an opportunity that he may otherwise not have gotten.
Alex presented his proposal, including the schematics he had run at large size and a small portfolio of color renderings. He also included a thumb drive with digital slideshow and some reference materials for them to keep and review as they made their decisions. The last thing he did before handing over the materials they would be allowed to keep was get signatures on the legal contract he had drawn up, protecting the ownership of the work in case they did not select his for their home. They were paying for his time, in effect, not the intellectual property, so he felt the designs should remain with him if left unimplemented.
When the long afternoon was over, Alex parted company with the aging couple, making sure they had his cell number in case they wanted to discuss anything more before his flight left in the morning. Assuming they would not need to talk so soon, he retreated back to his hotel room intent on getting a run in before dinner. The skies threatened rain, but he hoped it would hold for at least an hour. In the room, he discovered that he had forgotten to pack an extra shirt. He simply kept on the undershirt he'd worn with the dress shirt, pulled on his shorts and made it downstairs in time to see the rain start.
He turned, resigned to being cooped up without a workout, and was headed back to the elevator when a bright voice called out to him.
"Sir..." he heard, and turned toward the young woman approaching. "Sorry to bother you sir, but I noticed you looked like you were going for a run."
Alex sighed, "Yeah, I was, but looks like the weather has it in for me."
The perky blonde handed him a business card, "If it helps, there's an athletic club at the end of the block. As a guest of the hotel, they will give you a two hour pass to the facility. It's very nice, even an indoor track."
Surprised but pleased, he listened as she gave the brief instruction on which direction to go from the front entrance. Alex got the impression she gave him a little friendlier reception than others would have gotten, and his suspicion was confirmed as he flipped the card over halfway down the block. A phone number written on the back, along with her name. Brittney. He considered it for about a half second and dismissed any idea of calling. She was attractive, but having a one night stand would do nothing positive for his situation. Granted, he might feel a little better physically, but somehow he also knew it would destroy any chance he had of looking Cheryl in the eye or feeling like he had her trust, even if she never knew anything of the encounter.
Instead he made his way to the gym, and spent around an hour running the track, covering about eight miles. It was a pace most could not keep up with, and a few even stopped to watch, wondering just how long he would go. Alex was no professional runner, and this was not his typical routine, but tonight he wanted to exhaust himself. Maybe, he thought, then I can fall asleep without thinking of her. After the run he did a couple circuits on the weight machines, and then another two mile jog to warm down before walking back to the hotel.
Alex strolled back the short distance through the rain, not minding the cool drops against his already sweat soaked skin and clothes. Standing in front of the elevator, he was a little relieved not to see the young blonde in the lobby. Hopefully her shift had ended and he would not have to deal with an awkward situation. He retired to his room, had a shower, and called room service for dinner. Checking the phone, he listened to voicemail from the client telling him they would not need to meet with him again, having more than enough to discuss on their own. They had every way possible of contacting him, and could use any of them later on, and had already told him that a decision would come within a month, so all he could do now was wait.
Dinner arrived, and he ate while watching a baseball game on television, remembering the bet Cheryl had made with him months earlier. The first series in the wager was next week, the final weekend in April. Now that he had nothing major on his plate for work, Alex's mind was occupied with exactly what to do, considering the possibility of picking up and leaving Port Charles within the next four or five weeks. He tried to shake it off, pulling out the laptop to get online and book a flight to Chicago in the morning, and a return to New York Sunday evening.
Alex stepped off the jetway in O'Hare at twelve fifteen, and pulled the cell out of his pocket. Calling his brother's apartment, he got Megan. "Hey Sis...yep it's me...Well I'm at the airport, and after that I'm a train and bus ride from your place. Is Todd there?...great...ok, see you in a bit." He had taken to calling Megan '"Sis" after the two of them had ganged up on his brother in making fun of him over something, nearly two years before. She fit in so well with the Thomson family, it was like Alex had known her since they were kids.
Within the hour, he was being greeted by the tall blonde in person, receiving a warm hug and a squeeze on his butt. Another longstanding joke, she had once offered to trade the brothers in the midst of a small argument with Todd, commenting at the time that "Alex has a nicer ass, anyway."
"You could at least do that when I'm not around to see it," Todd complained from the hallway. "Besides, whoever said he liked being groped?"
"Oh come on," Megan protested. "It's not like anyone else has claim to it." Normally he would have spoken up, agreeing with her and making some comment that her attention was all he got. Today her remarks only reminded him of Cheryl, which kept him quiet. The silence was apparent to both his sister-in-law and his brother. They looked at each other in realization.
"Honey, I think you've got some competition," Todd kidded his wife.
"Oh, yeah... look at him," she agreed, noting a slight blush in Alex's face. "Alright, what's her name? When did you meet her? What does she do? Age, address, phone number..."
"Social Security number," Todd interjected. "And pictures!"
"Whoa! Good grief, stop..." Alex halted the mock inquisition, and fed them details. He leaned against the kitchen counter while they watched and listened to him provide general information about the woman who had finally gotten hold of him, whether she knew it or not. Once he thought he'd said enough, he stopped and waited for their assessment.
The couple put their heads together, whispering covertly, occasionally looking at him, and gesticulating about whatever comments were passing between them. Sitting at the kitchen table, Todd and Megan finally broke their huddle and leaned back in their chairs. "So," Megan started, "It's pretty obvious to both of us that you're in love with her. What we can't figure out is, why you look so unhappy about it."
Alex stared at his shoes for a few minutes, slowly finding the right place to start and sharing a more complete story of his and Cheryl's relationship. He finished with the previous weekend's activities, followed by a simple sentence summarizing the day before: "And, I've just come from an interview that could land me more than halfway across the country from her."
Megan rose from her seat to gave him a soft embrace, and turned to her husband. "Take him down to Quibbies, and get him a drink. In fact, get him a bunch of drinks. Looks like he could use it."
"That's not going to solve anything," Alex protested quietly.
"Maybe not, but you could still do to have a stiff drink. Maybe the two of you can figure something out while you're at it. I have to be on-shift in an hour, so I can't go," Megan explained. Being one of the newest nurses on staff meant she got some of the less desirable shifts.
The three of them disbanded from the kitchen and scattered through the apartment, Megan to get ready for work, Alex depositing his things in the corner next to the sofa with the foldout bed hiding underneath, and Todd off to change clothes and get ready for a night out with his big brother. Together, they left the apartment and made their way down the block, Megan parting ways with the men at the train station while they continued another two down to the bar. It was large, but more of a local joint than a popular hangout, so even on a Saturday night, there was an easy air about the place. The crowd was more adult, coming to eat and relax but not to party.
Surrounded by rich wood and classic bar details, Alex and Todd shot innumerable games of pool, talking about everything but the women in their lives. They ate bar food and drank beer, laughing at each other's bad aim at the table. Finally they found a table to sit at, leaving the pool table to those who had been waiting. Todd ordered shots as they sat, and finally addressed what he had dubbed 'The Situation'.
"What I can't believe is, you haven't even made a move to kiss her yet."
Alex slid back in his chair. "Yeah well, it's not like I haven't wanted to. I think just in the last week or so she's maybe been even halfway ready to think about it. After everything she went through last year, I certainly don't want to push her. And now, I don't know that I should try at all. What happens if we do get together, and then I leave? What kind of jerk does that make me? The last thing I want to do is hurt her, and frankly, it will be easier to go if I keep my distance."
"Despite the fact that you love her, anyway," Todd reminded him sarcastically. "Brother, the fact that you haven't kissed her or anything else, has no effect on what's in your head or how you feel." They sat in silence for several minutes, waiting for the waitress to come with the next round of shots. A thought struck the younger brother, "Maybe we're looking at this from the wrong direction."
Alex scowled a little. "Huh?"
"You're spending all this time trying to figure out what to do. Maybe your answer is nothing. Maybe you should let her decide."
"Status quo, so to speak," the elder concluded.
"Sortof, except now you're overthinking every move you make. If something happens is it because she wants it to, or because she lets it happen. I'm just saying, don't move forward, and see if she does. That way at least you know where she stands with it. What you do after that, I have no idea."
Alex looked at his brother with appreciation. At the very least, it would help him figure out just how interested Cheryl was in having more than just friendship. It certainly didn't cover what would happen if he ended up moving to Colorado, especially if she was interested, but for the short term it was a theory worth considering. "You know we'll be talking about this again tomorrow, when we aren't both drunk," he commented as the next round arrived at their table.
Todd responded in turn, "You don't think we'd get away with not telling this to Megan, anyway, do you?"
"True enough," Alex agreed and downed another shot. He and his brother proceeded to have several more rounds, and play some darts before paying the considerable tab and setting off on foot back toward the apartment. There they settled into the living room, barely awake but managing a conversation when Megan returned from work. Alex lay spread across the foldout he'd managed to open, and Todd slumped in a large cushioned chair as she appraised their condition.
Looking at her husband, she calmly announced: "You're drunk. I thought I told you to get him a bunch of drinks."
"I'm drunk too," Alex contributed.
"Well, what kind of brother would I be if I let him drink alone?" Todd rationalized.
She gave a 'pfft' of amused dismissal and suggested, "The same kind you'd be if you let him sleep in his shoes and jeans. I'm going to go find something to eat, while you two try not to pass out before getting ready for bed."
Alex struggled to get himself to a sitting position, where he fiddled with shoelaces and squirmed out of his jeans before crawling under the blankets on the foldaway. He was asleep within seconds. Todd simply rose and followed his wife to the kitchen, where they talked for a few minutes, until he was instructed to go to bed.
The trio sat around the small kitchen table just before noon Sunday, reviewing the previous evening's discussion. Alex had already swallowed several aspirin to combat the small army firing off cannons inside his head, and his brother was testing a '"hair of the dog" theory, beer in hand. Megan had listened to everything the men had talked about, mentally chewed it over, and submitted her thoughts. "I can't say I like everything about it, but it does give you a chance to see what she might be feeling. I'll warn you though, she might start to think you've lost interest or found someone else. Be careful."
Alex nodded. He hated the idea of 'testing' her, and in a small way that's exactly what this was. But, then again he had pretty much been the one making the statements so far, and maybe it was time to figure out what the next step. "I wasn't planning on avoiding her, just, I don't know... leaving it more in her court."
"Past that... seat of your pants?" she asked.
"Yeah, I guess so. I don't think there's any way to plan it out."
After a moment, she added one last thought. "Don't forget one other option. Staying or going, you could just tell her the truth."
He had already filed that thought away in his head, but had reservations about it. "Yes, but somehow it feels like I'd be pressuring her, especially if I don't end up moving. Seems like a kind of ultimatum. But certainly possible if I have to go. Lay it all out and see where it falls, because at that point there would be nothing to lose."
Todd sighed and sat back. "I hate to tell you bro, but I think we've contributed all we can."
Megan shrugged her shoulders as if in agreement and added, "All we can hope is that Cheryl is as smart as you say she is, and figures out how great you are."
Alex chuckled at the compliment. "I don't know about that, but... at the very least, things are going to start changing. How, I don't know, but it can't stay the way it is." He rose from the table and wandered to the living room, checking his bags for anything that might be missing. Finding everything in its place, he turned back to say goodbye to his family. "I wish they didn't insist on everyone being so early for security check at the airport. At least I'll have plenty of time to find something to eat, and maybe find a magazine for the ride." He embraced each one, getting a clap on the back from his younger brother, before setting off toward the bus stop. Todd and Megan knew better than to offer him a ride to the airport. Wherever Alex was, he always found his own way.
Cheryl had been restless all weekend without Alex's company. Even when she had attempted to work and keep her mind busy, distraction seemed to overcome. Finally she understood that it wasn't boredom, but more the fact that if she did anything, she wanted to do it with him. It was not the sudden realization of her feelings when she had stood so close to him, dancing all night the previous weekend, but still powerful. And she was not yet certain just what to do about any of it.
She'd heard not a peep from him since Thursday evening, but he had promised to call when he returned. Giving up on being productive, she left the penthouse and went for a walk. As Cheryl walked out the door, she picked up a book started long ago and left aside in lieu of work. About time to relax, and enjoy life a little, she thought, and walked down to the small park where Alex had sat silently in the snow with her. She took no purse, having recently adopted some simpler habits, instigated by Alex's recommendation to "travel light". It was a refreshing change, and one she was planning on sticking to when possible.
Finding a quiet, sunlit corner bench, Cheryl propped her feet up and read a good portion of The Book Thief before hearing her name being spoken from the sidewalk. Looking up, she saw Alan and Monica Quartermaine, apparently out enjoying the afternoon outdoors as well. She stretched a little and glanced at her watch, surprised to find it nearly quarter of five. "Alan," she returned, moving little from her position on the bench.
"Looks like you found the perfect spot, although I'm surprised you aren't reading a prospectus or proposal of some sort. How are you doing this fine Sunday?"
She smiled easily, "Tried reading the reports, but had enough of it and decided to relax instead."
"It's good for you," he responded in typical doctor mode. "Speaking of which, you haven't been around for a checkup lately."
"Didn't see a need."
Alan began to chastise her. "Now Cheryl, you know full well that you need to keep an eye on that kidney."
She rolled her eyes, and retorted, "Dr. Quartermaine, it's Sunday. Take a break. And if it makes you feel better, I will have my secretary schedule an appointment. Plus, I'll guarantee that my results come back better than you've ever seen." Her statement was followed by a knowing grin, and then a slight jump as the phone in her pocket started to vibrate.
"I'll tell the nurses to make sure you get in this week," he assured her, waving good-bye as she checked the display on the cell. An Atlanta Braves logo filled the small screen, along with a simple message:
You're on.
Alex had returned and found the invitation she left on his door, a Mets banner with her handwritten message on the back:
Game 3, my place, 6:00. Come hungry.
The first two were day games, so the finale would be the only one they could enjoy together. Cheryl allowed herself a broad smile, and sent a new message:
Good trip? and waited for his reply.
It came only seconds later, but not by text. the phone chimed with a voice call. She answered and relished the sound of his voice on the other end.
"You could have just called, and kept me from fiddling with these tiny buttons."
"Or I could just come over, and then we won't have to deal with the phone at all," she suggested.
"You're welcome anytime you like. Thought you knew that by now."
She was well on her way back to the club, "K, I'm on my way," she informed him cheerfully. A few minutes later she made her way through the lot at Duke's, finding her car in the corner and taking off for Alex's rental.
Alex stood in the living room, sorting out the contents of his bags and listening to the stereo, when Cheryl arrived. He knew she was there before she even spoke a word. In fact, she was attempting to sneak up on him, having very quietly opened the screen door and let herself in. He waited until he was certain she was just a couple feet away, and said into the room, "You're going to have to practice that sneaky thing a little more," and turned around. She gave him an ornery look and quickly hugged him. Alex was taken a little off guard by the sudden embrace. "What's that about?"
"I missed you," she said bluntly, stepping back.
Touched, and a little confused, he reasoned, "Well, it's not like we haven't not seen each other for three days before."
"True, but then I could just come by and bother you whenever I liked. It's different when you aren't here," she explained, all the while a curious look coming over her as she watched him. "What is thïs," she asked, feeling the stubble on his jaw. "You look a little, um..."
"Yes?"
Cheryl thought about it, and concluded. "Some women would say, 'sexy'."
Alex looked at her dubiously. "And what would you say?"
Giggling a little, she provided a few choice adjectives. "Scruffy. Ragged. Maybe even... hung over. Just what kind of weekend did you have?"
"Interesting descriptives. And the answer to your question is one involving, as Megan put it, 'a bunch of drinks'."
"Your sister-in-law got you drunk?"
"No, she just grabbed my ass. Todd and I got ourselves drunk."
She looked at him, dumbfounded. Neither of the two previous statements made much sense, but he didn't seem worried about it. "Do I want to know why either of those things happened?"
He smiled a little, and answered. "One is an old joke, and the other is...some things bouncing around in my head that I haven't completely figured out yet."
Cheryl was instantly concerned. If something bothered Alex enough to go out and drink himself stupid, it must be serious. Of course she wanted to help. "I don't suppose there's anything I can do?"
Alex looked at her with a thoughtful, gentle expression. "If anything you do helps, you won't know until after the fact. And that's the way it should be." There was a moment of silence between them as Cheryl digested the cryptic comment, then he changed the subject. "So, what are you up to this week?"
She gave a frustrated sigh. "Actually, I'm off to New York in the morning. I'm ready to cut these people loose. They don't listen to my advice, and when things go bad they call in a panic, so I have to go hold their hands. I'm supposed to be back Tuesday afternoon, and then catch-up duty as usual. Oh, and sometime this week I'll end up at General, so they can suck my blood and whatever else Alan decides he needs to do."
Now it was his turn to be concerned, and he showed it, "Everything ok? You're not sick are you?"
"No, no not at all," she reassured him. "I just ran into him earlier, and he gets worried when I haven't been in for a checkup when he thinks I should. So, I'll have Mary set an appointment, and go to let them poke me and realize I'm fine."
Alex nodded. "Good. I'd rather you go and have nothing wrong than not go, and have a problem. And don't give me that look," he added, having noticed the disdain on her face at his agreement with the doctors. "Anybody that cares about you should feel the same way."
Cheryl gave up any argument against his attentions on the matter. "In any case, I'm going. I suppose you want a full report afterward?"
"Of course. I'll get you a special treat to make up for the nurse sticking you with a needle. What would you like?"
"I'll think about that, and let you know." She had a thought come to mind, which had nothing to do with food, but let it go for another day. Her mind dwelled on whatever was bothering Alex. "What about you? What's going on around here now that your big project is done?"
He mulled it over. "Good question. "I know I have some small standard stuff to do, for a couple catalogs, but that's easy. And, I haven't really checked any mail or messages since Thursday night, so I guess I'll see what's there. More than likely though, I'll spend a few days straightening this place up and getting things back in order. It's kindof a wreck around here, especially my desk."
They talked a while longer, before Cheryl realized the time and figured it was time to make her way back to the penthouse. She still had to gather up everything needed for the overnight trip to hold the hands of needy clients, and make sure Mary had instructions for the time she would be gone. As she reached for the door to go, he called out, "You're sure it doesn't look sexy?" stroking his chin.
"Looks have nothing to do with it," she grinned, and disappeared into the night.
