WHAT KEEPS US TOGETHER?
Chapter Nine…Nine Days Later…
Bobby was sitting on the patio, thumbing through the newspaper and counting the minutes until Alex arrived.
"Your ride's here," Dr. Silver said, laying a hand on his shoulder and smiling as Alex approached.
Bobby tossed the paper on the table and stood, spinning around to watch Alex approach through the patio's French doors. She was radiant, wearing a white denim skirt, an aqua tank top, sandals... and the biggest smile Bobby had ever seen.
"Hi Doctor Silver!" she said, then immediately stepped towards Bobby, giving him a hug and kiss 'hello.'
She stood with one arm around his waist, while the other hand patted his stomach. "You ready to go home?" she asked, smiling up at him.
"I'm ready," he answered and bent to kiss the top of her head.
"Let's go to my office for a minute…then you'll be on your way," Dr. Silver smiled.
….
The doctor handed Bobby a thick manila envelope. "Here you go, Robert. There's some reading material you should take a look at once you're home, and a list of the AA meeting groups in your area."
Bobby took the envelope. "Thanks."
"Your sponsor's name is Jack Martinez; he lives in mid-town – his contact info is in there. Give him a call on Monday, okay?"
Bobby nodded.
Dr. Silver stood and circled his desk. "Robert, it's been a pleasure getting to know you…and Alex," he added, with a smiling glance towards her.
Bobby and Alex stood. Dr. Silver extended his arm to shake Bobby's hand, then pulled him into a hug, patting his back.
"I think you're one of my success stories, Robert…you're gonna' be just fine."
"Thanks, doc – thanks for everything," Bobby said.
He led them to the door, then walked alongside the happy couple as they went back to Bobby's room to get his suitcase.
"If you ever need to talk, Robert – if there's something that Jack can't help you with, or something you don't feel comfortable discussing with him, then you give me a call – any time."
"Thanks, Doc, I will."
…
Bobby and Alex walked out of Fair Oaks towards the parking lot, arm in arm.
"You mind if I drive?" Bobby asked.
Alex looked up at him, "If you promise not to get us killed," she joked.
Bobby laughed. "I promise… I just wanna' do something that feels… normal, ya' know."
She nodded and handed him the keys.
Once on the road, Alex couldn't help looking at Bobby. He looked so good – rested, relaxed, and he had good color, thanks to all the time he spent on the patio. She looked at his rolled up sleeves and his sexy hand and forearm as it hung from the steering wheel.
She changed the station on the radio, but kept the volume low. "You look happy."
He glanced at her and smiled, "I am."
Then she saw his brow furrow.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," he answered with a chuckle. "I was just thinking about all the housework I'm gonna' have to do when I get home –the place was a wreck when I left."
"What d'ya think I've been doing for the past month?" she asked sarcastically.
He looked at her and smiled, "Are you serious? You cleaned my apartment?"
"Well, it didn't really take a month…I went over there a couple of times…and I stocked your fridge yesterday," she smiled.
He reached across the seat for her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss. "Thanks, Alex…you didn't have to…"
"I know…I know…but I wanted to."
"Well, geez…now what am I gonna' do when I get home?" he pretended to complain.
"You'll have the rest of today and tomorrow to rest, then back to work on Monday," she said, rubbing it in.
His brow furrowed again. "How d'ya think that'll go?" he asked, showing a bit of concern.
"You'll be fine," she said with encouragement. "Nobody knows anything, except for The Captain and Logan and Barek."
Bobby nodded.
"Well, and whoever in Personnel that had to handle the insurance papers, but that's it."
He nodded again.
"Dr. Silver said the embarrassment is something I have to get over," Bobby said, with a quick glance Alex's way. "He says the only 'embarrassing' thing would've been not getting help."
"He's right," Alex agreed.
"Can I ask you something, Bobby? I mean, without getting you angry?" Alex asked cautiously.
"Sure."
"When I was cleaned up your apartment, I threw out all the bottles of liquor I found."
"Thanks," he answered.
"But, well – do you have any hidden ones that I might've not found?"
Bobby sat quietly, thinking for a moment. "Nightstand next to the bed," he finally said.
"Got that one," she smiled.
…
They drove in silence for a few minutes.
Bobby reached across and took her hand, just holding it as he drove. "Thanks, Alex," he said, giving her hand a small jiggle.
"You mind if I turn off the A/C and open the window a little?"
"No, go ahead," she answered.
She reclined her seat a bit and turned towards her left side, getting comfortable and resting her head against the plush leather. She sat, just watching Bobby – enjoying his first taste of freedom – curls slightly blowing from the breeze.
"What are you doing?" he asked playfully.
"Looking at you," she smiled back.
"You're staying with me tonight, right?"
"If you want me to…"
"I do," he assured, then pulled her hand to kiss again.
Alex yawned and settled even more comfortably into the seat. "If you think you can find your way home, I'm gonna' take a little nap," she said.
"A nap? It's only eleven o'clock," he chuckled.
"I know," she said, stifling another yawn. "But if I'm staying at your place tonight, I know what I'm 'in for'…you've had nine days to recuperate," she said, teasing him.
He laughed at her innuendo, but secretly enjoyed her compliment of his prowess.
As he drove the rest of the way, he'd steal little glances of her sleeping face. It warmed his heart.
Then he started thinking, "If I would've told her the way I felt about her…well, years ago, when I first realized I felt that way…we could've been married by now…we could've had a baby by now."
It was times like these he felt like kicking himself. "Four years wasted," he lamented.
He shook the thought from his head and, instead, returned to appreciating the beautiful, sunny day and his freedom. They were heading east on the highway and he looked into the distance, seeing the New York City skyline. He breathed a sigh of relief. He was going home.
But his happy thoughts didn't last long. Bobby knew himself. Once his brain was 'onto something', there was no letting go. He drove and kept glancing at Alex. "No more wasted time," he told himself.
…
He pulled into a parking space and turned off the radio and the ignition.
Turning towards Alex, he smiled and lightly brushed his fingers over her cheek to rouse her from her sleep.
She smiled and stretched a bit. Her eyelids fluttered a bit, as she tried to readjust to the bright daylight, and she decided to keep them closed as felt Bobby's face close to hers.
"Hmmmm," she stretched again. "We're here?"
Bobby leaned over and kissed her forehead, then her lips, as she expected.
After kissing for a minute, Alex shifted, wanting to sit upright. She was anxious to get inside and show Bobby how nicely she'd cleaned his apartment…not to mention trying out the clean, fresh sheets she'd put on his bed, she devilishly thought.
"Let's go!" she said, smiling and opening her eyes.
Her smiled immediately faded and she shot Bobby a look that meant "if looks could kill."
The SUV was parked in the driveway of her sister's house.
END Chapter Nine
