Alex collected all of their shopping photos and made a 'His and Hers' book they could use while designing their future home and deciding how to decorate it. He had not been surprised by many of Cheryl's choices, as she had always leaned toward a more Contemporary selection. She had been a little reluctant at first to choose openly, but Alex had reminded her not to try and pick things to please him. "The point is for us to find a compromise later, not for you to do it now," he remembered saying. At one point they had separated in a large store simply so that neither could see what the other was picking out. Her cell phone had stored a wide selection of furniture, lighting, fabric samples, paintings and generally anything she happened upon that struck her fancy. He, on the other hand, always preferred a more organic, rustic quality in the items he surrounded himself with. Quite a pair, he thought, but in reviewing the photos Alex was able to envision some combinations of both styles that could work and planned on doing some more exploratory work to round out his ideas.
One of his next "date night" expeditions included shopping again at a massive hardware store where they scouted bathroom fixtures and flooring options along with Cheryl snatching a massive selection of paint chips for general reference. He also took her to a home store to look at every type of dinner and silverware possible. After the exhausting trip she made a quick stop for food while he ran to the bookstore next door, coming back with a bag full of decorating magazines.
"Next time you're buying these," he announced.
She gave him a curious look. "Any reason why?"
"Because the old lady running the register just gave me a dirty look and shook her head when I put them on the counter. I believe she thinks I'm gay now," came the annoyed response. Cheryl tried to hide the laugh she had at his expense. The sour look he gave back was enough to quiet her and offer him some comfort.
"Come on, she's just old fashioned. Some people can't get past those ideas. Remember... you bought them because your wife was taking care of your stomach," she said, handing over the bag with his roast beef sandwich.
Cheryl's work focus went back to her regular clients. She had made a point of reviewing each and every account in detail after the Anderson project was over, knowing that they had not gotten the full attention deserved during those two months. It was tedious work but she felt better for it, feeling like she had a good grip on everything once again. Thomas sent her the well-earned bonus check, attached to a bouquet of flowers delivered to the house just a few days after the return briefing. Her regular advisory fees were very good money, but with the additional work required and the incredible response from the customer, Gallow's head office had sent a percentage cut along for their resident expert. Cheryl was not fool enough to decline and immediately added the funds to those Alex had garnered from Jack in their mutual savings investments. If she managed their money as well as her clients' they could afford a very nice home once they made some final decisions.
The Friday four days before Halloween both of them were jarred early from sleep by the house phone ringing. Cheryl fumbled for the receiver and answered, hearing Tiffany's voice from the opposite end of the line.
"Tiff?" Cheryl asked.
Alex listened as relentless barrage came through and she tried to make sense of it.
"No... no... everything's fine... Tiffany slow down... I don't understand... no... yes, I promise." Rolling away, he reached up and switched the bedside lamp to its dimmest setting and turned back as she continued to deal with her sister's apparent emergency. "Tiff please calm down... it's four a.m., how do you expect me to sound?...ok.. yes I will... love you too." Hanging up, Cheryl rolled onto her back and stared out with a very concerned frown.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked plainly. Any calls from New York this early couldn't be good, and the crease in her brow only served to affirm that assumption.
Her eyes worked double time along with her thoughts, processing everything she had managed to gather from Tiffany's ramblings. "I think she had a nightmare. Something about Phoenix, and me being in some horrific car accident. Alex, she called to make sure I wasn't dead."
"Seriously?"
Cheryl nodded absently, still reviewing the conversation in her mind. "I don't think I've ever heard her so panicked."
He settled alongside her again. "Think she'll be alright now?"
Tiffany moped around her office at the studio while Sean did his best to lift her spirits. She had woken from a fitful dream about Cheryl, mumbling 'wake up' over and over and been distressed since. Even describing the entire vision to him and calling Colorado Tiff still had an unsettled air about her. It was well past lunch but Sean had called in and found that his wife had not eaten, and thus made the point of coming over to see to her personally.
"How long are you going to worry over this, sweetheart? You talked to her just this morning." He stood there rubbing her arms as he usually did when she was unsure.
"Until I am convinced that my baby sister is ok," she huffed sadly. "Tell me she's fine."
Sean pulled her close and hugged her tight. As he was about to reassure her footsteps got his attention and he looked up toward the door. "I guarantee you, Cheryl is just fine."
Tiffany clung to him. "How can you sound so sure?"
A familiar voice joined in. "Probably because it's true."
Whirling from her husband's embrace Tiffany found Cheryl leaning against the frame of the open door with a bag slung over her shoulder. Practically running to the door, she flung her arms out and gathered her sister in a great bearhug. "Oh my god I can't believe you're here. I'm so happy to see you, let me look at you," she bubbled, stepping back and examining Cheryl for any sign of harm.
Letting Tiff satisfy herself that she indeed was intact, Cheryl even did a revolution in place so all sides could be seen, garnering a good chuckle from Sean. "See? I told you she was fine. I can't imagine Alex would let anything to happen to her." He stepped forward to get a hug for himself.
"How's she doing?" Cheryl asked quietly.
"Much better now, I'm sure. How about you?"
Looking pointedly at Tiffany, she answered. "Well, seeing as I got rousted out of bed at four, I figure on being asleep way before my bedtime. Aside from that, starving."
"Well I happen to know for a fact that your sister hasn't eaten today. You two ladies should go out and have a nice lunch and spend the afternoon together," he suggested.
Cheryl pointed quickly at Tiffany. "She's buying."
"I still have a ton of things to do here. I mean, somebody has to take care of this place. I can't just run off and leave it for them," Tiffany blustered, waving toward the door and the studio down the hall.
Rolling her eyes, Cheryl laid on the guilt trip. "Oh come on... I flew all the way across the country just to see you. I'm tired and hungry. Besides, they are all grown ups. I'm certain that your staff can handle one day without you bossing them around. In fact, they would probably be glad to get you out of here. Now, feed me. Let's go."
After hesitating while Sean and her sister stared expectantly Tiffany finally gave in. "Ok, ok, you're right." She grinned and called her assistant in for a quick rundown of what still needed to be done before hooking her arm through Cheryl's and kissing Sean goodbye. "Ooh, I can take you to Delafield's. you won't believe it."
"As in, Katherine Delafield? Isn't she a musician?" the younger asked, confused.
"Concert pianist, my darling sister. But I guess you can only practice so much and play so many concerts. Then you need something else to do. She bought Duke's from Anna after the funeral." Noting a dead silence from Cheryl, Tiffany pressed. "What?"
"I don't think she likes me much," she answered recalling their limited interactions.
Tiffany scoffed. "It's been forever. I wouldn't worry about it."
Cheryl lingered behind her sister, reviewing the new interior of the club she had known as Duke's for over a year and a half. Then it had been a club but its new owner had imparted a very European feel to the restaurant. It was a strange change but still pleasant and very welcoming. Katherine finally looked up from the guest book and smiled warmly when she saw Tiffany standing there.
"Hi, Tiff. A little late for you, isn't it?"
"Honey it's been one of those days," Tiff drawled.
Nodding, Kate agreed. "Same here. So how many today? Sean on his way?"
"Oh he went back to work, so it's just the two of us." Cheryl finally turned toward the conversation and appeared at her sister's side.
"Cheryl." The hostess and owner's voice was decidedly flatter than it had been only a moment before.
"Katherine," she answered, mustering a genuine smile in hopes of breaking the ice. Brushing her hair back out of habit afforded Kate a glimpse of the customized ring Alex had given her. It was unintentional, but completely changed the tone of the encounter.
"My goodness, that is beautiful. May I?" Kate gushed, staring at Cheryl's finger.
Blushing she held out her hand. "Sorry, I can't bring myself to take it off." Cheryl stood still while Katherine checked the design until she heard a man's voice coming toward them all. She turned and saw the stocky middle-aged manager approach and greeted him. "Angel!"
"Now there's a pretty face I haven't seen in a long time." Angel squeezed her hands warmly. "Now, did I see you all looking at a ring?" he asked, already knowing the answer. "Do I know the lucky fella?"
She grinned. "Of course you do."
Angel pulled menus from the rack and lead the women toward their table. "No!" he exclaimed. "I told Alex the two of you looked good together. When's the wedding?"
"The wedding was in June," she detailed, seating herself at an out-of-the-way corner table.
Kate followed the conversation from afar and Tiffany watched her expression change again upon hearing that the wedding had already taken place. The reporter in her made several leaps and understood what the statuesque blonde must have been thinking. She and Robert had been seeing each other slightly longer than her sister and new brother in law had, and yet their marital plans had stalled, more than once. She watched and listened on both fronts as Angel got his briefing and finally left them to look over their menus.
The two sisters finally settled into their meal, gratefully starting with fresh bread and a trio of soft cheeses while they waited for the entrees to arrive. Cheryl had decided on a vegetable stuffed chicken breast with mushroom sauce, and Tiffany ordered her favorite salmon steak. They shared bits of conversation between savored bites of food and contemplated dessert. There were moments when Cheryl's attention drifted as if thinking about something, and her brow would take on the little wrinkle Tiff was all too familiar with.
"What are you worrying over?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing I guess," the younger hedged. "Just a voice I've heard before... trying to place it." She squinted a little, listening again.
Squinting back, Tiffany reasoned, "Well if you can't place it, leave it be. There's probably a reason." Her expression softened and one of her sincere moments shone through. "I still can't believe you dropped everything flew all the way here just to make me feel better."
"You can credit my husband with that as much as me. I was laying there worrying and he finally just said 'get ready, I'll find you a flight.' He even packed my bag for me," Cheryl smiled, full of love for the man who would willingly send her across the country to spend some much needed time with her sister.
A look of surprised appreciation overtook Tiffany, "And just what is Alex up to while you're away?" She waited while the last bite of chicken was slowly enjoyed.
"Working today, from home. And tomorrow he's going on a boys day out with Mike and a couple of other guys. Rock climbing and maybe fishing." A concerned look followed her revelation. "I know. But I told him as long as I didn't get calls from the emergency room he could go." Tiffany continued to look dubious until Cheryl described the bookstore episode and Alex's reaction. "He needs to do 'manly' things. Besides, he looks especially sexy after those days. Must be the testosterone," she said with a smirk.
After a bit more chat they mutually agreed to forego dessert in favor of stopping at a local bakery for Sean's favorite to be enjoyed later in the evening. As both stood and found their way toward the exit, Tiffany revealed another stop before going back to the penthouse.
"Ugh, I almost forgot. I've got to stop and talk to my lawyer about some station business. He's called twice this week. Do you mind too much?"
Lawyer. The word rang in Cheryl's head along with the voice she couldn't place earlier. It finally connected and she registered a name as well, not in the least bit pleased about what her brain has identified. That's just perfect, she thought. "No, that's ok," she voiced distractedly, figuring what to do with the concerns forming in her mind.
Cheryl spent the whole of Saturday with Tiffany, mainly at the penthouse chatting about whatever topic came along and discussing her and Alex's uncertainty about where home should be. Tiff was more than willing to suggest that they come closer to Port Charles, but the notion didn't have much pull on her younger sister aside from the idea of spending the added time with family. Being back on the East Coast was not nearly as tempting as she might have thought only a year before. The call of pine trees and mountains was winning out, even though she still had reservations about staying in Silverthorne on a long term basis.
"You could come back for Thanksgiving at least. Oh Cheryl, it would be fantastic to actually have a holiday together. I can't remember the last time," Tiff pleaded.
The cringe on Cheryl's face revealed the answer before she was able to say it. "We can't. Mrs. T called just last week to make sure we were coming to Maryland." Tiff started to huff but she continued. "She decided that both of her boys are married and her first grandchild is on the way that she wanted everyone there for Thanksgiving. How could I say no?"
It was nearly eight and the three of them sat around the living room silently absorbing her last statement when Cheryl's cell rang. "That's got to be my husband. Let me make sure he still has all of his appendages attached," she joked, referring to the climbing expedition he was supposed to have been on. She wandered off toward the platform by the windows and talked quietly with him for a few minutes. Tiffany disappeared and Sean read bits of the paper while the women were away. After the call Cheryl drifted back toward him, wondering what had become of her sister.
"Oh, she decided we all needed coffee and dessert," he said with a knowing tone. They both knew that when Tiffany Hill-Donely decided something, it was going to happen.
Taking the opportunity to talk with him alone, Cheryl quickly jotted down a note, having finally decided what to do with the knowledge she had gained over lunch at Delafield's the day before. Sitting next to Sean, she handed it over and discussed the events that lead to the current conversation. "She doesn't need to know about this. It will just worry her, you know that." He nodded and quickly stashed the note in his shirt pocket when Tiffany emerged from the kitchen.
"Well?" she said expectantly, setting a tray down on the coffee table.
"He's fine. Mike left the skin off one knee and a forearm on the rock face, but nothing serious enough for them to bother with a doctor, apparently." Tiff gave her a look that showed she understood the underlying 'boys' sentiment and dug into her slice of dessert.
Having had time in the kitchen to hatch a new plan, Tiff sprung it around a mouthful of vanilla cream icing and spice cake. "Mmff. Hey, if I can't get you here for turkey day, how about Christmas?"
"Wow, you are grumpy," Alex noted when Cheryl dropped her bag unceremoniously on a dining room chair. She glared at him in response to the observation.
"I hate that airport," she grumbled. She had sat grounded in Kansas City for nearly three hours while a severe thunderstorm delayed traffic. The storm itself kept her connecting flight from leaving on time and backed up other planes as well, magnifying the layover that should have been only forty minutes.
He tried his best apologetic look. "Did you at least find something for dinner?" She nodded wearily. "I have an idea about improving your mood." His tone was warm and a little suggestive as he embraced her lightly and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Alex, I don't think I'm really in the mood."
Taking her hand, he lead her down trudging down the hall. "Why don't you see what I have in mind first, ok? Sit there." He pointed toward the bed and she complied. Grabbing her robe from the hook behind the bathroom door, he passed it to her. "Put that on, and I'll be back in a minute."
It was dark and after an unpleasant day through three airports, delays and a long drive home, her robe looked pretty appealing. As she changed Cheryl heard water running and started to get an idea of what he had in store. Alex returned and guided her toward the tub, adorned with fresh roses, scented candles and a spicy scented bubblebath.
"Now, you settle in there and relax."
"When did you get all of this?" she asked, her tone distinctly more appreciative than it had been when she had arrived home. Cheryl slipped very willingly into the hot bubbles.
Alex shrugged. "When you called from Kansas City it was obvious you were pretty unhappy. So, I jumped in the car and zipped over to Breckenridge at one of those shops you and Megan went to last year. The market next door with the tea you like also had these," he said, fingering one of the roses as he sat on the edge of the tub. She let her eyes drift shut and listened to his voice. "When you've had enough here, put the robe back on and come out to the living room."
Alex left and busied himself with the next phase of the plan. It took almost a full thirty minutes for Cheryl to come out, looking much more herself. She stopped at the edge of the quiet living room taking in the work he had done. There was a warm flicker from the fireplace illuminating the space he had cleared in front of it. A huge towel lay flattened in invitation and she spied a sheet folded on the table along with what appeared to be a small bottle of lotion or oil.
"Your tea." He had come up behind her silently from the kitchen with a small cup of the aromatic chai she had taken a liking to. She cupped both hands around the small vessel while breathing in the scent of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and black tea,
"You're spoiling me," she smiled peacefully. "What's all this?" Cheryl nodded toward the setup on the floor.
Alex put his arm around her and moved toward the makeshift massage area. "I figured you spent so much time traveling this weekend and the rest trying to make Tiffany feel better, you could probably use a little attention. It's not a spa, but..."
With a self-conscious smile she looked over her shoulder at him. "You've cleaned the house, spoiled me, and apparently worn out the dog," she said, nodding toward the corner where Terra slept soundly on her bed. "You don't have to do this."
"I know."
They sat on the couch for a few minutes while she sipped tea and briefed him on the visit to Port Charles, mainly detailing the changes to what had been Duke's club and the request Tiff had made about Christmas. "I told her we would discuss it."
"Hmm," was his only reaction aside from reaching for the folded sheet and offering to her in exchange for the now empty teacup. "Refill?" He gestured toward the floor. "Get yourself comfy."
By the time he came back she had slipped out of the robe and had the sheet wrapped about her, sitting in front of the fire. The glow reminded him of the afternoon spent nearly a year ago relaxing after a long holiday weekend with his family. Alex handed over the cup and watched Cheryl drink a little more chai. She watched him back and finally set the cup aside and lay back, facing up to see what he would do.
"Front first then?" Alex knelt beside her and gently closed her eyes and began a slow and careful massage, tucking the sheet securely around the rest of Cheryl's body while he attended each area. The lotion he had chosen was very lightly scented, bringing a drift of lavender and chamomile through the room. Shifting down allowed him to address each leg and foot fully, bring soft sighs of pleasure from his 'customer.' Once Alex had completed a circuit around and even seen to a light face and neck massage, he held the sheet up slightly for her to turn over.
"Where did you learn all this?" Cheryl asked quietly.
"Youtube."
Cracking on eye open Cheryl looked to see if he was being serious. He shrugged and grinned a little, knowing what the look meant. "There's some very educational stuff on there." A playful touch on the nose quieted her once again and she shut her eyes while he worked on her back.
Halfway around he stopped and whispered to check up on her. "Are you asleep?"
A muffled negative sound was followed by a slightly more clear, "That feels really good... I love you."
"Hey buddy," Sean greeted Robert early Monday morning. The Commissioner's office was relatively quiet, as had been the town itself for a few months. Something was bound to cause a problem soon, and Robert took his friend's presence as a sign of that activity.
"Oh no, no, no, no." Robert began, knowing Sean would only come to the office if trouble was brewing. "My town is asleep. Let's leave it that way."
"Hey, I'm just the messenger. Besides, it may be nothing."
"Is it ever?" Robert drawled. "What do you have?"
Sean produced a folded note. "A little birdie asked me to give you this."
Scorpio took the note, eyebrows raised, and began to read.
Broxton, Jerome family lawyer.
Lunch at Delafield's Friday.
After re-reading the handwritten note, Robert focused less on the message and more on the writing itself. "This little bird wouldn't be about five-six, auburn hair, grey eyes would it?"
"Could be."
"Still in town?"
Sean smiled. Cheryl had known to ask him not to pass the information along until she was on her way home. "Flew home yesterday afternoon."
"Well, should be easy enough to track her down. I might need to ask a few more questions."
Donely was prepared for that as well, and stepped in quickly. "Do me a favor old buddy..."
Robert looked back up from the paper he was studying as though the information would somehow change. "What?"
"Don't. Need to, that is. She's doing well where she is. She's happy, and doesn't need the past coming up again. Cheryl gave you everything you should need to track this guy down and find out if he's up to something."
His expression softened a bit, and he admitted, "Alright. He's a lawyer after all, shouldn't be hard to find whatever dirt is out there. Anything else?"
"Actually, yeah. A couple of things." Sean waited, making sure he had Robert's focused attention. "He was with Bobbie Jones." He watched as his friend's eyes narrowed. It was bad enough that the 'suspect' was seen at Katherine's restaurant, but now it involved a good friend. "Exactly," he said, confirming Scorpio's suspicions of why Cheryl found it important to reveal the information.
"And the other?"
"Oh, nothing quite as definite. She said, and I'm quoting, 'He's creepy.'"
Worry started to set in on the Commissioner and his response exemplified it. "Great."
Sean stepped closer and took back the note, slipping the lighter out of his pocket and setting it ablaze. "Like I said. She doesn't need the trouble."
Robert nodded. "So, if someone asks why I'm investigating him, I heard the name in conversation and it sounded familiar, so I checked up on it, right?"
"Something like that."
"You really want to?" Cheryl was amazed that Alex was so adamant about going to Port Charles for Christmas.
"If I had known you haven't been with your family for Christmas since you were in high school, we would have gone last year." Alex was mildly irritated that she had left him in the dark about the situation, and raised his voice a little in frustration.
She knew how much he valued family and tried to explain. "It just didn't seem... unusual. Tiff left home when I was fourteen and refused to come back to Tennessee. Then I went to school and couldn't really afford to travel back and forth. And honestly, we kindof lost track of each other. I guess it didn't occur to me to make a big deal of it."
Alex raised his eyebrows slightly to emphasize his point. "It is now officially a Big Deal. We're going. We'll see my folks in a couple of weeks and then visit your sister next month. Then no more trips for a while."
"Um..."
He sagged in anticipation of a protest. "Yes?"
"You know Todd and Megan are going to want you in Chicago sometime after the baby is born."
"Yeah but that's..." He realized how soon close it was getting. A little over two months and he would be an uncle. "No more arguing about Christmas?" He got back to the point at hand.
"You were the one getting worked up," she smiled. "I just couldn't believe you wanted to go on yet another long flight."
Alex thought on it a moment and came to a conclusion. "The things I do for love." He leaned around the table where they were eating breakfast and planted a kiss on her lips. It lingered longer than he had intended but they finally parted and he continued the conversation. "And, it's not just me they want to see. Megan sends just as many pictures and emails to you."
"Did you see the last one? That bump is getting serious now. I have no idea how she works on her feet all day, getting bigger and bigger. It's got to be miserable."
He chuckled. "She's a tough one. Like you. But I'm sure my brother is running circles to keep her happy." Taking a swig of milk, Alex noticed a bothered look across Cheryl's face and waited.
"I still can't believe they haven't found a house. It's almost winter. They're going to end up in that apartment until next summer." She imagined trying to care for an infant in an eight hundred square foot box. She and Alex had more than enough room at the Treehouse, but the thought of adding another person full time made her wonder how Jack and Elaine had managed with three girls. It wasn't until the oldest was twelve that they moved up the hill to the larger home.
Alex understood her concern. "I'm sure they will find something. Winter is a good buyer's market, right?
Spending the next couple of weeks as event free as possible allowed them to prepare quietly for the Thanksgiving trip to Maryland. The flight they had reserved was ridiculously early, but it allowed them to sleep a short amount in their beds and then several hours on the non-stop, putting them at their destination late on Wednesday morning. As soon as the plane landed and attendants allowed electronic devices, Cheryl had her phone out.
"What are you so worried over?" Alex asked, standing to retrieve their carry on bags.
Calling up the information she needed, she wore a thoughtful look for a second before disconnecting and putting the device away. "Markets are open, honey. I bought in on something for the slush fund and need to keep up with it."
"Are you going to do that all day?"
With a guilty look she admitted, "I'm going to check periodically and, if it does what I think, sell and then be done." She recognized the displeased look on his face even though he remained silent. "It's only a few hours."
They finished up at the airport and left Baltimore in a rental car toward James and Shannon Thomson's residence. Arriving just before noon, they found Todd and Megan unloading their own rental.
"There's my Sis," Alex announced. Foregoing the bags for the moment, both greeted Todd and Megan with hugs.
"Thank God you can still reach around me," Megan sighed. "I feel huge."
Cheryl appraised her, and although her sister-in-law had gained some weight in addition to the obvious bump in her belly, it didn't seem to be overly much."You look fantastic," she assured her with a light embrace.
Megan gave her a 'tell me another one' look. "At this point, I'll take it. I'm glad I have a sister now to lie to me about how good I look after a long flight and my feet hurt."
"I'll gladly take a second sister, although the first one is rather high maintenance, so I may have to spend more time on her."
Todd broke from greeting his brother to attend to more important matters. "Come on, it's chilly out here. Let's get you indoors." He laid a protective hand on the swell and another on his wife's shoulder. The foursome quickly loaded up with bags and stood before the front door while Alex pressed the bell. It was answered by his mother, a short woman compared to Megan and even Cheryl at perhaps five foot four. Regardless of her height, Shannon Thomson still exuded an air of authority, more than likely gained from years of marriage to a Navy officer and mother of two boys.
"We're here. All four, wait... five of us," Alex announced with a grin.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "My boys! And girls! My goodness, did you all get here at the same time?" Mrs. Thomson quickly grasped each one of her sons and hurried the group inside for a warmer welcome. "Megan sweetheart, I'm so glad to see you. And Cheryl, such a pleasure to finally have you here with us."
"Where's Dad?" Todd wondered.
With a sly look Shannon answered. "Oh, I sent him to the store for a few things to make sure we're stocked up."
"You sent him to the grocery store on the day before Thanksgiving?" Cheryl had experienced that displeasure before and couldn't believe anyone was willing to perform the task.
"It's my form of revenge for doing all the household shopping for so many years, dear," Mrs. T replied conspiratorially and they all had a laugh at the Captain's expense.
Still standing in the entryway, Alex had a suggestion. "How about you tell us where we're camped, and I'll put the bags away?"
Cheryl studied her mother-in-law, noting the remains of reddish brown in the mostly grey hair that had been cropped short against her neck. Shannon had clear blue eyes that had somehow bypassed both sons. All in all, she was the stereotypical Irish woman in appearance. She'd met the woman at the wedding but not really had an extended opportunity to observe up close. Learning they had the choice of the main floor or basement bedrooms, Alex looked to her for an answer. As oldest he got the option but turned it over to his wife for confirmation.
"We'll take the basement. Megan shouldn't have to go up and down," Cheryl reasoned.
"It gets cold down there," Alex warned.
She snuggled up to him briefly. "That's what I have you for." With a quick kiss he descended with their luggage, leaving Todd to haul his and Megan's down the hall. The three women retired to the kitchen to talk after Shannon asked if they wanted something to eat or drink. After a few minutes Alex returned and slid Cheryl's phone across the table to where she sat. She gave him a questioning look.
"It was buzzing in your purse."
"Shoot!" She'd momentarily forgotten the stock and was thankful he had noticed the phone. During the drive to the suburbs Cheryl had programmed an alert to come if the stock hit the price she was waiting for. "Excuse me, I have to get this."
Alex, Megan and Shannon watched as she paced away, quickly tapping out the confirmation to sell. She waited while the receipt came through, not noticing her audience until after the transaction was complete and she disconnected, looking to Alex with a huge smile.
"I know that look," he noted. "How much?"
She handed the cell over to him and whispered "I'll tell you later" before realizing that she was being watched.
Megan saw the beginnings of guilt on Cheryl's face and rescued her. "Shannon, if she ever stops working, call an ambulance."
"Hey, I'm not that bad," she protested.
"So if I turn this off, you won't mind?" Alex threatened.
Cheryl had an answer for that at the ready. "Fine by me, but if Tiffany calls and gets my voicemail you know she'll just start looking for you." She looked around, suddenly aware that they were one short. "Speaking of which, what happened to Todd?"
"I bet he's calling about the car," Megan volunteered. "One of his friends at work is selling a Camry and offered to wait for us to get a look at it first."
Mrs. Thomson agreed with the idea. "It's about time you kids had a vehicle. God help you trying to pack a baby onto the train."
"That's why we're looking for a car, Mom. Same reason we need a house." The man in question reappeared from the back bedroom and plopped down next to his wife at the kitchen table with a yawn. "I have no idea how you two are awake. I'm beat and we had half the flight you did."
Alex explained their strategy as Cheryl leaned close to Megan for directions to the restroom. As she stood he had his head stuck in the refrigerator asking if anyone wanted a drink. Voicing her options she disappeared down the hall as instructed. Alex set out what she had requested and continued to chat for several minutes before wondering if everything was ok and going in search of his wife.
"The house isn't that big, for heaven's sake." The remaining three watched as he vanished, only to be heard a moment later. "Oh God no, don't look at those." All of them followed the sound and found him trying to divert Cheryl's attention from a row of family photos hanging on the long wall through the middle of the house.
"Ohhhh, yes. The sordid pictorial history of Alexander James Thomson," Todd announced with delight.
Shannon shushed her youngest, reminding him that there were plenty of photos representing his youth as well. She pointed out several and detailed when they had been taken. "You know, I'll just go get the books and we can all sit at the table."
When James returned from the store Cheryl, Alex and Shannon were still browsing through pictures. Megan had decided to take a short nap, and Todd had nodded off as well albeit in a less comfortable position slumped against the dining room table.
He set the bags on the counter and went to look over his wife's shoulder. "I remember that. I thought the fish was going to pull him in."
"Thanks Dad."
Cheryl's grey eyes danced with joy as she giggled at him. "You were pretty skinny."
"I was seven."
His Mom laughed with as much delight as Cheryl. "You were skinny until you graduated."
Alex argued that point. "Now you're exaggerating. It was junior year."
Taking pity on him, she leaned over and patted him on the head. "Well, you filled out at least."
"Very well indeed," Cheryl agreed, wrapping an arm around his waist while he pouted. They all continued to give her the details on many of Alex's childhood adventures, although she felt James spent more time watching and evaluating her as he did talking about his son. Todd woke after a forty minute rest and added his commentary to a few stories before checking on Megan, who emerged from the rear bedroom soon after looking much more refreshed. It was nearing evening and the two younger couples convinced James and Shannon that eating out for dinner was the best option, since no one wanted to cook a big meal two days in a row. Todd and Megan rode with his parents while Alex followed with Cheryl in their car. She took the opportunity alone with him to reveal the amount of her transaction earlier, as promised, and relished the look on his face when he heard the figure.
The six of them had a nice dinner at one of the local restaurants Shannon favored, and the conversation turned toward work rather than the past. Jim again spent a great deal of time watching Cheryl, and occasionally pushing a question her way. During the ride back to the house she sensed Alex was unhappy about something and pressed him about it.
"Dad. That's what's the matter," he huffed. "Doesn't it feel like he's grading you or something?"
She tried not to smile. "Of course he is." Alex whipped his head around in a quick look while he drove before turning back. "Honey, he doesn't know me. What did you expect? I feel pretty good that your Mom seems to accept me. I've got one down at least."
Alex tried to accept her reasoning but was still a little irritated at the attitude his father seemed to have toward the woman he loved. Cheryl took it as his protective nature boiling over again and hoped it would cool without becoming point of argument through the weekend. Her hopes seemed to be dashed at the end of their evening when the guests headed for bed, tired after their long day. Todd took a diversion down to the basement, knocking on the wall as he tread down the stairs to announce his presence.
"Hey guys. Everyone decent down here?"
Alex stood in a t-shirt and sleep pants, turning down the bed while Cheryl brushed her teeth in the next room. "What's up?"
Todd seemed reluctant but gave his brother a brief rundown of some of the conversations that had taken place in their parents car on the way to and from dinner. "You know how he is. It's hard to say if he was upset or just thinking. Maybe he wasn't even really paying attention. He was driving, so..."
"No. Has he ever missed anything? Come on."
Todd sighed. "I don't know if it means anything. I just thought you ought to know."
"Know what? Is everything ok?" Cheryl joined the huddled conversation. Alex let her in on what Todd had told him so far. She had the same reaction then as before. "Alex, he watches and grades people every day. It's his job, and I'll bet he is very good at it. Let it go." She gave Todd a quick hug and goodnight, sending him back upstairs to finally rest. Turning back, she wrapped her arms around Alex's midsection and nestled close. "I'm tired. Let's go to bed."
Cheryl could tell when they woke early in the morning that Alex was still not himself, presumably preoccupied with whatever his father might be thinking. They whispered back and forth a bit before she gave up trying to convince him to relax and smothered his comments with a tantalizing kiss.
"Hey, no fair."
She ignored his complaint and threw a leg over him, unbuttoning her pajama top to provide a little show as well.
"You're going to get cold," he said nonchalantly.
Moving her leg against his hip, Cheryl had an easy reply. "I guess you'll just have to warm me up then."
Alex flipped their positions and looked down at her. "Are you serious? My parents are upstairs."
"Upstairs, not down." She flashed a wicked smile and pulled his head down to lock him in another, longer connection. Sneaking a hand under the covers, a firm, sensual squeeze on his butt was more than enough to bar any thoughts he might have had toward declining. They enjoyed each other slowly and as quietly as possible, building toward a sweet finale. Hearing a creak in the floorboards above them, Alex froze for a few seconds, frustrating them both.
Cheryl grabbed the back of his neck and pressed herself as close as possible. "Don't stop," she insisted into his ear.
"I suppose we should be getting up," Alex groaned. They lay side by side, curled into one another against the chill of the room and basking in afterglow.
"Unnh. I know." Before she could really steel herself for the idea of getting out of bed, Alex rolled away and quickly had his sleepwear back on.
"If I think about it too much, I'll just end up staying there," he explained. "Let me go see about some coffee."
When he returned she was already in the shower so the steaming mug was left on the counter for her. Once they had both prepped for the day the twosome went up for breakfast, finding Todd in charge of the morning meal. Alex took some of the offered eggs, bacon and toast while Cheryl quietly declined all but the latter. She settled into a corner chair at the table with James, Megan and Shannon while the boys stood.
Morning conversation kept a decent pace to the room but it did not take very long for the Captain to finally turn his attention to Cheryl. He asked a question or two about her work, which she willingly answered as Alex watched the exchange. Every so often she would glance his way, not only to reassure him everything was fine but also to make sure he was alright as well. James finally boiled down to the real questions he had.
"I heard you were working yesterday. Do you often interrupt family time for business?" His tone was questioning, but also carried an authoritative undercurrent. It was impossible to say exactly what answer he might be looking for. Cheryl swallowed the last bite and looked back to Alex, getting a nod as if to say "Tell him what you want." Part of their morning whispers had included him assuring her that he loved her for who she was, not for trying to please his father.
"I wouldn't say often."
James pressed a little farther, maybe baiting her, but again hard to tell. "Must have been pretty important."
Rather than play games, Cheryl laid it out. "Some opportunities don't come frequently, and I've found that they should be taken advantage of when possible. Trading five minutes on the phone for forty-seven thousand dollars seemed like a good choice."
There was a collective silence during which Todd struggled to keep from choking on his bacon and Shannon's mouth fell open for a brief moment until she righted herself. Megan and Alex each managed to stifle most of the chuckles they got seeing Cheryl's rather matter-of-fact expression.
James' expression did not shift for several seconds, but then he turned to his son. "She's certainly a firecracker Alex." He looked back at his newest daughter-in-law with a broad grin. "I think I might need to get you a look at our investments."
Cheryl exhaled a breath quietly. "I'd be glad to help with that Mr. Thomson."
"Oh for goodness sake, call me Jim." He filed away the newspaper he'd been reading and stood. "If you will all excuse me, I think it's about time to go get your Nonna."
Over the following ten hours, they had what turned out to be a very pleasant, normal family dinner. Cheryl had the pleasure of meeting Alex and Todd's Grandmother Isabella, or Nonna. She was surprised but glad to find that her husband's striking green eyes had been inherited from Isabella, and briefly pondered on the possibilities when, or even if, they had children of their own.
Long after the main meal was finished and the family had gone through multiple rounds of "what's your favorite?" at Megan's suggestion, they all returned to the kitchen for dessert. Shannon broke out a monstrous custard pumpkin pie, and Nonna opened up a container of homemade cannoli.
"Oh, darn," Megan lamented.
Snatching a pastry for himself, Todd consoled her. "Sorry babe. But Mom made pie." Cheryl looked a little confused until Alex explained.
"Grandmother makes her cannoli the traditional way, with wine."
"Looks like we're both having pie," she said, shifting with a little disappointment toward the creamy dish.
"Oh no, no. I made them without the vino this year. For the bambino." The elderly woman patted the mother-to-be on the arm and handed her a cannoli draped in chocolate.
Megan threw her arms around Isabella and hugged her, careful not to spill her treat off the plate. "I love you Nonna. Thank you, thank you, thank you." Letting go, she took a bite of the confection and rolled her eyes back in pleasure. Cheryl watched this and looked questioningly back at Shannon, who was dishing out slices of pie.
"Oh go ahead dear, the pie keeps very well. It will be fine tomorrow."
Alex already had a small plate ready for her, and Cheryl took it with enthusiasm. James, on the other hand, had no intention of passing either dessert up.
"Well, this is my house an nobody says I can't have both," he announced, taking his pie from Shannon and a cannoli in his free hand.
"Do you know how to make these too?" Cheryl questioned around a mouthful of creamy cheese and crispy wrapper.
Alex shook his head. "Not really. I helped a couple of times, but she has the magic touch."
Isabella looked to Cheryl. "You know a man loves you when he cooks for you."
She digested that tidbit along with dessert. Alex had cooked for her from the very beginning, which only served to support his claim of love at first sight. "Is that so?" she said with a sly look in his direction.
"Does calling for delivery count?" Megan said dryly.
Todd immediately took exception. "Hey now, I cook. And when we find a house, then I can grill, so there. I'll even be able to teach my son there how to play with fire."
"I thought you were going to wait until the baby was born to find out?"
"Well, sister," Megan replied. "My husband there only acts like he knows we're having a boy. Only the doctor knows for sure and I swore him to secrecy."
Isabella listened and nodded knowingly. "Sometimes you know, and sometimes not so much. My first two, every day I thought different than before. But with my Jimmy, I knew from the start he was a boy." She looked to him with pride. "I think it's time for me to go home Jimmy. I need a rest."
"Ok Mom. Let me go warm the car. It's cold outside."