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Chapter 14
"Gramma? Do you have your key?" Lila called from the penthouse door where she jostled the knob with one hand while holding a large bunch of balloons with her other, "The door is locked!"
"I know, Lila…" Alexis shook her head with a sigh as she struggled to make her way to the door with her arms full of bags. "Here… can you get them out of my purse, here?"
Lila watched as her grandmother turned away from her, giving her access to the purse that was under her arm and the keys peaking out of the back pocket. As she reached for them, she was distracted when the door opened, "Grampa!"
"Huh?" Alexis turned back around to find Julian looking back at her from the doorway, "Julian!"
"Morning, girls," Julian smiled as he took some of the bags from Alexis' arms before heading back into the house, "Bagels?"
"Uh… yeah," Alexis answered as she entered the penthouse and closed the door behind her and Lila as they both observed the balloons, streamers, and a huge welcome home sign adorning the fireplace mantle.
"Look, Gramma!" Lila smiled up at Alexis, "Grampa already got balloons for Danny!"
"I… I see that," Alexis smirked to Julian as he took the balloons from Lila.
"That's okay! You can never have too many balloons for a new baby!" Her grandfather smiled as he took them and set them on the center of the table.
"A cake too, huh?" Alexis observed as she followed him, "You really thought of everything…"
Julian bit back his chuckle as he turned to face her, "I'm sorry… I guess I missed the memo that we were engaged in a battle of the grandparents."
"What?" She defended, "No! I mean… it's not a competition… I'm just surprised, that's all."
"Well, I did have some help…" He looked past her, to Lila who was surveying the room, "Lila, sweetie, your aunts are upstairs making sure everything is ready in Daniel's room. I'm sure they would love your help!"
"Okay…" Lila nodded happily before heading up the stairs.
"Tell them there are bagels down here!" Alexis announced.
"Okay!" Her little voice echoed down the stairs.
"I knew Molly and Kristina had to have helped you," Alexis grinned, "I mean, streamers? I've never seen you hang a streamer in your life."
"Well, it's too bad you didn't get here a little earlier then because I hung all of these streamers myself!"
"And the banner…"
He nodded, "And the banner."
"All your idea…" She raised a brow.
"Well, I mean… Krissy and Molly… they were really thinking of a lot of different things to do…"
Alexis let out a laugh as she slapped his arm playfully, her face softening, "This is really sweet."
"Thank you," Julian nodded proudly from where he stood with hands on his hips, admiring his work.
"You made this?" She was surprised to find a full carafe of coffee on the table, "Corinthos coffee?"
"No," He answered firmly as he swiftly turned to face her, "It's Folger's."
"Of course," She smirked as she handed him a cup, watching as he took a seat on the sofa.
"How was your night with Molly?" She asked from the dining room as she cut a sesame bagel in half before putting peanut butter on the inside of both halves.
"It was very nice…" Julian nodded, "We were both exhausted so we didn't have much time to catch up. And then Kristina showed up bright and early to come over here and decorate."
"I'm glad you got to spend some time with them," She smiled as she made her way to the sofa and handed him the sesame and peanut butter bagel.
"Thanks," Julian's eyes gleamed as he smiled up to her. Some things never changed. He watched as she took a seat beside him on the sofa, cradling her cup of coffee between her hands, "How was yours with Lila?"
"Oh, Lila," Alexis sighed as a smile crossed her lips, "She was telling me all about how Sam told her they might be going to Disneyland for her birthday… and she wants us all to come."
"Oh, really?" He smiled, "That would be fun… wouldn't it?"
"Sure…" She nodded, "It will be just like old times. I'll hold everybody's bags while you and the kids ride every single life-threatening roller coaster in the whole park."
"Life-threatening…" Julian shook his head in laughter, "You're something else, really."
"Well, I'm just saying," She shrugged as she took another sip of her coffee and then caught his eyes on her, "What?"
"Nothing," He shook his head and took another bite of his bagel, "You know I haven't had a good sesame and peanut butter bagel in a long time."
"You live in Manhattan…"Alexis raised a brow, "there are bagel shops on every corner."
"Yeah, well…" Julian shrugged, taking another bite, "They never get the peanut butter right. Always too much. Glues my mouth together."
"You ever thought about… I don't know… spreading the peanut butter yourself?"
"No…" He smirked, "I'd rather just enjoy the perfection that happens when you make it for me."
"Perfection isn't usually a word associated with me making any type of food item," She chuckled, "So, I'll take it."
Julian watched her sip her coffee, the turned up corners of her mouth revealing the smirk that she was trying so hard to hide. Her dimples that broke the soft surface of her skin. Everything about her face that he could never resist. His gaze was broken when her eyes turned up to meet his.
"What?"
"You're just so beautiful," he smiled, "I like to look at you."
Alexis cleared her throat and felt the blush creeping onto her cheeks, "Just eat your bagel."
"Why is it," He started as he set his bagel on the cocktail table and retrieved his cup of coffee, "you refuse to accept a compliment? Always deflecting…"
"It's part of my charm…" She smirked, watching as Julian laid his hand upon her bent knee. The warmth of his hand sent tingles up her denim clad leg.
"My challenge," Julian chuckled, leaving his hand to rest where it was and soon felt the warmth of hers cover it. Smiling as he turned his gaze back, "I can't help but like to touch you, too."
"Just can't help it, hmm?" She blushed, unconsciously tightening her hand around his.
Julian looked into her eyes before leaning in close and locking his lips to hers, their hands still clasped together between them. When he leaned back, she was smiling back at him, "What?"
Alexis lifted her hand from its grasp and lightly ran a finger over his lips, "I've always loved how your lips look after you've kissed me."
"Well… we should probably do it more often then, don't you think?" He grasped her hand with his again, pulling it away from his face before connecting their lips once again. This time it was longer, deeper… she matched his intensity with every subtle movement until she stopped and opened her eyes.
"Julian," Alexis pulled back and looked into his eyes, "We can't keep doing this. I can't keep doing this."
And just like that, the walls were up again.
Julian sighed as he watched her get up from the sofa and head back to the dining room table, busying herself with tidying everything that didn't need it, "Alexis…you know I want to talk but you keep…"
"I keep what?" She paused her busied movements to look up at him as he rose from the sofa and moved towards her.
"You're pushing me away… just like you always do…"
"Just like I always do?" She shook her head, "I don't think I always push you away, Julian."
"Well then what do you call it when you only open up so much before you put your walls up again and won't let me in at all."
"I don't know," She answered flatly, "Maybe it's just learned behavior."
"Thanks." Shaking his head, he turned and moved back towards the fireplace.
"What, Julian?" Alexis sighed.
"You don't want to talk…" Holding up his hands in surrender, he retook his seat on the sofa and crossed his legs, "so we won't talk. It's fine."
"Why is it always my fault?" She walked around to face him.
"I didn't say anything is anyone's fault." He narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"You don't have to say it… it's obvious by the way that you are acting. And what you did say. It's always my fault because I close off and don't let you in," She ranted, "Well, Julian… have you ever thought about the times that I did let you in? Where did that get me?"
"Lex…"
"No… don't 'Lex' me…" She scolded.
"What do you want me to say, then?" Julian's eyes widened as he uncrossed his legs and sat up straighter.
"Nothing," Alexis shook her head and walked away picking up a few bags from the dining room table before she turned to face the back of his head from where he still sat on the sofa, "You're the one that left, Julian. Not me. So stop trying to make me feel guilty for not wanting to have some great discussion with you about my feelings. If you can't figure out what my feelings are without me explaining them, then…"She shook her head, "then it's not even worth it."
By the time he turned around, she was gone and the sound of the door knob jostling kept him from further pushing the issue as his eldest daughter's face appeared from behind the opening door.
"Hey…" Julian smiled as she slowly entered the penthouse and observed the welcoming decorations before giving her dad a hug.
"Have I mentioned how glad I am you're here?" Sam gave him a teary smile as they broke from their hug.
"Well, I'm glad to be here," Julian kissed his daughter's forehead before looking past her and watching Jason close the door behind them and bring the baby carrier with sleeping Daniel over to the coffee table, "He looks so tiny in that big car seat!"
"I know," She nodded adoringly and then looked around, "Mom and the girls here?"
"Right here, mommy!" Lila announced herself as she bounded down the stairs and wrapped her arms around her mom.
"Hi, baby…" Sam kissed the little girl's head and smoothed her hair.
"Mommy!" Lila's wide brown eyes shined brightly as she looked up to her mother, "Are we gonna take Danny up and show him his room? Aunt Molly and Aunt Krissy made sure it was all ready."
"Aw…" her mother gave an adoring smile, "Of course we will… but I think he might be a little hungry, first."
With Molly and Kristina now entering the room, Sam was engulfed in two more hugs and carefully took a seat in the arms chair before she again looked around the room, "So where is mom?"
"She's uh…" Julian started.
"I'm right here," Alexis smiled as she appeared from the kitchen and locked eyes with him before addressing their daughter, "Welcome home!"
"Hi! Thank you!" Sam beamed as her mother wrapped her arms around her before heading over to the coffee table and the tiny bundle in his car seat, "Mom… I take it we have you to thank for all of this welcoming décor?"
"Not me," Alexis shook her head as she unbuckled the new born and carefully lifted him from his car seat and onto her shoulder before casting her eyes towards Julian, "Your father and sisters did this."
"Oh!" Sam was surprised.
"Yeah, mommy," Lila peered up to her mother, "Me and gramma brought over balloons and decorations but when we got here grampa was here and it was already decorated!"
"Well how about that!" Sam winked, wrapping her arms around her petite daughter and holding her in front of her.
"I love this cuddly precious boy," Alexis cooed before inhaling the baby's fresh scent, "I could do this all day."
"Yeah, until he starts crying to be fed or changed… he's not so cuddly then," Sam smirked as her mother's face protested.
"He doesn't cry… do you Daniel? You're perfect," Alexis pulled the baby from her chest, cradling him to face her, "But speaking of hungry… I brought bagels. They're on the table."
"Yep! Found 'em," Jason announced from the dining room.
"I was wondering what he was doing over there…" Sam shook her head, "He sniffed out the food."
"Sam can we get you anything?" Molly questioned her sister thoughtfully, "Dad bought apple juice… I read that was really good for milk production."
Sam smirked and caught her mother's equally amused eyes before smiling to her sister, "Thank you, Molly but I'm okay right now. A little hungry, though. I think I'd just like a half of an everything bagel…"
"The everything half… Got it…" Molly nodded as Jason approached from the dining room and handed the young girl what her sister had requested.
"Actually… I got it…"
"Oh," Molly smiled, "Of course you did, Jason… You know her better than anyone."
"Thanks," Sam smiled as she accepted her breakfast from Jason, "Actually… I had said on the way here that I hoped mom brought bagels because I could really go for one… so don't give him too much credit."
"Hey," Jason frowned as he went back to the dining room.
"I remember when your mom was pregnant with you…" Julian shook his head in recall, drawing Alexis' curious eyes, "She could have eaten bagels for every meal."
"It's the only thing she can make…" Kristina chuckled.
"Besides popcorn," Sam countered with a laugh, "And hot water…"
"Well, wait…" Molly held up her hand in the midst of her laughter, "Don't go that far… last time she boiled water it all evaporated before she even put the pasta in."
"And then she still put the pasta in…" Kristina added and Sam burst into laughter.
"Ow…" She hurt, but Sam couldn't stop laughing, "Don't make me laugh…"
Alexis shook her head at the group before looking down at her grandson, "They're making fun of me, Daniel… that's not very nice."
"I'm not making fun of you, gramma!" Lila reassured, smiling from where she stood firmly next to her mother.
"Thank you, my angel." Alexis smiled as adjusted the baby into the crook of her arm. "Your big sister is the nice one in the family."
"Mom…" Kristina gave her mother a knowing glance, "You have to admit that charred spaghetti was pretty hilarious."
"Yeah, yeah…" Her mother rolled her eyes.
Julian stood back, putting his hands in his pockets and watched as his girls continued to tease their mother. He felt a little guilty for being so amused, considering the earlier exchange he had with Alexis… but he knew that deep down she was loving it as much as he was.
"Do you remember a couple years ago," Kristina struggled to speak through her laughter, "When she tried to make the Turkey for Thanksgiving and put the oven on broil and caught the Turkey on fire?!"
All the girls erupted in laughter, even Lila was unable to help herself.
"Okay, girls… very funny." Alexis chided, "Make fun of your mother…"
He watched her eyes dance as she glanced over to them and he knew she was trying not to laugh. The way she pursued her lips with the corners of her mouth turning up ever so slightly. The subtle scrunch of her nose. She truly was the most beautiful woman he'll ever know.
"Good to be home, huh?" Jason chuckled as he stood beside Julian, enjoying his bagel.
"Yeah," his father in-law nodded with a proud smile, "more than you could ever imagine."