Chapter 25

Bobby met her in the hallway and blocked her path until she handed over the box in her hands. "Alex, please. Let me do the lifting."

"It's not heavy," she protested. "I just want to make sure everything's ready."

"It will be. We'll have enough help here to move the whole building. Everything will be fine." He took the box down the hall and placed it on the pile behind the couch. When he headed back to the bedroom, he found her bending over another one. He took her by the arms and pulled her away from it. "That one is too heavy," he said, giving her a frown. "Just let me do it, Alex."

She sat on the bare bed, and folded her arms in front of her. He picked up the heavy box and turned towards the door, catching her in her pout. "I hate not being able to help," she said.

"I know," he replied, and took the box to the living room. The doorbell rang. He opened the door, admitting Mike and Carolyn, then hurried back down the hall, where he caught Alex contemplating lifting a box yet again.

"Alexandra Eames," Bobby said sternly. "That's enough!" He couldn't hide his frustration.

Alex was pissed, too. Only her father had ever addressed her in that way, with that tone.

Mike and Carolyn entered before their anger could erupt into a full-blown argument. Sensing the problem, Carolyn took Alex by the arm and led her out into the kitchen.

Mike waited until the women were out of earshot and said quietly to Goren, "Going that well, hey?"

Bobby shook his head. "She knows she's not supposed to be lifting, and," he snatched a box up off the floor and set it on the bed, "every time I come in here, she's got a box in her hands." He lifted another one, stacked it on the first, and carried it out. Mike followed suit.

The doorbell rang again and Liz,Mel, and Mel's teen daughter came in, chattering loudly, followed by all of the men in Alex's family, including two rough-housing teenage boys. The men gathered in the bedroom and came up with a game plan.

Bobby went down the hall, to send the women on their way so they could get started. Alex was still angry, so he didn't even try to kiss her. He fluttered his left hand in the air before letting it settle on the back of his neck while he spoke. "We're, uh… we're going to get started… uhm… have a good time," he said. He turned on his heel and headed for the bedroom, not even giving her a chance to speak to him.

The women herded her out the door.

The pizzas arrived at 6:30, and all of the men were scattered in the new apartment, some on the couch, some on the floor, some on scattered kitchen chairs. Alex's dad, banished from heavy lifting, took on the responsibility of galley chief. He poured drinks and set out paper plates and napkins. He called them all to dinner.

Bobby was growing more withdrawn as the day went on. Some of it was because he was tired, but the truth was, he felt completely displaced. His entire life was packed in boxes, unorganized, and scattered in this unfamiliar apartment. He ripped open the box at his feet, just to see what was in it.

"Goren, come and eat," Mike called. "It's getting cold."

Bobby shut the flaps on the box and went wearily to the new kitchen. The other guys congratulated him on the new apartment, admiring the extra space. "I don't know," Bobby said, having second thoughts. "It seems too big."

Alex's dad spoke up. "Those women are probably going to come home with enough stuff to fill every inch of this place," he said, and laughed. Everyone laughed but Bobby. After eating, John senior cleaned up the kitchen. They all gave Goren their goodbyes and left. Mike hung back, waited to be the last to leave.

"You all right?" he asked.

Bobby nodded, then smiled. He said quietly, "I'm not much for change."

Logan gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Looks like you're in for a lot of that."

Bobby took a deep breath, looked at his friend, and smiled. "You're not helping, you know that."

"Want me to hang around until the girls get here?"

Bobby glanced around. The furniture was pretty much where it needed to be, but the boxes were scattered everywhere. "Maybe I should move these boxes… into the spare room. She might trip."

Mike leaned over and picked up a box. "Let's do it," he said.

Carolyn helped Alex load all of the gifts into the trunk and back seat of the car. Her mood had completely changed, and she no longer remembered the anger of the morning. Carolyn helped her in the passenger seat, then climbed in on the driver's side and started the engine.

"This was great," Alex said, smiling. "This kid won't want for anything."

"It's got some great parents," she said.

Alex was quiet.

"What? Did I say something?"

Alex shook her head. "Bobby's having a hard time lately. And I try to reassure him, but you know what Carolyn? I'm as scared as he is." Alex folded her arms and continued. "I mean, I've given birth, I'm not scared of that, really… but Nate wasn't mine. From the moment he was born, he belonged to Liz. I don't have any idea what it's like to be a mom. I don't know how to be a parent. What if I can't handle it?" As an afterthought, she said quietly, "I can't hold Bobby together if I'm falling apart."

Carolyn changed lanes and licked her lips. "I'm not a parent, so I'm probably not the best one to be giving out advice… but I think you're probably feeling the same as everyone does. And so is Bobby, for that matter. But people have kids, and… they sort it all out."

Bobby had fished through enough boxes to find the bedding while Mike hooked up the television and settled in on the couch. Bobby had just finished making the bed when Alex's key opened the lock on the door.

The women put down the bags they carried. Alex looked around, taking in the fit of their old furniture to the new apartment. Carolyn tugged on Mike's arm. "We'll go get the rest," she said. They went out the door.

Bobby stared at her. Her happiness made him smile, too. He took her in his arms and hugged her. "Hey," he said.

"Hi."

"You had a good time?"

"It was great," she said, nodding. She untangled from his arms, and stood back, holding his hands with hers. "You got a lot done."

"There's still a lot of unpacking to do," he said, "but it's all here."

"My family didn't turn it into a circus?"

"It was great," Bobby said. "Even the boys were a big help." He leaned down and kissed her. "I missed you. I'm sorry about… earlier."

"Oh, Bobby, don't be. I deserved it."