Alex sat outside on the porch taking a few deep breathes. Trying to think of a solution that will help them out of this mess. She knows that Ryan did not do this on purpose and he is not the one to be held responsible. He must be feeling like shit and blaming himself when she didn't even make it any better on him either. She was about to go inside and talk to him about the decision she is willing to make when the neighbor came over to the gate and called Alex distraught.
"Is everything okay Mrs. Cummins?" Alex asked as she walked to the gate.
"I'm sorry I didn't know who else I could call for help. It's my husband." The older woman explained as the two of them walked hastily towards the front door of the Cummins residence. "He took a bunch of pills. Our grandson is spending the week and the pills were in a small candy jar." The woman explained, and Alex had a hard time understanding what she was saying or where she was going with this, but she wanted to check everything out for herself before she made a judgement. They walked into the house and Mr. Cummins were sitting on the couch watching TV and did not resemble the picture of someone who just drank a bunch of pills like his wife had explained.
"Hi Mr. Cummins, is everything okay? Your wife is worried about you." Alex said as she knelt in front of the elderly man. The couple had welcomed them when they moved in, and some days Ryan would offer to cut their grass. They are the neighborhood couple who looks out for the rest of the younger ones, bringing snacks every now and then, or surprising the women in the street with flowers on Mother's Day, as their own children live a few hours outside of the city.
"Can I see the tablets you took?" Alex asked and he pointed to a few blue ones that were in a small white candy jar. She was hoping her first thought was not confirmed but the fact that the old man had a pillow on his lap explained a lot. Alex nodded and tried to hide her embarrassment. "How many of these did you take?"
"I thought they were sweets. I ate four before I figured out they were not tasting right." The man said and his wife stood with her hands on her hips.
"William will be fine right? I wouldn't need to call the doctor or anything?" His wife asked.
"He will be fine." Alex smiled hoping her cheeks were not turning a shade of pink. I would suggest that you call the ambulance just to make sure that he will be fine due to his age. But other than that you have nothing to worry about."
Once the two women were on the porch, the wife apologized to Alex but she had no idea who else to call. Alex assured her that he will be fine, and that Mrs. Cummins should keep her updated on what the doctors say. As Alex walked back help she couldn't help but smile and her smile grew wider as she entered the house.
She walked inside and got a glass of water before sitting down on the couch while Ryan looks at her weirdly for smiling so broadly without telling him what it was all about. The Cummin's have their grandson visiting them for the week and he hid his Viagra in a small candy jar. Mr. Cummins thought it was sweets and ate a few of it. Needless to say he is about to have some wood in him for a few hours."
"Did you see the old man's manhood?" Ryan asked trying hard to keep a straight face but he failed horribly.
"NO, he had a pillow on his lap when got there, but I didn't think anything was wrong with it, until I saw what he took and put the pieces together."
They started laughing, which she was grateful for as it lightened the mood of their earlier conversation and she was more at ease now to tell him about what she decided to do. "I'm going back to work tomorrow." She said and he looked at her in shock as her maternity leave were not over yet.
"Alex you still have three months of maternity leave left. Asher's a month old."
"I know, but we need to get back on our feet with this financial crisis we're in right now. And I'll take on extra hours if I have to bu…
"No. I'm not going to allow you to work overtime when I'm the one who got us into this mess. So if anyone is working extra hours and having to sacrifice weekends I'll do that. I don't expect you to go back to work because you feel pressured to help." Ryan stated clearly.
"Last time I checked we were in this together. So I'll do whatever I have to do to help. You're not the only one in this relationship, and I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't sure about it. Phoebe was fine at crèche and still is Asher will be fine as well." She said stroking a hand over her son's minimal ash blonde hair.
They sat downstairs and watched some TV when their ball of energy came into the front door, and judging by her energy they knew it was going to be a long night, as Luca and Nadia probably allowed her to have sugary everything.
"Maaaaaammmmmaaaaa. I gotsa bear!" She exclaimed proudly ignoring her mother's request to lower her voice as her brother was sleeping but it was too late as Asher already started wailing because of his sister's loud awakening.
"Ashie why you cwying? You gwumpy cat. Dada I sleep wif you and Mana tonight? Dada I eated lotsa lotsa food and sweeties lots an lots." She said proudly.
"Yeah that is very clear Pheebs."
"Okay, we will see you guys tomorrow." Nadia and Luca said as the two of them made it for the front door knowing well that if they stuck it out there any longer they will be in so much trouble so they'd rather leave while they still have time.
"Payback is coming." Alex said as they left while she is trying to figure out how to get a hyperactive toddler back to bed. Having no idea how to tire her out at this hour Alex decided that she'll try outing her to bed and see if she will stay there, if that doesn't work she will have to sleep with them in bed and Alex will somehow force her to sleep.
Alex remembers walking downstairs twice to check on Phoebe and if she eventually fell aslee, making her feel like a bit of a bad mother for allowing her daughter to play herself to sleep but she had no idea what to do. But she was awaken to a hand on her cheek that felt small and definitely not her husband's. She opened her eyes and saw Phoebe standing on her side of the bed.
"Are you okay bub?" Alex asked her voice thick with sleep.
"I sleep wif you." She said and Alex picked her up and put her in the middle of her and Ryan watching her breath even out until she fell asleep.
The next morning Alex prepared Asher's bag for day care and she was on the verge of tears but kept telling herself to be string because she was survived it when Phoebe went she can do it again.
"You know you don't have to do this." Ryan said behind her placing a hand on her back as he heard her sniff.
"He will be fine, Phoebe was fine I'll just have to get my act together." She said without looking at Ryan as she continued to pack his bag.
"Where Ashie go?" Phoebe asked when she noticed he was about to leave the house with them, and usually she and her father were the only two people leaving the house her mother never went with.
"Asher is going to day care with you." Ryan said as he closed the door behind him making sure it was locked before they got into the car.
"I look afta him. I big girl." Phoebe said proudly as her father helped her into the car seat, securing it while Alex strapped Asher in before getting into the front seat not saying a word until they got the day care. He has never seen his wife explain something to Claire, the facilitator at the side of the babies.
"I've been where you are four times but it gets better. He will be fine." Claire assured her and Alex rushed out of the center to get to work.
"Are you oka…
"I'm fine." She cut Ryan off before he could finish his question and they made their way to the office.
It was a strange yet familiar feeling she felt when she entered the office, ready to get back into the swing of things. "Who do we have here? Welcome back Parrish." Maranda smiled hugging Alex and being grateful to have a familiar face back. "Eager to get back into the swing of things I take it." Maranda said as they walked towards the office.
"No need to get excited it's just me." She said walking up to her desk. Seeing all the shocked faces as her normal crew came over to engulf her in a group hug.
"My mentor is back. Shelby sucked." Will said walking over to hug Alex.
"Sorry to interrupt the party, but Alex and Will I need you to deliver bad news to a family. Their son died in a car accident, drunk driver. Driver fled the scene the son died, you gonna have to notify the parents. We'll look into manslaughter once we have more information." Liam said handing them both a file and gave them the address.
They drove to the house while Will read the notes to Alex that was made by some of the paramedics on the scene. They pulled up in front of the house and Alex prepared herself for the worst. Not quite sure that this was part of her job description but it seemed like it is now.
A friendly woman opened the door and invited them inside, offering them something to drink. "Mrs. Moore there is something we need to tell you. It's about your son." Alex said and she sat down with her husband next to her.
"Sorry about this mess. It's Wade's birthday today, our son, we wanted to surprise him with something when he comes home from school.
Great. Alex thought as this is making what she has to say so much more difficult right now. And she had no idea how to tell these people that their son died on his birthday. "Is this your son's car?" Alex asked and they nodded. "I'm sorry to tell you this but your son was involved in a car accident. A drunk driver losing control of his vehicle and crashed into Wade. Unfortunately, Wade died on the scene. I'm so sorry."
The woman looked at Alex like she was talking a different language. "No, Wade is at school he still texted me to say he will be home at 2. That message was half an hour ago. He is at school. I know he is."
"Mrs. Moore…" Will started but didn't know how else to continue the conversation.
"I'm busy backing him red velvet cake it's his favourite. And he will probably eat half of it when he gets here, he has a sweet tooth." The mother continued as she got up. "Please excuse me I need to finish my baking."
Alex nodded and the husband shook their hands walking them out of the door, and it wasn't until they reached the car that they heard him breakdown and cry. Alex stood outside not getting into the car when she saw Mrs. Moore come out of the kitchen, telling him that he does not have to cry Wade will come home.
