ISFNE Chapter 22

Allison POV

Three months flew by with many a sleepless night and new discovery. For one the twins were both beginning to crawl and babble, making it harder to keep up with them. Grams and Simon had both surprised me by stepping up to help at many different points. Many nights I would wake up to the cries of the twins and finally get up to find that Grams had already made her way upstairs to help console them. Simon wasn't even deterred by a dirty diaper or spit up to help out as well with Ellie and Ollie, Simon's nicknames of course. He'd debated for a while on whether to go with Ellie or Nora but he couldn't resist the way Ellie and Ollie sounded together, so it had stuck, though I usually stuck to calling Solomon by name. I finally started working in the bookstore again for the Christmas season, letting the two stay behind the counter in the playpen where I could easily keep an eye on them and cater to their needs when necessary. Through it all Simon was amazing. He'd become such a natural part of life and an amazing help throughout, more than I could have imagined. The twins recognized and attached to him and I found myself forming an actual friendship with him. He wouldn't dig into my past as he had before, but I was always aware he wanted to and refrained, and for that he had my continual, silent thanks.

The twins had actually helped the bookstore's business because so many regulars would come in to check on them and love on them and I started to truly get to know the beautiful little neighborhood I was living in. One of the only times I'd ventured out into the neighborhood I'd run across a jewelry store and seen a beautiful cross pendant inside. It was a cheaper version and different style than my original one, but I had to have it. I'd saved every little bit that Eleanor gave me and finally bought it, determined to never take it off. If Eric did ever find me he was going to be unable to take me. I knew I had to get some for the twins as well as another preventative measure, but I had some time. As long as I always kept them close, he couldn't touch them either.

Simon POV

Allison was letting her guard down slowly and allowing me to be a part of her life, but I had stopped trying to dig into her past for fear of her shutting me out again. I got the feeling she knew I was treading lightly but she never called me on it. She continued to ingratiate herself to anyone she could. The whole town seemed to have fallen in love with her. I was glad for it. It was a neighborhood with an older population that had all followed my life through Grams as if they were extended family and finally having Allison around as a constant was integrating her into the neighborhood. She was young, pretty, kind, and had two beautiful children; they came flocking as the word spread. The bookstore had more business as the neighbors started becoming regulars, checking in with Ellie and Ollie as well as Allison. They were all smitten.

Solomon was bouncing around in the playpen while Alice held Ellie trying to get her to burp after feeding. The bells above the door rang as the door to the shop opened.

"Merry Christmas!" Allison called out as she turned to see Mrs. Finch, the neighborhood busybody come into the store. She was a small lady, extremely bubbly and a bit obliviously intrusive. She could be quite pushy at times but we all loved her anyways. She usually came in at some point during the week to pass on some gossip to Allison and fawn over the twins.

"Ah! Allison, dearie, how are you? It's finally snowing hm?"

"Yeah, it really seems to be coming down out there, are the roads awful?" Allison asked conversationally, swaying slightly with Ellie, patting her back.

"Oh they're as good as can be expected I guess, though I did hear Julie's son slid into a ditch this morning, nothing serious, thank goodness, but the boy has only been driving a month or so alone, what could you expect? My Colin was always so cautious, he never got into any accidents."

I rolled my eyes at Mrs. Finch's mention of her son. Colin Finch and I had been friends growing up but he ran with a different crowd as we got older. He had been a perfectly nice person but Mrs. Finch constantly singing his praises could grind on anyone's nerves. It didn't help that she seemed to mention him so often around Allison and how she hoped he would bring a girl home for the holidays. He hadn't come home for Thanksgiving but he would be around for Christmas.

"Yes, well. Everyone makes mistakes," Alice dismissed the comment breezily, "is there anything I can help you find, today?"

"Oh, bless you, Allison, you know I wanted to just peek in on your little angels, unless my book order is in early," Ellie took this opportunity to finally burp, winning praises from Allison as she wiped at Ellie's mouth and then walked over to hand her to Mrs. Finch.

"It's not unfortunately, but far be it from me to not let you say hello," she said with a smile, stepping back as Mrs. Finch cooed over Eleanor.

"She's positively precious, dearie, and she's getting so big!"

"Yes, well, she's a little less precious when she screaming for me to rock her back to sleep at three in the morning," Allison teased as Ellie was handed back.

"You little, rascal," Mrs. Finch scolded Ellie with a smile. "I'll be going now, I'll keep checking in about the order though, keep you up on what's going on!" she said, the door tinkling as she left.

There were a few beats of silence as Alice stared after her, "She knows we'll call her when her order comes in, right?"

I laughed at that when Solomon suddenly started crying, Allison huffed slightly and moved to put Ellie down in the playpen, "I'll take her," I said stepping closer. Allison handed her to me without hesitation, a very recent development that I still quietly reveled in. "Sure, you'll take her, not the one currently crying," she grumbled, pulling Solomon out of the playpen.

"I'm pretty certain that one needs his diaper changed. I'm just being strategic," I teased. "And to answer your questions, yes, she does know, but she'll take any chance to come gossip and see these two."

"I don't understand it! I barely even know the people she gossips about and I certainly don't ask for new info." She said shifting Solomon slightly and looking relieved when she realized he did not, in fact, need a new diaper. She rummaged in the diaper bag for a pacifier which Solomon thankfully took.

"Have you considered she maybe comes to gather new gossip?" I proposed.

She froze up slightly, giving a worried glance, "What do you mean?" she asked quietly. I was puzzled at this reaction, until the sentence that followed, "Am I still the talk of the town?" she sounded hurt.

"It's naptime for the little ones!" Grams announced coming down from the apartment, interrupting any response I had. She was humming as she rounded the corner but immediately stopped at the look on Allison's face. "What's wrong, hon?" she asked in concern.

Grams POV

"Nothing, Grams, I'm-"

"Mrs. Finch just left and Allison's getting all out of sorts about her coming in all the time with gossip," Simon interrupted, "worried that's she might be leaving with all sorts of rumors and hearsay to spread about her. Tell her that's silly."

"Well of course it's silly, there's no "might be" about it," I said, brushing past and picking up my namesake. Allison's face fell immediately in disappointment which I saw and rushed to correct, "Allison, she comes in because you rarely come out. The whole town has been buzzing about the pretty new girl the Timmons took in and how she has two adorable babies with her. Sure there were some malicious ones that circulated briefly, but I put them to rest when I heard them. Now you're just an intrigue, a mystery. You need to get out more often."

"I've got a demanding newborn times two, I doubt I'll be going anywhere soon." She said, sounding a little defeated, "Besides, there's nowhere for me to go, the bookstore is my home now, everything outside of this part of town is uncharted territory."

"You can't hide behind the twins forever, Allison. You need to socialize," I prodded gently. If I played my cards right, Simon would have a perfect opportunity, to make an innocuous move on Allison. I hadn't missed how smitten yet frustrated he'd become with her. If he asked now, I could easily prompt her into accepting, but he had to catch on. He was sharp though; he'd see what I was angling for.

Allison laughed somewhat nervously at my suggestion, "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"Start by being my plus one for Kyle's family's Christmas party," Simon suddenly suggested. I smiled to myself; bingo.

Allison POV

"No-no, don't feel any obligations to me, I'm sure you have someone you wanted to take as your plus one already, don't change anything on my account," I said quickly. Why was my heart beating like I'd downed a shot of espresso? I was taken aback at Simon's invitation. What kind of plus-one was this? If it was a plus-one that already meant it was more than a college party. And was he just being nice? Why was I reading into this as though my life depended on it? Was I really this afraid and reluctant in my friendship with Simon?

"Actually I wasn't planning on using it. And Chloe has been asking about you for a while now so you can see her and Kyle again, plus I can introduce you to some of my other friends," Simon responded.

"Simon, you don't have to try to incorporate me into your friend group," I said, trying to give him another out, a last ditch effort as I handed Solomon over to Grams.

"What if I want to?" He asked, shifting Ellie to his hip and walking a little closer, holding my gaze, his smile almost cajoling in nature. "You don't have to live in two separate worlds."

"I think it's settled then! You go have a lovely time socializing with Simon and I'll stay with the twins for the night," Grams suddenly piped up, closing the matter. I apparently had accepted. I didn't see a point in arguing, it was only one night, and Grams was more than capable of taking care of the twins, and Chloe and Kyle had been very nice, I'd like to have a chance to see them again. Before anything else could be said on the topic, another customer came in diverting Simon's gaze as I went to greet them while he and Grams took Ellie and Solomon respectively upstairs for a nap. The topic didn't come up again when we closed up the store, or over dinner as we ate lasagna, or when I bid them goodnight and went upstairs, but I turned it over again and again as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep.

Simon POV

"Well, that was enlightening," Grams said as we continued to sit at the kitchen table, Alice having gone upstairs already.

"That was a little too convenient of an opening wasn't it," I said to Grams as she stood and began to prepare a cup of tea.

"I don't know what you mean, Simon," she said, back still to me as she put the kettle on the stove.

"Oh come off it, Grams, you're setting me up and you know it," I said with a little bit of annoyance, "you're lucky it worked out this time."

"Oh please, Simon, you've been in love with her for months now, don't play like I'm forcing you two together," she said dismissively as she sat back down. "As for it working out 'this time' I believe you should be thanking me for securing you an outing with Allison. She did seem surprisingly resistant, didn't she? To your credit you handled it marvelously."

I took my glasses off to clean them, putting them back on and slumping back in my chair with a small sigh, "Yes, well I've been pretty much doing this sort of negotiation with her for any and every thing I do. I've become somewhat of an expert." Grams leaned forward and put a hand on my arm as I continued. "I don't know, maybe she really shouldn't go, I think this really scared her."

"Well, of course it scared her, but she handled it. She's never going to get better, or grow if she doesn't get pushed outside her comfort zone, and her comfort zone is much too small. I really don't think she's as opposed to you as you think she is or as she appears to be."

Whatever you say, Grams. Look I should head back to the apartment, I'll see you tomorrow," I said leaning over to kiss her cheek before leaving.

"I'm going to be using my plus one this year for your family's party," I informed Kyle, "I'm sorry I RSVP'd already without checking the box."

He waved his hand dismissively, watching a movie with Grant and Kate "It's not going to really matter, it all evens out in the end."

"WHO?!" Kate blurted out, pausing the movie.

"Who do you think?" I retorted, playfully rolling my eyes.

"You mean…I'm finally going to meet her?" Kate asked in awe.

"How'd you manage that? I thought you said she wasn't anywhere near ready for a move of any sort?" Grant asked, leaning back. Chloe was the only one missing from the party, she had a night class.

"She wasn't really. She's not; but Grams set it into motion so perfectly that I had to take advantage. I think she'll be okay once she gets there."

"How do you know she won't flip?" Grant asked.

"Oh she probably will, she already did a little, but I can handle it," I said with a small sigh. "I still think she doesn't like me; I think she sees me more as a part of her life that's not going to go away."

"Is she really that bad still? I thought you said she was mellowing? That she trusted you more?"

"She shies away from me still at every turn, why would anyone do that even if they were indifferent."

"Have you ever thought she may be shying away from an emotion rather than a person? She doesn't want to trust you; she doesn't want to like you as anything more than a friend."

"Geez Grant, that psychiatry program is doing you a lot of favors," I responded.

He shrugged with a grin, "Maybe I can do a better diagnosis when I meet her at the party."

"I'm sure you can. If anyone besides Chloe can get her to open up it's you. Don't give her a battery of questions and tests but I'm not going to try to stop you from doing what you're naturally going to want to do," I said.

"So is twenty questionnaires too many?" he teased, "Don't worry, I'll restrain myself," he said still grinning as he turned back to Kate and started the movie again.

Eric POV

Three months had passed yet she hadn't contacted me at all, and though it wasn't surprising, it was disappointing all the same. I still kept tabs on her emotions but there was little to glean from them except that she was, in fact, going through the wringer that was motherhood.

It was slow progress as we worked through the different cases from the hospitals. Any one of them could be Faith seeing as she'd changed her name and we had no ideas about the child. We eliminated some through research but other were eliminated based on other factors like multiples, anything that suggested a present father, child's death, and mother's death. It was slow and tedious work, and when we could not find enough information we called upon different subjects living in the states near the woman in question to ascertain things for us. It felt like I was never going to find her.

Allison POV

The party drew nearer and nearer, yet I failed to bring it up for a few days, though I wanted to ask Simon about it. Finally, with only two weeks left, I got up the nerve.

"So this party that Kyle's family is throwing, why is there a plus one invitation?" I asked, studying the counter to avoid catching Simon's eyes, Solomon situated on my hip, his sister asleep upstairs with the baby monitor by the register.

"Oh man, I haven't told you about the party," he said, setting down the box he'd grabbed from storage. "Kyle's family is well…affluent, and they throw a Christmas party every year for anyone lucky enough to be invited. It's a pretty fancy affair, lots of networking opportunities and such but also a lot of people just looking for other people to have fun with. I earned my way in as Kyle's roommate back in Sophomore year and Grant did as well."

"I'm having second thoughts, I mean, I don't have anything to wear to any sort of occasion, and I'll stick out like a sore thumb, I'm not even a college student," I started rambling.

"You would be though, and you will be as soon as you get a chance to breathe a little more with the twins. I saw you browsing through those online universities." I blushed a little and finally looked up at him, "and a dress is completely solvable," he said. "One second." He went out the back to where his car was parked, emerging a few minutes later with a box in his hands. "I was going to give this to you tomorrow, but now seems as good a time as any," he said. I stared at the box as he put it on the counter next to me with a smile and motioned for me to hand him Solomon.

"Simon, no, you didn't-" I started.

"Of course I did. It's your Christmas present, a little early. Chloe dragged me all over creation to find something we could agree on. I think we came to a good compromise, but if not you're free to exchange it." he said still smiling.

"I can't even begin to give you a gift equivalent, I can't accept it," I said, getting that jittery nervous feeling in the bottom of my stomach again, I was extremely uncomfortable with what was happening, but why?

"It's a gift, of course you can."

"It's too nice, I couldn't possibly-"

"Geez, Alice, you haven't even opened it, it could be atrocious for all you know," he teased lightly, "And if it passes muster, the only gift I need is you wearing it for the party."

Simon POV

She was staring at the box like it was going to pounce on her if she made a sudden move. I was extremely nervous about her reaction, but trying to not let it show, "Well, go on," I prompted, holding out my arms again to take Solomon. She seemed to come out of her trance and finally handed Solomon to me, carefully opening the lid.

The dress was neatly folded under a layer of tissue paper and she lifted it out carefully, letting it unfold itself. Seeing her holding it was making me even more sure that I'd picked well. It was made of a thicker fabric, vibrant red but not obnoxiously so, with a thick skirt that fell in large pleats. At the bottom of the skirt the material changed into a sheer panel tinted the same color before being followed again by a small strip of the original fabric. I peeked at her expression and was happy to see she was looking at it with awe. "Go try it on," I prompted again.

"Simon-" she started.

"Go!" I cut her off in mock exasperation, smiling.

She opened her mouth to protest again but seemed to think better of it and with a small smile went upstairs.

She came down a little while later, still in her sweater and jeans, holding the dress draped over her arms.

"It's lovely, I just, I can't accept it. I don't know if I should even go to the party still. I'll be glaringly immature compared to any other college students there and I don't want to put you in any position that-"

"Allison," I interrupted gently. "You are the least immature person I know; you're going to fit in perfectly fine. You're not going to embarrass me or anyone else. Are you really so against going?" I asked with concern, hiking Solomon a little higher on my hip.

"No, no, I'm just nervous I guess. I never did big social events very well, even before. Homecoming and Valentines Day dances were a nightmare."

"Don't worry, it's not like that; I think you'll be fine. Although I am disappointed I don't get to see a sneak peek of the dress after all my hard work. Did it fit?"

She blushed, "Yes, it did. It's really lovely. But I think you'd rather see it all put together for the party."

"Looking forward to it, I'm glad you liked it. I know dresses are risky business for gifts, but Chloe will be happy to hear she kept me on track," I said glancing at the clock and brushing past her to go lock the door and start closing up the shop.

She carefully folded it back up into the box and then finished closing up behind the counter, grabbing the box, tucking it gently under her arm, and then following me and Solomon up the stairs. These weeks couldn't pass fast enough.