The waitress had come to the table and took their order as Cameron noticed his son seemed distant. "Alexander?" his father's voice saying his name brought him back from his deep thoughts. "I won't even try to understand what you're going through right now because everyone is different, but believe me when I tell you that I've been in your shoes before. I know it hurts and it's going to take time to heal, but you will." Zander looked up from his plate and looked in his father's eyes, he knew from what he saw he spoke the truth. He acknowledged his father's words by nodding his head. Cameron hated to see his son in so much pain, he knew he could get through this, he was strong and he had survived so much already. Alexis took Zander's hand in hers tenderly as a mother would. "We're here for you, sweetie. You know that, right?" Zander looked at her with a somber look. "Yeah I do. I'm so glad I have you two in my life. I just wish it all would disappear and Emily would realize just what she's done to make this all happen." Alexis squeezed Zander's hand as Cameron took the last sip of his Rum and soda. "What are your plans now? You're obviously not going to work at ELQ, that would be so awkward for you, Alexander." his father asked concerned about how his son would earn a living now without her. Zander just shrugged. "I'm not sure. It's not like there are companies banging down my door to hire an ex-drug dealer slash kidnapper." he joked sarcastically. Alexis and Cameron glanced at each other knowing that Zander was right, he needed to find something he was good at besides breaking the law. Even though it had been many years since he found himself in trouble with the law, it still haunted him.
Emily sat across the room with her parents enjoying their dinner, a rarity with them. It usually became one huge argument with many of the other members leaving the table before the dessert cart came around. She took a sip of her sparkling cider, something she had grown a taste for at Stanford. Monica noticed her daughter was distracted by something else besides the food in front her. Emily stared at Zander who sat only a few tables from where she was sitting, hoping he'd turn around to see her smiling at him. But he didn't. He seemed quite content sitting with his father and Alexis amidst a heavy conversation. "Why don't you go over there and talk to him?" Alan suggested as Emily's eyes widened as she looked at her father who sat across from her. "Dad, we signed the divorce papers this afternoon, I'm the last person he wants to see right now, trust me." she answered wishing what she said wasn't true but it probably was. She had caused him enough pain, she didn't want to add to it by going over and saying hello.
Zander sat with his back to his soon to be ex wife, and all he could think about was turning around and seeing her beautiful face smiling back at him. He knew that was too good to be true, she wouldn't want him to see her looking at him, they just signed the papers this afternoon, that would be the last thing on her mind. She was free now to enjoy her life with whomever she wanted to, it's what she wanted, so he left go, he loved her too much to see her miserable in a marriage she didn't want to be in.
Emily picked at her dinner, while her parents tried to persuade her to eat, she was eating for two now. "Emily, you need to eat something." her mom said with concern. "Mom, I'm not 10 anymore." she snapped back. Monica was taken back by her answer and was a little offended by her remark. "Em, honey, you're eating for two and you barely touched your dinner." Alan tried to guilt her into eating at least some of her dinner. She was too distracted to eat. His coal black hair, straight cut across the back of his neck, his strong neck that she use to kiss tenderly, his strong shoulders that she used to massage for him after a long day at the office. The squeaky wheel of the dessert cart brought her back to reality as it stopped at their table. The chocolate cheesecake was just too much to resist. She pointed the piece she wanted and the waiter served her the biggest slice on the cart, at her request. Her eyes grew bigger as he placed it in front her and she asked for some whip cream for the top. Monica and Alan both surprised by her sudden appetite. "What? He wants chocolate, okay?" she said as she rubbed the bulge underneath her linen napkin. Her parents chuckled at her comment and figured it's probably the most she'd had all day to eat.
Zander couldn't resist any longer. He twisted his body in his chair just enough so he could look over his shoulder towards her table. He noticed her caressing her belly as she enjoyed her dessert. He smiled as he knew she couldn't resist the PC Grille's chocolate cheesecake, it was her favorite.
Alexis excused herself from the table to go make a phone call to check on the baby. Cameron leaned in closer to the middle of the table trying not to announce to everyone what he was about to say. "Alexander, I had an idea about a job for you and I didn't want to say anything in front of Alexis till I spoke to you about it. You do know there is an inheritance waiting for you whenever you want it. If you ever want to finish your schooling, you're more then welcome to use the money for tuition." Cameron suggested and hoping that his son would take the opportunity to further his education. "I'll think about it. Thanks for the offer, but right now I have to think about myself and how I am going to get passed all that has happened. I have to work on myself first before thinking about the future." he replied as he looked over his shoulder at Emily who held her hand against her belly as to protect the precious life she carried inside.
Alexis came back to the table and paused. "Did I interrupt something?" she said as it looked like it was a conversation just between father and son. "No. Nothing really. Just trying to convince Alexander that he and I need to spend more time together now that I have a light work load at the hospital." Zander smiled and took the last sip of his drink. "Well, it was so nice of you guys to invite me for dinner and I thank you, but I should go. I have lots to think about and I should do that alone." Zander stood up from his chair and put on his jacket. "It was our pleasure, Zander." Alexis said as Zander caressed her shoulder and leaned down to kiss her cheek. He nodded to his father and said his goodbyes.
Emily saw him walk out the door and her parents watched him go too. She wanted so much to chase after him and tell him that she was sorry for all she's done, but he had heard it all before, he wasn't ready to listen to her apologies again. She resisted the impulse to run after him, she caressed the life she carried inside of her and thought only good things were to come for her and her baby ... a life without the man she loved.