Chapter 17

Alexis and Johnny both heard Sonny and Michael enter the room at the same time and turned to see what was going on now. Sonny held the biggest birthday cake she had ever seen in her life.

"Where did you get that?" Alexis asked.

"I made it."

"In there?" Alexis pointed to the kitchen

"Yea, why?"

"It's bigger than the oven is. How did you do it?"

Michael looked up at Alexis and then turned to Sonny. "You're right, Dad. I don't think she knows how to cook."

Alexis turned to slap Johnny as she heard him go down laughing again. If she could have reached Sonny she would have slapped him too.

Michael was becoming impatient. The secret he was carrying was becoming harder and harder to keep. "Dad, can we go now?"

Alexis looked back at Michael and toward Sonny. "Go where? I thought we were having a party here."

Sonny was biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. "We are, well not right here. Son, you want to go open the door for me?"

"Sure, Dad." His little body was quivering with anticipation and he was glad they were finally getting to the surprise.

Alexis followed them with Johnny at her side. She quickly became aware of where they were leading her and wasn't entirely sure it was a good idea. She felt Johnny's arm go around her and glanced up at him with trepidation. She saw him wink at her and give her a comforting smile. It would be okay, Johnny was there and so was Sonny. These two men had only her best interests at heart.

As they reached the roof, Michael opened the door and stepped aside. He wanted to see her face when she saw what he and his dad had done.

Alexis first noticed the fragrance of her mother again and was warmed by it. But, the closer she got to where Sonny stood the more she realized that he and Michael had prepared a picnic on the roof. Alexis was beside herself with emotion. She wrapped her arms around herself and hugged herself tightly. How could he have known?

Sonny became quite concerned at her reaction and looked to Johnny for confirmation of his fears. Johnny knew more than he did about Alexis' past, and he didn't mind looking to him for a little help now.

Johnny knew what was going on and he also knew that it was good. He shot Sonny a look that told him it was okay and he quietly stepped closer to Alexis and put his arms around her.

"Its ok, Lexie. She wouldn't mind sharing her time with you with your new family." Alexis' last memory of her mother was in a park full of gardenias and they had brought a picnic with them. Sonny heard Johnny's soft spoken words and even though he was concerned about her, knew she would be okay. He needed to take care of Michael who looked as though he were about to cry.

Sonny walked over to Michael and knelt beside him.

"Michael, Alexis is not sad or angry. Do you remember what I told you this morning when you asked me about her mother...?" Sonny stopped when he felt her hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw the contentment on her face.

"May I talk to Michael?"

She looked at Michael to see if it was okay that she wanted to talk to him.

"Its okay with me, dad, if it's okay with you." Sonny stood up and stepped aside, he couldn't deny this woman anything.

Alexis held out her hand to Michael and without hesitation he put his small hand in hers and together they walked away from the guys to a small bench a few steps away.

Alexis waited until Michael was seated beside her before she began talking to him.

"Michael, you and your dad did something very special for me today and I wanted to thank you for it. Did your dad explain to you this morning that my mother died when I was a little girl."

Michael wasn't entirely sure about this conversation, but he did know that his dad liked her a lot and he didn't want her to think his dad had done something wrong.

"Yea, we were talking about my mom and I wanted to know if you had a mom. Dad didn't mean to do anything wrong, we were just talking, that's all."

Alexis could tell that Michael was afraid that he caused some sort of problem between Sonny and herself and she needed to alleviate his fears very quickly.

"Michael, your dad didn't do anything wrong and neither did you. Can I tell you about my mother?"

"Sure, Miss Davis."