The next morning, Dave sat next to Alex on a bench by the check-in area airport. Soon she would head back to through customs and security and await boarding.
The day before, he had gotten her home after dropping the kids off at school. He helped out with a few things around her flat while she took a hot shower and got dressed.
When she stepped out of her bedroom, the anxiety that had overwhelmed her that morning had eased off and the 'fog' that had overwhelmed her brain was clearing. She quietly watched as Dave finished pouring two mugs of tea and then slid up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, leaning her head against his back. "I'm so lucky to have you."
He smiled at her affection. Having jumped too fast into physical intimacy in his last relationship, he was cautious to go too fast with Alex, which worked well for her, as she was equally nervous. They had slowly become more comfortable with showing physical affection towards each other. This particular act was new, though, and he found it enjoyable to feel her warmth against him. He wrapped his arms over the top of hers, leaning slightly into her. "Hmm, the feeling is mutual, I assure you."
She sighed and mumbled into his back, "Yes, but you aren't the one falling apart and requiring special care."
"Well—" He turned around in her embrace to face her and smiled down at her. "I'll arrange something for when you return from America, okay? Then you can return the favor."
"Oh, really now?" She grinned. "Going to schedule a mental breakdown, are you? I'm quite sure that's not how it works."
"Well I am sure of one thing." He sighed. "I've grown accustomed to having you around, Lex. I'm going to miss you."
She rested her cheek against his chest, listening to his heart beat. He bent down, taking in the smell of her hair, trying to memorize everything he could about the way she smelled and felt in his arms while he had time to. "I'll try not to be gone too long," she said.
"Take all the time you need with your brother and his family," he spoke into her hair. "We'll be here waiting when you get back."
She looked back up into his eyes. "I love it when you say that."
"It's true," he said. "The kids are going to be a mess while you're gone."
She grinned and tightened her embrace. "Just the kids?"
He rolled his eyes at her for her joke, but then smiled back. "I'm glad to see you smile."
"Me too."
That afternoon, Dave and Alex sat at his dining room table with laptops in front of them. He helped her determine what phone calls needed to be made, and after she attempted one phone call and barely made it through without breaking down, he made her let him live up to his promise and he took care of the rest of the calls while she went through her schedule and took some notes. An hour in, and she held her head in her hands and rubbed her temples as he finished the last phone call. As soon as he hung up, she said, "I. Am. Exhausted. And we've barely been working an hour."
"That's the last phone call. We've rearranged everything. As soon as we know you're on your way back we'll get the meetings rescheduled." He looked down at his watch. "I'd say it's time to rest, but the kids will be running in the door any minute—"
As if on cue the front door swung open and Lucy came running in, looking around quickly. Alex and Dave both stood just as she turned and saw them. She had gotten word from her dad that morning at her friend's house about what happened. She came running in and wrapped her arms around Alex's neck, giving her a big hug. "Alex! I'm so sorry!"
"Oh, sweet girl. Thank you." Alex returned the teenage girl's hug, looking up over her shoulder and smiling at Dave who was watching with a smile on his face.
Thursday night family dinner at the Tiler's was moved to Wednesday so that Alex would have one more before she left the next morning. Robin and Anna joined them as usual and everyone did their best to keep Alex in good spirits. Dave was first to notice that there were a few times when she was getting misty eyed as she looked around the table and tried to keep a firm grip on her free hand, giving it a gentle squeeze occasionally to ground her and remind her of his promise.
"It's time, Lex. You need to be getting through customs and through to your gate." He squeezed her hand and stood up, pulling her up, straight into his embrace. He leaned over, resting his forehead against hers. "I'll see you soon, okay? Just a few weeks, it will fly by and you'll be back here in my arms, okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I know." She took a deep breath and straightened, and a genuine smile spread across his face. "Yeah, I'm going to be okay."
He smiled back, happy because he could tell she was beginning to believe it. He brushed his hand through her hair, and rested it at the nape of her neck. "You're going to be more than okay." He leaned in and their lips met, for a long but gentle kiss. "I love you." He gave her one more quick peck.
"I love you too." They let go of each other and she smiled one more time and began to back away, waiting till she was several more feet away before turning her back to him and walking towards the security check. He waited till she was out of sight and let out a sigh, swallowing hard and wiping away his own tears as he turned and walked away.