Chapter 22

It had been very, very hard, but Bobby had managed to drift at least on the edge of the happenings with his family throughout the day. His mind was still consumed with Wallace, he was still tortured by what he had done the night before, but he had done it for the sake of his family, and he had the chance to be with them while he healed.

Katie and Lisa emerged from Katie's room and did a quick march and twirl in the living room for both Alex and Bobby's benefit. Bobby's daughter came and stood in front of him, and he was overwhelmed with emotion. "Beautiful," he said quietly. With that familiar spark in her eye, she quickly kissed his cheek and squealed something about her hair to her mother.

Bobby watched her walk confidently in heels, her leg peeking from behind the slit at times, and he remembered watching her take her first steps.

"Okay, stand over here, girls, we have to get pictures," Alex commanded. The girls stood together by the wall, and Alex took a few snapshots. Then she took some of each girl individually.

Bobby quietly took the camera from Alex and asked her to stand with Katie for a picture. Then he got one of all three of the ladies. He looked up at the clock. "Almost 6," he said.

"You girls be careful not to lead the boys on," Alex said. "You are in college. Set a good example."

"Mom, that's the whole reason they asked us," Katie said, "because we're in college."

"Darren has the hots for you, Katie," Bobby said.

"What?"

"He… he's interested," Bobby said. "Go easy on him."

The doorbell rang before they could discuss it further. Andy and Darren looked fabulous. Darren's tux jacket went right over his cast and it was hardly noticeable.

After more pictures, the group of kids said their goodbyes and left. Lewis had loaned Andy an old Rolls Royce he got hold of, and they were driving themselves in high style.

They were going to dinner first, and then to the ballroom at the Hyatt for the dance. Mike Logan had agreed to discreetly keep an eye on them at dinner. Alex was going to post herself outside the dance.

Alex closed the apartment door and turned to Bobby. It was their first chance to talk privately since his date with Wallace. She walked over and put her hands on his shoulders. "You okay?" She asked.

He shook his head slowly. "No."

Alex looked into his eyes.

"I didn't sleep with her."

Alex nodded quietly.

"I… I tried, but… Alex, I couldn't go through with it. There was no guarantee it would work, anyway." He went into the kitchen and drank the rest of a glass of water he'd been nursing. "I left… I left the door open, didn't turn her down cold… but… it was a mistake. She'll hate me now more than ever."

Alex stared at the floor tiles for a moment, then walked up to him. "Well. Now she'll know how I feel about her." She wrapped her arms around Bobby and hugged him tight, and she could feel him relax a little in her arms.

"I've got to get ready," she said. She started to pull away, but Bobby didn't let her go.

"I'm sorry, Alex. I love you."

"No apologies," she said. "I wanted you to do it, remember?" She kissed him. "I love you, too."

A call from Mike confirmed that dinner was uneventful, and that Andy even managed to keep his napkin in his lap and use the right fork for his salad. Alex checked in with hotel security and left her badge visible as she walked around the perimeter of the hotel, as well as in and out of the main halls leading to the ballroom.

She caught a glimpse of the kids coming in and took care to stay out of their sight so as not to ruin their evening.

At 9:00, Bobby called.

"She's going to try something," he said with conviction.

"Bobby, everything's fine here."

"She called, Alex. She cried, said I was the worst of them all, no better than her father. She wants to hurt me now. She's going to try."

"I'll keep close," Alex promised.

"I'm coming out there."

Darren danced a slow dance with Katie, and finally got up his nerve. He leaned in and kissed her on the ear. She drew back quickly, but politely finished the dance. Then she excused herself and went to the ladies' room, to hide and to think.

A woman in a housekeeping uniform with a dark wig walked up to the mirror beside her. "You are like him, aren't you," she said calmly.

Katie's blood turned to ice.

"Now, darling… you're going to walk out of here as if you're leading me to a mess I need to clean up. We're going to the basement. The elevators are to your left. C'mon, now…" She touched her arm. "I could kill you now, if you'd rather."

Katie gulped and started walking out, in the direction of the elevators.

Andy noticed Katie was gone and found Darren. "Where is she?"

"I blew it, Andy," Darren whined. "I kissed her and she ran off to the bathroom and I haven't seen her since."

Andy ignored his friend's drama and hurried off in the direction of the bathroom. He found the nearest girl and asked her to go inside and look for Katie. He texted her, but she didn't text back. Andy spun in a circle in the hallway, trying to keep calm in spite of the panic that was rising inside him.

That's when he saw the sequin on the floor.