Alexis cringed at the sound of the clear tape being yanked over yet another opening of yet another box and then again when the scissors snipped at it. They had been doing this for three days straight: she seriously hadn't realized they had this much stuff. Moving from one house to the other was never an easy task, but they had already filled up an entire rental truck. Mac had thought it would be a good idea to tease her about the majority of boxes probably being filled with her clothes. She had rewarded him by making him the label maker for each and every box that was to go with them.
Kristina was having great fun with the tape dispenser; Alexis didn't even think to criticize her for using an excessive amount of tape. At least she wasn't totally terrified about moving out of the only home she had ever known. She had taken her first steps right there in the living room. She had said her first word upstairs in Alexis' bed during a night of one overworked mommy and one colicky baby.
Mac's house had always felt like his house, or the girls' house, never her home, never Kristina's home. It was an amazing decision, one that she had not come to easily. In fact, Mac started asking her three months into their relationship to move in, and she had contested the entire time, kicking and screaming that she was nothing without her independence. When she had accepted his proposal, it was understood that she would move into the Scorpio house as long as she was able to keep her last name.
Her home had been on the market for less than three weeks and it had been snatched up by a newlywed couple willing to pay twice what she was asking for it. Mac had insisted she take it—there wouldn't be a better offer for the rest of her life—but she would admit to thinking it over a lot longer than the average person. How much were her memories worth? She hated that she had allowed some stranger come up with that answer.
Snap out of it, her brain demanded. She was leaving one lonely life and entering into a large family. Her brother, Stefan, had been dead Kristina's entire life, her nephew lived a life he knew she would never approve of and that was why she had never let him near Kristina, and her mother had been killed when she was a mere child. Kristina was all she had in the world. Mac was offering her his heart, his home, his family, and the promise of more if she ever asked. He told he wasn't opposed to having a child with her if she really wanted one, but that she and Kristina were the final pieces to fill his heart. They were the missing puzzle piece he always said.
"Sweetheart," Mac whispered, wrapping his arms around her middle.
"Hmm?" Alexis sighed. He must have picked up on her anxiety and assumed she needed to be held. She couldn't think of a moment when she had more terrified or felt more safe in her entire life.
"Did I mention I love that we're going to be roommates?" He went on, moving her hair off of her shoulder so he could press his mouth to her shoulder.
"You might have mentioned something about that." Alexis responded, feeling her resolve melt away.
"Have I told you I love you today?" He murmured against her skin.
"Well, not today." Alexis smiled.
"I'll have to do something about that." Mac answered, squeezing her tighter before releasing her. "I think that's the last of it." He ushered her toward her now empty living room, kitchen, bedroom, daughter's bedroom, and every room in-between. The emptiness was so appalling, she almost stumbled back a step. It hadn't looked like this since the day she moved in with a three-month old baby Kristina. She had painted this nursery. She had shoved every stick of furniture through that front door when the movers told her it couldn't be done. She had prepared single meals for herself and baby food for Kristina in this kitchen. She had spent lonely nights in this bed. There was so much good coming out of this new arrangement. Why couldn't she just focus on that?
"Yeah, I think so too." Alexis rubbed her arms unconsciously and crossed the hallway to take one last look at the yellow stars she had stuck to Kristina's wall, her eyes following the curve of each stroke she had made with her paint brush, set in her idea that she couldn't stomach a pink nursery, even if she was having a girl—that a blue sky was much more her style, much more realistic. The rocking chair she had used to lull a wailing baby was no longer stationed in the corner. She had kept the chair despite the fact that Kristina was a big girl now, but had never changed the walls when she had moved from the crib to a single bed.
"Lexie." His voice startled her. She hadn't realized she had gotten lost in her memories. She turned to meet his concerned stare. "Are you ready to go?" There was no pressure in his tone, no impatience. He wasn't trying to push her, trying to hurry her out of the place: he merely understood that she had a lot of life she was trying to say goodbye to.
"Yes." Alexis nodded her head, the optimistic beat of her voice sounding unfamiliar. Change wasn't easy. She wasn't sure why she had been expecting it to be. "I'm ready to start my life with you."
Kristina watched the scene with a mix of curiosity and dread. She had nothing against Mac. He was an okay guy. He would be a fun daddy. It was obvious that he was the one to go to when she got in trouble, because he caved every time. Not only that, he was good at persuading Mommy to drop the charges brought against her.
She had thought maybe Mommy would change her mind in the end; she had spent a lot of time in their rooms, but Mac had convinced her to leave it all behind. He told them countless stories about how he wanted them to be a real family which meant only one thing: they wanted to have a baby. She didn't have to think about this very long; that's what parents always said when they wanted to turn their child's life upside down. She didn't want to think that, after however long it took, Mommy might have another baby. She wanted to be her mommy's only baby.
Things were already starting to change; the move was just the beginning. Mac had started coming to her school when Mommy's work ran later than she would have liked to talk with her teacher, Miss Bloomstead. When Kristina realized this, she was very upset, but she hadn't brought it up. There were few times she threw a temper tantrum, but the occasion had seemed like a good enough reason to do so. Mac had sent her to her room and Mommy hadn't let her out of punishment for a whole hour after dinner. It wasn't fair. Why should Mac get to tell her what to do? He wasn't her real daddy, hers would be back soon enough. He was just her for-now daddy. He needed to understand that. The one time she had tried to bring it up, Mommy had started crying. It was never a welcome sight to see her mother break down that way so she had kept her mouth shut ever since.
Strolling out to the garden in front of the house, Kristina knelt down in front of the patch of pansies she and Mommy had grown last summer. They were beautiful, but the weather hadn't been very nice to them and they were starting to wilt because of it. She had tried to explain to Mommy that she needed to be home more to water them, but she hadn't made any attempt to get her back in time. And now her flowers were dying! No way she was leaving them here, she thought decisively. Unzipping the pocket of her Minnie Mouse jacket, she shoved a handful of flowers inside. At least she would be able to protect this tiny portion. The rest of the bed would have to be left here.
"Ready to go?" Mommy's voice scared her and she cautiously met her stare.
"Yeah. Let's get out of here." Kristina took Alexis' hand and let her lead her to the car, not quite acknowledging that Mac got to hold her mommy's other hand.
"You're awfully quiet." Mac stated the obvious and Kristina was barely able to resist rolling her eyes.
"I don't have anything to say." Kristina replied cryptically. She had plenty to say, but there was no point in ruining Mommy's day.
"Are you excited about seeing your new room?" Alexis ventured.
"I guess. It's just Georgie's old one. I'll probably have to keep all of her stuff." Kristina said the last part in a murmur so maybe she wouldn't get into trouble.
"We're moving Georgie's stuff into the garage," Mac spoke up. "To make room for yours of course."
"That's right. It'll be great." Alexis reassured her. Sure it would be fine…for them. What about her? How were any of her friends going to find her? They were staying on her street and she was moving almost as far as Canada.
"Do I have to change schools?" Kristina wanted to know.
"No. Of course not." Alexis promised. "You'll still get to see your friends."
I'd get to see them all the time if we weren't moving, Kristina mused unhappily. Next time there was a life-altering decision to be made, she was making it alone.
"You'll get to see Morgan a lot more than you do now too since we're moving closer to him." Alexis added.
"Oh goodie." Kristina didn't mind Morgan at all, but he was a clingy kid, and she had a reputation to think about. She couldn't be expected to hang out with him all the time. "Are we almost there?"
"We've only been in the car five minutes." Mac answered.
"Five minutes too long." Kristina grumbled, turning her eyes to the window. She watched her world slip away in the form of buildings and markets, school zones, and the fire department.
"Why don't we try the radio." Alexis offered uncomfortably. She reached across the seat to switch on an oldies station and her hand brushed Mac's. He took it as a gesture and folded their hands together.
"Old people music, great." Kristina complained.
"What would you like to—?" Alexis began, but Mac's stare stopped her mid-sentence. Kristina didn't know what they were saying, only noticed them lean in close to each other out of the corner of her eye, but then they both looked at her and she knew she was about to get in trouble. The rest of the car ride was silent and Kristina was discontented with that as well. She wanted to go home.
Lucky barely glanced as Patrick walked through the door to his office. Holding up a finger to signify he would just be a minute, he gestured for his cousin to sit down in one of the chairs across from his desk. Resting the phone on his shoulder, Lucky rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to keep from strangling the manager on the other end. "Look I'm not pushing up the release date no matter what her spiritual advisor told her. You don't release albums on Saturdays."
He only half listened to the answer, tinged with what his father would classify as New Age mumbo jumbo. If it was up to Lucky, he wouldn't have any artists of the Yanni persuasion, but they sold well and the bottom line was he was supposed to make L&B money. Nowhere in his contract did it say he actually had to like all the music he put out, no matter how hard he fought to get that put in every year.
"Look the release date is final. If it gets moved it won't be because the moon is rising in the sixth house." Lucky slammed the phone down in frustration and shot a sidelong grin at his cousin. "So did you stop by to see people who actually work for a living?"
Patrick grinned, but it was an effort. "Something like that." He had learned a long time ago not to let his cousin's anger upset him. It was a difficult business—Lucky whined enough, he was practically an expert in the music business.
Lucky shook his head, trying to clear his lingering frustration from the call and blew out a breath. "I'm sorry. That dude makes Lucy Coe look boring and I swear he lives to drive me crazy."
"Don't worry about it." Patrick sunk into a chair without being told to do so.
"So what brings you to these parts?" Lucky couldn't deny he was curious. Patrick rarely stopped by the offices, ever since Lucky laid down the rules of his cousin not dating all the new talent.
"I wanted to run something by you and see what you think." Patrick explained, not used to seeking out advice.
Now Lucky was even more confused. "Go on," he urged.
"I was thinking of taking Robin to a stock car race this weekend. I know most of your relationships prior to Elizabeth rarely made it to the second date, but I was wondering if you think that's a good idea." Patrick hated the way he was stumbling over his words. This was completely new territory for him, and he didn't want to fuck it up.
"You want to ask my advice on a date for Robin?" Lucky shook his head. Patrick asking him for advice on women? Was he on Punk'd finally? "Why would I know anything about a date for Robin?"
"You're her friend." Patrick pointed out.
"Yes but we have a deal. When it comes to the two of you, details are bad."
"Are you going to help me or not?"
"I'll help. I'm just confused as to why you need the help. I thought things were going better between the two of you." He had noticed his cousin and friend had disappeared during Lance's party, with only Robin appearing at the end to take Morgan home.
"They're strained, but better. We're trying to start over from the very beginning. The first date was a success. I'd just like the second one to be better."
"Back up. You're starting over? From the beginning? Was this your idea?"
Patrick nodded. "I didn't see any other solution. She's more than worth the effort."
Lucky shook his head and stared at his cousin. "Stock car racing? For a second date?"
"What's wrong with it?"
"Have you met Robin?"
"She told me she hasn't ever been to one and, if hadn't gotten rained out that last time, she would have gone."
Lucky stood up and crossed in front of his desk. Coming to the front, he perched on the edge directly in front of his cousin. " I realize the whole concept of a relationship is foreign to you, but I'll enlighten you here. Second dates are just extensions of the first. You're still auditioning at date two."
"What would you suggest then, Godfather?" Patrick teased good-naturedly.
"Something that wouldn't end up on ESPN?"
Patrick gave him a blank stare. He hadn't thought this would be so hard when he had first thought about it. Robin and Elizabeth were always talking for weeks about Lucky doing this or that, and that was the only reason Patrick had sought him out. He had to think in terms of Robin. "What about miniature golf?"
"Better. Not the usual thing plus chance for contact by correcting her swing. You're doing better."
Patrick beamed with pride. "How are things at the home front? Is Elizabeth still sick?
"Yes. And refusing to go see the doctor."
"Women are stubborn. I'm sure it's just a cold or something. Didn't you say Cameron had it already?"
Lucky nodded. "I'm just happy Elizabeth isn't convinced he made her sick on purpose because she thinks he hates her."
"Doesn't he?" Patrick joked, sobering when he saw Lucky's head bow. "I'm...kidding."
"He doesn't hate her exactly. I think he hates the idea of her." Things had been progressing on that front. Elizabeth was staying in the house until she was better and Cameron hadn't thrown one temper tantrum. That had to be progress. "He's getting used to the idea."
"You guys are turning into the Leave It To Beaver family, you do realize that right?" Patrick informed his cousin. "Pretty soon, Cam will be busting out windows, and he'll have to think of clever ways to blame it on someone else."
"That was Andy Griffith. And you breathe a word of this to mom and I'll tell her about your pleas for help to plan dates for Robin."
Patrick flipped him the bird. "See you later."
"Don't blow it Romeo. And I'll know if you do."
"Whatever Nurse Spencer." Patrick threw back arrogantly.