Thank you so much for your reviews.. :) I'm glad you guys liked it.. Here goes the next chapter.. Read on..
He walked towards the gate with Jo in his arms. He was angry at her leaving. He wanted to shout and tell her how much he was hurt. Yet he controlled his anger and frustration. He didn't want to cry in front of his little Jo. He held back his tears.
He reached for the elevator in his building and the only thought that he had in his mind and heart was why he loved her so much, even after what she'd done to him. Even after knowing she was married to someone else. How can he?
He entered the loft and Jo ran towards Katie.
Katie, she was named after Kate by Alexis. Because she missed her too much. Her ideal mother figure in her life. How can he tell her that the woman her dad truly loves was married?
Alexis looked at him and knew in a moment that something was wrong. He walked past her to the kitchen and took a bottle of scotch. Walked into his study and locked the door.
She pulled out her phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Grams. Can you come home soon?" spoke worriedly.
"Alexis, darling calm down. Now, tell me what happened?" Martha asked in a worried voice.
"I don't know, Grams. Dad and Jo had been to Central park. They just got back and Dad picked a bottle of scotch and locked himself in his study"
"I'll be there in 10. And ask Jo what happen in the park" she told and disconnected the call.
Alexis calmed herself and sat next to Jo.
"What happen in the park, sweet pea?" she asked.
"I was about to fall and dad caught me" Jo said
Alexis knew her Dad was protective about her and Jo. But he wouldn't react like this just because of a fall.
"Did Dad meet someone there, Jo?" she asked.
"Yes, when I was about to fall, a lady came to catch me. She took Daddy's name and Daddy took her name and then they talked" Jo said.
"What did Dad call her, Jo?" Alexis asked.
"He called her Kate. She the woman from photos in Daddy's bedroom" She replied.
Alexis was shocked and stunned. She never expected Kate to come back into their lived like this. Not now, when all the things were getting back to normal. She hated her so much for hurting her Dad and leaving without a word. She loved her. But now the hatred was stronger than her love. She could never forgive Kate, ever.
But Alexis knew her Dad would forgive her. He already must have forgiven her.
Alexis still remembers the first and the last time she was her Dad in depression 8 years ago.
*Flashback*
"Dad, you gotta stop acting like this. You're worrying us" she spoke.
"I know, honey. But I can't. I need her. I love her. It hurts like hell" he said in a broken voice.
"Dad, please stop drinking and listen to me, she's not worth it. You're giving yourself this pain, not to her. She's happy somewhere right now. You need to move on" Alexis begged.
"I can't, Lex. She is inseparable from me. I feel like I'm lost. There is this big empty hole inside me. I can't handle it. It's killing me" he cried.
It was first time ever Alexis had seen her Dad crying. He was so desperate to see her. To be with her. Alexis hated her. For ruining everyone's life.
"Richard, you are a strong man. You can overcome this. You can convert the hole into a big space for all the love and happiness from us and friends around you" Martha spoke.
"Mother, I need her. Please find her for me" he begged her.
Alexis couldn't take it more. She ran into her grandfather's arms and started crying.
"Richard, do you want all of us to cry and sit like this. Please, Son you need to stay strong and overcome this. If not for you, at least for your daughter. She's worried about you. You keep acting like this; she'll leave her college and look after you. Is that what you want? Your daughter leaving all her dreams and looking after you?" Martha said.
"No. That's not what I want for Alexis" he said.
"Then don't do this. She's hardly slept in a week. She just keeps looking at your door every night. She hears you sob all night long and cries herself to sleep" She said.
"Mother, what should I do? I don't know what to do?"
"Firstly, get cleaned up. Get some help. A therapist, a yoga instructor, anything that'll calm you down and get you out of this depression. Secondly, you can continue writing Nikki Heat novels. I'm sure she'll read. You can reach out to her. Even if she doesn't. Stop hurting yourself, Son" Martha begged.
For the first time in years, Richard Alexander Rodgers crawled into his mother's lap and cried and cried till he was exhausted and sleep overtook his senses.
Martha hated seeing her son so vulnerable. It's was like watching a strong pillar go down because of one small crack.
He needed to come out of it. Not only for himself, but for all the others around him. They were worried and were following him everywhere. No one had an idea, what his brain and heart was thinking. He would get frustrated on anyone. He would become angry, even for the simplest mistakes. He was losing his capacity to cope.
Martha knew one person who could talk to him and give him the right push to come out of it.
Jim Beckett.
She needed to talk to him and let Jim know what Richard's condition is.
*End of Flashback*
Tears didn't stop. Alexis was too overwhelmed with anger and sadness all over again. She herself took therapy to calm her down and to help her Dad get over depression.
Her mind was filled with thoughts.
It took a year for him to get out of depression and have a clean and stable mind. The media didn't even know about it.
Why now? Dad was just starting to think about dating again.
How can she just come back and screw things now?
I hope Dad doesn't get back to depression. I can't see him again going through all of it.
Her thought train was stop when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Alexis, why are you crying? What happen?" Martha asked worriedly.
She neither had the voice nor the guts to tell her.
"Lex, speak something sweetheart. You're getting us worried" she heard her Grandfather tell.
Alexis put together all the energy and spoke
"Kate" and fresh tears rolled down her tears.
Martha was shocked to hear Kate's name. They never spoke about her aloud. Everyone missed her. She was in everyone's thoughts and prayers but not in talks.
"Alexis, what about Kate?" Martha asked.
"Dad and Jo met her in Central Park" Alexis replied through her tears.
"She's back" Martha spoke.
It was not a question. It was a statement. And she knew it wasn't good for anyone right now.
Based on her Son's reaction, she could make out that the meeting didn't go well. But why? That was all her thought.
Richard would be happy to see her. She needed to talk to him. But before that she needed to talk to someone else.
She picked her phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Martha. What a pleasant surprise!" came the voice from other side.
"Hello, Sorry to call you at this time." She said.
"Martha, is everything alright? You sound worried" he said.
"When was the last time you spoke to Kate, Jim?" Martha asked.
"3 months ago. Why Martha? What happen?" Jim asked.
"Richard met Kate at Central Park today" she replied.
"What? She's back? I didn't know about it. And Martha is Richard alright?" Jim asked worriedly.
"No, he's not. He's locked himself in the study" Martha spoke.
"I'm coming over. I'll be there in an hour" Jim said
"Jim, you don't have to. We'll handle him" Martha said.
"It's okay, Martha. I owe him that much" Jim said and disconnected the call.
She sat down next to Alexis and pulled into a hug.
"Jim's on his way here. Once he comes, we'll talk to Richard" she said.
"Grams, I don't want Dad to hurt again. I can't see him like this" Alexis wept.
"Lex, he'll be fine. I promise. He needs to be strong for you, me, gramps, Jason, Katie and more importantly for Jo" Martha assured her.
"I'll ask Jason to take Jo and Katie for ice-cream" Alexis said wiping her tears.
"That's good. I don't want these kids to see him like this" Martha spoke.
The only thought in Martha's mind was. Why was her son reacting like this? Did she tell him that she didn't love him? What did she tell him?
This was a little tough one to write. Hope you like it.
Don't forget to leave a review.. (It helps me write fast!)
Love,
Varsha!