I did what Alex instructs me to do. I take Lexi back to their apartment and help her get ready for bed. By using her puppy dog pout, Lexi convinces me to let her sleep on the couch. "I want to wait for Mommy. It's what I always do." Lexi insists forcefully. This makes me pause for a moment.
"Does your mom leave you alone often?" I ask in dismay. Based off of what I've seen, that doesn't seem like Alex's parenting style at all.
"Never," the little girl responds with a furious shake of her head. "Mommy never leaves me alone. She usually drops me off at Tommy's or has Cat watch me. She says I can never be alone, that it's not safe. Aunt Harper says it has something to do with my dad,"
This makes me even more suspicious than before. Clearly, something had happened to make Alex leave Trent. "What did Harper say?" I ask Lexi gently. All of us had known Harper was in Alex's life, but we didn't know that she fully knew what was going on.
The little girl looks like she is contemplating telling me and then answers, "Aunt Harper said my daddy was a bad guy and that Mommy left him so we'd be safe." This leads me to one conclusion: the jerk hit Alex. I feel my jaw tighten and my fist clench. Lexi looks at me worriedly and sweetly asks, "Uncle Justin, are you okay?"
I smile at the little girl and respond, "Yes. I'm fine. So, does your mom always have business to do this late?"
Lexi laughs and shakes her head disappointedly. "She's not at the gallery," she states nonchalantly.
I'm thrown for another loop. "So where is she?" I ask softly.
Lexi shrugs her head, reminding me so much of her mother. "Probably with Beck," the little girl answers with wisdom beyond her years.
"Who's Beck?" I asked, my mind alert. Alex had told me there was no guy in her life.
"One of our friends," Lexi responds cheerfully. I know Alex must be close to those diner people if Lexi thinks of them as friends too. "He's in love with Mommy," she adds bluntly.
"How do you know?" I inquire curiously. I would bet money that Alex hasn't been in love since leaving Trent. Knowing her, she'd be too afraid. My sister may be tough, but when she falls, she falls hard.
"He always smiles when she walks in a room and glares at any guy who tries to talk to her. I think Mommy loves him too. She always looks happier after seeing him." Lexi says with a calm expression. "That's why I never ask Mommy where she goes at night. I just want her to be happy." the little girl adds wistfully.
I nod and stop asking the tired child questions. I stroke her back until she finally falls asleep. I look at the clock: it's midnight. I'm about to turn in for the night when I hear a key opening a lock. I see Alex creeping through the front door. She turns and sees me sitting on the coach.
"Where have you been?" I ask in a clipped voice, taking in her appearance. Alex's hair is slightly messed up, her lipstick smeared, and her dress isn't fully buttoned. I notice a scar right on her collarbone that was now exposed. It was a knife mark.
"With a friend," she answers, trying to be vague. I don't buy it. I'm done with her lying to me.
"Which friend?" I ask coldly, copying her tone from the diner. Alex looks desperate.
"Beck," she answers simply. I shake my head at her daughter's analyzing skills.
"Your daughter's a genius," I say with a roll of my eyes.
Alex laughs, her eyes lively once again. "I don't know how she figured it out. It didn't really even take her that long either." she replies, her expression amused.
"So, do I get to meet this guy?" I prod gently. Alex just glares at me. I shrug.
"Sure. We'll go to the diner tomorrow, and you can say hi while he takes your order," she replies sarcastically.
"But that's not nearly enough time for the lecture I give all your boyfriends," I tease. Alex's smile fades away.
"He's not my boyfriend," she replies casually. I can tell she wants him to be. I could always tell when Alex wanted a guy; she was never very subtle about it.
I press the issue a little more. "Why not?"
Alex snaps. "Because I can't do that again! I just can't!" she cries out, tears running down her face.
"Do what again?" I ask my sister gently. She looks so venerable that I'm tempted to give her a hug.
Alex breathes shakily and then answers, "Give up my heart only to have it stopped on. Love's not worth that. I love my family, and that's it." While she's talking, I can't stalk my eyes off her scar.
"What did he do to you?" I ask, my voice low. The damage he'd done to my sister was obvious; you could see it just by seeing her and talking to her. When Alex didn't answer, I angrily said, "Tell me!"
Alex broke down. "I don't know what you want to hear Justin! Do you want to hear how Trent starting drinking and beating the crap out of me when we first moved? Do you want to hear how I found out I was pregnant and all he said was Get rid of it?" When I didn't say anything, she continued. "Do you want to hear how he still beat while I was pregnant, almost causing me to lose Lexi twice? Do you want to hear that once Lexi was born, I suffered double the amount of beatings so that he wouldn't lay a hand on her? I put up with it for a year and a half just for my daughter, so that she'd be safe. But, I just stopped being able to fight." Alex admitted, tears flowing down her face.
I am appalled by this. Alex was suffering that much, and we were all mad at her because she didn't write. Now I realize that she didn't write or call because she couldn't. Trent had probably threatened her. And after she left, Alex was probably afraid he'd be able to track them down if she contacted us. I was angry at Harper for a split second for not helping Alex before realizing that, if she did, she would've been cut off just like us. Better one of us in her life that none of us. "Alex.." I try to say, but no words will come out.
"I'm still scared Justin. I hate being scared." Alex admits, her body shaking. I hug my sister and try to comfort her. She looks over at Lexi and smiles. "Thank God for that little girl. She's what keeps me strong." Her voice is genuine and wistful.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine," I reply, rubbing her bony back gently. Just like I use to do when we were kids and Alex would have vivid nightmares.
Alex snorts despite the tears running down her face. "I'm a parent now, that stuff doesn't work on me," she says with a smirk. I see a glimpse of the old Alex.
"Really? Then how come it still works on Max?" I joke. Alex laughs, and I see her sadness start to fade away.
"Max is like Peter Pan. He'll never grow up." she replies, her sharpness and wit obviously not diminished.
I look over at Lexi and give Alex a look that says should-I-move-her. She nods her head yes, and I gently lift the little girl up. I carry Lexi into her room and tuck her under the covers. Alex kisses her forehead and whispers good night in her ear. I say good night to my sister and head off to bed, reflecting on everything I've learned in a short day. And to think I didn't want to take the time to fly to Chicago from New York City for a business meeting. Sometimes I forget what an idiot I truly am.