As the words leave my mouth, I realize I mean them.For all his cool exterior and demanding nature, Alexander has always been fair.He’s pushed me to excel, trusted my judgment, and valued my contributions.In six years, he’s never let me down when it mattered.
“I heard my name.”Alexander’s deep voice comes from the doorway.He strides into the kitchen followed by my father, not a wrinkle on his clothes or a hair out of place despite having just carried our luggage.He walks straight to me, places his hands on my shoulders from behind, and drops a kiss on the top of my head.The casual intimacy of it makes my breath catch.
“I hope you were saying nice things about me,” he says, looking down at me with warmth in his eyes I’ve never seen before.
I don’t understand this transformation.The man standing behind me is still Alexander—still confident, still commanding—but he’s showing a warmth I’ve never seen.My traitorous heart flutters.
“We were just catching up,” Mom says, getting up from the table.“Let me make some breakfast for you two.You must be hungry after your trip.”
“Don’t you have to open the shop today?”I ask, picking up a handful of salted peanuts from an open jar on the kitchen table.
“I’m going to ask Clara to open it for me today,” Mom glances at the wall clock.“I’ll go there by noon.I want to spend some time with my baby today.Speaking of babies, do you want to go pick up Sophie from school in the afternoon?”
My lips curve.“She’ll be so surprised.Do you mind?”I glance up at Alexander who still has his hands on my shoulders.
He squeezes them and smiles quietly.“If that is what you want.We can even walk into town, and you can show me around.”
“That’s a great plan,” Dad says, clapping Alexander on the shoulder like they’re old friends instead of people who met twenty minutes ago.“But why walk?You have a car.”
“That’s your car,” Alexander replies smoothly.“You should take it for a spin.”
Dad laughs sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.“I’m going to a job.Where would I keep all my supplies?”
“You can keep the truck for your supplies,” Alexander says confidently, “but you can use the car for driving around town.”
I can’t help but laugh at the eager expression on my father’s face.“Just do it, Dad.I know you want to show off.”
Dad’s cheeks redden, but he squares his shoulders with a gruff clearing of his throat.“Well, if you guys insist.”He glances at Alexander.“Come.I’ll show you my equipment.”
Alexander follows my dad outside to his pickup truck.I watch through the window as Dad shows off his gear—pipe wrenches, plungers, a snake tool, and an assortment of copper fittings.Alexander handles the tools with surprising ease, clearly not bothered about getting his expensive clothes dirty.Dad’s face lights up as he hands Alexander his prized pipe cutter, and I can’t help but smile at the way my father gestures enthusiastically while Alexander nods with genuine interest.
“I noticed you guys haven’t started decorating for Christmas yet,” I say, turning back to Mom and grabbing another fistful of peanuts.“You and Dad usually have the house covered by now, Mom.”
Mom wipes her hands on her apron.“He was waiting for you to come home, honey.So the two of you could do it together like always.”
Dad claps Alexander on the back, hard enough to make a normal man stumble, as they return from outside.“She means the three of us now!”he booms.“This fella looks like he’s got some muscle on him.Good strong shoulders.Perfect for hanging those roof lights and hauling in the big tree we’ll pick out from Miller’s lot!”
I nearly choke on the peanuts.My eyes turn towards Alexander, horrified.The same man who adjusts his tie when it shifts a millimeter out of place wrestle with an eight-foot Christmas tree?“Dad, I don’t think Alexander can?—”
“It’s been a long time since I decorated the house for Christmas,” Alexander cuts in.“I’m looking forward to it.I don’t know much about Christmas trees, though.”
My father beams at him.“Don’t you worry, son.I’ll teach you everything you need to know.A man should know how to select the fittest tree there is.”
I give Alexander a pleading look, but he completely ignores me.Turning to my mother, I ask quickly, “What about Sophie?I thought picking out the Christmas tree was Dad and Sophie’s special thing.”
Mom chuckles.“This year she turned your father down.Her friends are doing a Christmas bake sale during the Winter Wonderland Festival, and she’s more interested in taking part in that.”
“She’ll have to get up pretty early,” I say doubtfully, my brain still trying to come up with a way to dissuade my Dad from taking Alexander with him.
“I should head out to Mrs.Henderson’s before her basement becomes an indoor swimming pool,” Dad says, checking his watch.“By the way, Olivia, you sure brought a lot of bags with you.”He gives me a teasing look.“Are you planning to move back home permanently?”
“Very funny, Dad,” I say, dryly. “We have to go back to work after New Year’s.”
Alexander cuts in smoothly.“We’re planning to visit my family after the new year as well.”
My parents exchange a meaningful look that makes my stomach flip.
“So you two are meeting the families...”Mom murmurs, not even trying to hide her delight.
