Page 60 of Cherish

Needing an unbiased opinion, I tell her everything, from how great things were between me and Jason, to the disaster that was supposed to be my birthday dinner.

“Oh, honey,” she says. “I’m so sorry. Now it makes sense why Jason’s been coming in here the past few days looking like an even bigger disaster than you. I think he was hoping you’d be here.”

“I haven’t been to work in a few days. I haven’t been home either. He’s been blowing up my phone.” Guilt hits me, knowing how he always has a need to know I’m okay and taken care of.

“Based on how he looked yesterday, I don’t know how he would be able to concentrate on those surgeries.” She hugs me one more time and pulls away. “Okay. Enough tears. Tears are not going to fix this. Let me tell you something, though. This is not something that can’t be overcome. First, you don’t know if the baby is his. If it’s not, she’s out of the picture. Period. If the baby is his, he co-parents and you get to help shape and mold a life, Alex. I have a nineteen-year-old son and raising him to become the man he’s turning into has been the single most amazing thing of my life. This baby will love you. Jason is no longer involved with her. He let that go before he met you, and if that baby is his, they created that life before he knew of your existence. Maybe getting with her was not his finest hour, but we’ve all got dirt. We’ve all done ugly, shameful things. That’s what makes us human. Honey, all of that was before you. Now, what I want to know is how he’s been since you two got together. And I already know the answer because I saw with my own eyes each time you two came in here together. He’s as devastated as you are. Are you willing to give that up because of things that happened before you two met?”

She leaves my side and opens a drawer at her desk. She pours each of us another shot of whiskey. Despite the early hour of the morning, I swallow it without a second thought. The liquid burns my throat, but soon warmth spreads all over my body, giving me a calmness I haven’t felt in days.

“Love is not the problem, Tina. I love him. I know he loves me, but this woman. You should have seen her and heard the things she said. She’s not going to make this easy. This will be an eighteen-year battle.”

“Girl, then you fight!” She slams her shot glass down on the table. “If you love that man, you fight. And what the hell can she do? He has rights. Do you know what I did before I gave up the rat race and opened this place? I was a family law attorney; say the word, and I will fight with you. Honey, we will have that bitch in court so fast if she steps out of line. Forget about her, though, Alex. Fuck her.” I look up at her, shocked at her language. “I was the most vicious lawyer out there. I had a reputation. This woman won’t know what hit her if I get involved, but this isn’t about her. This is about you and Jason. If he cheated on you and got another woman pregnant, I’d tell you to run as far and as fast as you can, but he didn’t. I’m not excusing what he did with a woman who was involved with another man, but she made the choice to cheat. If you love him and he loves you, and you think what you have is worth it, then you go find him, stand by his side and fight with him. You don’t have to fight for him because he’s already yours, but you show that bitch that her days of manipulating your man are over.”

Neither of us speak. We watch each other. Her eyes have suddenly turned a darker shade of brown—almost black. I realize there’s a whole other side to the Tina I’ve come to know over the past couple of years.

“You’re a lot younger than I am, so take my advice. Life’s complicated, Alex. We think we have everything figured out, but then we’re thrown a curveball. Shitty things happen to us, but if you look hard enough, you’ll find the positive in almost anything. Here are the positives here. You have a man who loves you so much, he’s going crazy right now. You could have an opportunity to raise a child, and from what you’ve told me about her mother, she’s going to need you. You have a friend who will make Natalie wish she had never been born. You win, honey.”

Mellie and Ananda have told me the same thing, but hearing it from Tina, who does not have a vested interest in me being with Jason, makes this almost seem conquerable.

“I consider you a friend. I’ve never befriended a woman who isn’t a fighter. You have fire in you. I don’t know how I know, but it’s something I saw in your eyes the first day you walked in here. Something I recognized. You’re like me. You’re a sweet person, but hell hath no fury like a pissed off Alex; you’re just pissed at the wrong person.” She grabs my hand, pulling me out of my chair and takes me into a hug. We’re the same height, with a similar build, so when she pulls back, we’re at eye level. Instead of my eyes filling with tears and feeling hopeless, I stand up straight, look her in the eye, and with a confidence that’s been lacking since that horrible night, I nod at her.

She lets out a loud shout of victory and hugs me again.

“I know that look. Natalie might have won the battle. She ruined your birthday, but she will lose the war because of Jason’s secret weapon. You.”

I hug her again, squeezing her tight, her strength seeping into my body, giving me new life.

“Thank you, Tina.”

“Don’t you dare thank me. We’re women and we stick together. Let me get you your breakfast so you can get to work. I’m glad you stopped by today.” She puts an arm around my shoulders and leads me back to my table. The place has filled up since we’ve been gone, so she leaves me to get to work.

I’m given a fresh cup of coffee as I think about my next move. I don’t know what I expected when I came in here today, but I knew I needed to be here, to talk to Tina. I needed to hear from her. I devour the breakfast she put in front of me. Instead of my usual eggs, bacon, and toast, she throws in a huge plate of French toast with my order. I eat every last bite.

“On the house,” she says after I ask for my check. “Get out of here, and next time I see you, you better have Jason with you.”

As I’m standing up to leave, I hear the door open. Tina lets out a happy laugh as she runs to the front of the restaurant. My stomach drops to my feet when I see who it is. She’s hugging an older man, his face visible from my table.

“What a surprise!” I hear her say. I grab my bag, eager to get out of here. Hoping she’s too busy with her guest to notice. I put my head down, and as fast as I can, I start to make my escape.

“Alex! Come and meet my dad.” She grabs my hand when I try to walk past her. “Dad, this is my favorite customer, Alex. I know I’ve told you about her. Alex, my dad, whose name is also Alex, but short for Alexander.”

I look up at his face, my heart nearly in my throat, as I take his offered hand. His huge hand engulfs mine and I’m forced to look into his eyes. Blue eyes lock on mine, a smile on his face, which slips as soon as he meets my gaze. He looks too young to have a daughter as old as Tina. I laugh nervously, relieved he can’t read my thoughts.

I try to pull my hand away from his, but he holds on tight and takes a step closer to me, studying me. To my surprise, he takes my chin and turns my face as if looking for clues as to who I really am.

“Dad, stop flirting with my friend,” Tina says with a laugh. I offer a laugh, but a fake one is the only kind I can muster. Her father doesn’t laugh back. He continues to study me. Unfortunately for me, Tina leaves us while she attends to some customers.

“It was nice to meet you, sir,” I say quickly, the words coming out rushed and breathless. I can hear the pounding between my ears, and all I can do is look for the door toward freedom, but he’s still holding my hand. I pull my face out of his hands and do my best to pull my hand from his grip, but he holds on.

“Alexander Francis Reilly.” His gaze is intense as he holds onto my hand, waiting for me to speak.

“Alex.” I lick my suddenly dry lips.

“Alex what?” he asks. The question stuns me. His eyes hold mine, and his grip tightens. He takes his other hand and touches the necklace around my neck. I swallow, feeling the sudden dryness of my throat. He fingers the half-heart at the end of the necklace, flips it over and reads the inscription. He drops it suddenly, his eyes probing mine as he waits for me to speak.

“Alexandra Malone.”

“Malone? I knew a Malone once. Do you have a middle name, Alexandra Malone?”

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