Page 64 of Cherish

A stray tear falls down Alex’s cheek and she quickly wipes it away. I pull her closer and kiss her cheek, reminding her that she’s no longer alone.

“I asked,” she says, voice hoarse with the bitter words. “God, did I ask. The last time, she fell apart and cried uncontrollably.” She dabs at her eyes. “I had so many thoughts. For a while, I was convinced I was the product of a rape and she couldn’t—”

“No!” her father says, his voice filling the small space. His calm demeanor gone, his face now turned red. “I loved your mother. She was the love of my life, Alexandra. There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t think of her. You were created in love.”

“Then why didn’t you fight for her?” She pulls her hands from the man’s grasp and walks away, giving us her back. “After your son got better, why didn’t you find her? You were a cop. You could have found her.”

“I did.” He stands up faster than a man his age should, and walks to her, spinning her around. “I found her a few years later. She told me I had hurt her too much, and if I ever cared about her, I’d leave her alone. I shouldn’t have, but as much as it hurt, I did what she asked. I felt like I owed her that much given all the hurt I caused.”

No words are spoken. Another pounding on the door interrupts the intense moment.

“Dad!” someone yells. “I saw your truck outside. Alex, are you in there? Dad, you better not have broken in.” I know that voice, but I can’t remember who it belongs to. I run to the door, finding Tina on the other side.

“Tina? What the hell are you doing here?” She walks right past me and marches inside without so much as an acknowledgment of my question. Another penny drops. Everything makes sense now.

“Really, Dad? I knew you wouldn’t be able to wait. I told you not to come barging in here.” She rounds the corner to find her father standing with Alex, both of his hands holding hers.

“Last time I checked, I was the parent, Christina.” He never takes his eyes off Alex when he utters those words. He picks up her hands and puts them on his face. “Come and meet your sister.”

Tina takes a few tentative steps as she looks at the scene. Unsure of how she’s going to respond, I get closer to Alex in case I need to play referee. After a beat, she squares her shoulders and walks forward.

“Six months, Alex. For six months you’ve been coming into my restaurant. You befriended me. I told you all about my family, and for six months you don’t say a word.” She runs a hand through her dirty blond hair. “I knew there was something about you. I feel so stupid because I see it so clearly now. Your nose. Sometimes you’d turn toward the window, and your profile is just like his. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know how. I didn’t know the circumstances of my birth, and I didn’t know if that news would be well received, so I didn’t say anything. I’m sorry, but I had no idea how to bring that up. I just liked getting to know you and about your family.”

“Our family, Alexandra. Our family. God, come here.” She pulls Alex away from her dad and pulls her into a tight hug. “I should be so mad at you for not saying anything, but I understand.” She pulls back and runs a hand over Alex’s hair. “I always wanted a little sister.”

That’s what finally breaks Alex. She abruptly pulls out of Tina’s hug and runs into my arms. I hug her close as she cries, her face buried in my chest. I cradle the back of her head, stroking the fine hairs at the base. She shivers against me. I place kisses on top of her head.

“It’s okay, angel. It’s okay. If this is too much, I can make them leave and we can pick this up another time.” She holds me tighter, shielding her face from our guests. When my phone starts to vibrate in my pocket, I reluctantly leave her and walk back to the bedroom to answer the call. Once the bedroom door closes, I can no longer make out their words.

“That was the hospital,” I say a few minutes later when I return to the living room. I find Alexander and Tina talking to each other, but no sign of Alex. I relax only when Tina tells me she’s in the bathroom. “I have to leave. I’m taking Alex home now. She’s had enough for the night.” Alex will probably be pissed at my making this unilateral decision, but since she’s in the bathroom, I get to speak for her.

“Hospital?” Alexander asks.

“Your daughter’s boyfriend is a surgeon, Dad.” Tina flashes me a smile.

“Fiancé,” I correct.

“Fiancé!” she calls when I say that word. I can feel Alex approaching. When Tina sees her, she runs past me and grabs her left hand, letting out a scream when she sees the ring.

“I was hoping we could continue talking.” Mr. Reilly gives me the side-eye, walks past me and stands in front of Alex.

“I’d like that, too.”

“But I have work now, angel. I’ll take you home. We can have your father and Tina over for dinner tomorrow.”

“I thought she was home.” Mr. Reilly looks around the crowded place.

“She’s moving in with me.” His hard, blue eyes turn on me, but I don’t back down from his gaze. “We just got engaged today.”

“Well, I need to talk to my daughter, and what kind of a man proposes without talking to her old man first?”

“Excuse me, but I didn’t know you existed until you showed up here half an hour ago. And your daughter is an adult.”

“Jay, enough. I’m tired and this has been overwhelming. How about dinner tomorrow night?” Alex puts her hand on the small of my back and adds, “At our place.”

Her father gives a firm nod, but I can tell he doesn’t like that option. He turns his gaze back to me. “Jason what?”

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