“I am more than you bargained for.”
“No, you’re everything,” she whispered in reply.
***
“I forgot how much I loved their house,” Alexis explained as Cliff helped her exit the truck.
With Preston’s guidance, Cliff and Dylan called an emergency meeting after learning that her father was making a statement. But even though it was a weekday, Mrs. Connelly took the opportunity to turn a quiet get together it into a barbeque. And the entire town was invited.
Cliff had stopped at the store on the way to pick up a potato salad and a bouquet of flowers for Amy, which made them a bit later than everyone else. They were parked five houses down from the Connelly’s driveway. Luckily, they didn’t seem to be the only ones late to the party as a few other stragglers, that Alexis didn’t recognize, fell in line behind them.
What she wouldn’t give to be able to settle down in a nice neighborhood like this on the outskirts of a small town. She hated to admit it, but one of her favorite channels was a home and garden network. Whenever one of the shows focused on small towns, she found herself glued to the television. She knew that it was nothing more than a dream, but being here with Cliff made it seem so real and within her grasp.
Together they walked hand in hand up the paved driveway, stepping onto the large porch. Alexis took a moment to admire the wooden planks resting against the brick house with tons of handprints of various sizes. She reckoned that they must belong to Amy and Joseph’s kids and grandchildren.
Before Cliff could knock, Amy opened the door wide and ushered them inside. She tugged Cliff into her arms, and then did the same with Alexis, before taking the flowers and side dish. While Amy greeted the others on the porch, Alexis took a moment to look around the foyer. It was formal, yet cozy. The perfect mix of the petite woman with a sophisticated blonde haircut and her rustic husband. With a keen eye, Alexis examined some of the knickknacks and pictures more closely. There was so much love and warmth in the room that it was practically overflowing with devotion.
The group followed Amy toward the back of the house and through the open door leading to a well-groomed back yard. A gathering of kids played on a large wooden playground while the parents stood by chatting with each other.
Alexis moved to follow behind Cliff, but Amy called out her name and asked her to help place the flowers in the vase. Though she didn’t know much about being a mother, Alexis knew the signs of trying to get someone alone to talk. Amy was about to host her own intervention.
Using a stool, Amy rummaged through one of the upper cabinets above the refrigerator before locating a slender yellow vase. Alexis took the flowers and unwrapped them on the counter by the sink.
“You’re planning on leaving him, aren’t you,” Amy said as she took a pair of kitchen shears and began to cut the flowers’ stems down to size. The tone in her voice wasn’t a question; she’s stating it as if she knew what had been running through Alexis’ mind since she learned of the children’s kidnappings.
Not wanting to add fuel to the fire by lying, Alexis nodded and looked out the window as she said, “Yes, ma’am.”
“I thought you were smarter than that.”
Surprised, Alexis turned her gaze back to Amy to find the woman still working on the stems.
“Pardon me?”
“You’re going to run away. Your plan was to leave so that your father would follow you and leave us alone. Am I close?”
Swallowing her tongue, Alexis could only nod. Somehow this small town mother hit the nail right on the head.
“You see that man right there? The one chatting with my husband?” Alexis glanced out the window again, her eyes searching until they landed on Cliff and Joseph. Subconsciously she mimicked his wide smile. “The first year he lived in Carson, he only answered in grunts. For a while, I thought he couldn’t speak, but then as he got to know some of us, he opened up. Now, Cliff isn’t one to say a lot in general, but we got to know and love the man as if he were family.
“Then, you came along. From the moment he first saw you something inside of him changed. You being here has brought out the man he always deserved to be. Do not take that from him.”
“But. . .”
“No buts. You both are worthy of more than you’ve been given in this life, don’t give up on it yet. Fight. See him the way that he sees you.”
She let Amy’s words sink in. Maybe she was being a coward by leaving. And knowing that there wasn’t any guarantee that her father would leave everyone in the town alone was a big question mark hanging in the air. For all she knew, he may take out the town just in spite of her.
“I’m so confused,” Alexis confessed.
“Love will do that to you. Now, if you don’t mind. I’m going to get this shindig started and you are going to let everyone help come up with a plan that involves you staying.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She smiled as Amy pat her shoulder while walking out to the yard. From the kitchen, she watched as Joseph engulfed his wife in his arms, his love for her shining through with every touch and smile. Cliff looked up her way and the corners of his lips tilted upward as their eyes met.
She did love him and Amy was right; she’d be an idiot to give this up. Walking toward him, Cliff met her halfway, leaning down to brush his lips against hers.
“I love you.”