A lump formed in my throat.
Alex Junior simply replied, “My dad.”
Alex? Again, I froze.
The man who had done so much damage had created this special child. Unbelievable. I glanced at the painting and saw the outline of the man. This little boy had artistic talent. “What is your dad doing?”
“Visiting me.” He moved the marker and drew a smaller figure next to Alex. He was in his bed. “That’s a sweet dream.”
“Not a dream. He visited me last night.”
Alex was alive.
I flexed my fingers as the reality hit me. The thought clawed at the inside and I struggled to remain calm. I glanced at Gabe who appeared to be physically restraining himself from coming over.
Remain calm. I have to remain calm. Dryness consumed my mouth. We thought… I knew… but to have the truth was a different story. Though it was from a child, I knew there were no falsities to his statement. Alex was alive. And he wanted to wreak havoc on our lives.
Tremors radiated through my fingers. I squeezed my hand into a fist.
Alex was alive. The man who schemed against Gabe, attempted to steal Dad’s Botticelli, and then married me in a last ditch effort to get easy money while Gabe was deployed. The thoughts circled faster through my head.
Again, I peered over at Gabe. He moved as if almost to rise. I shook my head minutely to keep him in place.
“Dad misses me and says he’s going to take me from here soon. He tells me he loves me.”
Words from the little boy brought me back. Imagining Alex capable of love was hard. I needed more information.
Finding an inner strength I forced my voice to remain calm. “Where are you going?”
“Somewhere with lots of trees with my daddy.”
Aubrey tapped me on the back and I stood not wanting to end my conversation with Alex Junior. Before I faced her, I released a breath and then plastered on a neutral expression. “Alex’s parents have not shown up for the last six weeks on visitation day. We’ve heard from the mother, but nothing specific. It’s heartbreaking. He’s been projecting his emotions this way.”
Cocking my head to the side, I mentally wanted to shake this woman. Autistic children were brutally blunt. At times it was even awkwardly social though the child was unaware. Alex made it in here somehow to see his child. Gabe had been right.
“Thank you for telling me.”
Why wasn’t Candy showing?
I squatted next to Alex. “You’re doing wonderful, Alex. When your Dad visits you tell him Willow taught you about art and you drew him.”
“Okay.”
The answer was simple and I knew that was all I was getting as he focused on drawing this little figure. I assumed Alex’s dad would ask about his day. This message would undoubtedly make it to him if he was asked.
I moved on so as not to bring unwanted attention to me.
The class ended and the children filed out. At a loss, I stared at the back of Alex Junior’s head before the vice principal followed him out blocking him from my view. Aubrey came up. “I’m going to escort the class to lunch. Thank you again for coming, Willow. I would love to have you back.”
“I would love to come back.”
The principal came back in. “Thank you again for coming, Willow. I peeked in from the window a few times, and from what I saw, I think the children loved it.”
“It was a pleasure. Thank you.”
Lisa turned and then stopped before raising her hand in thought. “By chance are you related to Alfonso Russo?”
My father? How was this woman acquainted with Dad? “Um… he was my dad.”
Her eyes grew with delight as she faced me again while waving her hands and rapidly talking. “Then it truly was fate that brought you here. I had no idea. Before Mr. Russo’s death, he came here and donated to our art department. All of the equipment was upgraded thanks to him.”
I stared at this woman who looked elated to see me confused. “He… when… why did he come here?”
Desperation filled my voice. I needed to calm down and focus my thoughts to get what I needed. This simply might be a coincidence. But… doubt lingered at the edges of my thought.
“Um… let me think.” She tapped her chin. “Oh yes. He called us to set up an appointment as he had heard wonderful things about our program. A week or so later, he toured the facility and met some of the staff and children.”
Cotton filled my throat as I struggled with what to do with this new information. I managed to respond somehow. “That’s wonderful. You have a great program.”
Her hands waved again. “Your dad thought so, too. In fact, he drew with the little boy, Alex, who was in your last class.”
Wait. Dad had seen Alex Junior?
The room was spinning as I grabbed on to the desk.
“Willow, are you okay?”
It was Gabe. I sat in the chair. His accent only slipped a little. My eyes were wide.
Lisa was in my face. “Is she okay?”
“She’s hypoglycemic.” The answer was automatic from Gabe.
I almost protested, but figured Gabe was covering for me.
Movement to the right brought my attention away from Gabe. “Oh dear, let me get her something. I’ll be right back.” Lisa left in a flurry as I tried to right my world.
Hands came up to my face and my eyes went back to Gabe’s after noticing Trent at the door. “Willow, focus on me.”
The world kept spinning. “Willow, look at me.” My eyes connected with Gabe’s with his stern command. “We need to get out of here. Lisa is going to come back with something to eat. You can’t eat it. We don’t know if it’s safe. We need to start moving toward the door.”
I nodded. With a proffered arm, I took it as we walked from the room. The hallway felt as if it were closing in on me. Dad had been here… with Alex. Why had he not said anything?
Lisa stood in front of us with a candy bar. “Here you go. How are you doing??
?
Get it together, Willow.
I smiled. “Thank you. I had something in my purse. I’m doing much better. I got immersed in class and forgot to eat something.”
That seemed to appease Lisa as her shoulders dropped in relief. “Oh good. I’m glad. Can I get you anything else?”
Our time was coming to an end. If I wanted any more answers now was the time. “I think I’m good. Thanks for sharing your memory of Dad with me. It’s always wonderful to hear something I didn’t know about him.”
Maybe the opened ended statement would encourage her to say something else. I cleared my throat as the thickness increased from the emotional realizations. Keep it together, Willow. Only a few more minutes.
“Yes, I would imagine so. I wish I had more to tell you. I’m glad I put the two together.”
At the entrance of the school, I realized there was no more information. Andre pulled up in the car. I felt ill and the acid in my stomach churned. How was this happening? Saying one last good-bye, I got in the car, glad to be away from the situation.
Trees and shrubbery blurred as Andre drove us away from the boarding school. I gathered my thoughts, hoping there was another explanation. Trent was on the phone. He mentioned a donation as well as the school name to my accountant, I assumed. Tears welled in my eyes as I faced Gabe.
In a flash he ripped off his mask leaving little bits of plastic on his face. My lip trembled not able to say the words yet. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”
A tear escaped and I tried to ask the question swimming to the surface. “Do you think… is it possible… did Alex…” The thought hurt too much to finish.
Warmth radiated from his thumb when he brushed away an errant lock of hair. “We’re checking. I don’t know, sweetheart.”
Finally, the thought broke through into my consciousness. Had Dad been killed?
In Carson’s room, we were surrounded by friends and family. Carson looked better and had switched his hospital gown for gray lounge pants and a blue T-shirt. At least he looked and felt better.