“Oh, sweetie, you barely could get two coherent words together. So, when they knocked, yeah, I kind of lost it.”
“I love you. You’re starving, damn, you haven’t left the room have you?”
I’m blushing again at my grumbling stomach. “Totally worth it.” I kiss him on the forehead.
“Shower, then we’ll go downstairs and get something to eat.”
An hour later, I’m dressed in, hopefully, something fitting for dinner. It’s the black maxi dress I wore on our first date. I love he remembers. The dining room is full and goes quiet when we step inside.
“Hello, everyone, I’d like all of you to meet my fiancée, Grace Moore. Grace, Martha and her husband Dane. Mary, Michael, you know Marley of course. One of my former step-mothers, Lorraine, my other brothers, Milo and Martin, and his wife Carol. My other sisters Michelle, her husband Brandon, Mina, and Mina’s mother, Nora. Where’s Priscilla?”
Marley answers, “Lorraine has been digging at her to go see Dad. She popped some Xanax and went to bed early. Come sit, I had the cook do your favorite tonight.
“I’m so happy the thing you were in the middle of was getting engaged to Grace. Let me guess, you were hoping to get married before you came down.”
Alex nods, “Yes, I had no idea Dad was so bad. Has the cardiologist come back with a report yet?”
“No, he’ll meet with you tomorrow morning, first thing. He’ll be there at eight in the morning. Dad’s resting, I offered to go over there but he doesn’t want anyone but you there, he said.”
“Let me guess, he was mad I didn’t go over there this afternoon?”
Marley keeps her head down as she nods. Servants begin appearing and setting down plates, I count three before they disappear.
“You needed the rest, I’d do it again.” I whisper and Alex nods.
The man who had been at the door is Martin, the woman is Martha, and they both look embarrassed. Martin speaks up. “I’m sorry about bothering you, Alex. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t even think of you needing sleep.”
Martha nods, “Me, too. It shouldn’t have taken Grace threatening to break our hands to see that. I’m glad you did, Grace, really, it was a wake-up moment. So, Grace, tell us a little about yourself.”
After the way I had introduced myself, I figure it’s a far warmer welcome than I deserve. Dinner goes much smoother than I pictured it going. It also goes on much longer than I thought it would. It’s clear how much everyone is looking to Alex, not just in dealing with their father, but in their lives. Dane and Martha ask his opinion on buying a home; Milo is still in college and is eager to share all with Alex. Even Nora asks for his advice on whether or not she should sell the condo she rarely visits in France, and what’s a fair price. The constant buzz is hectic. I can understand why, between them and worry about his father’s health, Alex is looking so bad.
It’s almost midnight before Alex and I make an escape back to his room. I complain of a headache and it’s not really an excuse. Sighing, I almost collapse into Alex’s arms when he picks me up as he closes the door.
“You’re going to break your back. You need your strength. How in the world did you turn out so normal with a family so crazy?”
“It wasn’t so bad growing up in it. My dad had me in private school by the time I was nine and my brothers and sisters were fun actually.”
“How did you get to be Alex and not wind up with an M name?”
“My mother was adamant I would be named after her grandfather, and my father didn’t come up with the M thing until Priscilla and her mother, Lorraine, came into the house. He liked it being easy on his memory. Easy was always Dad’s way.”
“I hate I made you come down here and made you all stressed out. I’m glad you’re here to get your dad into the hospital, but I’m not going to pretend to your family or your dad that I’m happy with the way they’ve been all over you. Seeing them practically crawling all over you made me want to smack them.Yes, you are the smartest, most brilliant man on this side of the Mississippi but it’s not fair to you.”
Alex is stripping me and I’m helping him. Pulling me on top of him, I rub against him. Loving the feel of his skin against mine. It doesn’t matter it’s only been a few hours, all I can think of is the last few days without him.
“Grace, it’s family, baby. Family is always going to be important. Sure, we talk on the phone but it’s different with me here. They know I won’t be here for long and they’re taking advantage, that’s all. I also have to tell you, it made me hard as fuck to hear you stand up for me. It’s sweet, not necessary, but very sweet.”
Annoyed, I push up and my hands are on my hips. “Not necessary! Alex it was very necessary. You looked horrible and it sure as hell isn’t going to happen again.”
His hands stroke up my legs and wrap around my wrists. Tugging me down to him, his smile is smug. I want to smack him. “Damn, you’re pretty when you’re cranky. All pink and flush, don’t be like that, Grace.”
“I swear to god I want to smack you right now. You have to take care of yourself, if not for you then for me. Don’t you remember I was stuck in here for hours, starving, because I didn’t dare leave you alone for them to come in here and wake you up? Or how about I spent over an hour bawling on the plane because I was so upset about sending you here and it being all my fault?”
The smile disappears and he hugs me close. “Grace, sweetheart, don’t tell me that. I don’t ever want you to cry over me, ever. It wasn’t your fault. Marley would have probably worn me down eventually. I promise, I’ll take care of myself for the both of us.”
“Promise?”
“I promise, tell me sweetheart, are you sore?” His hands are roaming down my back and down to my ass.