CHAPTER4
August2019
Alexa
* * *
Life went backto normal over the next couple of months.
I worked on my dissertation research, Luke did a lot of FaceTime calls with John, and the girls came out a couple of times for a visit on the weekends, enjoying the beach house with us during the last days of Summer.
Mom and Dad had decided to give us a night off once a month, and Luke and I agreed that it was more than just a treat — it was a necessity. Our next night off was coming up on the weekend, and I was excited, planning our stay at a hotel close to where Phoenix was so that we could take her out for a long sail. Hopefully, the wind would be in our favour, and we would be able to get some great sailing.
We kept our security detail in place just to be safe despite there being no word about Blaine. Occasionally, I’d catch sight of a strange vehicle in the driveway and remember why it was there when I saw the small logo on the side door. The logo was unobtrusive, and only we would know it was from the security company. There was nothing besides a stylized eagle with his wings spread to identify the company. It made me feel safer, if not sad that my life had come to a point where I needed a security service to protect me, Luke and Leif from Blaine.
Still, I was lucky that we could afford it. Some women faced abusive exes all on their own, with only a restraining order in place. Knowing Blaine as we did now, that would never be enough to keep him away from us. Only a show of muscle worked.
I hope it stayed that way.
The girls were coming out on Friday night for an overnight stay, so they could spend time with me and Leif while Luke stayed in town overnight for a late meeting with some potential investors. He had to wine and dine them, and so decided to stay in the city. He suggested that I invite Candace and my other two besties out to keep me company. Mara could make it, but Jan couldn’t. It would still be fun and the three of us would have a barbecue, spend the day on the small beach in front of the beach house, and then stay up and watch the latest episode of whatever was hot on the streaming services.
I was looking forward to a night with the girls, and wished Jan could be with us, but she had a hot date. Brandon Wright was his name, but we liked to joke she finally met Mr. Right and she loved it. He traveled a lot for his job in international finance, so when he was in town, she said she was his and only his. I couldn’t expect her to break a hot date with Mr. Right. Luke was having a shower, getting ready to leave and Leif was taking his afternoon nap.
Luke came out of the bedroom closet, wearing one of his best suits. It was dark grey, and he wore a black silk tie. The ensemble set off his bright blue eyes and made him look like the hottest space cadet of all time.
“How do I look?” he asked and adjusted his lapels. “Good enough to merit several millions of dollars in investment?”
“You look marvellous, darling,” I quipped. “More like a billion dollars.”
“Good,” he said and ran his fingers through his a-bit-too-long hair, which he had neglected to get cut over the past few months. The bangs hung into his eyes, and he had to continually sweep them back in a very sexy way — sexy, at least, to me. “Remind me when we get back from our date night to get a haircut.”
“I don’t know,” I said and went to him, slipping my arms around him from behind as he stood primping in front of the mirror. “I think I prefer you with those bangs. They make you look so Emo.”
“Emo?” He glanced at himself, turning his head from side to side. “That won’t do. Should I get a pair of scissors and cut them myself? I don’t want Mr. Adam Pierce of Seneca Investments to think I’m some Emo dude…”
I laughed and squeezed him. “Use some gel. That’ll keep your hair in place. You’ll look like the Wolf of Wall Street instead of a Space Entrepreneur, but better that than an Emo dude.”
“Good idea,” Luke said and turned around in my arms, bending down to kiss me, his hands cupping my face. “Thanks for not minding me staying overnight. I know Adam wants to enjoy the Manhattan night life scene while he’s here from Seattle.”
“No problem,” I replied and kissed him back. “I get my bestie time, so I’m happy.”
We hugged closely for a moment, and it was then I heard snuffling noises on the baby monitor. Leif was waking up.
“Duty calls,” I said and leaned up on my toes to kiss Luke once more.
He let me go and followed me into the nursery. The light was low, the curtains and blinds closed and the night light on, illuminating the room in stars and galaxies.
“Hey, there,” I said and picked Leif up. He stretched and wriggled in my arms, and then smiled when I brought him out into the hallway, and he saw Luke.
“There’s my boy,” Luke said and leaned over to kiss Leif on the forehead. “I’ll miss you.”
“You better go,” I said and held up my Apple watch to show Luke the time. “Your ride will be waiting.”
“Yes, I better.”
I followed Luke out into the entryway and watched him slip on his shoes and then grab his briefcase and overnight bag.
“Goodbye, my two favorite people in all the world,” Luke said and kissed us both once more. “I’ll call you later when I get into bed if you want.”
“Sure,” I said. “I’ll probably go to sleep around midnight. Call me if you’re in by then.”
“I’m sure I will be. I’ll claim that as a new father, I’m too tired to stay up really late and make sure I’m back in my room by midnight. They’ll all understand.”
“Okay, but don’t leave unless you think it’s kosher to. I don’t want you to interrupt the evening just because of me. If you think you should stay out later, go ahead. I won’t mind.”
“Okay. We’ll play it by ear.”
He kissed me once more and then left the house. I stood on the front entry with the door open and watched him get into the waiting limo provided by the security service. He waved once and then the limo drove off. The sedan from the security company that would watch over me and the property was still in the driveway, the Eagle crest visible from where I stood.
I felt completely safe.