Chapter One
“There,” she says. “Have I forgotten anything?”
Alexis shakes her head no.
“No,” she answers. “After all, I didn’t have that much…”
“Alexis,” Kristina begins, “I wish that you would reconsider…”
“Reconsider what?”
“Sonny’s apartment. I can take perfectly good care of you at our apartment.”
“I know that.”
“Well then why aren’t you coming home?”
“Kristina, it isn’t all that complicated. Sonny wants to…take care of me…”
“I can take care of you.”
“And I want to let him,” Alexis says. “He feels responsible for everything that happened and I just think that he wants to make sure that I’m alright.”
“He can come over whenever he likes. He lives right across the hall…”
“This is just something that I think we need,” Alexis continues. “It will make him feel better and it will make me feel better. Please try to understand.”
“I do understand, I guess,” Kristina says. “But I’m going to be over there a lot so…you just let him know…”
“Let him know what?” Sonny asks from the doorway.
“Well,” Kristina begins, “I was just telling Alexis that I’m going to be spending a whole lot of time with her over at your apartment and that you had just better get used to the idea.”
Sonny smiles.
“You want to spend time with your sister,” he says. “That’s only natural. You’re more than welcome. You can even bring Ned…”
Kristina is surprised; Alexis is stunned.
“Why, thank you, Sonny.”
“One thing, though.”
“And what’s that?”
“You’re not allowed to uh…move my furniture around…”
“Good thinking,” Alexis adds.
Kristina smiles.
“Okay, okay,” she says. “I won’t try to redecorate or bring any warmth at all to your apartment…”
“Thank you,” he says. “Now, I’ve got the car waiting downstairs. Your nurse says that somebody’ll be here in a few minutes with your wheelchair.”
“Wheelchair?” Alexis repeats. “I don’t need a wheelchair…”
“And you’re gonna have to do as you’re told,” Sonny says. “Now, are you ready to get outta here?”
Alexis takes a deep breath and smiles.
“You have no idea,” she says.
___________________________________________________________________
The elevator arrives at the penthouse floor of the Harborview Towers. The doors slide open. Max steps out and holds them open as Sonny wheels Alexis’ wheelchair out of the elevator, followed closely by Kristina, carrying Alexis’ overnight bag.
“You know, this chair is overkill,” Alexis protests.
“You still complainin’?” Sonny teases.
“Actually, I hate to admit it,” Kristina begins, “but I agree with Sonny. You have to take things slowly for awhile – until you build your strength back up.”
“Kristina’s right,” Sonny says.
“Okay, okay,” Alexis interrupts. “I know when I’m outnumbered…”
Max walks to Sonny’s door and unlocks it. He holds the door open and stands to the side.
Sonny wheels Alexis into the apartment and waits while Kristina walks past.
“Is there anything else I can do?” Max asks.
“No,” Sonny says. “Thanks, Max.”
“No problem,” he answers as he slowly closes the door.
“May I stand now?” Alexis asks.
“Long enough to get out of that chair and over to the sofa.”
“Sonny…”
“Listen to the man, Alexis,” Kristina adds. “He’s right.”
“Oh, alright. I’m listening…” Alexis says. She stands slowly and walks the three or so steps to the sofa and sits. “Happy?”
“It’s a start,” Sonny says. “Be right back.”
Alexis and Kristina watch as he disappears into the hallway that leads to the kitchen.
“This may have been a mistake,” Alexis says. “He’s liable to be relentless about this…”
Kristina laughs and places Alexis’ overnight bag down near the sofa.
“Oh, he’ll be relentless alright. I’d bet money on it,” she says. “He certainly seems as if he’s going to be pretty conscientious about taking care of you…”
“Yeah – a little too conscientious…”
“I disagree,” Kristina says. “I mean I still don’t think that you’re safe with him but…it’s clear to me that he loves you and I know how you feel about him so…”
“Thank you, Kristina.”
“You’re welcome. Listen,” she continues, “I’m going to get out of here so you can settle in and get some rest.”
“Rest? I’ve been resting in the hospital for weeks…”
“But that’s not like being at home around people who care about you…”
Just then, Sonny walks back into the living room, carrying a tray with fruit on it. He walks over and sits the tray on the coffee table.
“Help yourself,” he says.
“Actually,” Kristina says, “I’m on my way out.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Sonny says.
“I know. Thank you but…Alexis needs to settle in. I don’t have to hover as much now that she’s out of the hospital.” She leans over, kisses Alexis on the cheek and hugs her warmly. “It’s so good to have you back!”
“It’s good to be back,” Alexis says.
Kristina stands and walks to the front door.
“I’ll talk to you soon,” she says. “And thank you again, Sonny.”
“You’re welcome,” Sonny answers.
Kristina opens the door and walks out, closing it behind her.
Alexis peers at the fruit on the tray in front of her.
“This looks good,” she says.
“Go ahead,” he says. “Fruit is good for you.”
She reaches over and picks up an apple.
“Satisfied?”
“For now. I’m gonna go get washed up and then I’ll get started on lunch. You gonna be okay?”
“Bodyguard at the door, overprotective sister across the hall, mother hen upstairs…I’ll be fine.”
“Good.” He stares at her for a moment. “Kristina’s right.”
“About what?” Alexis says with a bite of the apple in her hand.
“It’s great havin’ you back home,” he says. He leans over and kisses her on the forehead. “Be right back!”
Alexis smiles as Sonny runs up the stairs.
“Take your time,” she calls after him.
___________________________________________________________________
Alexis stands at the terrace doors and stares out the window at the dark sky. She takes a deep breath, exhales, and relaxes. Sonny is in the kitchen, doing the dinner dishes. Max is just outside the door, keeping watch. There is soft music playing. The entire day has been calm and peaceful and uninterrupted.
All in all, a great homecoming.
A sharp pain shoots through her left shoulder, reminding her of her ordeal and its aftermath. She winces a bit before moving the arm around, trying to loosen the injured muscles. Little by little, she tells herself. Little by little.
“Arm botherin’ you?” Sonny asks as he returns from the kitchen.
“A little.”
“You’re gonna have to exercise it – move it around some. That’s what the physical therapy is for.”
“I know, I know. I hate to exercise.”
“Yeah, I know,” he says as he approaches. “But you’re gonna have to this time – that is if you want that arm to get stronger.” He moves behind her and puts his arms around her waist. “Just take your time.”
“That’s what I was just thinking,” she says. “Dishes done?”
“They’re in the dishwasher.” He snuggles closer. “Tired?”
“Actually, I am a little tired…”
“So why don’t you go upstairs and get some sleep?”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Alexis says. She turns around and puts her arms around his waist. “Are you coming?”
“In a little while,” Sonny answers. “I wanna lock up, check with Max…” He leans closer and kisses her cheek. “You go on upstairs. I’ll be right up.”
“Okay,” she relents. “Don’t be long.”
He kisses her gently.
“I won’t be,” he says.
Sonny watches as Alexis walks slowly up the stairs and out of sight. He walks to the front door and opens it.
“Everything okay, Boss?” Max asks.
“No, no – everything’s good. I need you to keep on doing what you’ve been doing today – keepin’ it quiet. Alexis needs to rest. I don’t want anything disturbing her. Got it?”
“Got it, Boss.”
Just then the elevator doors open and out steps Kristina.
“Oh good,” she says as she bounces over to Sonny. “I thought I’d check up on Alexis. How is she?”
“Uh, she’s good,” Sonny answers. “She just went up to bed. She’s probably not asleep yet…”
“It’s nothing important,” Kristina says. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow…”
“I’ll tell her you were here.”
“Thank you,” Kristina says.
She says nothing for a moment.
“Somethin’ else?” Sonny asks.
“Yes,” she admits. “Look Sonny…I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate everything that you’re doing for my sister and…I can see how much she means to you…”
“And?”
“Well, I just want for us to understand each other. I haven’t forgotten the fact that everything that happened to Alexis happened because there was someone out there who wanted to get to you badly enough that they used my sister to do it...and we both know that it can happen again and that it probably will happen again…”
“What’s your point, Kristina?”
“I just don’t want my sister to get hurt again because she’s close to you. I don’t want to have to bury her the next time…”
Sonny says nothing as her words play in his mind.
“Oh, we understand each other, Kristina…I’ll uh…I’ll tell Alexis that you came by.”
He turns and walks back into the apartment as Max closes the door.
Sonny turns off first the light, then the stereo, and then walks to the foot of the stairs.
He stops for a moment – his mind full.
He remembers what Kristina said. It was my fault, he tells himself – as he has told himself again and again ever since it happened. And no matter what I do, I can’t promise that it won’t happen again…
“Sonny?” comes Alexis’ voice from upstairs.
He shakes off his thoughts.
“Coming!” he calls.