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He went over to Alexa after snuffing out his cigar in a small tin can filled with sand. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, squeezing one of her hands.
"Thanks for inviting an old man to the party, and being so gracious, considering what my soon-to-be ex-wife did to you."
Alexa frowned. "Are you getting a divorce?"
"I'm considering it," he said and sighed heavily. "If she and Blaine have been in contact, well, that's too much. I hoped that maybe she'd come to her senses once she realized that you two were happy and were having her grandchild, but she seems to be off the deep end over this. I've had a private detective following her and will be getting a full report tomorrow morning, and if I hear she's so much as tried to contact him, she's getting divorce papers this week."
"Oh, I'm so sorry I'm the cause of all this," Alexa said and I could hear the sadness in her voice.
"You're not. She is. Don't you forget it. It's her fault because she's so damn prejudiced against anyone who isn't blue blood. Which she isn't, of course, but she has pretensions of being so. Without me, she would be nothing."
We all got up and walked my father to the car, where he had already stowed his overnight bag.
"Thanks again," he said and kissed and hugged both of us. "I'll let you know how tomorrow morning's report goes and what's next."
"Thanks, Dad," I said, my heart warming that he was willing to go so far to do what was right. He really seemed to be a changed man.
We waved goodbye as he drove off, and I sighed in contentment.
"At least my dad is on our side," I said and smiled. I pulled Alexa into my arms and we kissed.
"He really is," she replied, and I could tell she was happy about it. "I'd be so happy if we could all have Christmas together every year. My parents, your dad, John and Felicia, Dana and James, and of course, the girls. But not this year. I don't want to put any of them in danger."
"I don't think we have to worry that much, but maybe next year, okay? We have a honeymoon to take."
"Next year," she replied and together, arm in arm, we walked back to the patio where John and Felicia were, lying beside each other on the patio chairs.
"Aren't you two getting cold?"
"We're enjoying the stars too much. The meteor shower should start around midnight, if you want to watch it."
"I'm game," Alexa said. "I've been in bed all day and feel like I could stay up until dawn."
So, the four of us stayed up well past midnight, wrapped in blankets and drinking hot spiced tea while we waited for the peak of the annual meteor shower.
I was happy to have such good friends. Despite the early awkwardness between Felicia and me, we were now well past that and I was only happy for John. He really seemed in love with her and she with him.
That made my heart warm.
"So, CTO mine, are you up to work this week or do you need more time off?”
John shook his head. “I need to get back to work as soon as possible,” he said. “Immersing myself in something technical will help distract me.”
“It’s up to you,” I replied. “What's on the agenda for this week?"
"We're going to hear back about our bid for the defense contract."
"Of course," I said, forgetting that we'd put in several bids in the past month for a few top tech contracts with the DoD. "How could I forget? Time flies when you're worried about a psychopathic ex-boyfriend coming after your loved ones..."
After I said it, I regretted it, knowing it would upset Alexa. It was a careless attempt at a joke, and I reached over and took Alexa's hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't really mean that."
"Yes, you did, and you were right to. We all have to be concerned for our safety because of Blaine."
"Yes, but I've been more excited about the baby and that's why I forgot that the deadline to hear back was this coming week. Not because of Blaine..."
"It's okay, you can tell the truth. All of us have been preoccupied with family matters."
"Hopefully, Blaine will be caught and go to jail," John said. "Then we can all breathe a sigh of relief and get on with life."
