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“When I first got back…” A shadow passed over Elise’s brown eyes like a cloud. “Well, I wasn’t in a good place, to say the least. What I wanted, what I really wanted, was to be alone in my old apartment with Julia. I wanted to be in my own bed and on my own couch. I didn’t want anyone around looking at me all the time, trying to figure out if I was okay. You know?”
Alexa nodded. She didn’t know much about what had happened to Elise when she’d been kidnapped by Manifest. According to Nick, none of them did, except maybe Julia. But Alexa could guess that it hadn’t been good, that even with therapy Elise would probably suffer from trauma for the rest ofher life. It made what Alexa had been through look tame by comparison.
“Anyway,” Elise continued, “I spent the first couple of months in the guest room at the house. Everyone was so nice, and no one pushed me for more than I could give. Eventually I woke up a little, started engaging, but it was on my terms and everyone was fine with that. It still took some getting used to though.”
Elise and Julia didn’t have any other siblings, and Alexa knew their childhood had been lonely in spite of the fact that they’d had each other. According to Julia, their mom hadn’t been very present, and they’d spent a lot of time with their grandfather, John Taylor, before he’d been killed during the efforts to bring down Manifest.
It wasn’t the same as Alexa’s upbringing as the beloved only child of parents who preferred reading over TV, but it wasn’t a houseful of people bickering and roughhousing like the Murphy house either.
“It’s nice though,” Alexa said. “I never really felt lonely as a kid — my parents were pretty attentive — but it’s kind of fun to see a big family in action.”
“It is fun,” Elise agreed. “But it’s an adjustment, and I think even they know that. You’re always welcome to join me and Jules when we dosomething, but you have to do what’s best for you too and we aren’t ever offended when you just want to do your own thing. We get it.”
An invisible weight lifted from Alexa’s shoulders. She hadn’t realized she’d been worried about offending someone, that she’d been so concerned about showing her gratitude that she sometimes went along even when she felt like begging off. “Thanks.”
Alexa’s name was called and she and Elise went to the counter to get their order. Julia carried the drinks while Alexa grabbed the pastries and muffins, and they made their way through the crowd toward the table.
Julia was holding John Thomas against her shoulder and patting his back when Elise set Julia’s tea down. Alexa passed a chocolate croissant to Julia.
“Oh my god,”’ she said, eyeing the pastry. “I need this.”
Alexa laughed and sat down. She took a sip of her coffee and savored the taste of the dark, bitter brew. She was reaching for the bran muffin she’d ordered when a muffled buzzing sounded from somewhere around the table.
“Is that me?” Julia asked, laying a sleepy John Thomas in the stroller.
“I think it’s me.” Alexa reached for her phone. Nick’s name was displayed on the screen. “It’s Nick.”
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey, can you talk for a sec?” he asked.
His voice felt weighted, heavy with something unsaid. She held up a finger to Julia and Elise and pushed away from the table, heading out of the coffee shop. “Of course.”
“Did you see the news?” he asked. “About Delaney?”
Dread wrapped its hand around her chest like a vise. “No. What is it?”
“He’s dead. Killed in a mugging.”
“You’re kidding,” she said, even though she knew Nick would never joke about something like this.
“No, the news just broke.” He hesitated. “I’m sorry, Lex.”
Only Nick would say he was sorry delivering this kind of news. Only Nick would understand how complicated her feelings would be.
“It’s not something I expected to hear,” she admitted.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She drew in a breath. “Yeah, I think so. It’s just… weird, isn’t it?”
“Very,” Nick said. “I’m not as happy as I probably should be.”
Alexa swallowed. “Same.”
Silence stretched between them.
“You coming home soon?” he asked.
