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“She refuses to move in withme. She’s incredibly stubborn, but she’s also getting older. She was thirty-seven when she had my mother. She can’t hang on to her house and keep it up much longer. She already found a place, and I’ve researched it; I just hate that she won’t let me take care of her.”
“She probably believes it’s her job to take care ofyou,” Alex replied as she pushed the twins in their double stroller, hearing them sort of babble at each other. “Do you think that’s their special twin language?”
“I think that’s baby babble,” Bexley said. “Do you think they’re warm enough?”
“I think they’re all right. They seem to be enjoying their walk,” Alex replied, looking around the back garden of the palace. “They’ve really cleaned this place up since we were last here.”
“Yes, it’s beautiful now.” Bexley looked around as well.
Alex took the chance to stare at the woman again, and the light hit her in such a way that her golden hair made her look almost angelic. Alex reveled in it, but the sound of Bexley’s phone chiming in her jacket pocket broke the spell.
“Sorry. It could be Alice or Nora.” Bexley pulled the phone out and added, “Oh. Just an email.”
“With more instructions? They’ll be back tomorrow,” Alex said, laughing. “I wonder if I’ll be this insane when I have children.”
“It’s not from them,” Bexley replied, her tone changing.
“Something wrong?” Alex asked, turning back to her now.
“No, it’s fine.”
“Hey, I was thinking,” Alex began. “Since I’m here for a bit, maybe we could–” She looked over at Bexley again, hoping for a sign that Bexley would be on board with them going on an actual date. Instead, she found the woman staring at her phone. “Bexley?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Can we stop walking for a second?”
“Of course.” Alex stopped the stroller. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s from someone I wasn’t expecting to hear from,” Bexley replied. “Well, not like this, at least.”
“Oh?” Alex tried not to appear overly curious.
“My ex-girlfriendemailedme.”
“Your…” Alex swallowed.
“We were talking about getting back together before I came here, but we agreed to figure things out when I got back.”
“I see.” Alex pretended to check on the twins. “Did she say something in there that changes that plan?”
“She still loves me and wants us to be a couple again. She can wait, but she wants to talk. She’s not going to see anyone while I’m here.” Bexley locked her phone and turned to Alex. “I’m sorry. This isn’t a good conversation topic for a nice afternoon walk.”
“It’s better than bananas,” Alex joked, trying to keep the mood light.
“Saybananasagain,” Bexley replied, smiling at her.
Alex laughed and asked, “So, what are you going to do?”
“Well, I’m going to keep walking. It’s not something I want to deal with right now.”
“Can I ask you something?” Alex chanced as they resumed walking again.
“Sure.”
“Doyoustill loveher?” Alex swallowed as she waited for the response that could cause her heart to break.
Everything rested on this moment. If Bexley said yes, that would be it. Alex wasn’t interested in being with a woman who was in love with someone else.
“Honestly, I don’t think so,” Bexley said, and Alex let out the breath she’d been holding, finding a little bit of hope in that response. “It’s hard to explain, but things with Holly and I ended abruptly and strangely,” Bexley added. “I think she’s holding on to something that’s not there anymore, but I can’t fault her because I thinkIwas, too.” She then paused before offering, “Can I push them for you? You’ve been pushing this thing the whole time.”
