Chapter 117 Envisioning The Future
THEODORE
The moment I opened my eyes, I realized that the morning had a different feel to it. Alice was gone, and I saw her note on the nightstand claiming that she’d see me at the office, but even that wasn’t enough to bring me down from my high.
My guess was that I found out last night that I could live that way every day.
With Alice by my side. On top of me. My tongue deep inside of her.
On a more serious note, as I held her close to me and watched her fall asleep, something inside of me just snapped into place. That was where I wanted to be.
The fact that we’d continue living separately didn’t sit well with me. I’d always been terrible at sleeping. My mind just refused to settle down. But with her here, everything felt so much easier.
I rolled out of bed. First, I’d stop by the hospital to make sure Granny was alright. Then, I’d take it from there.
As I stepped out of the shower, I saw a missed call from her and immediately called her back. Hearing the cheeriness in her voice made me sag with relief. “Granny. I’m glad to hear that you sound more like yourself.”
“Oh, honey. Everything’s perfectly fine. You boys stunned me, is all.”
“I’m sorry about that,” I replied while absentmindedly looking at my hand. It looked worse today and I wasn’t sure that was possible. I’d need to take two of my strongest painkillers to make it through the day.
“It’s over now, Theo. Felix will be an outcast in this family. He doesn’t belong here anymore. You got what you wanted.”
I ran my good hand down my face. “I guess so.”
“So, now, I want you to focus on your life, both your professional and your private one. I’m already home. Why don’t you stop by at lunch?”
“I can do that.”
“See you then.”
I walked into the office with a literal bounce in my step. Alice was in her office. She stood up as soon as she saw me, eyes wide with hope. “Did you talk to her?”
I placed my hand on her hip. “She’s home. Wants to see me at lunch.”
She inhaled deeply. “I’m glad.”
“Me, too.”
I wanted to tell her how great last night was for me and even express how disappointed I was that tonight would be different. She’d be in her bed and I’d be in mine. But I let it go.
Cornering her first thing in the morning was counterintuitive.
So, instead, I asked her, “How’d you sleep?”
Her face flushed and she stood on her toes to brush her lips against mine. “Like a baby.”
“I could do with more nights like that.”
Fuck. Why’d I say it?
“Me, too,” she whispered.
“Really?”
She nodded, and I declared myself the happiest man in the world right then and there.
I went to Granny’s at around noon, as she’d suggested. I found her the way I always did—she looked great and moved energetically. As she closed the door, I told her, “You scared me, Granny.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “We both know how things go in this family. It’s Gloria who got spooked. Poor thing. I gave her the day off. We need to make sure our troubles aren’t witnessed by outsiders. They’ll have the wrong impression of us.”
I sat across from her, shaking my head lightly. “Only you’re concerned with that kind of thing.”
“Did you talk to your mother?”
I stiffened right away. “No.”
And I didn’t plan to.
Granny probably noticed my reaction and changed the subject. “I asked you to come here because I wanted to reinforce what I said to you on the phone—Felix has already been dealt with. In the meantime, I want you to stay away from him.”
“I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole. Unless he comes at me first.”
“I doubt that. And Alice? How did she take things?”
“She seemed fine. She’s well.”
“Good.” She looked at me for a few beats without saying anything, then smiled. “Thelma told me the girls wouldn’t stop asking about her. She treated them so well, didn’t she? It’s like she’s already a part of the family.”
“Yeah.” I wasn’t paying much attention to that yesterday because of the state of my mind.
Fuck Felix for that.
“I consider her that,” Granny said. “I look at you and can’t help but think that you’re not going to let go of her anytime soon.”
“I don’t plan to, no,” I agreed. I appreciated her so much for saying this to me. This was exactly the kind of support I expected from my mother, but instead…
“If Mom would just...I don't understand what her problem is, Granny. Why can't she be happy for me?”
“Your mother is a bitter woman. I'm sorry to say this to you. My suggestion? Do what you want. You have my support. Don’t waste your time living for other people. There’s a high chance you’ll outlive her. What will you do when she’s gone? No, everyone has the right to make their own decisions and choose their happiness, Theo. I do wish that...”
She trailed off and didn’t finish her sentence. “What?”
“Nothing.”
I tilted my head to the side. “Granny.”
Sighing, she finally said, “I'm an old woman, Theo. It kills me that I might miss your happiest moment.” Her eyes filled with tears and she clasped her hands together. “Your wedding, for instance.”
I stood up and went to sit right next to her. “You won't miss it. You'll live forever.”
We smiled at each other and I held her hands in mine. She shook her head at me. “Oh, my boy. I hope you’re right.”
“You won’t miss it,” I repeated, even though I had no idea when Alice and I would tie the knot. We hadn’t talked about dates at all.
We hadn’t even discussed an engagement.
“I’ve taken much of your time already.”
“No, of course not.”
Patting my face, she told me, “Remember what I said about Felix. Stay away.”
That wasn’t a problem for me at all.
The question was whether he would stay away from me.