Chapter 5 - The Night Annie Left
Annie stayed.
But something changed.
They became careful around each other.
Too careful.
Alexander stopped lingering in the kitchen.
Annie stopped teasing him.
Even the twins noticed.
Jordan cornered Alexander one morning.
“Did you make Annie mad?”
“No.”
“Did she make you mad?”
“No.”
“Then why are you weird?”
Alexander stared at his five-year-old.
“I'm not weird.”
Jordan shouted upstairs.
“Justin! Dad doesn't know he's weird!”
Alexander closed his eyes.
Wonderful.
The real crisis came three weeks later.
Alexander was attending a Morrison Dynamics charity gala in Manhattan when his phone rang.
Mrs. Greene.
“Mr. Morrison, Annie's gone.”
Alexander immediately stepped away from the table.
“What?”
“She packed.”
“Where are the boys?”
“With me.”
“Why did she leave?”
“She received a phone call.”
“From Derek?”
“I believe so.”
Alexander ended the call.
Richard approached.
“What happened?”
“I need my car.”
“You're giving a speech in twelve minutes.”
“Cancel it.”
“The mayor is here.”
“Then let him speak.”
“Alexander—”
“My sons need me.”
Richard smiled slightly.
Alexander noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Richard.”
“Four months ago, you wouldn't have left this room if the building were burning.”
Alexander took his coat.
“Four months ago, I was an idiot.”
“Progress.”
Alexander reached home thirty minutes later.
Jordan was crying.
“She left us!”
Alexander knelt.
“No. Annie didn't leave you.”
“She did!”
Justin clung to his brother.
Alexander felt the old instinct rising.
Call therapist.
Call staff.
Fix.
Instead, he sat on the floor.
“I know you're scared.”
Jordan hit his chest.
“She promised!”
Alexander let him.
“She promised she'd stay!”
“I know.”
“You said Mommy would stay too!”
Alexander froze.
Jordan froze.
The room went silent.
Alexander pulled both boys against him.
“Listen to me.”
They cried against his tuxedo.
“Mommy didn't choose to leave.”
Jordan shook.
“And Annie?”
“I don't know why Annie left.”
“Is she coming back?”
Alexander looked at his sons.
“I don't know.”
He hated saying it.
But it was the truth.
Justin whispered, “Go find her.”
Alexander looked down.
“What?”
“You found us when the door was locked.”
Jordan wiped his face.
“Find Annie.”
Alexander stood.
This time, he knew exactly what to do.
He found her at Grand Central Terminal.
Annie stood beneath the departures board carrying one suitcase.
“Annie.”
She turned.
Shock crossed her face.
“Alexander?”
He walked toward her.
“What happened?”
“I need to go.”
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
“Why?”
“Derek got arrested.”
Alexander stopped.
“He owes people money. He's facing charges. I have to help.”
“No.”
Annie stared.
“What?”
“You don't.”
“He's my brother.”
“Yes.”
“He raised me.”
“Yes.”
“I can't abandon him.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“Supporting him isn't the same as sacrificing yourself.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Annie shook her head.
“Go home.”
“Home?”
“To Jordan and Justin.”
“They're not my children.”
“They love you.”
“That makes it worse!”
Her voice broke.
People passed around them.
Annie lowered her voice.
“What happens when you meet someone?”
Alexander stared.
“What?”
“Someone appropriate.”
His expression hardened.
“Appropriate?”
“A woman from your world.”
“My world?”
“Alexander, look at you. Then look at me.”
“I am.”
“I'm your maid.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You haven't been my maid for months.”
“Then what am I?”
Alexander stepped closer.
“The woman my sons search for when they wake up.”
Annie's eyes filled.
“The woman who taught me that listening is sometimes more important than fixing.”
He took another step.
“The woman I look for every time I walk into my own house.”
Annie stopped breathing.
Alexander's voice softened.
“And the woman I'm in love with.”
Annie stared at him.
“You can't say that.”
“I just did.”
“You're grieving.”
“I'll probably always grieve Lauren.”
Annie looked away.
“Exactly.”
Alexander gently touched her hand.
“Loving Lauren isn't a barrier between us.”
Annie looked back.
“She's part of why I know what love is.”
Tears slipped down Annie's cheeks.
“And your sons?”
“They sent me.”
Despite everything, Annie laughed.
“Of course they did.”
Alexander smiled.
“Come home.”
Annie looked at the departure board.
Then at him.
“I need to help Derek.”
“We'll find him an attorney.”
“I don't want your money.”
“Good. Because I'm not paying his debts.”
She blinked.
“Then what are you offering?”
“A chance for him to face his problems without dragging you down with him.”
May you like
Annie stared for a long moment.
Then she slowly put down her suitcase.
