Strangle or Coddle?

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Melissa's House

13 weeks...

"Why are you all dressed up? Where are you going?" Melissa asked, appearing out of nowhere with a glass of orange juice in hand, an elegant brow raised so high it almost merged with her hair. Alexandra winced and turned around, a nervous smile on her lips.

So much for sneaking out.

"Hey Mel," she mumbled, turning a dull shade of red since she'd been caught.

Melissa gave a tight smile. "Hey Lexi. And I haven't forgotten my question. I hope you haven't too because I'd like an answer to it."

Alexandra blew out a breath and tucked her hair behind her ears, stalling for time. Realizing Melissa wasn't going to back down, she decided to let her know. She wasn't doing anything wrong anyway.

"I'm going to our house... Well, Trey's house now."

The glass of juice slipped from Melissa's hand as she stared in shock at Alexandra, trying to process what she'd just heard. At the sound of smashing glass, she jumped away from the spot with a squeal, composed herself and narrowed in on Alexandra.

"Did I hear you right?"

Nervously, she replied, "Yes. I'm going there."

"Not that I'm against it or anything, but, why?"

"My stuff," she replied vaguely.

"Your stuff?" Melissa echoed with a disbelieving laugh.

"Yep," Lexi confirmed in a voice too high; a voice that betrayed her nervousness.

Melissa crossed her arms under her breasts, regarding Alexandra - her broken glass of juice completely forgotten. "Trey sent over your clothes when he found out you'll be staying with me for a bit. So what stuff are you talking about going to get? Why do I feel like you're not telling me everything?"

"I don't need to," Lexi replied quietly, then lifted a brow in question. "Unless this place is a prison?"

Looking offended, Melissa said, "Last I recall, Trey didn't want to see you - ever. Add that to the possibility of he being drunk and it's a recipe for disaster!"

Alexandra sighed, realizing Melissa wasn't trying to stop her. She was just concerned, and Lexi appreciated that. "I'm just going for my remaining stuff. All the maternity clothes I bought are still there. And if possible, I'll collect the baby stuff too then it'll be less expenses for me."

Melissa was still looking at her skeptically. "I'm worried about you; as your sister-in-law and your best friend - "

"I know you're worried," Alexandra cut in, smiling.

"I still don't think it's a good idea," Melissa said, exasperated at the realization that Lexi wasn't listening to her. She'd made up her mind.

Alexandra grinned a bit mischievously. "Are you saying that your brother is bad? That he'll hurt me?"

"No no," she said hastily. "At least I don't think so. But I still think you shouldn't endanger the lives of your babies like this."

"What the - "

"Let me explain." It was Alexandra's turn to cross her arms and regard Melissa as she struggled to find the right words to explain herself. "What if he's drunk and should push you... or something like that - by mistake? If he finds out he killed or harmed his own children in any way, he'll never forgive himself. Even if you do."

"I understand your concerns. But I have to do this. And who knows, maybe, I might tell him about the babies."

Melissa searched her face for a moment. "Is that what you want to do?"

"Yes," she answered without missing a beat.

Nodding, Melissa said, "Okay then. Be safe. If you need anything, I'm just a phone call away."

"Thanks," Lexi mumbled, hugging her. "I'll be back."

* * *

Trey's House

With a deep breath to calm her racing nerves, she lifted a fist and knocked on the door - twice, then rang the doorbell once. It had been their code of sorts so they knew if the guest was a friend or a stranger.

Almost immediately, the door was answered by... Maya. She exhaled, trying to tamp down the completely unnecessary disappointment that flared in her chest upon seeing it was Maya and not him.

"Hey," she greeted a bit too cheerfully, trying to hide her disappointment.

"What do you want?"

Alexandra jerked back in shock as if she'd been slapped. The same woman who had been sort of mother figure to her was now being polite and formal... like she didn't know her.

"Maya?"

The housekeeper stepped out of the house, shutting the door behind her and clasped her hands in front of her and sighed, asking, "How may I help you?"

Alexandra just managed to close her mouth. Composing herself, she said, "I need to go inside."

Maya shook her head somberly. "I'm afraid that's no longer possible."

"What do you mean by it's not possible?" she asked impatiently.

"Mr. Robinson made it expressly clear that you were no longer his wife and no longer the madam of this house. Therefore, we are not to let you in should you come around."

"But this house is in my name as well," she countered. "It's as much mine as it is his."

Maya cracked, unable to keep up the front anymore. "I'm sorry. Mr. Robinson's orders," she said, sounding genuinely sorry.

"Please, I just need to get the rest of my stuff," she practically begged.

"Then you're going to have to wait till he comes back. I cannot risk the jobs of every worker here because I let you in against his orders. They have families to feed. If it was just my job on the line, I would. But it isn't. I'm sorry," she said quietly. She slipped back inside and locked the front door, effectively leaving Alexandra stranded on the entrance.

She took a peek at the darkening sky and banged at the door for a bit, begging Maya to let her in. It fell on deaf ears of course, because the woman she thought cared about her wasn't willing to risk anything else for her. She understood that all those who worked there had families to take care of... but it hurt, nonetheless.

At the rate the clouds were gathering, it was going to rain any moment soon and she might get wet. But she wanted to wait for him to grant her access to her stuff. So, she seated herself on the front steps, shivering from the cold weather and cursing herself for not bringing a coat. And when it began pouring, she questioned just how stupid she was in deciding to wait.

She leaned her head against a pillar and closed her eyes, pulling her sweater tightly around her middle, hoping he came soon.

* * *

Trey got home while it was raining, and upon getting out of the car, he was greeted with an umbrella over his head, shielding his lean form from the harsh rain. Close to the entrance, he noticed a figure on the stairs and took off his glasses.

'Who in their right senses would sit out on this rain,' he wondered.

He hurried over to the front of the house - his driver following with the umbrella - and began ascending the steps, stopping as shock seized him upon realizing it was none other than Alexandra - his wife.

He didn't know whether to strangle or coddle her, seeing as she had neglected her health... again. He locked up those feelings, remembering they had filed for divorce and were going through the process. So instead of carrying her inside, he bent over and shook her awake. She woke with a start, eyes darting around wildly till they landed on him and went wider with... shock? Fear?

He couldn't tell.

She stood hastily, opened and closed her mouth a few times with no word coming out. Then she turned away, her eyes looking anywhere but at him. He was realized she was afraid. 'But of what,' he wondered.

Of him?

Of his reaction?

He didn't know, but he didn't want her fearing him. "What do you want?" he queried, sounding louder and harsher than intended. He had to speak loudly for her to hear him over the rain, yes, but he'd sounded angry.

She jerked in surprise and took a step back, shaking her head frantically. "This was a bad idea - "

"You think?" he cut in sarcastically, talking about her decision to sit out on the rain. She hadn't changed at all, and for some weird unknown reason, he was glad. She was the same impulsive girl he'd married.

"I'm sorry. I'll... I'll just l-leave," she stuttered.

Trey closed his eyes, his jaw ticking as he tried to rein in the emotions she evoked in him. Opening his eyes, he realized she was truly leaving; she was on the second step going down to the third. She was planning on walking on the rain.

Appalled, he reached out and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back up the stairs, watching as she stumbled trying to keep herself from faceplanting. "Are you crazy?!" She blinked once, then a second time, and before he knew it, she was crying, stepping away to bury her face in her hands. He watched, astonished, as she sobbed like a baby, and it pricked at his heart.

Calming himself, he asked again, "Were you really going to walk in the rain? Why are you sitting out in it anyway? Don't you care for your health?"

It warmed her heart that he still cared about her. He'd always gotten angry whenever she disregarded her health in one way or another. It made her so happy that she cried even more, leaving Trey confused and wondering if he'd said something wrong. There was hope for them.

When she finally stopped crying, she faced him with tear-streaked cheeks. "Maya said I was no longer allowed here, per your orders. So I wasn't allowed in," she answered, then looked away as more tears leaked out of her eyes. "I just wanted a few of my personal items."

'Why was she crying so much?' he wondered.

"I sent all your things over to you," Trey replied, lifting a brow. He crossed his arms over his chest, regarding her with an intimidating stare. "So why don't you tell me the real reason for this 'visit'?"

She grimaced at the skepticism in his voice. 'So much for thinking he still cared.' "What do you mean by real reason?" she asked. "I already told you."

"You have nothing here Alexandra," he repeated, starting to look annoyed.

"But I do. In boxes under the bed, and I'm here to get them," she replied firmly, wiping her cheeks of the tears. "You can follow me up if you think I'm telling lies."

He looked her over, noticing she'd put on a few pounds and looked even lusher than she was with him. If he and her went in one room, he knew what could happen; what he'd be tempted to do. Because they still had chemistry even if she didn't love him anymore. He knew he still loved her.

He exhaled deeply, steering his thoughts from the gutter and looked down at her drenched form. The fiery challenge that lit up her hazel brown eyes turned him on so much that he had to look away and focus on the situation at hand. If he didn't get her out of the cold and out of her wet clothes, she'd fall sick, and it would be on his head.

"Does Melissa know you're here?" He asked in a resigned tone, turning away towards the door so she wouldn't notice the tent in his pants.

"Yes," she replied as he unlocked the door with his key.

He held the door open and stepped aside for her to enter. "After you."

Hesitantly, she went past him into the house, and he followed, shutting the door after him.

"Maya!" he yelled over the sound of the rain hitting the roof. The housekeeper appeared almost immediately as he took his shoes off and put on crocs. He raised his brow at Alexandra who stood in her shoes still. Chagrined, she bent to take off her shoes, donning the crocs that had been hers during her stay there.

"Sir?" Maya said, announcing her presence.

"Are you aware you left her on the rain?" He queried, going straight to the point.

"I... " She was shocked he was asking such a question, considering he was the same person who'd given orders against allowing her into the house. "Sir, you asked that we not let her in."

"I know I did. But I don't remember adding 'even when it's raining'," he said, waiting for her to explain further her reasoning for leaving her out there like that.

"It wasn't raining when she got here and I told her of your instruction, adding that she could wait for you if she wanted. Admittedly, I heard her bang on the door a few times after I left her out, but I assumed she left before it started raining," she explained, knowing he was worried about her. "I had no idea she had waited... and in the rain. I apologize."

His lips curled snidely. "Don't apologize to me. I'm not the one who got left on the rain; the one who got wet."

Maya turned to Alexandra to apologize, only to find her bent over slightly, rubbing her chest. "Are you alright?" She asked, her motherly instincts flaring. She'd had a suspicion Alexandra was pregnant, but it was none of her business - especially now that she wasn't allowed to entertain the girl who'd been the daughter she'd never had.

Lexi took a deep breath and straightened, waving off her concern. She'd only felt nauseous because of the meat Maya was cooking, but she was feeling okay now. Trey caught a shiver come over her and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the stairs.

"Let's get you out of those. I'd rather not have Melissa chew my ass for something I had no hand in," he grumbled, hating how cold her hand was.