-*-*-

Truly

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Chapter Four: Fly Away

-*-*-

When Alex awoke in the morning, she was surprised to find that Ty was still lying in bed beside her, his eyes open and staring at the ceiling.

“Morning.” She whispered, breathing deep to take in the lingering scent of his cologne.

He looked down at her and smiled, “Good morning.” He laid his lips gently on hers momentarily, before pulling back and hugging her close, “Gen called while you were asleep. She and Amy wanted to let you know that they are already looking for a job for you.”

She giggled innocently, “I knew they would.”

“So, it’s my turn to be off. Ames should be at the next place waiting for the trucks, but I figured I’ll tag along and hang out with you.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say that you’re trying to keep an eye on me, Tyler Andrew Pennington.” She grinned and sat up, as he propped himself up on his elbow.

“Well, Alexandra Ann McLeod, I’m just trying to spend some time with you. We’re going to have to plan the wedding soon, won’t we? We could always start now. Unless you want to wait until we see Morgan so he can help.”

“No. Morgan can help since your cousin will, but I think that this is one of those ‘us’ things.”

“Geez…I forgot about Catie. I promised her I’d come to New York to visit her.” He ran his hand down his tired face, fighting back the yawn he knew was coming.

“Did you sleep at all last night?” Alex questioned as she moved a piece of his wild hair from his forehead.

“Yeah. An hour or so.”

“Go to New York.” She stated, “Get some rest, hang out with Cate, then we can start the wedding plans. Besides, with Gen and Amy around, you know I’ll be alright.”

“You promise?”

“Cross my heart.” She made the gesture with a flourish.

Ty nodded, “I’ll go – but I’m going to call you everyday, so leave your phone on, okay?”

She nodded, laying back down, “I know what you’re thinking.” She told him. The evidence of his thoughts was written across his face, like graffiti in the New York subway.

“Really?” He kissed her forehead and shifted his hand once again, laying it on her stomach, “What am I thinking?”

“I already go to a therapist back home twice a week, and she calls three times a week when we’re taping.” She confided, “I even called her the night you asked me to marry you. I don’t think I would have said yes if I hadn’t had a chance to talk it over with her and than my mother.”
He sighed, “I just…don’t want his actions to affect you.” He took his turn to sit up and gaze down at her. ‘God, she’s so beautiful, so smart. That bastard has no idea what he’s missed out on.’

“Believe me, I try hard to not let my past affect me. His actions were his own, and I did nothing to make him do it. But it’s not easy to live with the memories.” She stopped, trying to maintain her composure, “I remember the terror and the pain he inflicted on Me, Mom, and Morgan. I remember the pointless prayers that I made every night, hoping that he wouldn’t come home drunk.” She paused, the emotion thick in her voice, “I remember how Morgan lost his hearing.” That was all she needed to push her into hysterics.

Ty wrapped his arms around her, kissing her hair and whispering sweet-nothings, wishing he could change the unmovable past. Silence eventually came, only broken by Alex’s sniffling.

“We…”

“No, Ally, you don’t have to explain right now. I’d like to know some day, but it doesn’t have to be right now.” He once again brushed the stubborn piece of hair from her eyes.

She shook her head and wiped the tears from her cheeks, “No. If I don’t tell you now, I don’t think I ever will.”

Comprehension filled his eyes, and he hugged her closer, as she began to speak once again.

“Morgan was just a few months old…”

-*-*-

Amy and Gen had arrived earlier than anyone had expected, and were greeted to a pissed-off Ty and a slightly mope-y Alex. They had been quickly informed about the goings-on since they had called during the night, while steering clear of the carpenter.

“What happened?” Gen asked, sitting in the host’s trailer beside her Texan friend.

“I told him.”

Amy Wynn cocked her head to the side, “About?”

“Morgan…my father…the nights of terror. Everything I didn’t tell him before.” She let out the most exasperated sigh that either one had ever heard, “I just couldn’t hold it in anymore. I told you two, but I didn’t tell anyone else – not even Laurie and Doug. I knew eventually I had to tell him anyway.”

“Well, that would explain why he’s literally throwing the luggage into the truck.” Amy added, her eyes never moving from the man on the other side of the window, watching as he flung his tool belt in between the black and silver suitcases.

Alex sighed, “He called my father everything from a bastard to something I won’t say.” She stood up and walked the length of the trailer twice, before Gen grabbed her hand and pulled her back to the small couch.

“He definitely took it better than I thought he would.” The New Yorker shrugged, letting go of Alex’s hand.

“How’d you think he’d take it?”

The two roommates looked between each other, “Truthfully, we thought he’d hop a plane to Texas and rip your father limb from limb. Since the day you two started going out, he’s tried to protect you and we thought he’d totally go after Seamus the moment he found out.”

“Well, he didn’t. Just called him names after I stopped crying. He did threaten to kill him, but I sorta…asked him not to.”
“Any particular reason?”

“If he gets caught for it, he’ll get sent to jail.” Alex explained in all seriousness, “I don’t want him to end up on death row or something.”

“You are really scared about this whole thing, aren’t you?” Gen questioned.

“Just a little.” The sarcasm dripped from Alex’s tongue, “Do either of you have Laurie’s number? I promised her that I’d call her when Ty asked.”

-*-*-

With the little details now sorted out to Ty’s satisfaction, he had happily complied to Alex’s demands that he do to New York and bond with his favorite cousin, Catalina. Even at age sixteen, Catie was bound and determined to have him teach her to be a carpenter, so she could work with him at his business in Atlanta. Ty, however, wasn’t so keen on the idea after an incident when she was twelve involving the belt sander.

“I’ll call you when I can.” He told her, as they stood in the airport terminal. He’d checked his baggage earlier, and now was left with his two carry-ons, although he found that they both felt as though they were full of bricks.

“Don’t worry. Gen and Amy both promised that they’d take me out after day one taping is over tomorrow night to look around at dresses. Leigh promised to talk to the Banyan execs, as well as Kieran and Jodi.”

“Okay.” He cracked a smile and leaned forward to kiss her.

“Flight 12 to New York is now in final boarding. Would those people holding tickets for rows one through ten, please make their way to the gate.” The announcement stopped them, before their lips even touched.

“That’s you.” Alex breathed, her forehead touching his.

“I know.” He lifted his hand to her neck and pulled her mouth to his, savoring the kiss.

As soon as they broke apart, Alex smiled, “I’ll see you in two weeks.”

He smiled back, “I love you.”

“Love you, too.” She pushed him away, a grin on her face that didn’t dissipate until the plane was off the tarmac and in the air.

-*-*-