The next couple of days were fun as Wayne took the pups out on picnics, accompanied by their mother of course. They went sight seeing and seeing the laughter in her eyes and rich voice, Wayne could not be happier, it was well worth it. The children were also having the time of their lives. He had taken them out often when they were in the state but this was somehow different. It was home!
They had just come back home when the Butler Mr. Bruce Stable, who met them at the door, said. 'Sir, I have a message for you'.
Wayne waited for him to relay the message but he kept mute, looking pointedly at Alexa.
'Whatever it is, you can say in front of everyone here', Wayne said.
'I think I better go in and change', Alexa said, taking a step towards the stairs, but Wayne's restraining hand held her back.
'Speak, Bruce!' he ordered.
'Very well', he conceded. 'You got a mail from Miss Valerie Jones. She is coming back by the weekend!'
Wayne's face fell as well as the hand that held Alexa and Alexa wondered why. Who was Valerie Jones?
'I'll go change', she said, moving away hastily, it gently shoving her children ahead of her towards the stairs.
Wayne watched her go while deep in thought. Why had Valerie decided to come back after all this time? This was a complication he did not want at this point in his life and his relationship with Alexa.
At dinner, Alexa noticed that Wayne seemed to be preoccupied. One had to call him twice before he realised he was being spoken to and even then his answer was always in monologues.
His grandfather on the other hand, seemed to be full of joy. Could it be because of this Valerie whose intended visit seem to have such a disturbing effect on Wayne? Was she his sister? Or someone more intimately related to him? Why should it concern her? she thought but found that it really bothered her and could not understand why. It is only because it is bothering him and he has been good to me. He saved me and my pups afterall, she rationalized. She would have to ask him why the mention of Valerie's intended visit should bother him so much.
The opportunity came when she came to get a cup of water and found him still awake in the living room.
'You have not slept yet?' she asked, registering with a sweeping glance what he was doing.
'What are you doing still awake?' he countered, his voice slurred. He had obviously been drinking.
She went to where he was, took the bottle of scotch from him. 'You've had enough for tonight. Off you go to bed!' she ordered as thought to a ten year old. 'Are you drinking because of Valerie?' she asked as she helped him up by lifting his arm. 'Who is she by the way, to make you do this to yourself?'
'She is no one, you should be bothered about!' he drawled.
'But she is obviously bothering you!' Alexa insisted.
'You got it all wrong. I am not drinking because of her. You are the reason I am drinking', he corrected, looking at her with his heart in his eyes. 'I don't want to go to bed alone!', he insisted. 'You must know how I feel about you. How about coming to bed with me?'
Alexa could not believe she was hearing this. Of course he did not mean it, he was drunk and it was the drink talking through him. How could she take his drunk words seriously?
'You have drunk beyond your limit Wayne', Alexa said laughing nervously. 'Please go to bed and we shall talk about this again in the morning!'
Wayne wanted to insist but she hushed him, pointing him towards the stairs. He nodded and with her hand steadying him, they as ended the steps and walked towards his room where she deposited him on the bed.
As she made to leave, he pulled her down beside him on the bed and his mouth drew close to hers, his intention clear.
'What are you doing?' Alexa whispered in fright, but she needn't have bothered because, Wayne's head fell back on the bed and he was fast asleep.
Sigh! Alexa heaved relieved. She did not know what he had intended or what could have happened if he had not passed out at that time. He was obviously troubled as she wished he could find a little relief with sleep.
She placed his head properly on the pillow, rested his hands by his side, covered him with the covers, switched off the light and tiptoed from the room.
She went into her room - she had insisted on sleeping with her pups despite Wayne's assurances- and lay on the bed, deep in thought. Who was Valerie Jones?
She thought of the silver haired man in the forest, what was his name again, Myles, she thought about him and what he might have to tell her about her mother. Then she thought about her father, maybe she should visit him first and hear what he had to say. Then she would decide. What she would decide was yet unknown to her but whatever she would decide would depend on what she found out when she visited her father tomorrow.
She shut her eyes to sleep but sleep just wouldn't come. She turned to the side and looked her her son, Landon. Then the face of the man who was in the car that nearly hit her came to her mind unbidden, what relationship did she have with the man? And why did she suddenly think of him? Maybe the drink Wayne had downstairs had miraculously been infused into her. Else why would she keep thinking of that man that had no manners? His chauffeur nearly ran her over and not a word of apology slipped from his lips. Arrogant prig!
After a while, her eyes grew heavy and the last thought in her heart as she feel into a deep sleep was Wayne's slurred voice saying, 'You must know how I feel about you....'