Catching Fox Page 11

  “Matthew?” Adalynne stood up with a surprised expression on her face. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “I wanted to see you before I left.” He smiled brilliantly. He looked handsome standing before her with flowers in his hands.

  “Mother, Father, this is Matthew Murphy from school,” Adalynne introduced quickly when she remembered her manners.

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Matthew.” Adalynne’s mother said approvingly.

  “These are for you, Mrs. Fairweather.” Matthew passed her a beautiful arrangement of flowers displayed in a glass vase. Adalynne’s mother showed her appreciation with an honest smile. It was quite a feat because her mother was usually more reserved toward people she didn’t know.

  “Please call me Adalynne,” Her mother offered.

  “I see Addie not only got your name but your beauty as well.” Adalynne watched Matthew’s signature smile spread across his face and just like that, he won over her mother’s favor. Her mother was almost giddy as she situated the flowers on the table.

  “Yes, our family has passed down the tradition of naming all our firstborn daughters Adalynne.” She laughed light heartedly. “Tradition is a funny thing.”

  “And for you, Mr. Fairweather.” Matthew lifted up a box in his hand, pulling the cover off to reveal a bottle of Scotch. “It’s for after you recover, of course.” Matthew winked at her father. “Father said it was your preference.”

  “I knew there was something familiar about you; you’re Max Murphy’s son.” Adalynne’s father smiled at the connection he made when Matthew smiled to confirm. “Good man, your father. Tell me, are you studying law?”

  “Yes, sir,” Matthew stated proudly. As Matthew and her father launched into a conversation regarding their field of interest, Adalynne watched her mother’s face light up at the prospect of Matthew being in her daughter’s life. She could almost see the wheels turning, planning her and Matthew’s life together and picturing what her grandchildren would look like.

  “Addie?” Matthew’s voice reached her through her clouded mind. She had tuned out the conversation taking place in front of her as she thought about what her father had told her, wondering if her mother would actually permit her to follow her own career path. At least one of them was on her side now with her father’s change of heart. It was better than none.

  “What? Yes? Sorry, late night,” Adalynne apologized for her attention wavering.

  Matthew smiled knowingly. “I just asked your parents if it would be okay if I took you for a quick lunch before I left. Would you like to join me?” He looked at her expectantly.

  “What about Steven? Isn’t he waiting for you?”

  “He decided to go home with Katie, so I’m all yours if you’ll have me.” He leaned in and touched her shoulder gently. She couldn’t help but appreciate his ability to always be completely at ease and know how to conduct himself around people. Even her normally hard to please parents were completely enamored with him. She had to give him credit. He knew how to win over a room. It was one of the qualities that would make him a great lawyer one day.

  “Of course.” Adalynne smiled.

  “Wonderful, I won’t keep her long,” Matthew assured her parents.

  Adalynne really enjoyed herself in Matthew’s company over lunch. He took her to an Italian bistro with a patio overlooking a busy city street. She had heard of the place and always wanted to try it. They sat in the warm midday sun and the conversation flowed seamlessly between them as they asked each other questions to get better acquainted. Matthew genuinely seemed interested about getting to know her and she found herself laughing at the many questions he insisted on asking.

  “What is your favorite time of day?” He smiled at her over his iced tea.

  “Umm…I would have to say dusk. When everything gets quiet and the stars come out in the sky. I like to just look up at the stars and think about all the things that are possible.” She smiled. “Yours?”

  “I was going to say mornings but you have convinced me to change my mind. You have a way of making me see things differently.” His gray-blue eyes looked across from her and Adalynne couldn’t help the blush that crept into her cheeks. “I think you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, Addie.”

  The waitress came over and Adalynne was grateful for a moment to collect herself. The waitress leaned in toward Matthew and laughed at his charming demeanor when he made a comment about the food. Adalynne wondered if she should feel jealous as the waitress openly flirted with him. Instead she found herself understanding of the behavior because he was handsome and poised. The power he exuded was compelling and not common for someone his age. He had a way of drawing people in Adalynne appreciated. He had so many characteristics telling of the success he would obtain. She could see why her parents were so taken with him. She thought how perfect he seemed, everything a girl would want in a guy but for some reason she could not picture being by his side when he claimed his success.

  Matthew reached across the table and placed his hand over hers gently. “What is your favorite type of music?” He raised his eyebrow expectantly.

  A smile spread across her lips. “Everything. I love to listen to everything and play everything.”

  “You play? What instrument?”

  “I have tried everything I could get my hands on. Piano, guitar, violin…I love being able to grab any instrument and just play. I challenged myself when I was younger that I would learn to play everything.” Adalynne smiled at remembering her parents trying to convince her to settle for a few of her favorite instruments but she was hungry for everything so her parents eventually caved and provided her with instructors who exposed her to what she wanted.

  “Have you then? Tried everything?” He mused.

  “Not yet.” She smiled. “But I hope to.”

  “I suppose it’s hard to do when you are tackling such a demanding career path. We have to make sacrifices.” He squeezed her hand gently.

  She knew that he didn’t understand her passion, the way he dismissed it so easily like it was only a hobby. It reminded her of the way her parents had always viewed her music, nothing more than something to pass the time. When she played she was happy, truly happy, and that was where she wanted to be. She didn’t bring up the fact she might be changing her career path after her conversation with her father but she knew that given the chance she would take it. As much as she enjoyed Matthew’s company she did not want to confide in him. The first person who came to mind who she wanted to share her exciting news with was Fox, even after what had happened. He was the only person who truly understood her passion. He would be the only one who would truly know how important this was to her, being able to follow her own path.

  “Favorite present you ever got?” he asked, pulling her attention back.

  “Hmm…” Adalynne thought about everything she had gotten in her lifetime. Her parents were always giving her gifts since she was an only child and their careers were so demanding. They made up for their lack of attendance in her life by buying her things but none of those things stood out in her mind as special. She thought about the necklace Fox had given her, it was her favorite piece of jewelry but there was something else that came to mind, bringing a smile to her face.

  It was a summer when they were younger. Fox spent almost every night with her that particular summer, crawling in her window at dusk when the stars became visible in the darkening sky. He was always so impossibly quiet. She never knew he was there until he slipped through the window. Adalynne knew things were bad with his father even though he never talked about it. She never forced the issue but she was glad he came to her when he needed her. He would always crawl into her bed and Adalynne would wrap her arms around him. Sometimes she would sing softly when he was quiet. Others times they talked until they could no longer keep their eyes open. Adalynne didn’t want to fall asleep because she always knew that he would be gone when she woke in the morning.

  Fox would always comp
lain her feet were cold, saying he was going to stop coming over because of it and they would always end up in giggles. One night when he crawled in next to her he placed something soft in her hand.

  “What’s this?” she asked excitedly. She flicked on the light. In her hand was a fluffy pair of socks with little bees all over them.

  “For your feet.” He smiled at her. She touched the dimple on his cheek that she loved so much.

  “I love them.” She pulled them over her feet. They were the softest socks she ever felt. Pulling them up to her knees, she laid back down, turning off the light. “Better?” She cuddled in close to him and nuzzled into his neck. She felt him tense at her touch but she didn’t pull back. She wanted to be as close as she could.

  “Perfect,” he replied quietly after a moment. And then she let herself fall asleep.

  “I can’t really think of anything off hand,” she lied, unwilling to share the memory she held so close to her heart.

  “I will have to change that then.” Matthew smiled and she found herself doing the same.

  When Matthew dropped her back off at the hospital, he insisted on opening her door for her. She thanked him for the wonderful lunch before he leaned in and kissed her unexpectedly. “Was that okay?” he said breathlessly after pulling back. Adalynne reached up unconsciously and touched her lips.

  “Yes, it was nice.” Adalynne said softly, looking up at him. It was the truth. His lips were soft and gentle against hers. She had responded to his kiss with the same gentle touch that he applied but it was missing the hunger she felt when her lips touched Fox’s last night. The desire to remain connected after they pulled apart was lacking. It was the feeling that overwhelmed her when she was with Fox because of her insatiable hunger for him. Heat flooded her face at the memory of her kiss from the night before and Matthew was elated by the reaction he received from what he believed was his kiss. She smiled at him. Maybe nice was what a kiss was supposed to feel like, gentle and beautiful. Maybe she had it wrong this whole time.

  As she watched Matthew drive away her phone rang in her pocket. Pulling it out, she looked at the caller. “Mother? Is everything okay?” Adalynne listened to her mother’s frantic words on the other side of the line before she took off running through the doors. She ran past the elevator and the surrounding sounds around her faded away as her senses numbed. She couldn’t bring herself to comprehend anything other than forcing herself up the stairs as fast as her legs could move until she pushed through the door on her father’s floor. She didn’t slow her pace as she rounded the corner and her father’s room came into view. Her mother was outside the room and she turned to meet Adalynne. She quickly closed the distance between them. Her mother wrapped her arms around Adalynne’s shoulders, squeezing fiercely. “He was doing fine…” her mother sobbed. “Then…” Adalynne tried to support her mother, who leaned into her, tears staining her face as she tried to speak.

  Adalynne looked into his room as the doctors and nurses frantically worked to resuscitate him. All the machines monitoring him were all making frenzied beeping noises. She felt disoriented as she watched helplessly as the scene unfolded in front of her eyes. The truth of the severity of the situation played on all of their faces as they shuffled around the bed, hastily working. Adalynne’s insides felt like lead as she waited.

  Adalynne wasn’t sure how much time had passed until finally the door swung open in front of her. She searched the eyes of the doctor and knew before he spoke that her father did not survive. The machines were turned off and only the echo of them lingered in her thoughts. Her mother pushed her in the room after the doctor left; she wasn’t sure who was supporting who as they entered the room. Her mother immediately went to her father’s bedside. Adalynne stood at the bottom of his bed looking at his still form. He looked like he was sleeping and any moment he would wake up and this nightmare would be over. Her mother placed her hands on his chest and wept as she looked down upon her husband’s face. Adalynne’s eyes fell to his feet under the blanket. She reached out and touched his toes. She could still feel the heat lingering in his body, making her mind refuse to process the reality of his passing. She watched her mother grieve like she was a stranger in the room. She could not let herself accept the truth in front of her because she knew the pain would be unbearable. Time seemed distorted as she stared at her father lying in the bed. Her mother’s cries blended with everything else and washed into the background.

  When a nurse walked into the room, hesitantly calling her mother’s attention, panic consumed Adalynne at the realization they were going to take him away.

  “Dad?” Adalynne moved quickly to his side across from her mother, who looked up at her with confused, swollen eyes. “Dad! Don’t leave me!” Adalynne shook his shoulder. Her vision blurred as tears claimed her, spilling from her eyes. “We need you. You can’t leave us.” She became more frantic as she took his lifeless hand in hers. He did not respond to her and he never would again. “Please…” Her voice trailed off weakly. She knew he was gone but she didn’t want to accept it. “You said you wouldn’t leave me as long as I needed you…I still need you.”

  Her mother’s hands tightened on Adalynne’s shoulders and pulled her toward her. “Say good bye, honey.” Her mother’s voice was heavy with sorrow.

  Adalynne looked back at her father and then the nurse, who stared at them with a pained expression on her face. Taking a deep breath, Adalynne leaned in and kissed her father’s cheek for the last time. “I love you, Daddy.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  When Adalynne’s mother pulled into their driveway she could see her aunt’s car already there waiting for them. It had been a couple of months since she had seen her aunt but she had no desire to see anyone right now. Her Aunt Shiralee was a younger, friendlier, brunette version of her mother. Adalynne adored her and used to secretly wish she had been her mother when she was young. Aunt Shiralee always made her feel so special when her own mother had little time for her. When she visited Adalynne they would do wonderful things together. In fact, she introduced Adalynne to music when she was only two years old. She would play the piano for her when she visited and Adalynne was instantly in love with it.

  Adalynne’s mother pulled into the garage and turned off the car. “Come on.” She reached over and touched Adalynne’s leg and smiled weakly. They were the first words spoken between them since they left the hospital.

  “I just need a moment,” Adalynne replied, making no effort to move from her seat.

  Her mother looked at her before she replied. “All right, but don’t be long,” she said before she opened her door and entered the house. Adalynne unclipped her seatbelt and opened her door. She needed to be away; she couldn’t bear going into the house and facing anyone right now. She walked toward the exterior door in the garage and opened it, walking outside into the late afternoon air. She walked away from the house slowly at first. Her feet seemed to walk on their own accord until she realized where she was heading. She quickened her pace and ran through the trees, not stopping until the view of the camp came before her.

  She unclipped the lock and pushed open the door they had fastened out of plywood, pushing it closed behind her. She looked around the small interior. It had been awhile since she had stepped foot in this place. She and Fox used to spend hours in this place, but now it seemed like a different life. She rubbed her hand along the wall where she had painted a mural of a fox and a bee in the forest. She remembered when she had painted it.

  “Stop staring at me. You’re making me nervous,” Adalynne ordered playfully. “I want this to be perfect.”

  “It’s already perfect,” Fox said as he leaned back against the wall watching her put the finishing touches on the mural. “This is now officially my favorite place in the whole world.” He said, smiling.

  “How do you know that? You haven’t been anywhere else in the world,” Adalynne said just for the sake of being argumentative.

  “I know because it’s where yo
u are.” His eyes lit up with his words, making Adalynne blush.

  “Fine. Okay then. But only because I’m stupid enough to believe you.” Adalynne turned back to her painting and she heard Fox retrieve his guitar. He began strumming a tune, before long he was singing along with his music.

  “Bee is painting a mural on the wall…she doesn’t like to be watched at all…but I can’t take my eyes off of her especially when I can see her pink lacy panties…” he sang playfully.

  “Hey!” Adalynne reached back behind her. Sure enough, her underwear was sticking up past her pants. She pulled her shirt down quickly.

  “I wonder if she has a matching bra…’cause I like what I saw…” Fox sang with a mischievous look in his eye.

  “You wish you could find out,” Adalynne teased. Fox dropped his guitar and reached out to tickle Adalynne. He was always merciless in his tickling attacks, causing Adalynne to scream out as she laughed. “I’m…trying…to finish…” She tried to say between her laughing. He leaned in close to her face so his cheek touched hers as she struggled against him. She could hear him take a deep breath. “Did you just smell me?”

  “Yes, when is the last time you took a bath?” he teased. “You stink.”

  “Stop…you love how I smell.” He looked into her eyes and Adalynne became lost in them. He got up suddenly, stepping away from her. “I gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Sure,” she said, disappointed. She always hated it when he left her like that. She was left wondering what she did to make him want to leave. “I’m gonna stay and finish this,” she called after him but he had already slipped out the door.

  ***

  Adalynne leaned against the wall and slid down to a seated position and let the tears of grief overcome her as the realization she would never see her father again assaulted her. She let herself cry as the day grew old and the light faded into darkness around her. She was surrounded by stillness, the soothing quiet of the evening settled upon the land, and she wanted to fade away with the day.