Catching Fox Page 5

  It could have been so easy to move on if she could have just let Fox go. Instead of reeling at the thought of a possible relationship with Matthew she was left with thoughts of when she shared her first kiss with Fox. Her feelings for Fox ran so deep and for so long it had become a part of who she was.

  It was the summer before she left for boarding school. She was barely twelve at the time. Fox and she had been building a camp in their secret place in the woods. They had worked tirelessly every day and it had taken the majority of the summer. Every morning when her parents left for work, she would jump out of bed and grab the breakfast Carmen would pack for her. Fox managed to bring some wood but the greater part of it they cut themselves from the forest around them. Adalynne did not have any experience with building but Fox was confident and knew how to use tools. She was always impressed by what he was capable of. She held on tight to the memory, holding it close to her heart. It would always be hers. It was in their special place, staring into those bottomless green eyes. It was perfect.

  Adalynne walked in the Roth house and walked straight up to her room, not stopping until she reached her dresser. She opened the small jewelry box and rummaged through her belongings until she found the small bee charm on a silver chain. She was right about never forgetting her first kiss. It would be with her forever.

  Chapter Seven

  Adalynne had just fallen asleep when her cell phone rang, pulling her from her dreams. She fumbled for her phone in the dark, her senses failing her because of her drowsy state. “Ugh!” When her fingers wrapped around the smooth cover she looked at the screen, revealing her mother’s number. It was 2:15 a.m. Panic bloomed within her as she accepted the call. The world snapped into focus around her as her heart raced with anticipation.

  “Mom?” Adalynne listened to her mother’s frantic voice stream through the phone. When she finally hung up she kicked her blankets off and scrambled out of bed, frantically wiping the hot tears that began to fall. She flicked on the bedside lamp and rubbed her hands down her face. She needed to focus so she could get her things together.

  The bedroom door swung open. “Girl, you missed one hell of a party! You better have a good reason for leaving…Addie? What’s wrong?” Katie stormed across the room, kicking off her heels.

  “My dad had a heart attack. He’s in the hospital,” Adalynne said numbly. More tears washed down her face.

  “Oh, Addie.” Katie wrapped her arms around her and smoothed her hair.

  “I have to go,” Adalynne mumbled.

  “I’ll help you get your things.” Katie grabbed Adalynne’s suitcase from her closet. “Do you want me to come with you?”

  “No…Mom is sending a car. I’ll call you later. Okay?”

  Adalynne was so grateful for Katie’s help. She took over packing while Adalynne got dressed and took a moment to collect herself. When Adalynne stepped out of the bathroom, Katie was zipping up her suitcase. “I packed all your favorite clothes and your phone charger is in there too.”

  “Thank you, Katie.” Adalynne tucked her cosmetic bag in her purse and swung it over her shoulder.

  When she got outside, the car her mother organized was already waiting for her. She was glad that all the arrangements were made because she didn’t feel capable of even the smallest of tasks at the moment. She couldn’t think about anything other than the fear of not seeing her father again. The long ride to the hospital seemed endless until finally she watched the large building come into view on the horizon. Adalynne prayed she would be met with good news when she walked in.

  “Thomas Fairweather,” Adalynne blurted when she approached the front desk.

  “He’s in intensive care on the fourth floor…” the small mousy woman behind the desk read from the screen after pulling up his name. Adalynne turned on her heel and headed toward the elevators before the woman finished speaking. She thought she heard her call out something but the only thing she cared about was making it to his side.

  Every hallway looked the same. Everything was painted the same sterile white. When she neared the nurse’s desk her mother’s form caught her eye. She quickened her steps.

  “Mom?” The tears flowed fresh again at the sight of her mother. It was the first time she remembered seeing her mother without her perfectly manicured appearance. Her shoulder length blonde hair hung loose from its normal sleek up do and her face only bore traces of makeup that had been long since wiped away with tears, revealing dark circles under her haunted eyes. It was strange seeing her mother without her flawless demeanor. She had never witnessed her in an emotional state before. It was refreshing to see that her mother could feel after all this time thinking she resembled a robot more than a human being.

  Adalynne wrapped her arms around her mother tightly and was surprised when her mother returned the gesture in kind. It was the first time in a long time that she could remember her mother showing affection. Adalynne let a sob escape her lips as she cried with her mother. Her mother was just as fragile as she was. Adalynne cried for fear of losing her father and for the realization that her mother was capable of love after all. “He went to dinner with his associates after work. When he got home he started complaining that he wasn’t feeling well.” Her mother wiped her eyes with a tissue. “You know how he is with fried foods. I thought he just overdid it. I told him just to go to bed.” Her mother broke off into fresh tears.

  “It’s not your fault, Mom. You didn’t know.” Adalynne rubbed her mother’s back as she let her calm down. It was a strange feeling to be comforting her mother but she welcomed the distraction as they waited for word. They both held their breath when they noticed the doctor approach them in his pristine white coat and unreadable expression.

  They both listened intently when the doctor explained her father had suffered a massive heart attack, resulting in a lot of tissue damage. Though they were able to get him stabilized, his condition was still serious. Adalynne walked away with the doctor’s words thick in the air around her. She needed to go to his side. She pushed open the glass door to his room with her mother close behind her.

  He looked so small and fragile lying on the bed, hooked up to all the monitoring devices. She searched for hints of the strong man that used to throw her into the air as a child and the man that used to eat the vegetables off her plate when her mother wasn’t looking so she would be allowed to have dessert with him. She shared a special connection with her father that she drew strength from, even now that she was grown his presence was still essential to her. She needed his words of wisdom, his way of pointing out the important things when chaos clouded her mind. He understood her and knew the part of her that her mother couldn’t begin to comprehend. He was the glue that bonded their family together.

  Though her father had always been a busy man, with work consuming most of his time, she treasured the little time that they shared. Her father was warm and loving where her mother was cold and demanding. They always seemed a strange pair to her. When she was old enough to see the dynamics in their relationship she asked her father why he loved her mother and he said, “A heart loves who a heart loves.” It was as simple as that.

  Adalynne reached for his hand that lay by his side. His skin had an unnatural grey color to it that pained her. “Dad…don’t leave me,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss his cheek. Her mother’s hand was on her back, giving her comfort. They both stared at him, praying he would open his eyes.

  ***

  Adalynne fell asleep by her father’s side, leaning against his bed with her hand covering his, haunted by restless dreams. She woke to a soft touch of someone smoothing her hair from her face. When she opened her eyes she looked up at her father. He was looking down with a weak smile. She took his hand and a large smile overwhelmed her face despite the tears that began to flow.

  “My baby girl,” he whispered roughly.

  “Daddy.” She squeezed his hand. “I was so scared you weren’t going to wake up.”

  “I could never leave you wit
hout making sure you were okay first.” He smiled weakly. She could see how tired he was. The strength she loved in him was lost to the fragile version of him now.

  “I will never be okay if you leave me,” she whispered, wiping away her tears.

  He touched her cheek. The simple gesture held so much meaning for them both. Adalynne held onto him, terrified to let go.

  “Thomas!” Adalynne’s mother gasped with relief as she walked in the room.

  Adalynne stayed by her father’s side as long as she could. For days she did nothing but sit in the chair beside his bed reading him articles from the paper. When he slept, which was often, the silence was heavy with emotion as she and her mother watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, nervous that any one of them could be his last. The doctor still wouldn’t say he was improving. His color remained pale and his body exhausted. Not wanting to miss the rare moments he was awake, Adalynne couldn’t bring herself to leave the room.

  “You should go back to the house. Have a hot bath and some real food.” Her mother was the first to break the silence accompanied by the steady noise of the machines that monitored her father’s sleeping form.

  “I can’t leave.” She turned to her mother, who was looking more like herself. She had left this morning to take care of some business that could not wait. She took the opportunity to tend to her needs. She looked more like her usual refined self, which Adalynne had to admit made things seem a bit more normal. It made it easier to believe that the worst was behind them.

  “You should listen to your mother.” They both swung around. Adalynne stood up out of her chair to reach for her father’s hand. “I won’t go anywhere, I promise.” He attempted to brighten his frail words.

  “Are you sure? There’s a brand new paper waiting for you with some juicy gossip.” Adalynne tried to entice him.

  “I’m sure. It will make me feel better if you took care of yourself. You’re looking a little thin.”

  Adalynne shook her head in disbelief.

  “Go, Addie. I can read him the paper,” her mother insisted.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Adalynne sighed in defeat.

  “Your mother will stay with me tonight. Go home…get some sleep. I’ll be here in the morning. I promise,” he encouraged when Adalynne didn’t move.

  “But…” Adalynne began.

  “No buts…go, baby girl. You need to take care of yourself.” Adalynne smiled at the name he called her when she was small. He hadn’t used it in so long that she almost forgot about it.

  After a reluctant goodbye, Adalynne left her parents and headed home. Her footsteps echoed as she walked in the foyer and turned on the lights. She had only been gone just over a month but already the house seemed strange to her. Something was different and she couldn’t place exactly what it was until she studied the walls. Her mother must have had it painted after she left. The color was just slightly different than before. Adalynne always felt like her house looked more like a showpiece than a home. There were so many rooms she was not allowed in because they were her mother’s formal rooms for entertaining guests. She dropped her mother’s keys on the round mahogany table that stood before the grand curving staircase leading upstairs. A large vase of fresh flowers sat upon it, giving the air a sweet smell, pleasing her senses.

  Adalynne walked upstairs to her room, dropping her bag on her neatly made bed. The room smelled fresh and recently cleaned, with not a thing out of place. She glanced across the room at her window and noticed it was locked. Out of habit she walked across the room and unlocked it, pulling it all the way open. She knew that Fox wouldn’t come but for some reason it set her at ease.

  Adalynne turned the water as hot as she could stand and stood under the shower head, letting the heat embrace her. Soon steam filled the air and she lost track of time. She felt so fragile and tired. She hadn’t realized how drained she was and couldn’t bring herself to leave the comfort the heat provided. When her fingers were saturated she finally turned the water off and wrapped herself in her old robe hanging on the back of the door.

  Adalynne walked down to the kitchen and opened the fridge. It was stocked with fresh groceries, making her mouth water as she realized how hungry she was. Her mother must have known she was going to talk Adalynne into going home because all of her favorite things to eat stared back at her from the open fridge. She grabbed the strawberries, package of sushi, and chocolate milk. She greedily devoured them all. The last few days at the hospital she was barely able to stomach anything but now her appetite returned and the food tasted delectable.

  On the way back to her room, she walked toward her father’s office. It was not a place she went into often but she right now she needed to feel close to him. She was met with his familiar scent mixed with old books and wood. She turned on the light and looked at the photos that covered his walls. Her parents were big entertainers so there were many pictures of her father with many recognizable people of high society. Judges and other reputable lawyers along with the police chief and other people in various positions of law, some familiar and some not, all stared back at her. Her father’s bright smile beamed back at her with his cheeks full of color.

  On her way out of the room Adalynne ran her fingers over the chess table sitting in the room. Her father adored the game and she remembered when he taught her how to play, she was only a small girl. She turned back and looked around the room before turning off the light. She told herself that her father was going to recover and when he came home she would challenge him to a game of chess. It would just like old times.

  Walking by the sitting room she was beckoned by her piano. She hadn’t touched the keys since she had left for school. Sliding onto the smooth seat, she took in the room around her. Her mother must have had her decorator in recently to change the layout of the space. The only thing that was familiar was the large stone fireplace and the grand piano. The keys welcomed her touch as she ran her fingers over their smooth ivory. She played the first song that come to mind and the music resounded through the large quiet room. A smile played on her lips as she remembered the first time she played this song for Fox.

  It was years ago when life was simple and their relationship was as innocent as they were. It was an afternoon when spring was growing mature with its warming temperatures and blooming flowers. Adalynne had told Fox how she was practicing really hard for her piano recital that was approaching. He always brightened up when she spoke of music and her lessons.

  Adalynne had been trying to convince Fox to come to her house to see her play, insisting that her parents were not home. He always refused until this one afternoon, after much convincing, he finally agreed. She remembered how nervous he was walking into her house, ready to flee at a moment’s notice. She grabbed his warm hand in hers as she led him toward the living room, giving him a reassuring squeeze. Adalynne could still remember her excitement finally seeing him in her world. It made him seem more real venturing outside their normal limits. When they reached the piano she hopped upon the seat, patting the spot beside her for him to join her. Adalynne watched him look around the room before he glanced at her. He practically trembled as he took in everything around them. He was reluctant to move any closer to her. She would never forget the look of awe on his face as she played. It was then that she discovered their shared love of music.

  After that she started bringing her guitar with her to their place in the woods if they were unable to come to the house to play the piano. Fox was a fast learner when it came to music and she enjoyed teaching him everything she could. Soon she found she was running out of things to teach him as his remarkable ability to play any instrument surpassed her own. Eventually she began to watch him create beautiful music of his own accord. She encouraged him to show his father his talent but he always refused. He never wanted to show the world what he could do. For years she was the only person in the world who knew of his affinity for music.

  Adalynne remembered the day she convinced Carmen
to drive her to the music store to buy a guitar. Carmen didn’t ask any questions and Adalynne was grateful for it. Adalynne knew it would be the perfect birthday gift for Fox. She wanted to find one that was the perfect fit for him. She knew when she saw it hanging up in the store it was the one. It had an intricate green design on it that was the same vibrant green as his eyes and she thought of him as soon as she saw it.

  The day she gave it to him was the first time she saw Fox with tears in his eyes. She had seen him endure so much pain from the physical marks his father left on his body but he never cried. He hugged her so tight that day and she never wanted him to let her go. She didn’t know he was capable of such intense feeling. She listened to him play for hours that day as he familiarized himself with his new guitar until the day threatened to end.

  “I have to go home now.” Adalynne stood to leave. She leaned down, wrapping her arms around him again. “You’re my favorite person, Fox,” she said with a smile before turning to leave.

  “Bee?” She turned back when he called her name. “You’re my favorite person too.”

  Adalynne smiled so brightly she could barely contain her happiness. When she broke through the treeline toward her house, Carmen was waiting for her on the back porch. “You started to worry me, Addie,” she said, giving Adalynne a firm hug and then directing her inside the house. “Your parents will be home soon. Let’s get you cleaned up for supper.”

  “Carmen?” Adalynne asked thoughtfully.

  “Yes, child.” Adalynne loved how important Carmen always made her feel by always giving her full attention when she spoke to her. No question was unimportant.

  “What is it like to be in love?” Adalynne asked curiously.

  Carmen’s smile lit up her warm brown eyes. “It is the most beautiful thing in the whole world and it makes you feel happy from the tip of your toes to the top of your head.”