“Happy belated birthday,” Alexandra McCartney, known simply as Alex to close friends and relatives, shouted with excitement.
Chandra, who was standing at the door, had to blink twice and tell herself she wasn’t really seeing things. Good Lord! Alex was really here, right here in front of her. She couldn’t believe it.
“Alex! Oh my God! You’re early!” she shrieked in delight. So excited, she jumped up and down in her spot and then rushed toward her friend, her arms wide open.
Alex gripped Chan in a tight hug and said, “I know. But that’s not important. What’s important is you’ve finally turned twenty-five like the rest of us,” she teased and then laughed merrily as they embraced tightly.
Chan chuckled as they withdrew from each other’s arms. “Well, yes. But let me tell you. It’s not easy being the baby of the bunch.” She was referring to their clan of friends since childhood: Ruby, Nikkita, Isabella, and Georgina.
The merry six had attended the same kindergarten and elementary school. Then, of course, Georgina and her family moved away to Wellington around the same time Chan’s mother passed away from cancer. Two years later, Chan’s family moved to Auckland because her dad had wanted a change in lifestyle. It had been then he’d met and married Amie.
Alex demanded to be shown about the apartment. “So this is your new place?”
Chan nodded, feeling more than a little embarrassed. She knew this apartment was nothing compared to Alex and her husband’s massive, fancy million-dollar mansion and apartments around the world. She had seen photos of them on Facebook, of course, in various countries: America, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and even the ones in New Zealand and here in Australia. Seeing how far Alex had come, Chan was indeed very proud of her friend and, of course, happy for her.
“Whoa! Not bad. I like it. It’s cozy,” Alex said, spreading her arms out as they came into the living room.
Chan shook her head. “Oh, come on. This is nothing compared to what you’re used to. Getting married in a fancy hotel in New York City. And did I mention your husband is like, what, a billionaire?”
The girls sat on the sofa, and again, Alex drew Chan into her arms, hugging her tight. With Chan being the baby of their small group of very close friends, most of the girls, especially Alex and Nikki, had always treated Chan like their own younger sister and protected her because of her soft personality. But when Chan moved away with her family, they couldn’t lend her their hands anymore, and they all knew how much Chan had to endure after her mother and then father passed away.
Suddenly, Chan broke. The warmth and care radiating from her friend shattered the invisible wall she’d put in place to protect herself. The strong exterior she’d always worn crumbled in an instant, and Chan felt her whole body shivering. A whimper escaped her lips, and tears began to brew in her eyes.
“Oh, Chan,” Alex said softly. “Why do you keep doing this to yourself? I know it’s hard. But hiding your problems from your family and friends, from those who care about you, isn’t going to help.”
Chan drew back and angrily wiped away her tears. “It’s not fair, Alex. The moment you’re with me, you see right through me.”
“That’s because you’re so very easy to read,” Alex said softly.
Chan cocked her head to one side. “You’ve grown, Alex,” she said. “You’re stronger. You’ve changed since the last time I saw you.”
That last time was three years ago, since before Alex’s father, Jacob Stewart, had been found redundant from his job, since before her husband, Jayden McCartney, barged into her life and proposed she be his hired girlfriend.
Alex laughed. “Jayden makes me stronger. I’ve learned a lot from him.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Chan said.
Alex nodded. “I know I can’t force it out of you, Chan. But please, when you’re ready, get it out. Tell someone you really trust.” When Chan just stared at her long and hard, Alex laughed. “What I mean is you’ll know when you meet that person. The one you can share everything with.”
“I’m not sure if that will ever happen, Alex,” Chan said.
Alex shook her head. “Now listen here, young lady. You’re not allowed to be negative.”
“I’m not being negative, Alex. What I mean is maybe I’m not cut out to be someone’s other half. Maybe I like being single. That’s if you’re talking about romance.”
Alex frowned. “Yes, that is what I’m talking about. I guess me being with Jayden is so wonderful and everything, I thought it’d be the same for everyone.”
“And that’s why I’m happy for you. And of course, I’m real sorry I couldn’t come to your wedding.”
Alex said, “How many times have you told me that?”
“Many,” Chan replied. “But I still feel the need to say it again right in front of you, in person.”
Alex smiled. “Now that you’ve done it, I demand you never apologize again, ever.”
Chan nodded. “I won’t.”
It was then Alex began to scan the room as if she were looking for something, or someone. “Where are your sisters?”
“Out grocery shopping,” Chan replied. “By the way, do you want something to drink? We’ve got some cake, too, if you want to eat.”
Alex waved aside Chan’s offer. “No, I’m good.” She patted her stomach and said, “Got to tone this down.”
Chan laughed. “Oh my, Alex, you’ve got padding.”
“Yes, extra insulation,” Alex said. “Since that cute little beast came out of me.” She laughed, thinking about her adorable one-year-old son, Andy McCartney.
“Oh my God, I have to see your son. I have to see Andy,” Chan said. “You know I love kids.”
Alex couldn’t agree more. “I bet he’d fall head over heels in love with you just like all the other kids you used to teach, eh?”
Chan chuckled. “Actually, I miss being around kids. I mean, writing is a great job. I love writing children’s books, but being around kids makes me happy, too. I was thinking of finding a part-time job as a tutor or something. After all, I do have a teaching degree.”
“Well, if there’s no part-time position for a tutor, then why not look for a nanny position or something?”
Chan shook her head. “Nannying is always a full-time thing, isn’t it? And I can’t do full time if I want to continue with my writing career.”
“True,” Alex said.
It was then the front door rushed open and the loud noise of two young women arguing reached them.
“No, you were supposed to look both ways. It’s your fault. If you were to pay attention instead of going off into La-la Land like you always do,” Soriya said firmly, “you wouldn’t have crashed our car into his!”
“Me? La-la Land?” Dara snapped back in outrage. “You’re the one who’s always in La-la Land. If you must know, dear sister, I was looking both ways! That bastard came out of nowhere, and he blamed me—me! I’m a perfect driver. I’ve never had any accident since I started learning how to drive. Then he came along and—” She released a frustrated growl.
Inside the living room, Chan smiled apologetically. Alex chuckled. She could totally understand.
“Siblings, huh?” she asked, as she knew these arguments were actually a sign of love. She and her sister, Emma, had always argued, even now, though less since the two had hardly seen each other since Alex moved away to live in America.
The two sisters came strutting into the open-plan living area, bags of groceries in their hands. Just as they walked through the doorway, they saw Alex and had to do a double take.
Soriya shouted, “Holy shit! It’s Alex!”
“Hey, girls.” Alex waved at the sisters, who looked more than a little shocked at the sight of her.
Dara gained her composure first. “Hey, Alex,” she said, coming into the room. “I’m just going to put these away first, okay?” With Alex’s nod, she headed off toward the kitchen.
“Don’t worry about
her,” Soriya said. “She crashed into a super-hot silver Ferrari.”
“I did not!” Dara snapped from behind the counter. She gave her sister a daggered stare as she dumped the food items on the bench. “He crashed into me.” She proceeded to take stuff out: bottle of milk, tray of eggs, vegetables, etc.
Soriya shook her head. “There’s no changing her mind once she’s decided on something, and she decided she didn’t crash into that car. And it held an even hotter guy.”
“He is not hot!” Dara said. “He is rude and arrogant and full of himself and full of shit.”
“I bet he’s full of money, too,” Soriya said, chuckling away enthusiastically.
Alex laughed and winked at Chan.
Chan just grinned and kept quiet because she knew it was better not to get involved when the two sisters started their arguments. Soon, the debate would stop and the sisters would be the best of friends once again.
Soriya, after dumping the plastic bags on the bench, ditched her sister and came to sit beside Alex.
“Why are you laughing, Alex?” Dara asked, rather annoyed Alex found her situation humorous. “Now I have to ring the insurance company. Our premium is so going to go up, and I have to pay excess to fix that small dent on that stupid expensive Ferrari.” Then she turned her attention to Soriya and voiced her query. “And what are you doing there, Soriya? Come and help me with these.” She pointed to the bags of groceries on the benchtop.
“They can stay there for a while,” Soriya said, waving her hand, ignoring her sister.
Chan knew there was no help. Soriya, as the baby of the house, was always a bit on the lazy side where housework was concerned. It was better she help and get things over and done with. “I’m coming to help.”
Being the baby of the family, Soriya could afford to ignore Dara’s fuming glare without too much trouble. She turned back to Alex and said, “Where’s that adorable Andy? I want to see him. I want to kiss him. He looks so cute on Facebook.”
Alex laughed. “He’s with his nanny at the moment. I wanted to come and see you guys, and bringing him with me now wasn’t a good idea.”
“And your hot hubby?” Soriya asked.
“Work. He’s having a meeting with his friend,” Alex said. “That’s why I’ve managed to sneak out.” Without getting too lost, she could add, since she was notoriously bad with maps and directions, especially in a city she’d never been to before. That was why bringing little Andy along wasn’t a good idea.
“Men,” Soriya said. “They always work, even on Saturday. But I can’t wait until tonight. We get to dress up, go out to eat with Nikki, Ruby, Isa, and Georgie in one of the hottest restaurants in town, and then go dancing. It’s going to be awesome.”
Dara laughed loudly and sarcastically. “You make it sound like they’re your friends.”
“Of course they are,” Soriya said. “Any friend of Chan’s is a friend of mine.” She turned to Alex. “Isn’t that right?”
Alex laughed. “Yes. That’s right. By the way, you guys want to officially meet with Andy?”
“Yes!” all three sisters shouted out in unison.
“And would you all like to come and get dressed at the hotel?”
“Oh my God! Yes! Yes! Yes, a thousand times,” Soriya said. “I’ll go and get my makeup bag and dress.
“Don’t forget your shoes,” Dara said, rushing out the door as well, their fight forgotten.
Alex smiled and then turned to Chan. “And you?”
Chan said, “Thanks.”
“Oh, by the way, we’re meeting with Georgie for lunch, too.”
“Yeah. Sure. I’m so glad she could make it.”
“Yeah,” Alex said. “Come on. We’ll get your things together.”
* * * * *
CHAPTER 15