Wings.

Chapter Four.

Alix

I took a deep breath just before stepping out of my car and into an obnoxious six car garage. I dragged up the front step and rang the bell. I noticed small things that changed since I last visited, like the flower pots, stained glass, cracks in the concrete, oak to cherry wood doors. I felt like turning around and running. Running away, and back into my business life, but it's too late. By the time I can contemplate turning around and speeding down the highway, he's at the door wrestling with the locks.

His eyes lit up when he saw me. He hugged me and kissed my forehead.

"Hi, Dad." I smiled.

"Hi beautiful. Come in."

I stepped past him into the foyer of the house I'd lived in since I was twelve. My childhood dog Rocky the Great Dane galloped over to me like the miniature horse he looked like.

"Hey Rocky baby!" I rubbed behind his ears and by default he rolled over on his stomach.

After following my father to the kitchen, I sat down on a bar stool.

"How have you been, dad?"

He shrugged. Standing six feet and three inches tall with pale creamy skin and dark eyes, you would barely think we're related. 

"I guess I can't complain. You hungry?"

"Nope."

"How was your flight?"

"Comfortable. I slept the whole time."

"Hm. Well, I would ask you how you've been, but you've been all over the media Alix. What's going on?"

I sighed. "Everything is fine Dad. Don't worry about it."

"I will worry about it. Ever since you changed your last name, things have been going downhill."

"Everything is fine! I'm a big girl. Let me handle it."

"If you say so. I don't want to see you get hurt by that guy. What's his name? Tone Deaf?"

I glared at him and he laughed hysterically at his own joke.

"Oh come on, that one was funny!"

I rolled my eyes and ran my nails along the swirls in the granite counter top.

"When are you due?"

"In two weeks. Aren't you excited? I am."

"Yes, I am. I'm glad you waited to be married and successful to have kids. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you. Now, where is everyone?"

"Who is everyone?"

"Noelle, Patrick, Xavier, Christian. You know..everyone."

"Noelle and Patrick are probably at home. Xavier..I'm not sure. He's all over the place. And Christian? He's probably home too. Would you like to go see everyone?"

"That would be lovely, but I'd rather get settled in first."

"That's fine. Let me know when you're done."

"..what do you mean?"

"You said you want to get settled in, right?"

"Yeah. But my bags are in the car and the keys are on the counter. I'm giving myself a tour." I smiled. 

He chuckled and swiped my keys off the counter. "Touchè."

An hour later, my dad and I found our way to my Uncle Patrick's house.