Second Chances

three

a l e x

I heard a knock on my office door just as I finished signing the last paper from the stack someone left on my desk.

I checked my clock, 9:53 am.

It was a light knock at an unusual time, so it definitely wasn't anyone who usually knocks on my door. Or any of my siblings either because knocking just isn't in any of their dictionaries when it involves any of us.

"Miss Alex, someone's here for you," I heard from the intercom.

"Who is it?"

There was a faint chatter behind the door before I heard Janet speak again. "It's one of the members of the WN Architects Corp. Team, miss."

"Alright, send them in."

The door opened just as I said that, and I heard little padding footsteps that made me look up from my desk.

"Tyler?"

"Alex!" the little boy who wasn't as little anymore ran to me and jumped into my arms.

"Oh my gosh. You're so big now, aren't you? We haven't seen each other in so long."

He smiled at me and turned around, facing the door where Luke stood, smiling at us.

"I guess I'll leave you two now. Alex, I left your things with Janet. Ty, you behave, okay?"

"Okay, Luke."

"Wait, I have something for you," I went to my desk and took out a bag of small cookies I baked in the morning. "I promised you these, didn't I?"

"Yes! I've been so excited for this," he said, eyes widening when he realized how loud he was.

"Shh, Luke. You're being so loud," Tyler scolded his brother, and I'm pretty sure my heart just melted when I heard that. He was so cute.

"Alright, Ty, I know."

I laughed. "You can go now, Luke. I'm stealing your brother today."

"Sure, just make sure you give him back in one piece or else my mom's gonna kill me."

That made me laugh even more. "Yes, yes, I'll make sure he's in one piece at the end of the day. Bye, Luke."

"Bye, you two," he said, closing the door behind him, his bag of cookies in hand.

I turned to Tyler. "Alright, tell me, have you had breakfast yet?"

"I just had a glass of milk. Luke forgot to wake me up so we were in a little bit of a hurry. Mommy went somewhere for her job, so Luke came and stayed with me and Maia at home," Tyler told me, sitting down on the couch near my desk.

"You know how your brother is, let's just be thankful that he remembered to bring you," I joked.

"Wait, why did you ask if I ate?" he tilted his head to the side, a confused look on his face. "Do you have food?"

The biggest smile appeared on his face when I nodded.

"Please tell me it's a cookie, Alex. My brother keeps trying to give me cookies, but yours are the best," his eyes twinkled with excitement.

"Of course it's a cookie, Tyler."

He watched eagerly as I walked to the small bar in my office.

I grabbed a cookie and gave it to him. "I'm giving this to you, but don't tell your brother, okay? He told me you're not allowed much sugar before lunch because it'll ruin your appetite, but I think it's fine, right?"