My Delivery Boy

Chapter Thirty-Six

I turned back towards he table and looked down at the dirty plates. I sighed and started stacking them and cleaning the table off with a napkin. When I turned around, Laurie stood before me. He gave me that smile I've thought of for so long. He held out his hand in front of me. "Would you mind if I take you from all this cleaning and have this dance with you?"

I looked at his hand then back up at his face. His eyes had hope in them. The hope I had when I looked at him. I placed the napkin down and took his hand into mine. "Of course I would, Delivery Boy."

He smiled and began leading me away from the table and onto the dance floor. He placed his hand on my waist and another in my hand. His touch was gentle and kind. It made me feel at home and safe. We glided around the dance floor and went with the music. I laughed as he spun me around, my hair flowing with the wind.

The night continued and that meant more drinking and more dancing. There was a moment where I danced with my kids while Laurie went to dance with Ellie. I let the boys dance around while I went to my father and began dancing with him. Laughter could be heard all around the garden. Every second feeling like it is too good to be true.

"You look so happy, Alex." He said, breaking my train of thought.

"Of course I am. My father is happy and so is everyone else I love. Who wouldn't be happy?" I said and looked at him.

"And you're sure it isn't because of Laurie?"

My heart raced at his name. I hated it. "I think me seeing him is good for my mental state and for the kids." I look at Laurie as he danced with Annemarie. Her little laughs making me smile, while my eyes glanced at Laurie. He was so good with her, with all the kids.

"There it is." Father said, making me looked at him.

"There is what?"

"The look."

"What look?"

"The looks from the books. The look you told me I had when I looked at Ellie. I didn't understand what you meant until I seen her look at me."

"But that is you and Ellie. This is Laurie and I we're talking about. He's just the boy I call delivery boy and the boy who irritates me every time he is around me."

"And the boy who's been there since day one. Also the boy who tried to write you everyday. The boy who came to me, worried about you because you hadn't answered his letters. The boy who admitted the feelings he had for you to me."

I stopped dancing and looked at him. "What?"

He nodded. "He's loved you since the moment he seen you. Despite all the crazy bumps and obstacles, he hasn't given up on that love. I'll be honest, I was worried about him hurting you, until I seen how happy he made you tonight."

"I'm-I'm not sure I understand."

He sighed and took my hands into his. "You can't fake that look, Alex. I couldn't and neither can you."

My breath hitched and I could feel that I was on the verge of tears. My eyes slowly went to Laurie, who smiled happily as he watched Anne dance. "I need some air." I said and rushed away from the dance floor and deep into the garden, stopping when I seen the roses. I began fidgeting with the necklace I had on and trying to control my breathing. Something I've wanted for so long was happening and here I was breaking down. I took a deep breath and tried to gather my thoughts. I took a seat on the bench Marmee had installed not to long before the wedding.

I watched a drop of water fall onto a rose and hit the ground. I slowly looked up at the sky as many more water droplets fell from above. It began to pour and I could hear the yelling of people from the wedding, but I just sat there, letting the rain hit my skin and soak my dress. My face remained up at the sky, the drops of water hitting my face.

"Alex? What are you doing?" A voice asked, making me look at them.

Laurie stood there in the rain, looking at me. "Sitting in the rain!"

"Why!?"

"Uh, I'm not sure why."

He laughed and walked closer to me, taking a seat beside me. We both sat there together, no words, just us the sound of rain hitting the ground. I looked down at the ground and reach my hand towards him before looking at him. He looked at me with a smile and took my hand. We rushed up from our seats started running around the garden, laughing on the top of our lungs. We danced through the flowers and began getting rained on. This moment would be something I would replay in my mind forever. It was the moment I knew how in love I am with him.

The boy who made sure to annoy me every chance he got. The boy who was there for me when I was at my worst. The boy who I called delivery boy. The boy I was in love with.