Never Let You Fall (Previous title, Dance in the Rain)

~ Chapter 1 ~ Alexis ~

The faint light of dawn crept through the curtains as the baby's cries echoed down the hallway. Moments later, silence fell.

Kellan never cried for long, no matter what hour of the day or night he awoke. Aiden and Emily both doted on their baby boy and picked him up the moment he so much as uttered an unhappy sound. Such a lucky boy, his daddy loved him and showed his devotion to his wife and children every single day. Aiden vowed he'd never leave his family.

My own husband, Joel, had made that same vow once upon a time. Silly me for believing him. Our son, Daniel, now slept in our friends' house, rather than in our own.

We'd received a warm welcome here when everything collapsed, and I'd become fed up with Joel's intolerable behavior. But then, Aiden had been my friend first. I'd introduced Aiden and Joel when we'd summered here as teenagers. They would have met anyway, but I liked to believe I'd brought them together and helped cement their friendship.

Soft footsteps sounded in the hallway outside my room followed by the creak of the stairs. I'd grown accustomed to the constant late night wanderings in the house as the occupants of this happy home included both a newborn infant and Aiden's teenage daughter, Savannah.

Now wide-awake, I crawled from between the cozy sheets and tiptoed into the hall to peek in at my son. Daniel's deep and even breathing was broken only by the occasional slurp as he sucked the thumb he'd crammed into his mouth. Resting a hand over my aching heart, I peered at his precious face. Tears sprang to my eyes as I brushed my fingers over his soft brown hair. He reminded me of his daddy with his hazel eyes and long thick lashes.

Daniel's sweet face caused a flurry of conflicting emotions. I both loved and hated my husband at this moment. I hoped things would get better and Joel would return to us, but I feared the worst.

"Alex," Aiden whispered from behind me. "Everything okay?"

I brushed at my eyes before facing him. "It's fine."

Aiden frowned. "Give me a minute to deliver this"—he held up a glass of water—"and we can go for a walk. Daniel should sleep for a couple more hours. We'll be back long before he's up."

I nodded. "I'll get dressed."

He disappeared into the master bedroom, and I retraced my steps to the guest room.

After splashing cold water on my face, I ran a brush through my tangled hair and scooped it into a ponytail. Puffy red-rimmed eyes reflected back at me, the dark circles beneath them vivid reminders of too many sleepless nights. I tapped the skin with my fingertips but soon abandoned the futile attempt to appear rested.

As I trudged down the stairs, the fragrant smell of fresh coffee rose to my nostrils. I rounded the corner and leaned against the kitchen counter, fixated by the wisps of steam rising from the two travel mugs. "I could drink a gallon of that."

"Then you're in luck." Aiden added a touch of cream and sugar to each and handed one to me.

I gulped a mouthful. "Ouch!" Grimacing, I pressed a fingertip to my lips.

"Careful." He rubbed my arm. "It's hot."

"Yeah, you'd think I'd have figured that out."

We ambled down the beach in the opposite direction from our house. My house? I wasn't sure anymore. Not about anything.

"Emily doesn't mind me stealing you away?"

"No, she's feeding Kellan, and there's nothing I can do to help. I'd planned to lounge on the deck with my morning coffee, but this is better. It'll give us a chance to talk without interruptions."