The Definition Of Family

Chapter 4

Alex is restless through the entire night. Short bursts of unconsciousness are interrupted by long hours of anxiety and fear, every noise outside the door or window startling him awake.

By the time the sun clears the top of the mountain he's ready to leave. Not the town, not yet; he might as well wait until he no longer has the room. "Maybe... Maybe I can ask Julia about what she meant. Things didn't exactly go well, and it's not like I really listened to what she had to say."

And with that Alex dresses and heads to Café Carolina. The interior is lit up, with a single good looking businessman and Julia inside. As Alex is approaching the shop the man waves goodbye and leaves, his head down against the bitter cold.

Alex pushes open the glass door and sighs in relief as the warm air washes over him. He smiles timidly and mumbles, "Hey."

"Hey kid," she croons, voice and expression soft. "Look, I'm- I'm sorry about yesterday. I just- oh! do you want your usual coffee?"

"Yeah, that would be great. And... Thanks. I'm sorry for overreacting," Alex says.

She continues speaking as she pours him a cup. "Please, don't apologize. You had every reason to lose your cool, and I completely understand. And put that money back, coffee is on the house."

"Are- are you sure?"

"Absolutely." There is a pause as she passes it over the counter.

"I-" Alex starts, but interrupts himself with a sip of coffee.

"Look," says Julia, "the reason everyone here knows your mom... Well, I think you should see someone."

"Who?" Alex inquires after he looks up from his coffee.

"Her name's Maddie. She's kinda known for taking in just about everything. I- I know you don't want to rely on anyone, especially family, but..." She trails off, focusing on scrubbing down the espresso machine.

"Wait, family?" He looks incredulous as he slides into a seat at the bar.

"Well, yeah. She's your aunt." Julia shrugs.

Alex is suddenly bombarded by memories of a younger woman, one with wild brown hair and piercing green eyes like his. With a kind, sweet voice that promised that the moment he left that wretched place he could come find a home with her.

"She was talking to me, the other day. She comes here sometimes to catch up on gossip, or sends her cute roommate. Apparently she got a call from your mother about you, about how you ran away and the trouble of having to look for you. She... She's the one looking for you, now. She wants you to stay with her. I think she knows I know you, or at least suspects. But she's a great gal, really." Julia smiles.

"I remember her! Only barely, but I... I think she would come for regular visits when I was younger?" He props his chin on his hand. "I... I can't exactly say when, or why. But I think she's the one who taught me the way to town. I guess, now that I think about it, it would have been a shorter walk to go to Black Brook instead of here."

"So... Is that a yes?" Julie raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah, might as well," Alex says, grinning.

She laughs, leaning against the counter. "God, Maddie is just... Her roommate, Dave? She took him in after he got lost in the rain. He had just moved here and no one really liked him because he constantly had a stick up his ass. It really made a difference, you know? Apparently he had been living on his own until then and he just felt isolated."

"Really?" Alex is completely absorbed in her story.

"Yeah! She also has at least a dozen pets. A chicken coop, a couple cats, a snake of all things... And she has a wicked green thumb. I've heard her talking about opening a nursery but she just doesn't have enough help around the house. Dave's great and all but he's constantly loaded down with work. He's incredible, already the head of his office and he started off two years ago as an intern. I'm sure it'll only be a few more before he's head of the company," she explains.

"He sounds... Incredible." Alex is nearly breathless. How had he forgotten about his aunt? He could've- god, he could've left years ago to live with her. Why did he only remember her invitation now? Which he did, despite years of her absence; Julia saying Maddie's name seemed to trigger all of the forgotten memories from his childhood. And Dave, her roommate...

Julia bursts out laughing. "Don't tell me you have a crush already!"

Alex responds only by blushing.

"Wait, really? Oh my god, this is great. I need to get you in contact with Madds." She slides across the floor and yanks her phone up by the charger cord. A few presses on the screen and then- "Oh my god Maddie you will not believe- I talked to Alex, yes, I know- shut up, oh my god, I have news-"

"Julia, no!" Alex shouts as he throws himself over the counter to yank the phone from her hands. She just cackles as he hangs up.

"Sorry, kid," she says, still shaking with laughter.

"You're... Really not."

Julia just laughs harder, neatly-tied black curls slipping from the bun on her head. She tries to muffle it as her phone lights up. "Here, give that- I won't do it again, I promise!"

"Okay, okay." Alex chuckles along with her and gives her phone back.

Julia turns it on and gasps. "No. Way."

"What? What is it?" He leans even further over the counter to try and see the screen.

"Oh, nothing!" She turns off her phone and giggles. "Feel free to hang out here for the rest of the day. It's pretty slow on tuesdays and I could use some company."

"Thanks. I think... I think I'll take you up on the offer. Can I stop by the hotel and grab my computer?" Alex straightens up from where he was leaning over the counter.

She nods. "Of course! I'll give you the Wifi password when you get back."

"Thanks!" He beams, Julia chuckling and waving as he walks out the door.

Maybe things might finally go his way.