Smile (Kris Bryant)

Chapter Forty Eight| Moving In

Kris

"So let me get this straight. You want to let this girl you met at the game last night stay in our home and nanny our child" I ask as Alex lays in bed next to me.

Apparently last night during the domestic violence awareness game a young woman approached Alex. Her parents kicked her out because they didn't like the guy he was dating and he ended up being everything they said he was but worse. He was a low life woman beater who doesn't have anything better to do than make her life a living hell. She can't come home and she can't really stay with him so she's a little stuck right now. She saw Alex's press conference and reached out for help. That brings us to now we're Alex wants to bring a total stranger into our house to take care of our baby.

"She'll only be here until school starts up again then she'll be at northwestern. She needs a job and a place to stay and we can offer both. We have three empty rooms in this house and need someone to watch Bennett when we're gone. We need her almost as much as she needs us" she insists.

"Can't your sister just watch him" I ask.

"She has a job and it isn't nannying. I know you don't want some stranger coming into our home but I have a chance to help her like you helped me. You said helping someone in that kind of situation is a chance you would take a hundred percent of the time. And that means now" she reminds me. I did say that.

"Fine. She can move in and she can nanny. But we're going to get her real help too. She isn't a charity case" I remind her.

"I know. And thank you" she says giving me a kiss.

After the last game of the series we get Alexis moved in. It wasn't that hard because she didn't bring much but Alex gave her some of her clothes which actually helps me out because I can see the closet now. She thanks us a million times and promises to help out the best she can. I felt bad because she probably felt like she owes us now but we really just want to help.

"Here's your room. You're next to Bennett but unless you have the baby monitor you won't hear a peep out of him. Theres a bathroom in your room and some towels in the closet in the hallways. The fridge is open to you and if you're a cooker like me the stove is always ready. There's a pool in the back you can use if you want and I think that just about covers it. If you need to go anywhere let us know and you can take one of our cars" Alex says.

"Seriously I cannot thank you guys enough. How can I ever repay you" she asks.

"All we ask is that you get some help" I say.

"Like a therapist" she asks.

"Yes. We don't want you to leave here and still be scared. If you leave her a better woman than you came in as then we've done something right" I say throwing my arm around Alex.

"Did you do therapy" she asks Alex.

"I did. And it changed my life" she admits.

"Then I'll do it" Alexis agrees. Great.

We get her settled in which isn't hard. She didn't bring much. She gets aquatinted with the place before meeting Bennett.

"He's a easy baby. He cries when he's hungry or tired or needs changed but that's it. He's starting to move to baby food instead of formula so that's been a process but he does well. We spend a lot of time with him and he doesn't like when we leave but just give him a toy and he'll calm down. Other then that there isn't much to know" Alex says placing him in her arms. She smiles down at him and he seems to like her too.

"He's beautiful" she says.

"We like to think so" I reply. She says she's baby sat before so she knows how to change a diaper and put him to bed. Nothing she can't handle. We walk her through our schedule and when we'll need her. The allstar game was coming up and we would be gone but Alex was home for the long road series so that'll be the only time she's alone in the house.

"So that's basically it. Any questions" I ask.

"Is it okay if you not tell anyone. I don't want any attention drawn to myself. I really just want to get better and try and forget these past few months" she sighs.

"We won't say a word. We want to help you get better. I know you're scared of whatever repercussions that might happen but I promise you're safe here. And as far as moving on... find something that makes you happy then go from there" Alex suggests and she nods. Alexis goes up to her room and we go to pack for the all star game.

I watch as she silently puts clothes into her bag. She folds each piece of attire precisely before strategically placing it in her suit case. Her eyes were heavy and I can tell she was thinking.

"What's going in in that beautiful mind of yours" I ask.

"Huh"she asks snapping out of her daze.

"I know you too well. What's going on" I ask.

"It just sucks. Really bad. She's nineteen and has already experienced what I've been through. I don't want anyone to go through that, but she's a young girl. She should be going to football games and hanging with her friends but she feels like she can't. Like she's not allowed to be a kid and it's upsetting" she sighs.

"It is. And you're doing everything you can to help her" I assure her.

"And what about the millions like her" she asks.

"I... I don't know. Not everyone's going to be happy" I realize. It falls silent as she sits on the bed. I sit next to her and she rests her head on my shoulder.

"Thank you" she says softly. I've heard those words hundreds of times today yet I never get tired of it.

"For what" I ask.

"For being the difference in my life. For allowing me to be happy and for being a huge reason I am" she says softly.

"And thank you" I say.

"For what" she wonders.

"For never giving up. For fighting even though you've won. And for letting others in even when you are hurting" I list off. I kiss the side of her head as we just stare out the window.

"She's going to be okay, right" Alex asks.

"Yeah. I think we're all going to be alright" I admit.