The horizon and the balcony

Chapter thirty-three

Lafayette you didn't"Alexander groaned slamming his head on the table. He would never hear the end of this when he returned to work next week.

"I did what I had to do, my job as your partner is to protect you"Lafayette taking the seat across from him.

"I don't need you fighting my battles for me"he said. Lafayette rolled their eyes and ran a hand through their hair wincing at the tangles.

"I was just trying to protect you Alexander...if you really don't like me meddling I will stay out of it"They sighed in defeat.

"...did you really threaten him?"Alex asked quietly.

Lafayette nodded their head in confusion.

"Yeah, I told you what I said"

"You're just such a sweet person that...I'm not even angry anymore, just surprised"he said.

Lafayette rolled their eyes.

"I can be threatening if I need to Alexander, I uh how you say? Struck the fear of god into burr"they said proudly. Alexander snickered at the thought of burr cowering in fear and trembling like a leaf.

"I'm actually really proud of you Laf, thank you for me...always"Alexander said taking Lafayette's hand.

"Anytime my love, now will you tell me about your mère? I was a little too angry to be a good listener earlier"They said. Alexander nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course, I really love talking about her!"he said. The sound of footsteps were heard from down the hall, John and Hercules threw themselves into chairs around the dining room table.

"We would like to hear the story of the famous Rachel"John said. Hercules nodded his head quickly.

"The more the merrier!"Alexander cried out. He leaned in close and painted the picture for them.

"When I was a kid I was the definition of a mama's boy. She was my anchor,my rock and my superhero. In my eyes she couldn't do anything wrong, I still stand by that to this day"he said.

"She worked as a bartender and would bust her ass day in and day out. Her sister suggested she send me to a factory so I could start pulling my weight but my ma...she got pissed. She said it was her job to provide for me and not the other way around"he said and chuckled. The look on his aunts face that day was more than priceless.

"God my Ma did so much for me. Made sure I went to school, my hair was always combed, my uniform was always pressed and starched. She would wake me up early in the morning to watch the sunrise..."he said staring off fondly.

"Alexander"Rachel cooed softly shaking the boy's shoulders. It took a few moments to rouse him but when he finally awoke his eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Good morning mama!"he exclaimed standing up and wrapping his arms around her hips. She chuckled softly and bent down picking the small boy up resting him on her hip.

"Good morning sweetheart, did you sleep well?"she asked brushing the boyish bangs out of his face. He nodded fiercely and she sighed softly as it all toppled back over his eyes.

"Are we gonna watch the sun mama?"he asked. She nodded and sat him on the rickety dining room table. He kicked his feet humming softly as she walked to her sleeping mat. He looked closely, she was holding something behind her back.

"Today is a very special sunrise, can you guess why?"she asked. He pondered for a few moments and shook his head quickly.

"Tell me mama!"he exclaimed.

"You're six years old today! Happy birthday Alexander!"she said holding out a small wooden train. It was the exact one they had seen walking into town last Sunday on the way to church.

"I'm six? how did that happen? I was just five"he said in confusion. She chuckled fondly and ran a hand through his hair.

"You won't stay five forever silly, every year you have a birthday which makes you a year older"she explained. He nodded slowly and reached out for the toy train.

"But what if I don't wanna be older?"he asked pouting.

"Oh Alexander, you're going to get older whether you want to or not. That's just how time works"she said. He frowned and threw the toy train to the ground. He jumped off the table and gripped onto her dress burying his face into the fabric.

"I'm not your baby anymore!"He wailed. Rachel furrowed her brows and bent down hastily wiping his tears. It warmed her heart and broke it to see him so upset over a silly matter.

"Hush Alexander, you will always be my baby no matter how old you get. It doesn't matter if you're six or sixty"she cooed rubbing his back. He hiccuped and and rubbed his eyes trying to stop the tears.

"I just love you mama!"He exclaimed gripping onto her dress tighter. She settled on the ground and pulled him into her lap rocking him gently. Looking around at the one room house she sighed, this was no place to raise a child.

"And I love you Alexander, so much"she softly. He nodded and buried his face into her chest, he soon began to calm. The boy soon fell asleep and she watched as the sun peaked through the window. Sunrises happened everyday but moments like this only happened once in a lifetime.

"You deserve the world Alexander and I will make sure you get it...even if it kills me"she said softly and kissed his forehead.

How had she been blessed with such a bright and caring child? She was sure the lord had given him to the wrong family. He didn't deserve to grow up here, he would never make it any farther than down the block. He was too smart for this village, hell this island. It only limited him, he excelled in all of his classes and for what? To graduate high school and become a tradesman? Maybe a merchant if he was lucky.

"One day I'm going to find the money and we'll move to America, live the dream. I'll buy us a big grand piano and I'll take you to see a movie"she whispered.

"We'll live comfortably, food on the table, a bed to sleep in. You'll have a room and toys, a tv and new clothes. I wouldn't have to break my back all day and you'll go to college...you'll make me so proud"she whispered. At this point she wasn't sure who this dreaming was really for anymore.

He felt a warmth wash over his body and he smiled leaning back against the chair. He could hear her sweet voice calling for him. Out of the corner of his eye he glanced at the window and for just a second he saw the bobbing of blonde curls. The swishing Of the one dress she owned, he remembered it well. It used to be pink but from the amount of altering and patching it was practically a quilt.

"Flashback?"John asked.

"Yeah, really good flashback. God the thirteen years I spent with her...that's something I'm gonna cherish until I see her again"he said softly. Only thirteen years, that's twenty-two years his mothers been gone. Twenty-two years since he's seen her face but he could never forget it. It was etched into his memory for all eternity, god he couldn't wait until he got to see her again.

"You guys would have loved her, especially you Lafayette. French was here's and my native tongue"he said. Lafayette smiled sadly and wiped a stray tear that had slid down their face. Seeing Alexander speak with such passion moved them in ways unimaginable.

"oh no, now you got Laf crying Mr. I'm an amazing son. You got any funny stories from Nevis before I cry too?"John asked. Alexander brightened up at the praise and nodded his head rubbing Lafayette's arm.

"Of course I do, I was a terrible child"he said chuckling. God the first few years of his life he gave Rachel such a hard time.

"Okay so there I was running butt naked in the middle of Nevis, I couldn't be any older than five..."