Just The Way You Like It - Under Construction

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Five

Alice could hear Blake let out a deep sigh as he pulled his car into the driveway of his house. She had pieced together enough to figure out that Holly had arrived in Portland, and was most likely on her way into town. Blake got her out of his car and into the house before heading back out to fetch Alice's new purchases from the trunk. He insisted that she stay by the front door so he could keep his eye on her. It felt a little ridiculous, but after the events that had already happened that day, Alice decided to stay put.

Blake piled back inside and set her bags down on the floor before taking his coat off and hanging it up on the coat stand. A noise down the hall caught Alice's attention and she turned her head around to try and hear it again. “Did you hear that?” Alice asked, tugging at Blake's sleeve. Fears of Sam being in the house surfaced and she became rather tense.

“No, I don't hear anything. Common, lets get this stuff into your room.” Alice followed behind Blake, moving as quietly as she could. The house was once again silent save for Blake's footsteps and the rustling of the bags. Blake opened Alice's bedroom door and they both filed in. Four suitcases were stacked on top of the bed, and the faint sound of running water caught Alice's attention. She turned her gaze to Blake who had already set the bags down and was now hauling the suitcases out, setting them on the other side of the door. Alice sat still, not sure of what to do, as Blake finished with the last suitcase and came back in. He walked briskly over to the bathroom door and gave it a loud knock.

“Holly! Is that you?” A woman's voice answered through the door.

“Blake! Sweetie, just give me a minute, I'll be out as soon as I can!” Blake sighed and turned to look at Alice. He shrugged his shoulders and motioned for them to leave.

They headed into the kitchen and Blake sat down, asking Alice to join him. She tried to pretend to be surprised when he finally explained to her who Holly was. “I'm sorry Alice, I should have mentioned her earlier, or at least told you she was coming. It's only for a short while, and then she'll head back home.”

“It's okay Blake, I understand.” Alice said, even though she really didn't understand much of it at all.

The kitchen door swung open and a slender, beautiful woman strutted in. Alice watched as she walked straight up to Blake and sat down in his lap. Her dark brown hair wavy hung just past her shoulders and Alice was immediately jealous thinking about how once her hair had been that long too.

“Hi Blake, I've missed you so much!” She leaned in to give him a kiss, but Blake turned his head away quickly.

“Um Holly, I want you to meet Alice.”

“Who?” Blake pointed in Alice's direction and Holly's eyes followed until they were both looking each other straight in the eyes.

“Oh, hi.” Holly said, shooting daggers a Alice already. “Are you a patient of Blake's?” Blake answered for Alice.

“She is, but its complicated. Alice is going to be living with me for a while.”

“You can't be serious. Blake?”

“I just told you Holly, its complicated. Anyway, that’s why I moved your luggage out, Alice has that room. You'll have to sleep upstairs.”

“But Blake!” Holly sounded like she was two years old as she began to whine. “You know I hate that drafty old bedroom up there. It's bad enough you ditched me in Portland, and I'm only forgiving you because I know what you bought me the other day.”

“What are you talking about Holly? I didn't buy you anything.”

“Hmm, it's fine if you want to play dumb. But, I went to the hospital to find you today when I got into town, and I ran into Susan. She told me that you bought a ring from her uncle, and we all know what that means! So anyway, I've decided to forgive you for not picking me up, but I refuse to sleep upstairs. I'll just move into the other bedroom down here.”