Just The Way You Like It - Under Construction

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Blake was distraught beyond belief when he came around the corner of his living-room to answer the door, only to see Alice racing outside and Tess defiently in his way. He swallowed hard as he raced after Alice, wanting desperately to talk to her and explain himself better. Tess held him sternly at bay and Blake watched Alice painfully climb her way into Tess' sedan. Blake never wanted Alice to leave, but he could understand why she would want to. “Please Tess, tell her I'm sorry, ask her to come back inside.” Blake begged his long-time friend for help as he forced his tears back.

“I'm sorry Blake, I think she needs some time away from you. I don't know what you did to her, but she's really upset. I'll see you at work tomorrow and we'll talk, but you need to give her some space.”

“No, Tess. You don't understand, I . . .”

“Blake listen to me. She wants to leave, so let her. If the two of you are meant to be, then it will happen. But trust me, talking to her right now will only make things worse.” Blake tried to push past Tess and make a break for the car, but the old woman held up her hand and repeated her wishes.

Finally, Blake gave up and went back inside his house to wallow in his own guilt and remorse. Finding a glass and an old half-empty bottle of bourbon, Blake sank down at that kitchen table and poured himself a glass. Every where he looked, Alice had left her touch. The dirty dishes from their missed breakfast were still in the sink, and the memory of their food fight came to the forefront of Blake's mind. He stood up and swiped the bottle off the table before heading into the living-room.

It was no better in there either, so Blake went upstairs. He knew his room would be torture to go into, so he instead went across the hall and into his parent's old room. It had been well over two years since he had last gone in, and he was surprised to see the room clean and dust-free. Alice had obviously cleaned upstairs too.

Blake sighed and shut the door as he made his way back downstairs. Without thinking, Blake wandered into Alice's room and sat down on her bed before taking a long swig straight from his bottle. The room smelled like her, and everything she owned was still there. A spark of hope grew in Blake as he thought about the chances of Alice returning, even if it was just to collect her things.

Blake knew he had totally screwed everything up, and usually he didn't like to drink while he was upset, but for some reason it now felt like a good idea to get drunk. He had only wanted to know that Alice was happy just being herself before attaching onto him for comfort and need. Blake sat on Alice's bed for a long time, taking gulps of his liquid comfort every few minutes. Once the bottle was drained, Blake stood up, wobbled, and made a not so straight line for the door. He dumped his empty bottle into the trash can and heard it as it struck the bottom of the can with a thud. Blake looked down, and though his vision was already blurry he saw one of his note-pads sitting in the trash.

Not able to recall when he had thrown away one of his pads in the spare room, Blake fished it out and tucked it in the back pocket of his pants. The living-room sofa was calling out to him, and all Blake wanted to do now, was sleep. He stumbled out into the hall and almost tripped on the rug that spanned the length of the hallway. A knock at the door made Blake reel, and he finally broke his balance and crashed head first into a wall. Cursing loudly, Blake turned around and ripped open the front door, only to come face to face with Holly.

“What do you want?” Blake spat out with as much hate as his lips could muster.

“I just wanted to come in and talk, I feel like I wasn't fair to you yesterday.”

“Whatever.”

“Are you drunk Blake?”

“Sometin' wrong with that?”

“No, I've just never seen you drunk before. That's all.”

Holly ducked under Blake's arm that he was using for support on the door frame, and entered the house, taking in the sight of the now clean and sheet free living-room. “Wow, this place looks good. Did you hire a maid or something?”

“Shut up.” Blake said as he finally collapsed down onto the sofa.

“Wow, you're mean when you're drunk.”

“Yeah, n' you're mean when you're sober.”

“Fair enough. Where is Alice?” Holly asked, looking around the room for the little blonde that was trying to ruin everything she had worked so hard to set up.

“She left me, it's why I'm drunk.”

“I hate to say it, but I told you so.” Holly couldn't help but smile with her new knowledge of Alice's absence.

“You . . . you were right Holly. I shoulda listened.”

“Well, I'm here now Blake, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry for everything I said yesterday. I didn't really mean any of it.” Holly said as she sat down next to Blake and brushed a few stray hairs out of his face. “Do you want me to stay?”

“I don't care. Do whatever.” Holly snuggled in next to Blake as he quickly passed out, and her brain began to chug through the different options that were now available for her to use. Somehow, someway, she was going to marry Blake, and nobody was going to get in her way.

Holly made herself at home in the room next to where Alice had stayed, and spent the next few days doting on Blake. She couldn't cook worth beans, but somehow managed to get dinner on the table every night before Blake came home from the hospital. She did his laundry and ironing while watching her favorite shows on TV during the day, and even managed to fold most of it pretty successfully. Holly wasn't used to keeping house for someone, and it was becoming a real pain. She tried a few times to tempt Blake into bed, but he refused every time, coming up with some excuse to stay up and work.

Blake started to keep long hours at the hospital, even for an ICU doctor, and Holly worried that he was avoiding her. One phone call to Dr. Willub, an old friend of her father's, fixed that problem right away. Holly's new job as Willub's assistant would start right away, and then Blake couldn't avoid her even if he tried.

The first day back at work was a blessing and a curse to Blake. On one hand, it was nice to get some time away from Holly. On the other hand, it was difficult to be back in the place where everything with Alice had started. He avoided Alice's old room like the plague, and spent most of his time up in his office. Wallace remained unseen for the entire day, and Blake was too embarrassed to call him up or page him.

Tess had only commented quickly about Alice, saying that she was well and seemed to be in good spirits. Blake asked if he could stop by for a visit, but Tess denied his request, telling him that Alice needed a few more days. The next few days passed by slowly as Holly had apparently decided to get a job as Willub's assistant. His home away from home was no longer safe from her irritating presence. Still, he couldn't deny that she was doing her best to turn his house into a home, although Alice had done a much better job at it than Holly ever could.

Blake spent most of his free time thinking about Alice and all the ways he would try to win her back. Not being near her was taking a toll on him both physically and emotionally, and the only thing that gave him any sort of comfort was alcohol. Blake had never been a big drinker, and usually only had a glass or two at parties and on vacations. But over the first week of being without his Alice, Blake had managed to empty out the liquor cabinet at home.

Saturday finally came around, and Blake forced himself to stay sober as he planned on making his first trip over to Tess' house to visit Alice. He pulled into the driveway, got out, and rang the doorbell, wishing he had called first to ask Tess if it was a good time to come by. After several repeated rings and knocks on the door, Blake came to the cold conclusion that no one was home. Blake drove back to his own house, and was greeted by Holly as usual. He was in no mood to deal with her, and so he briskly trotted up the stairs and locked himself into his room.