The Mix-Up

Chapter Seven

Teddy had spent the better half of her morning pacing the floor of her living room. Her feet were burning treads against the wood as she moved in a huff. She had tried to find any other form of an option, contacted all her possible connections but found them to all be unavailable. Listing off the pros and cons to the current thoughts running through her mind, she finally lowered herself to the couch in defeat.

She had no other choice, unless she wanted to cancel the meeting all together. But she wasn't very interested in that option. This was a once in a lifetime deal, it would get her the money she desperately needed to support herself and the girls – not to mention the coming baby.

Removing her phone from her pocket Teddy opened to the number that she was sorry to admit she had memorized. Clicking on Alec's name she listened deeply as it rang. It took several rings before the man's husky voice finally answered.

"Hey" Alec forced out. His voice was deep and sounded slightly out of breath. Unknowingly to Teddy, Alexander was currently in the middle of a very important meeting with a potential client. He had been struggling with writing a pitch for this individual for some time now, and although he had ideas, nothing seemed to strike the man's interest.

Once the call had come through on Alexander's phone, his heart skipped a beat. Theodora had never contacted him during works hours before, and immediately he became concerned regarding the twins. What if one of them was hurt? Or had gotten lost.

With weary eyes he had glanced around the table. "I'm sorry" he apologized, slowly standing, "I need to take tis." He had rushed into the hall and around the corner, away from prying eyes. When he answered he was slightly out of breath, not only from the quick movement but also from the fear of what could be wrong.

"Hey" Teddy answered through the phone. "I... I'm sorry to be bothering you at work. I'm sure you must be very busy." Her voice was calm but it lacked a certain steadiness to it.

"Don't worry about it" Alexander sighed and nervously ran his hand through his hair. "What did you need Teddy? It's not everyday that you call Me." at least not during work hours that was. He hated to admit it but him and Teddy talked on the phone almost every night. It involved the girls of course, him saying goodnight or asking how their day had gone. But he found that at some point the conversation would naturally shift to one between him and Teddy.

"I uh, well I know how busy you are, and I understand if you say no. I'm sure I can work something out" Teddy stuttered through the phone, speaking a little too quickly for Alexander's liking.

"Teddy" the man gave a light chuckle, "can you at least tell me why you called before you start assuming that I would naturally say no?"

"Okay yeah" Teddy said with a deep sigh. "I have an important meeting, for the bookstore. And my babysitter fell through at the last minute. I know that this is unexpected, and you probably can't make it. But I know you've wanted a chance to spend some alone time with the girls. To prove to me that you are capable of watching them, keeping them with you. And I guess, now's a good as time as any."

Alec answered with zero hesitation, "I'll do it."

"W-what?" Teddy asked softly.

"I said I'll do it" Alec repeated. "You need someone to watch the girls. And I've been waiting for this chance. So of course I'll do it."

"But... aren't you busy?" Teddy stated nibbling on her bottom lip lightly.

"Don't worry" Alec reassured her "I'll make it work. What time do you need me to be there?"

"My appointment is for four" Teddy answered him softly, "so if you could be here for three-thirty that would be great. But only if you're sure that you can make it."