Breaking Free: A Living Again Novella (17 page)

“You didn’t borrow me,” Alexis sniffled. “You
are
my dad. I’ve never thought anything else. Alex gave me to you. I really do believe that.”

Ben smiled, touching his fingertips gently to the falling tears on Alexis’ cheeks. “I’m giving you to Greer today, Princess. But I can’t ever give you fully away, because you live in here.” He put her hand over his heart. “You’re always going to be my little girl. No matter how old you get. Now, are you ready to go see your groom? I think he’s worn a hole in the carpet waiting for you.”

They laughed together, and Ben reached out his hand. Alexis linked her hand with his and they turned to walk out of the room. Kayley grabbed her other hand, and the bridesmaids followed behind them.

“Let’s go get you married,” Ben said, holding the door so she could walk out first. She didn’t miss the tear that escaped from his eye, or that Kayley wiped it away before kissing him softly.

Alexis held onto Greer’s hands as his thumbs stroked the inside of her palms. A small smile played on his lips as he led her to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. As Sam began to croon the lyrics to the song that Greer and Alexis had always thought of as ‘their song’,
No One But You,
Greer wrapped his arms around her.

“You’re the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on,” he whispered into her ear. She closed her eyes, succumbing to the many sensations going on inside her. “I can’t believe you’re all mine now, Alexis Henderson.”
Alexis Henderson. Dr. Alexis Henderson.
She liked the sound of that.

Alexis tipped her head back so she could look at her handsome husband. “I love that,” she whispered. “I’m really yours now.”

“I love you,” he whispered, brushing her lips gently with his. She remembered a time when expressing things like this was extremely difficult for him. “You’re the other half of me, Alexis. You make me whole.”

She grinned, reaching her hands up to touch the sides of his face, as she did for the first time so many years ago. He leaned into her touch. “I love you, Greer Henderson. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

The ceremony had been perfect. They had written their own vows, which had been Greer’s idea. Alexis had been shocked when he had suggested it. Now their small reception was being held under a tent in the backyard. The weather was warm but not stifling, and Alexis loved getting the time to actually talk to everyone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for our bride and groom! A fine looking couple. But now, we’re going to invite onto the dance floor another fine couple; the bride and her father. Dr. Ben and Dr. Alexis, it’s time for the Father-Daughter dance.”

Ben stepped up to the dance floor, and Greer put Alexis’ hand into her dad’s with a smile. Ben hugged Greer, then led Alexis onto the dance floor.

The beginning chords of “There Goes My Life” by Kenny Chesney started playing, and Alexis rested her head on her dad’s broad chest as the words wafted over them. While she knew that the song wasn’t entirely their story, the parts of it that were true for them hit the nail on the head. Because of him, her and her mom had gotten to have a wonderful life. She had been given a sister and two brothers that she loved, and a childhood most people could only hope for. While she didn’t remember meeting Ben since she had been so young, there wasn’t a memory that she had that he wasn’t the center of. They had always had a bond beyond that of a regular father-daughter.

“It seems like yesterday I was doing this with your mom at our wedding,” he interrupted her thoughts. Alexis looked up at him, waiting for him to continue. “You had the best time at the wedding. I don’t think you stopped dancing the entire night. By the time your grandparents left with you, you were passed out. You looked so adorable that day, Lex. My little princess wearing her gown. I don’t think you wanted to take that dress off for a long time after the wedding. Even when you outgrew it, you would come in and have it on, telling me ‘Yes it
does
fit me, Daddy. It’s my princess dress. It’s when you married us.’ You would say it in that adorable little voice of yours, and you knew that I wouldn’t tell you no.”

“I never remember a time in my life without you in it,” Alexis said. “I remember you always taking me to the park when Mom was pregnant with Ben. Then we would get ice cream on the way home and you would tell me not to tell Mommy you let me get ice cream before dinner. I remember so many things that we did together, Dad. But want to know what I remember the most?”

“What’s that, Princess?”

“I remember you
always
being there for me. It’s not easy to be a successful doctor and have a big family like you did. I can tell that already and I’m just starting out. I’m sure Greer and I will have our share of difficulties with balance. But as busy as you were, Dad, you never, ever made any of us feel like you didn’t have time for us. You were at every recital, cheerleading competition, school play, and sports game. We ate dinner together almost every night. And you know what else?”

Ben smiled, waiting. “You showed all of us what it’s like to truly love your spouse. To honor them, even when times are tough and years have passed. We’ve always known how much you love and adore our mom, Dad. Because of that, we have a great example of what true love is. You and Mom have been married over twenty years now, but your love is just as strong as it was then, I would bet. I hope Greer and I have that kind of love.”

“You have that kind of love if you work at it, Lex,” Ben said. “Your marriage always has to be number one. Never take each other for granted, and remember why you fell in love in the first place. If you do those things, you’ll be happy, Princess.”

The song ended and Ben led Alexis off the dance floor and into the arms of her new husband.

“Thank you, Daddy,” she said. He winked at her, turning as Kayley walked up beside them. Ben pulled his wife to his side and kissed her softly, then turned back to Alexis and Greer.

“Take care of each other,” he said, looking between both of them. “And know we’re always here for you.” With that, they turned and walked away, leaving Alexis brimming with emotion. She had been so blessed in her life to have not only the man that gave her life, but also the man that helped her live. And now she had Greer, and that was something she would never take for granted.

“Greer! Greer!” Alexis shouted. She couldn’t believe it. She got it. They were one step forward in making a huge difference.

“Are you okay?” Greer appeared in the doorway. By some miracle of God, they both had the same shift today, so they were home. That didn’t happen very often.

Alexis took the paper over to him. “We got it, babe.” Greer’s eyes zeroed in on the letterhead, a grin overtaking his face.

“You
got it
?” Greer picked her up and twirled her around. “I’m
so
proud of you, Alexis! I had no doubt. None at all. My wife’s a genius.”

A few months prior, Alexis had applied for an award that was specifically for child neurologists that were instrumental in research on neurological diseases. You had to be early in your career, which both of them were. This award would give her $50,000 to further her research. She was deep in the throes of autism research, working with a team on how best to prevent and identify autism. She had always wanted to be a doctor, but after meeting Greer she knew what direction her life was headed in. She had decided to specialize in Child Neurology with a focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder, and she had never wavered from her decision.

They were both deep in residency hell, Greer specializing in pediatrics. He had decided in his junior year to go ahead and go the medical track instead of engineering, and he loved every second of it. Well, almost every second. They had both chosen their residency together at Children’s Hospital of Boston, and had moved there together last year. While it was grueling and they rarely had time to sleep, much less spend time together, neither of them would trade it for the world.

“I’m so excited,” Alexis said, still wrapped in Greer’s arms. “Can you imagine what this money will do for my research? What if someday I can be instrumental in finding a cure, or a way to prevent this from affecting so many families? Can you imagine that?”

“I believe you will do it, Alexis. You’re the most determined person I know.” Greer kissed her softly. “Would you like some lunch? I was making sandwiches when you shouted. You’re lucky I didn’t cut my finger off.”

Alexis laughed. “Sorry. Yes, I’ll take one. Thank you,” she answered, her mind still lost in the possibility of this money. She couldn’t wait to tell the rest of her team.

Alexis watched as Greer walked out of the room, back to the kitchen. They had gotten married last year, right after graduating with their doctorates. It had been an amazing day, full of everything that Greer and Alexis found special.

Greer continued to grow every day, and she swore she hardly recognized the young man she had met all those years ago. He was now able to hold his own in a crowded room, or address a room full of students or doctors. He had his moments, much like anyone else, but overall he felt confident in his own skin now.

He was an excellent doctor, and she couldn’t wait to open their own doctor’s office when they finished residency. They were planning to specialize in Autism and other related disorders. Her mom and dad had even thought about expanding their therapy center up here in Boston to serve the children they saw.

Her little brother Ben had gotten married two years ago and was now the proud dad of a little girl they named Kaylynn. He lived in Georgia with his wife, Lynette. Cierra had finished college and was living in Sunset Beach and working as a speech therapist at their mom’s therapy center. She was dating someone that they all hoped turned into more, but there was nothing yet. Dalen was in college and planning to be an engineer. He played college baseball, and had sworn off all things girls.

Cate, her best friend in the world, had gotten married three years ago to Michael, her college sweetheart, and was pregnant with her first baby. They lived in California, and Alexis missed her terribly.

Hailey was engaged to be married to a wonderful guy named Christian. They were living in Tallahassee still, and Alexis would be in their wedding later this year.

Her mom and dad had what they jokingly called ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’. All the kids were gone, and they were loving being grandparents to Ben’s little girl. Alexis and Greer had recently gone home to visit, and Sam had a big party at her beach house, as was now the norm. It was crazy how fast time had gone. All of the kids were so big. Getting together with all of her mom’s lifelong friends now consisted of boyfriends, girlfriends, fiancée’s, wives, and husbands.

Alexis remembered the first time she met Sam. She had been so star struck, and the eight-year-old her had grilled her for hours about what it was like to be a singer. Even though Sam was her mom’s friend, Alexis was very close with her and thought of her like another Aunt, just like Emily and Rachel. Sam’s best friend Lacey was over twelve years cancer free, and doing well. Alexis loved her big extended ‘family’, and enjoyed the time they got together.

“Here you go, love,” Greer came in, holding her sandwich. He sat down next to her on the couch and they ate in silence for a few minutes, both lost in thought.

“Our lives are crazy,” Greer said. Alexis looked at him, nodding in agreement. “But I want us to have a baby.”

She paused mid bite. “Now?”

“It doesn’t make sense,” he answered. “I know. We work insane hours and have two years left of residency. Then we have to start our own practice. But it seems like there’s never going to be a ‘perfect’ time, and I love you, Alexis Henderson.”

She put her sandwich down and climbed into his lap. “And I love you too, Greer Henderson. I want nothing more than for us to have a family together.”

“You aren’t afraid that he or she will be… like me?”

Alexis sighed. “Greer…”

“I know,” he said, kissing her softly. “I can’t help it.”

“If our son or daughter were to be born exactly like you, I would count my blessings because he or she would be the most amazing child in the world. No matter what our child does or doesn’t have, we will love him or her and make sure they feel comfortable in their own skin. They will always know that they are loved and understood. Plus, he or she will have two doctors for parents and a doctor for a grandparent. There isn’t anything going to get past us.”