The Redheads of Mmm...Doctor!


Title: Perfect Stranger
Author: Elizabeth
Email: bethiewhyte@yahoo.ca

I wake up in bed with Alex. What a wonderful feeling it is. I think about that for a minute before realizing Alex isn't there. My eyes open really fast and I get up and pull a robe over my naked body. I open the door to hear her talking to her parents.

"But mom, do you have to go? I mean yes I'm better and of course Susan can take care of me but I'll miss you."

"Oh I know Sweetie, believe me I know. But your father and I have to get home. We have things that should have been done a month ago. I miss my friends and I think Jane is going to kill my dog. But we're going to come back in the summer and you'll be so healthy by then that we'll be able to go somewhere fun."

"I know. I just like having you around."

"I know Sweetie, I know."

I walk in to see Alex and her mother hugging. Alex sees me and makes her way over to give me a hug and a kiss good morning. This is something I've really missed; the morning kisses. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight, trying to savor the moment. I feel her sigh into my shoulder and then let go to get myself some breakfast. Carol watches me in surprise. "Susan you're eating breakfast?"

"Yeah of course. Have to get my strength up."

"I haven't seen you eat breakfast ever."

"Just because you didn't see me eat doesn't mean I didn't."

"It's okay, mom. I know she didn't eat breakfast. Kim, Kerry and I figured it out. She's only been eating chunky chicken soup and drinking coke."

"I knew her clothes looked loose on her."

This is getting a little too about me so I change the subject. "Did I hear correctly Carol? You and Bill are leaving?"

"Yes Susan. We've decided to go home." I look at Alex and see she's still not happy about this. I go over and hug her again. "It'll be okay babe. I'll still be here."

"I know, Suse. I'll just miss my mom."

"I know. So Carol what time's your flight?"

"Oh don't worry dear Jill's going to drive me. And she'll take the kids too. You know (she lowers her voice) Give you two some time alone. Just don't wear my daughter out." I smile even though I know my face is red. There's a knock on the door and Jill walks in with Kris and Susie. They have been out of the house for a week now, even though they still have a key and Kris will always have a room here. However, I'm wondering why Susie is with them. She comes over to give me a hug and I give Carol a puzzled look. "When you and Alex didn't come back down last night Jill decided to take the kids to her house. I think they went for pizza as well."

"Oh, well thanks."

"Guess what Aunt Susan? I'm going to the airport with Jill and Kris to say goodbye to nana and poppa."

This wins Carol another puzzled look. She smiles, "What can I say? The kid needs grandparents. We've got lots of love to share around." I smile at this and plant a kiss on Susie's forehead. She gets back down and grabs the bagel I just made, takes one half and gives the other to Kris. The two sit down and start to eat. I shake my head and make another bagel for myself. When it's finished I sit down next to Alex and look around. Jill is sitting down with some coffee and Bill has just walked in and has started to make oatmeal. This is what family should be, not me chasing after Chloe while trying to keep my parents in check. I look at Alex and she smiles and takes my hand.

The next hour is pretty rushed. It turns out Carol and Bill's plane is leaving in another two hours and then need time to get to the airport and check in. Alex and I hug and kiss the two of them three times each before they leave, and suddenly the house is very quiet. I wonder what we're supposed to do now. This is the first time I've had Alex all to myself that she hasn't been really sick or tired. However, Alex handles it for me. She puts on some romantic music and leads me upstairs.

In the bedroom, Alex makes work of our clothes again, and then leads us to the bathroom where she runs a bath. We get in and talk. We talk about everything: things that have happened at work, friends, family. We have a month of talking to make up for. Talk turns to us. We get out of the tub, still talking. We towel each other down and lie on the bed together talking about everything that would concern the two of us, learning everything and falling in love. We decide someday we want children, and that we would each have one. We eat lunch and in the afternoon we make love again, passionate love that I have never felt anything like. This brings us to the four and we finally get dressed and go down to make supper. Alex is cutting vegetables. I wrap my arms around her like that first day and say, "Are you tired at all?"

"Nope. I'm good."

I smile at this. I hope we really are in the clear and that she is going to be okay. I think about this as the door opens and the kids come running in with Jill not too far behind. "Aunt Susan! Guess what? We got a kitten!"

"What?" I turn around and see Jill holding two beautiful blue point Siamese cats. I smile and look at Alex who is also smiling. "What should we name them?"

I look at ours for a minute. Her feet look like those little willow plant things. "How about willow?"

"I like that. What about the other guy?"

Kris speaks up, "What about pearl?"

Willow and Pearl. I love it. We put them down and let them roam the house. I set supper on the table and everyone sits down to eat as Kris and Susie tell us about their day. They went everywhere by the sounds of it: To the mall, to get hair cuts and then to the pet store where they picked out the cats. Then Susie turned to me and said, "What did you do all day Aunt Susan?"

"Uh…well we relaxed. Talked a bit. Had a nice lunch and made supper."

"That sounds boring."

I look at Alex and she is smiling. "Actually it was very fun."

Susie shakes her head and eats her food. I look around again and realize how wonderful my family is. I secretly hope it will be like this for a long time.

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