Life's Tough With The Odds Against You - Chapter 5 - Tying Up Loose Ends
#5 of Life's Tough With The Odds Against You
Life's Tough With The Odds Against You - Chapter 5 - Tying Up Loose Ends
We walked down the street, my arm around Alexis as she hugged my chest. I wore a grin so wide it could put the Cheshire cat to shame. I had the love of my life back, on Valentines Day, and I wasn't planning on wasting a second of it.
The sun was still low in the sky, so we first began looking for a place to have a nice brunch. We decided on a smaller restaurant on the corner of the street called "Corazón y Alma". We walked in and saw a sign that read please seat yourself, so we moved over to a booth near the window. I sat down across from her, adjusting the contents of my pocket before reaching across the table, taking Alexis's paw in my own, just looking into her eyes.
"What?" She asked, shuffling in her seat slightly.
"What do you mean what?"
"Well, you've had that grin on your face ever since we left the hospital and now you're acting sorta, odd I guess."
"I'm just so happy to be with you again."
"Well, I am too but that doesn't explain why you're acting strange." I moved uncomfortably in my seat until thankfully I was saved by our waitress approaching our table.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," The lioness said. "My name's Rachel and I will be your server today. Can I get you two something to drink?"
"I'll get some orange juice I suppose." Alexis said, looking at me.
"Make that two orange juices please."
"Alright, I'll go get you those. Here are the menus for today for you to look at while I'm gone." She said, placing the menus on the table with a smile before heading off.
"So, Whats up? Can't you just tell me?" She said, becoming slightly agitated. I sighed lightly, running a hand through my hair.
"Ok, I've got a lot on my mind right now, but can we please just enjoy today, and I promise I'll tell you about it later, alright?" She cocked her head to the side and let out a huff of breath.
"Fine, but promise you'll tell me later ok?" I leaned across the table and kissed her lightly.
"I promise. So, have you looked at the menu yet?" I said, picking it up. I started flipping through it when I came across their Valentines Day special. "Hey, look at this," I said, laying down the menu and pointing to it. "It's got eggs, French toast, some hash browns, two homemade biscuits, and gravy. Sound good?"
"Babe, I've had nothing to eat but liquid from an IV, eating grass just about sounds tempting right now." She said sarcastically, laughing at the end. The sound of her laughing made me smile. Knowing that she was happy made me happy, and for the first time in a while, I was truly happy. I fiddled with the contents of my pocket again, reassuring myself I was making the right choice. I guess my mind started to wander because Alexis nudged my arm playfully.
"You're doing it again babe."
"Oops, my bad." I said, shrugging my shoulders exaggeratedly.
"So, have you decided what you'll be having yet?" Rachel said, placing our drinks on the table.
"Umm, the Valentines Day special please." Alexis said hungrily. Rachel scribbled down something on her note pad and then grabbed our menus.
"Alright then, I'll be right back out her with that. Is there anything else I can get you while I'm here?"
"Thanks but I think we've got everything for now." I said, reaching for my orange juice. I took a sip and my eyes shot open wide with the sweetness of it.
"Oh my god, it tastes like oranges, but much, much better! This is the best orange juice ever, of all time!" I heard Rachel giggling to herself as she returned to the kitchen with our order.
"Wow, you're right. This tastes like liquid heaven." Alexis said, greedily drinking down the precious orange fluid.
"Hey there, slow down," I said. "We don't want you to be in pain now do we?" She reluctantly set down her glass, only a quarter left in it.
"Fine, happy now?" She said, putting on a pouting face before breaking down in laughter. I joined her; unable to get over how much happiness her laughs brought me. We quieted down just as the next song came on in the restaurant.
"Oh my god, no way. Ierlex, do you remember this song?" I listened for a second, instantly knowing the song.
"Oh course, how could I forget? We used to sing this together whenever it came on the radio."
"Back to the street where we began, feelin as good as lovers can, you know..."
She began, humming the beat. I stood up and extended my paw.
"May I have this dance with you?" I asked.
"Right now, in here?" She said, unsure whether to stay seated or dance as her body urged her to do.
"Babe, it doesn't matter where we are as long as I'm with you." She smiled, taking my paw. I escorted her to the open space near the center of the floor and stopped, placing a paw on her waist.
"Are you ready?" She nodded, looking around at the glances we'd already attracted.
We took a final breath before we started stepping to the beat. We formed a mental connection so strong at that moment that we understood what the other was going to do, and we moved with it. Before long, we had started moving all across the restaurant flawlessly, stepping and twirling in sync with each other to the music, our tails even swayed together.
Everyone in their seats had stopped eating to watch us moving smoothly together, smiles on our faces, enveloped in pure joy. The happiness emanated from us and spread across the entire building. Someone had turned up the song a little louder and turned down the lights. Each step we took was exact, each twist and movement we made was perfect.
The song was nearing its last seconds as I took Alexis in a deep dip, holding her not but two feet off the ground.
"You are my one and only true love, mi amor." I whispered to her before leaning closer and bringing her into a kiss.
The song ended completely a few seconds later, but the sound was quickly replaced with the roar of cheering and loud applause from everyone in the restaurant. I broke the passionate kiss and brought Alexis back up, stunned with pleasure and joy.
We gave a short bow and a thanks to everyone on our way back to our table, Rachel standing beside it with our food already there, clapping along with the customers.
"Wow, that sure was a show you two put on. How long did it take you to practice that?"
Alexis giggled to herself modestly as I ran a hand through my hair. "We actually didn't plan that, it just sorta, happened. Let the music move you I guess." Rachel's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"I don't believe it. That was beautiful and you're saying that was just sporadic?" I nodded again, smiling. "Wow, amazing. Well, I got your food here just a minute ago so it shouldn't have cooled off too much, so enjoy!" She said, motioning to the large plate before moving to another one of her tables.
We dove into our brunch, overwhelmed by the flavors packed in each food individually, and together it was as close as a mortal could get to heaven without dying. Alexis shoveled down her food, eating nearly two thirds of it all before leaning back, satisfied and stuffed. I finished the rest of the plate and drank the rest of my orange juice, leaning back with a stomach full of goodness. Rachel must've been looking at us then because she swiftly came over, bill in hand.
"So, did you enjoy your meal?" She said, smiling.
"Most definitely." Alexis replied enthusiastically, rubbing her slightly bulged stomach. "Best food I've had in months."
"Well, I'm really glad to hear that. Here's your bill, it comes out to twenty-three nineteen. I'll be back in just a minute, another table is ready to order. You know, gotta pay the bills somehow doncha?" She said, setting the bill down and heading off.
"You know, I really liked her. She was a great waitress. I'm going to tip her well." I said, pulling out a twenty and a five.
"Babe, I don't think two bucks is really a generous tip."
"Ah, but I wasn't finished." I said, pulling out a fifty and setting it on the table. "Alright, let's go." I took Alexis's paw and helped her up, wrapping my arm around her as we headed for the exit.
We reached the doors but were stopped before we could leave.
"Wait, sir! I think you made a mistake!" Rachel caught up to us and held out the fifty.
"Ohh, it seems I have." I smiled to Alexis as I reached for my wallet. "Let's fix this." I pulled out a twenty and laid it in her paws, closing them shut.
"But, this is three times your bill in just tips, I don't understand."
"You were an excellent waitress and I feel you deserved every penny of it." She stood there, stunned at my generosity as we pushed the door open and walked out.
"Wait!" Rachel rushed outside before we started walking away. "Thank you, Mr.?"
"Ierlex, and your welcome."
"Wait, THE Ierlex? And, than means you're"
"Yep, Alexis." She said, giggling.
"I-I can't believe I didn't realize I was serving the two hero's of the town." She said, turning back into the restaurant.
"Thanks again for the excellent food and service!" I shouted before she was out of earshot.
"Well, that was very considerate of you." Alexis said, squeezing my side.
"Yep, I suppose so. It felt nice too, giving back to someone who needs it more than I do. So, where to now, my love?"
"Oh, I don't care, as long as I'm with you!" She said, leading us down a random road that looked like it went further uptown.
As we walked into town, I saw Alexis's eyes light up when we passed a candy and fudge store. She turned her head to follow the lizard making fresh fudge with her eyes, filled with childhood excitement. She sighed and looked away from the small little shop, looking down at the ground.
"Now now, you know I just can't stand you being sad, it just won't do!" I said, dropping down to grab Alexis by the waist and toss her onto my shoulder.
"Ierlex, what are you doing?" She said, giggling. "Put me down!" She playfully began thumping on my back with her paws and flailing her legs in a futile attempt to escape. I pushed open the door with my shoulder, for my paws were busy holding and tickling Alexis.
I set her down with a laugh, running my paw through her now tangled and frazzled hair. She looked at me with a playfully angry face, lightly punching my arm in retaliation for my 'Taking her in here against her will'. The lizard in the side room folded his fudge a final time before laying down his oversized spatula and grabbing a towel.
"Welcome to my domain of sweets and pleasantries, how may I assist you today? Fudge, hard candy, taffy?" He said, wiping off residues of the various candies he's made on the towel in his claws. Alexis was on her knees in front of the glass display counter, nose pressed against it, eyeing the sweets like a giddy schoolgirl who just received her allowance.
"I think we'll need a minute to decide, there's a lot of choices here and they all look so good." I said, taking a glance at all the shop had to offer.
"Yep, and everything in here is home made by either me or my brother."
"Really? Everything is made by hand?" I asked in awe.
"Everything. Passed down from generation to generation." He began to snicker lightly when Alexis's breath started to fog up the glass.
"Alexis, you still there babe?" I asked, chuckling a bit my self. She looked at me and smiled innocently before moving further down the display case to look at the rest of the sweets.
"Don't worry, my brothers' girlfriend is just the same way." He said, tossing the towel to the side. "Full of energy and absolutely adorable." He said respectfully. I smiled before looking back at Alexis, who had reached the end of the counter and was working her way back.
"Found anything you like yet?" I asked, chuckling a little.
"Everything looks so good, I just want to eat it all but I know I can't!"
"Well, the good thing about my candy is that besides the fudge and a few others, it keeps well, so you can save it for later."
"Alright, that's good to know. Alexis, pick some things you want, just make sure to get me on of those chocolate covered peanut butter fluff balls ok? They look really really good."
"Alright hun. Let's see, I'll get some of those, a few of these, a couple of those..." She said, pointing and motioning towards an array of candied sweets. "... And finally a few of the peanut butter fluff balls, mr..."
"You can call me Raelif, Raelif Shetlez." He said, snagging the last of our large order from the display and weighing it. "Let's see, your total is just shy of sixty dollars." He said after punching a few numbers into the register while he put the rest of the candy in a bag. He took the last peanut butter fluff ball and tossed it to me with a wink. "Give it a taste, I love seeing my customers first bite."
I popped it into my mouth, crunching it in half. The chocolate was smooth and the peanut butter fluff was heavenly.
"By god how did our order only come out to be sixty bucks? I swear, that was the best peanut butter fluff ball I've ever had." I greedily shoved the rest of the little ball of golden delight into my mouth, savoring the last of it for the time being.
A smile spread across Raelif's face. "Many years of perfecting and refining our family recipe. And besides, the family has always done this not quite for the money, but more because the joy and satisfaction we get from our customers. We set prices enough to keep it running and only a little bit more, so we don't overcharge like most places." He handed Alexis the bag, his smile widening when her paw dove into it to grab a hunk of fudge. "Have a happy Valentines Day now you two."
"Trust me, we will." I said, waving to him while I opened the door.
"You two Raelif, thanks a lot for the sweets." Alexis said, moving over to my side and wrapping her arms around me as we walked back into the streets.
"So, have anything else in mind for today?" Alexis asked as we neared a street corner.
"Well, we're close to Josie, so I'd like to pay her a visit."
"Who's Josie?" She asked as we turned the corner.
"Josie's a collie, the town's better known florist." I said, pointing towards the flower store that was just a building away. "I ran into her when I was walking around town, trying to figure things out when while you were in a come, and I bought some flowers from her. She's a really nice girl, I think you'd like her."
"Alright, whatever you say." Alexis said, seemingly irritated. I noticed her sudden drop in mood and it bothered me.
"Alexis, are you ok?"
"Yea, just fine. Let's hurry this up." She said, pushing the door open, which set off a chime that brought the attention of Josie to us. Her eyes widened when she saw me.
"Ierlex! You're back!" She said, rushing over to me and giving me a big hug. "I was starting to get worried about you. It's not healthy to be sad all the time, you know."
Alexis was beginning to get angry. I looked at her and no doubt was she thinking I had been sneaking around with her while she was in the coma. I tried giving her an innocent look and nonverbally tell her that wasn't the case but I wasn't able to do anything before Josie noticed her.
"Ohh, you must be Alexis!" She said, shuffling over towards her and hugging her enthusiastically. Alexis timidly hugged back, no doubt stunned by her overly-energetic greeting. "I've been wanting to meet you ever since Ierlex here told me about you. From what I've heard you two are just perfect for each other in my mind." She took a step back to see Alexis looking back and forth at Josie and I, slightly confused.
"So then, you two weren't... I mean, you weren't...?" I knew what she was trying to say. I looked at Josie who'd also realized what she meant by that and I decided to let her explain it.
"Wait, you didn't think that I would ever? No way girl, love is something beautiful and I would never ever want to ruin it for someone else just for my own personal gain. I just saw him walking by moaning around one day, and I couldn't stand seeing someone so distraught. So I struck up a friendly conversation to try and cheer him up. It's in my nature to want to make others happy." Alexis nodded, clearing things up in her head and getting the story strait before speaking again.
"Ohh, I get it. I-I'm really sorry for accusing you as blindly as that. I don't really know what I was thinking, I know Ierlex wouldn't ever cheat on me, nor I on him. Can we just sort of, start over?"
"Of course we can!" Josie said, taking Alexis in another overly-enthusiastic hug. "Hi there, I'm Josie! Ierlex told me so much about you!" I laughed as Alexis was once more stunned by her greeting, not prepared for a second chance like that.
We stayed and talked with one another for a while. After Alexis got to know Josie a little bit more, I saw a strong friendship grow between the two, and I wasn't surprised one bit. They shared a lot of things in common. Before we realized it we had been there for almost two hours.
"Well, Josie. If you don't have anything else to do today, you can come with us." Alexis asked.
"Oh no, I couldn't impose. Valentines Day is a day for lovers like yourselves, and you should enjoy it together. And besides, today is a good day for my business in the afternoon, if you get what I mean."
"Oh, ok then. Then I hope I see you around sometime, it was nice getting to know you."
"Yep, same here. Bye Alexis, bye Ierlex!" She called while we walked back out onto the streets, sun now shining overhead and making its voyage back to the horizon.
"Well, I for one liked her. She's a very happy person to say the least. I'm sorry for falsely accusing you, it's just that I-" I stopped her and drew her into a hug.
"It's ok, I understand. Just remember, you are the one in possession of my heart, and I wouldn't be able to survive without you." She smiled, kissing my cheek before we began walking once more. I shifted the box in my pocket, deciding that the time was now. "Hey, care to take a stroll in the park?" I asked, trying to not sound nervous.
"Sure, that sounds lovely."
We got to the park and started down the dirt path, the flowers adding color to the ground and the trees swaying in the breeze. I spotted the weeping willow tree in the distance that I'd chosen a while back. Once we got closer to it, I took Alexis's paw and led her under the hanging branches.
"What are we doing Ierlex?" She asked, unsure of what I was doing. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down so I could speak straight. The sunlight fluttered through the trees, birds were singing, everything was peaceful. I knew that now was the perfect time, with the perfect person, at the perfect place, and I wasn't going to let it pass me by.
"Alexis, you are my love, my life. What we share is something like none other, something beautiful. When you almost died, I realized something. I can't live without you. I almost lost you once, and I'd die if it happened again." I went down on a knee, reached into my pocket and pulled out a box. "Will you spend all of eternity with me?" I opened the box, looking into her watering eyes, waiting for her answer.
"YES! Oh my god yes of course!" Tears of joy began pouring from both of our eyes as she began bouncing up and down. I stood up and wrapped my arms around her, spinning around. I set her down, taking the ring from its stand and placing it on her finger, my hands shaking from how relieved I was. She jumped into my arms again, hugging me to the point of pain, but it didn't matter. I felt nothing but pleasure and joy.
Eventually we stopped and caught our breath, staring into each other's eyes, knowing that soon we'd truly be not two separate souls, but one.
"There's one more surprise I have for you. I was recently talking with Reikin and he said that your parents hadn't moved away, so I've been thinking it's about time we go back. What do you say? After we find them we can try and track down my family and hope they don't resent me." She nodded, still overwhelmed by the recent events. I breathed a deep sigh of relief and thought of what we were going to do now.