The Bodyguard

chapter 10

The sun had almost disappeared behind the fields by the time the barbecue finally started winding down. The children who had spent most of the afternoon running around the property were now exhausted. Some were asleep in their parents' arms. Others were sprawled across blankets in the grass. The adults were gathered around the tables, finishing the last of the food and saying their goodbyes. I sat beside Alexander on the porch, watching everyone. I couldn't believe how different everything felt compared to that morning.

When I had woken up, I had been thinking about Caden, The Aldo Mafia and the danger waiting for me. Now I was sitting on a porch surrounded by people I'd only met that day. Somehow, I didn't feel like running.

"Tired?" Alexander leaned back in his chair.

"A little." I glanced at him.

"You survived." He says..

"Barely." I sigh.

"Grandma was rough on you." He laughed.

"Your grandmother asked me if I wanted children." I smiled.

"She likes you." He says with a smile..

"That's her way of showing affection?" I ask with a laugh.

"Apparently, I have never really brought a woman home." He says.

I laughed. His mother walked onto the porch carrying a stack of empty plates.

"You two." She says. I looked at her. "Come help me clean up." She says.

"I'll do it. You two can relax.” Alexander immediately stood. I stood.

“I can help too.” I replied. Alexander looked at me.

"Such a wonderful girl." His mother says .

"Don't worry. I've survived worse than washing dishes." I say.

"Worse than washing dishes?" His mother gave me a curious look.

I froze for half a second. Alexander quickly stepped in. "She's joking, Mom." He says.

"Of course." His mother smiled. We followed her into the kitchen. For the next thirty minutes, everyone helped clean up. The kitchen was filled with laughter and conversation.

Someone packed leftovers. Someone else loaded the dishwasher. The younger children were carried outside toward waiting cars. Eventually, the first family began leaving.

"Thank you for coming!"

"Drive safe!"

"Call us when you get home!"

Hugs were exchanged. More hugs followed.

I stood near the doorway watching. I wasn't used to this. People leaving because they were going home. People promising to call. People knowing they'd see each other again. It felt strangely comforting.

Michael walked over to Alexander. "Good seeing you, little brother." He says.

"I'm taller than you." Alexander rolled his eyes.

"Still my little brother." He replies. Michael hugged him before turning to me. "It was nice meeting you, Hannah." He says hugging me.

"You too." I hugged him back .

"Take care of him." He smiled.

"I'll try." I looked at Alexander.

"Don't encourage him." Alexander shook his head.

Michael laughed and walked toward his car. His grandmother was one of the last people to leave. Before getting into the passenger seat, she hugged me.

"I'm glad you came." She says to me.

"Thank you. I am glad I did too." I reply.

"You make him happy." She held my hands.

I glanced at Alexander. He looked away, suddenly very interested in something across the yard.

"He's a good man." I smiled.

"I know.” His grandmother gave me a knowing look.

"I’ll come visit you again soon." Then she hugged me again.

“Okay. That sounds nice.” I nod. When she walked away, I stood there watching the cars disappear down the driveway.

One by one, the property became quiet again. The laughter faded. The music stopped. The children's voices disappeared. Eventually, there were only three cars left. Then two. Then one.nCamille stood beside her car near the end of the driveway. She looked toward the house. Toward Alexander. Then toward me.

"Goodnight, Hannah." She smiled politely.

"Goodnight." I replied.

"I'll see you soon.” She turned toward Alexander.

"Drive safe.” He nodded. She got into her car. I watched her pull away. Something about her bothered me. I couldn't explain it. Maybe it was the way she looked at me. Maybe it was the way she looked at Alexander. Or maybe I was simply overthinking everything.

"She's gone." Alexander walked over.

"I noticed." I nodded.

"You don't like her." He looked at me. It wasn't a question.

"I don't know her." I shrugged.

"That's not what I asked." He says.

"Does it matter?" I ask..

"Camille and I have known each other a long time." He chuckled.

"That doesn't answer my question." I responded.

He looked toward the road where her car had disappeared. Then back at me.

"It does matter. Just know she's complicated and protective." He says.

"That seems to be a common theme in your life." I nodded.

"You have no idea." He laughed.

We stood together in silence. The house behind us was finally quiet. His parents had gone inside. The yard was empty. The only sounds were crickets and the soft evening breeze moving through the trees.

"This place feels different at night." I looked across the fields.

"It does." He says.

"Peaceful." I wrapped my arms around myself

"Do you like peaceful it is?" He asks.

"I do." I say softly.

"Maybe you should have stayed on a farm." He smiled.

"Maybe." I laughed softly.

"For what it's worth..." He stepped closer.

"What?" I looked at him.

"You'll always have a place here." He says.

"Alexander..." My heart tightened.

"I'm serious." He says.

I didn't know what to say. Because the truth was, for the first time in years, I could actually imagine staying somewhere. Not running, not hiding, not pretending. Just staying. That scared me more than I wanted to admit.

Alexander reached for my hand. His fingers slipped through mine. Neither of us said anything. We simply stood there beneath the fading light. For one quiet moment, I forgot that our entire relationship had started with a lie.