The Swiss Escape

Back to school

School started back, and Kayla was excited to see her friends. I was worried at first things would be uncomfortable between Alex and me, but they weren't. We didn't try to avoid each other, but we also did our best not to interact. Sometimes I would see him in the hall, and he would give me a wink.

Things were going well between us; Alex comes over twice a week for dinner and spends the night at least once. He's good about giving me space, he knows Kayla, and I need our time. Whenever Alex does come over, Alex helps me with dishes and has even cooked for us a couple of times. He is a very different type of man than Johnny. Alex doesn't joke a lot, but he has his moments. Alex is also very honest but isn't cruel. If I mispronounce something, he doesn't make fun of me or laughs; instead, he is patient and helps me correct the mistake.

"What is going on between you and the headmaster?" Mrs. Kol gives me a knowing glance. We are watching the students play outside. I look at her as if I don't know what she's talking about, "oh come on, who do you think told him to go to the tree farm?"

I blushed. "Alex comes over a couple of times a week and has dinner with us."

"Is that all I am going to get?" She gives me a disapproving glance. "I want to know what happened after he helped you get a tree."

I let out a sigh, "he invited me to the market. I felt like I was a bad date at the end, but he kissed me. then he came over the next night for dinner and stayed for breakfast."

Mrs. Kol's eyes twinkled. "I knew you two would end up together. So, has it ever been just the two of you?"

"No," I shake my head. "I don't know anyone to watch Kayla. Typically, he hangs out with us until I put her to bed. Then we have time together."

Mrs. Kol nods her head. "Did he tell you about his ex?" I nod my head, "he wanted the child to be his. Alex has always wanted kids. When he worked for Baldrick at the university, he would talk about having a family one day."

"He didn't tell me about working for Baldrick." I am a little shocked. Alex has told me a lot about his childhood and past.

"Alex probably didn't see it as important. Anyway, when that girl broke his heart, he changed, then when he thought he was going to be a father, it changed him back. They made him look like a fool. He sent her ever bit of money he had, even sold some of his things. I had a feeling the baby wasn't his, but I didn't say anything." Mrs. Kol shakes her head. "He worked at the university for a while after getting his doctorate but struggled. When his great uncle offered him the school, he took it."

"I thought he didn't talk to anyone in his family?"

"His great uncle died a couple of years ago. He is the one that started the school. After Alex's falling out with his parents, his uncle still tried to talk to him. His name was Benjamin. He got diagnosed with cancer and didn't want to run the school. Alex had a degree in education, so he offered him the school. After he died, Alex began spending Christmas with us." I am happy to know Alex wasn't alone on Christmas. "Anyway, after that, he stopped dating. It wasn't until you came along that I noticed a change in him. How he would make an excuse to walk by the class, I even caught him watching you out the window of his office."

"Why did he wait so long to tell me?"

"I don't think he knew how Lana pursued him. Most girls pursued him. Alex is a brilliant man, but he is not confident when it comes to dating."

"Did you tell him to invite me to the market too?" I was a little worried that Mrs. Kol was the reason Alex and I even had a relationship. I was thankful for her pushing him, but I wanted him to do some things himself.

"Yes and no. I had mentioned it to Alex before, but the day I called him and told him you were at the tree farm and needed help, I didn't. That was all him, all I did was point out you might need help, and he rushed to you."

I laughed, "you told him I needed help?"

Mrs. Kol shook her head. "I told him you might need help that you were going to get a tree and took the bus. He asked where you were, I told him, then he hung up the phone on me." She smiled, "how did you like the market?"

"It reminded me of a little Christmas town I went to visit with my parents. I was little, maybe five, and we went. It almost seemed magical. That's what the market made me think. I enjoyed watching Kayla look at everything, and Alex was amazing. I would have gotten lost without him; he translated and explained everything. He's quite patient. It's refreshing to have someone like that."

Mrs. Kol nodded. "Oh, it's time to get the children inside."

The rest of the day went smoothly. I stayed late working on lesson plans while Kayla played with the toys in the room. She wasn't in my class, so everything was new to her.

My phone started ringing, and I noticed it was Jen. It was around eight in the morning her time, and since Jen wasn't a morning person, this was odd to me. "Jen, is everything okay?"

"Love, I hope your day was good. I had the weirdest morning. Remember how I told you about my friend just disappearing. Well, these two investigators showed up at my house this morning asking questions. Anyway, it was super weird and creepy, everything is fine now, and I know you are at work. I just wanted to tell someone about my weird encounter. I must go, but don't worry, everything is okay. Love you. Bye." Jen hung up.

She was calling to warn me. Johnny was coming after me. What should I do? Should I try to go somewhere else? Should I tell Alex? We are serious, but we can never get married. I know he wants that one day.

A knock at the door made me jump. Alex walks in, "Hey, I noticed the light was on, so I wanted to check on you. Are you okay?" He looked concerned.

"Two men showed up at Jen's house this morning asking questions. She called me, pretending to be her lover in case they were watching her. I don't know what to do."

Alex stepped closer to me, kneeling he put his arms around me. "Stay here. If he or anyone shows up and tries to hurt you or Kayla, we can call the police. They can't make you go back. The laws here will protect you." Alex pauses for a moment. "I will protect you. I can start picking you and Kayla up for work and taking you back home."

I look at him curiously. "That puts a lot of stress on you. Are you sure? You don't have too."

"I want to spend more time with you anyway. How long do you have left to work?" Alex looks down at his watch.

"Probably twenty-thirty minutes. I am finishing up the lesson plans for next month."

Alex smiled, "Great, I will be back and thirty minutes. I'll lock the school doors behind me, so you're safe."

Within thirty minutes, Alex was back. He walked in with a smile on his face. "I got Kayla a car seat and installed it already."

I stared at him wide-eyed. "How much did that cost?"

"It was nothing." I continued to stare at him, but he just shrugged.

"What are we going to tell people when they see us arriving together? Are we supposed to be a secret?"

"Why would we be a secret? I don't care if people know about us. I don't want people to treat you poorly because you are dating me." Leaning on the desk, he takes my hand in his, "if they see us arriving together, who cares. I am incredibly happy with you. I know it's only been a few weeks, Kamryn, but I enjoy spending time with you. I want you to feel the same."

"I enjoy spending time with you, Alex. I don't want you to get tired of me or think it's to much work to keep me around."

"I don't think anything close to that. Come, let's get you both home." Alex pulled me up and placed a kiss on my lips.

"I thought we weren't going to show physical affection at the school?" I smile at Alex.

"School is over; we are the only ones here." He leans in and kisses me again. "Besides, it's hard not to kiss you, Schatzi. Come, you and Kayla both need to get home."

I call Kayla and tell her it's time to go. We quickly put away the few toys she got out and leave. Alex drives us home and tells me he will be here to pick me up in the morning. I tell him goodbye and get Kayla out of the car.