IN LOVE WITH THE ENEMY

CHAPTER NINE: My God

Alex was curious as to what Zach felt was so important. He was only that short when it mattered. Alex pulled a couple of glasses from the cabinet and grabbed the bottle of bourbon.

When Zach showed up they took a seat in the living room. Alex saw the pale look on Zach's face so he asked "What is it Zach? You look like you've seen a ghost."Zach drank his bourbon in one go. Asking for a refill he said "I over heard a conversation. Regan was talking to Maggie. They didn't know I was there." "Yeah so?" Alex asked. Zach sighed "Man she's scared. Honestly I don't understand how she wouldn't be. She told Maggie everything about her childhood. It's bad, like really bad."

Alex wasn't sure he wanted to hear it. He asked anyway, so, Zach told him a watered down version. "Her mother didn't want children. She made it clear everyday. Regan said it was the only time she spoke to her. Her father came into her room at night. When she told her mother. Her mother blamed her." Alex was in shock.

"That's why she didn't want the door closed." He said thinking out loud. "What do you mean?" Zach asked. Alex explained, "While we were at the doctor's office. She asked me to step out so she could change but she didn't want the door closed. Then when I asked about it she got defensive and told me it was none of my business. My god!"

Zach nodded and said "There's more but you need to stay calm okay. Don't blow up." Alex couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could there be more. He agreed so Zach continued. "She's afraid she's going to become her mother and that you'll be like her father. Now before you go off just listen. Maggie told her that would never happen."

Alex was fuming, he was trying to understand how she could think that about him. He knew she thought he was a dickhead but she couldn't honestly think he was a monster.

Zach interrupted his mental rant saying "I had to tell you because Maggie said something that made a lot of sense." "What? What about any of this makes sense?" Alex snapped. Zach sighed "Maggie told her that she may not have gone to war but she fought one. I mean Regan graduated high school at fifteen and immediately filed for emancipation. She worked her way through college at seventeen. After basically raising herself and what her father stole from her. Man I can't see how that Doesn't make her a soldier."

Alex realized Zach had a point. He had spent all this time hating someone who was a fighter. Just like he was.They both sat silently for quite a while before Zach had to leave. It was late so Alex just headed straight to bed.

Two weeks went by in a flash. Alex and Vic kept in contact. He never brought up that he knew about her past though.

Vic was on her way to Alex's house. She needed to figure out how much of her suff she could keep. She would have to sell the rest of it. Even though she was already back at work. The money would be useful.

She still wasn't happy about moving in with him. In spite of the fact that he was being more respectful. He still rolled his eyes quite a bit but she noticed he was trying to bite his tongue more often than not. It was better than nothing.

Vic pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. After stepping out she looked over at the single story home. It was actually nicer than she had imagined. The yard was clean and freshly cut. The door, window trim, and gutters were white. While the house itself was light blue. It was even in what seemed to be a nice neighborhood. Vic walked to the front door and knocked.

Alex answered the door saying hello as he waved her in. As she stepped through the door she was instantly standing in the living room. It was far nicer than she would ever have imagined. The walls were a very light yellow. Hardwood floor with a large cream colored rug in the center of the room. There was a matching Mocha colored sofa and loveseat with a hand made oak coffee table in between them. Of course he had a large television mounted to one wall. Under that was a solid oak t.v. stand. She realized that nothing was out of place. There wasn't a speck of dirt anywhere.

Alex offered her something to drink but she politely refused. So he offered her a tour. As they left the living room they walked into the kitchen. It was all black and white with a tile floor. Everything in it was clean and organized. Just as the living room was. They stepped out of the kitchen into a small dining area with a bay window. That looked out to the backyard. It was just as clean and well maintained as the front yard.

The dining area also had hardwood floors. With a four person solid wood table with matching chairs. The walls were a mint green color. They entered the hallway which had taupe walls. Lined with what she assumed were family photos. It seemed all of the floors were hardwood.

He pointed out his bedroom before opening the bathroom door. Which was next to what would be her room. The bathroom was typical maybe slightly larger. The toilet was opposite the bath and shower. While the sink was next to the toilet. It was all white including the tile floor with blue accents.

As he opened the door to her room she noticed that all of the doors were newer solid wood. The room was completely empty. It had powder blue walls with tan carpet. Alex explained that the room was this way when he bought the house. Saying that she could change it if she wanted.

Then he surprised her opening the last door off the hallway. It was a third bedroom. It was also empty it had purple walls, those had to go, with tan carpet. Again Alex told her the room was that way when he bought it.

They walked back to the living room. Sitting down Vic had to ask "Were you in the military or do you just have OCD.?" Alex chuckled before saying "Military." She smiled an honest to god smile saying "Yeah, my uncle Frank was in the Army. Nothing was ever misplaced at his house." Alex laughed then asked " Where is he now?" Vic got quiet. They were beginning to get along so she didn't want to ruin it. Especially if they were going to live together. She told him "He died in Afghanistan when I was twelve."