Page 139 of With Wine Comes War

She came back and said, “Alex, you’re all set for a week from Monday. Can you get everything in order before then?”

I nodded and thought about how this must be the reason I worked so hard with Shay and Darius to get them ready to take things on without me.

“Thank you, Dr. King. You saved my life.” She came over and hugged me tight.

“No sweet girl, you saved your own life.” She kissed the top of my head and left.

Chapter 37

ROMAN

Apparently, this fight was big news, and it was all over the TV and social media. At Matt’s house that night he had the TV on outside and we watched the highlights. It was just as scary on TV as it was in person. I took my beer, turning around and walking away to the edge of the patio.

Matt and Jack came over and Matt said, “How are you,Roman?”

Like I want to drink an entire bottle of bourbon, so probably not too good.

I shrugged and said, “Who was that girl? That wasn’t Alex in that ring.”

Jack said, “Not at all. That wasn’t the girl we knew from college.”

Their wives joined us and Abby said, “Do you think she’s going to be okay? I don’t know what to tell Jax about his aunt Ali.”

Maggie said, “Yeah, I just told Sophia and Cam that she wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t come tonight. I don’t want her around the kids like that. It’s one thing to be a badass woman, it’s another to be whatever that was.”

Abby said, “You mean a killer. I hate to say it, but that’s what she looked like out there. I didn’t recognize that person. She scared the hell out of me.”

I knew how they felt. My phone rang and I saw that it was my mom, so I excused myself and walked into the yard before I answered.

I said, “Hi mom, how is she?”

She said, “Well, all in all, she’ll recover. She’s in a lot of pain. Emotional, mental and physical. She’s scared and she knows she frightened everyone, including herself.” I started breathing heavily through my nose and my chest was tightening. I needed to see her.

“Can I come there tonight?”

She was silent for a second and I knew that Alex didn’t want to see me.

“Roman, that’s not going to be possible. I’ve checked her into my room. She’s going to be there until she goes to rehab in about a week. She’s asked that you not come see her right now.”

I nodded and said, “What kind of rehab are we talking?”

“The kind she needs, honey. I’m not at liberty to tell you anything else.” Doctor-patient confidentiality. More serious than I thought.

“Can you tell me how her ribs are?” I hope she can at least tell me that much.

“She has two broken ribs and a fractured cheekbone. She’s comfortable. I’m sure she’ll want to talk to you before she leaves.” That sounds promising, I guess.

“Mom, how long is she going to be gone?”

She said, “I’ll let her tell you everything when she’s ready.” I shook my head, and we hung up, and I went back over to say goodnight to everyone. I just needed to be alone right now.

As I walked up to say goodbye I said, “Well, she’s okay, I guess.” She isn’t dead, so there’s that.

Maggie asked, “Who was that?”

“My mom.” I smiled and corrected myself, “Dr. King. She said she has a couple broken ribs and a broken cheekbone. She’s in a special room for my mom’s patients.” Everyone knew my mom was a psychologist, so they knew what that meant.

“She’s going to be in there until they release her to go to a rehab center, but that was all the info I was allowed to have.” I smiled the best I could before saying, “Goodnight, everyone.” The girls gave me a hug and I shook Matt and Jack’s hands and went home.

---