Page 36 of Always You

“Okay, well, I want you to remember to be kind to yourself in all things.”

“I try.”I really am trying.

As the session ended, I felt a mix of exhaustion and a glimmer of hope. Harper was coming to visit soon, and Alex was right here in the building.

I needed to find Alex.

Resolved, I left the room and headed to track him down. As I walked toward where I last saw him, I was determined. We had a lot to talk about.

Starting with friendship.

Chapter Eighteen

Alex

As I walkedinto the family space, carrying a basket filled with freshly baked goods, I noticed Jazz standing alone in the middle of the living room, gazing out the window. The family space comprised three distinct areas: a cozy bedroom with soft linens and warm lighting, a small kitchen stocked with snacks and essentials for a comfortable visit, and a spacious seating area where families could relax. The sofas were plush and inviting, arranged around a low coffee table that held a few magazines and books. It felt welcoming, appearing less like a facility and more like a home.

“Carl let me in when we were done with the finance thing I had with him,” Jazz said as he noticed my surprise at finding him there. His tone was defensive, his posture stiff, as if bracing for a reprimand. “He said it was okay.”

“Of course it’s okay. The room is yours today.”

He slightly relaxed, and I took a moment to observe him. He had presented a neat appearance by trimming his beard shorter than before and tidying up his hair, which gave him amore polished look than I had noticed since his arrival. He wore black pants and a loose pale blue shirt that he kept tugging at. The layers he usually hid under were absent; without them, he appeared younger and more vulnerable.

Yet there was a glimmer of hope in his brown eyes, and somehow, despite the scars and his tense posture, he was more like the boy I’d fallen in love with all those years ago.

The large windows allowed sunlight to stream in, casting long beams across the floor and illuminating Jazz’s face. There was hope in his expression, a cautious smile playing on his lips as he turned to face me.

“I, uh, got this for Harper,” Jazz said, his voice uncertain. He pulled out a small box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a pendant with a bronze-colored sun embedded in it. The craftsmanship was delicate, and the sun motif was cheerful.

“It’s beautiful, Jazz.” I was honest as I admired the gift. “She’ll love it.”

He frowned slightly, and the worry lines returned. “You think? I mean, she’s sixteen now, and maybe it’s too childish. She could hate it. What do I know from letters and emails?”

I stepped closer, placing the basket on the kitchen counter before turning to face him again. “Harper is still your daughter, Jazz. It’s a thoughtful gift, and it shows you care. That’s what matters.”

He nodded, though the doubt wasn’t completely gone from his face. “I just want today to go well,” he murmured, glancing toward the window. The sunlight highlighted the silver threads in his trimmed beard. I had matching gray at my temples, the first sign that forty was closing in fast, but standing here with all the years between us since we were kids, I felt young again.

“You’ve done everything you can to make sure it does,” I reassured him, moving to stand beside him, looking out at the view.

“Yeah.” His gaze lingered on the pendant momentarily before he closed the box with a decisive snap. “I hope I don’t mess this up.”

“You won’t,” I said with confidence. Turning to him, I saw the man who had faced countless challenges yet still held onto the hope of reconnecting with his daughter. “And whatever happens, we’re here for you.”

Jazz met my eyes, and for a moment, there was a spark of the old connection, a reminder of all the reasons he had been important to me once, and why he still was. “Thanks, Alex. Really.”

God, I wanted to step closer, hug him, and tell him everything would be okay.

I wanted to kiss the fear from his expression.

I wanted to tell him I loved him always and that I wished I’d never given up onus, but I cleared my throat instead.

“Did Marcus give you the full tour?” I asked.

Jazz shrugged and gestured at the space. “Bedroom, kitchen, lounge,” he summarized. “I didn’t need a tour.”

I gestured to the kitchen. “Come with me.”

After a pause, he followed me inside, and I opened drawers and cupboards, showing him snacks and other food items and how the grill sometimes got stuck and needed a push. Then, I mentioned that there were all kinds of toiletries in the bathroom and that the baked goods were fresh, and that was all I could do.

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