Page 119 of Alexander: Alexander's Story

“Nowhere, but your first appointment is in ten minutes,” Gina says, then places a plate consisting of an egg white omelet and fruit in front of me. “You can eat it or starve. And no, I didn’t make it,” she says when she catches me eyeing it warily.

It has more to do with the nausea than to do with her poisoning my food, though.

“I-it’s great, thanks.” I don’t care enough to spar with her. I can give her basic politeness. Nothing more.

We all eat together, including Gina. It’s awkward at best.

Then the doorbell rings; well, actually, it chimes.

I help clear the dishes as a woman in her late 40s, maybe, walks into the kitchen carrying yoga mats.

“Connie!”Fuck, she has a lot of energy. “Oh my god, who is this handsome man?” The woman asks, eyeing me like a prize at the county fair.

“That’s Alex, my son. He’ll be joining us today.” Her eyes light up like the Fourth of July.

I want to die. Doing yoga with my aging guardian and his horny instructor is not how I pictured my life at 44.

“I’ll be setting up. Come out when you’re ready,” she winks.

“Don’t let her fool you, Linda’s a hardass,” Connie elbows me in the ribs.I doubt it.

I can’t move. Hell, I never want to move again.

Isn’t the purpose of yoga to open up? Isn’t it stretching?

The nurse inserts the needle for the IV, and I wait for the fluids and vitamin B12 to work their magic.

Our second appointment of the day is IV therapy.

Then we’re scheduled to have lunch with Max.

Then, I have actual therapy. And then I’m hoping I’ll get to go back to sleep.

I’m still in the haze of the worst hangover of my life when my favorite person walks through the front door.

“What the fuck ishedoing here?” We both ask at the same time.

Matt throws a pile of mail into Gina’s waiting hands, then stalks into the living room, where Constantine and I are set up with bags of fluids by our sides.

“Dad?” He asks Connie again.

“My life is too short for this, Matthias. Move on. For everyone’s sake.” Matt scoffs at the instruction.

“I have to move on, but he doesn’t have to?” I roll my eyes, but I don’t miss how his nose slightly crooks to the right now.

“Alexander has already moved on, hasn’t he?” Connie asks, looking at me. “He has bigger issues to manage than this.” Don’t we all?

“Pretend I’m not here,” I say to Matt, leaning back and closing my eyes.

“No fucking chance of that,” Matt whispers out the side of his mouth.

“Enough,” Constantine warns. Again, I don’t care enough to do this with Matt. No use wasting energy on him. “Alexander will be staying here for the foreseeable future.”

“That’s just fucking great because I just closed on the house and need a place to stay for a bit.” Gina groans in the distance.Same.

“Well, of course, this is your home, too,” Connie says.

Jesus Christ, it’s like the fucking Brady Bunch.