know? For all you know Nathan could see you as the one that got away. He did ask for your number.â
âYes, he did butââ
âSee? He wants to rekindle the relationship. Alex, this could change everything.â Izzyâs breathing quickened.
âThis changes nothing. All I did was give him my number.â
âAnd he took it. He wants something else and so do you. The man has a plan.â
âLetâs drop it.â Alex didnât know why she tried explaining this to Izzy. Sheâd have better luck talking to the ocean. No matter what Alex said Izzy continued to flow her own way and romanticize this whole scenarioâthe opposite of what she wanted. Although she would like for Nathan to call her, she also needed to keep her head on straight. No use making mountains out of ant beds.
Surely, Nathan had changed. Besides growing older, he had new responsibilities but she had no way of knowing if a relationship between them would develop now. He hadnât called her yet. So, she couldnât see any solid proof that he wanted to rebuild their relationship. She preferred to focus on that reality.
Alex faced Maya and Kelis as they ran up to her and Izzy.
âMama, can we go get some ice cream?â Maya asked.
âSure, Hon. Letâs go.â Izzy stood up and the two sisters began debating the kind of ice cream they would choose. Izzy turned back to Alex.
âYou know what your problem is?â Izzy asked.
Alex raised her eyebrow.
âYouâre afraid to believe. You have to believe your life is goingto change. You have to believe this is going to be different. Even though Iâve had my share of man problems, I enter each new relationship with a clean slate, determined to believe the best will come from it. You have to do the same thing, Alex. If you donât think anything good will come out of it,â Izzy shrugged, ânothing will.â She faced her daughters. âCâmon, girls. Race you to the car.â
While Izzy ran lightly behind her daughters toward the car, Alex sat on the swing, pondering her words. Could it really be that simple? Had she asked for something she didnât even believe she could have?
CHAPTER 8
T hat night, Alexâs briefcase lay untouched against the gold wingback chair in her room. An unfinished proposal called out to her but she continued to lie motionless on her bed, staring at the TV. There werenât even any papers or a laptop skewed across the covers. Hey, maybe I am breaking habits this year. Now all I have to do is find a man.
Alex switched channels and landed on Quincy Marx Tonight. She adjusted her pillow, as the interviewer introduced his guest for the evening. Quincy turned toward actress Roxie Miller after the intro.
Roxie appeared calm and serene. Cheerful, even. She wore a cream blouse with a scarf draped around her neck and blue jeans. Quincy jumped right into the interview, asking her specifics about her baby.
âLetâs talk about your wonderful new baby. Whatâs her name?â
âMarie,â Roxie said, smiling.
âThatâs beautiful. How did you come up with it?â
âIt was my grandmotherâs name.â
âYour grandmotherâs name? All in the family, huh?â
âYes.â She nodded.
âHow long have you wanted a child?â
Roxie crossed her legs. âFor a while. Several years. My life didnât always allow for it.â
âHow is that?â
âBooming career. A couple of years ago, I filmed two movies inone year. I was also making some guest appearances on Summerâs Lane. I barely had time to breath, let alone have a child. And then there was the issue of having no man.â She chuckled.
âSo, why now?â
âItâs a better time all the way around.â
âBut your career is still good and youâve said there is no man.â
âRight but Iâve learned how to make some adjustments