"It wasn't a reflection on her," Tyler added.
Craig patted his friend on the back. "I was pissed off, as Tyler well knows, but I got through it and so did she, eventually. I know there's somebody out there for her." "There'd better be," Peyton interjected, "because your parents need other grandchildren to keep them from spoiling Ariana."
Alexis turned her attention to Peyton. "So Ariana's your only child?"
"Yes," Peyton replied. "She's our special angel."
"She is adorable."
"We didn't want her to be an only child, but sometimes things work out differently than you expect." Peyton's gaze drifted off and Alexis felt a rush of sympathy.
"I know exactly what you mean," she said.
Peyton's eyes darted back to her guest. "Do you?" she asked, searching Alexis's face.
"I do."
Peyton smiled vaguely. "Certain times of year bring it all back. The possibilities.
The could-have-beens, but then I hug my Ariana and I feel so grateful."
Alexis nodded sympathetically and found herself relieved to have someone who understood and was willing to share. Despite her years abroad, she didn't have that in London. Even with Mark's support, it had been a lonely time for her. The second time, even he wasn't around to offer his support. Those were dark times that Alexis was desperate to move on from.
Tyler listened with half an ear, knowing that he'd missed a critical piece of information. Something had passed between the women and he couldn't quite figure out what it was.
Despite that somber exchange, the rest of the evening passed quickly, with good food and better conversation. Alexis enjoyed herself immensely and joined in the cheering when Tyler appeared with his guitar on the patio. He played all the silly requests that were thrown his way, including a naughty version of Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer that Alexis had never heard before.
When she could no longer fight the fatigue that plagued her, she thanked the
Keelers for a lovely evening and Tyler offered to walk her out.
"Don't be a stranger," Peyton told her. "We'd love to see you again before you go back to London."
"That would be nice," Alexis said and realized that she meant it.
She retrieved her wrap from inside and shivered when she felt Tyler's hand on the small of her back. Outside, most of the golf carts had disappeared.
"It's late," Tyler said. "Let me ride home with you and I'll walk from there."
"Tyler," she objected. "It's perfectly safe."
"I know. I just want more time with you."
Without warning, he pulled her in for a deep, lingering kiss. When he finally released her, he took a tentative step back.