Free Goodbye Isn't Forever by Melanie Blake Page A

the message scrolling across.  She frowned
as she re-read the message.
    The
director looked at the teens busily signing the documents.  She cleared
her throat and looked at them with sorrow in her eyes.
    “Alex,
that message was for you.  Your parents are in my office waiting for you.”
    “My
parents?  Why?  Is everything okay?”
    “I’m
sure it is fine.  If everything is signed, then you can just follow me
back to the office.”
    Alex
looked worried.  Zand stepped behind her, “Alex?”
    Alex
reached back and grabbed Zand’s hand.  Whatever her parents were going to
tell her, she wanted Zand to be by her side.
    Zand
didn’t think twice in his worry and let Alex lead him to the director’s
office.  If she told her father, then he would tell Jackson just how he
felt about Alex, as soon as he knew.
    As
they approached the building, Zand dropped Alex’s hand and nervously walked in
behind her.  Did they know they had kissed?  Were they upset with
Alex?  His teenaged mind was racing with all of the possibilities.
    But,
as Zand walked in, he could see the faces of Alex’s parents.  Something
was wrong.  Something was very wrong.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
    Zand
looked at his watch and let out a long yawn.  He blinked as he looked at
his watch a second time.  Four a.m. !
    Zand
rose from his chair.  “Jennifer, I’m so sorry.  I didn’t realize how
late it is and I know you work tomorrow, or rather today.” Zand ran his hand
through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck.  He had spent the last
two hours reliving part of his past with Alex.  Time had flown.
    Before
Zand could turn and leave, Jennifer rose from her chair.  “Just where do
you think you are going?  You can’t leave it there.  Sit yourself
back in that chair and tell me what happened with Alex and her parents.”
    Zand
smiled tiredly.  “Are you sure, Jennifer?  You need your sleep.”
    Jennifer
waved her hand and motioned for Zand to sit.  “Don’t you worry about
that.  Do you think that I could sleep while wondering what happened?”
    Zand
sat down and inhaled deeply.  This is where it all started to unravel.
    Little
by little.  Day by day.
    #
    Alex
had entered the office, took one look at her mom, and came to an abrupt halt.
    “Mom? 
What is it?”
    Mr.
and Mrs. Kensington exchanged looks.  An imperceptible understanding
passed between them as Alex’s dad stepped forward to confront his daughter.
    “Alexandra,”
he began.
    Alex
ran into his arms.  She knew that anytime her parents began a sentence
with her full name, then it was something bad.
    “Daddy? 
What is it?”
    “It’s
Gran, honey.  She’s not well and we need to go see her,” he said as he
hugged Alex tighter.  “We need to go as soon as we can.”
    “What…what
is wrong?  Is she...,” Alex started to sob.
    “She
had a stroke, honey.  She is in ICU right now in the hospital.”  Mr.
Kensington pulled back and looked at his daughter.  “I know that camp is
almost over, but, sweetheart, we need you to pack your things.  I am sorry
that you have to miss this last week, but Gran needs us.  I have already
got the jet on standby for North Carolina.
    Alex
couldn’t help but glance over to Zand.  “We are leaving out tonight?”
    “Yes,
your mom and I need to go home and pack.  If you want, maybe Zand can help
you get your stuff ready and we will send a car for you and meet you
there.  Will that work?”
    Alex
managed a small smile, as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. 
“Sounds like a plan, Dad.”  She hugged her dad again and then went to hug
her mother.
    Alex’s
mom had been fighting back the tears, but as soon as she felt her daughter’s
arms around her, she couldn’t hold back any longer.  Both mother and
daughter held each other tightly as the tears ran unheeded down their cheeks.
    “She
will be okay, won’t she, Mom?”
    “Of
course, she will, sweetie,” Mrs. Kensington soothed her daughter.  “You
know