Free Goodbye Isn't Forever by Melanie Blake Page B

how strong-willed Mother is.  She will be back as good as new in no
time.”
    Alex
seemed happy with her mother’s words and withdrew from her embrace.  As
she wiped her tears again, she looked at Zand.
    “Zand,
would you mind helping me pack?”
    Zand
didn’t hesitate.  “Whatever you need me to do, Alex.”
    Alex
nodded and hugged her parents again.  “Give me at least a couple of hours
if you can, Daddy, then send the car.  I should be ready by then.”
    “We
will wait on you if you need more time.  I think that your mom wants to
make sure that we are there for the morning visitation, Alex.”
    Alex
and Zand said their good-byes to the Kensington’s and left the director’s
office.  When they cleared the building, Zand reached for and held Alex’s
hand.  That’s how they stayed as they slowly made their way back to Alex’s
room, each lost in their own thoughts.
    Neither
one noticed the couple that exited the building right behind them.  They
glanced toward the slowly walking pair and stopped in their tracks.
    Mrs.
Kensington took her husband’s arm as they watched Alex and Zand stroll out of
sight.  She knew her daughter well enough to understand the meaning behind
the gesture.  She glanced at her husband to gauge his reaction.
    “Do
you think that our little girl has something she might want to say about her
project partner?” Mr. Kensington asked his wife.
    Mrs.
Kensington sighed audibly.  “Well, we have noticed her lack of interest,
lately, in the boys back home that are always fawning over her.”
    Mr.
Kensington grinned.  “I just thought that it was an indication of her good
taste.  None of those boys would ever be worthy of her.”
    “Do
you think that Jackson Gabriel’s son is?”  Mrs. Kensington questioned,
while arching her brow.
    Mr.
Kensington thought of Jackson and hoped, in this case, the apple did fall far
from the tree.  Very far.  But trying to think of a suitable answer,
he could only say, “Alex knows that boy better than we do.  Zand is still
young and I’m sure he’ll mature into a fine adult.”
    “Yes,”
Mrs. Kensington agreed.  “A fine young man that is being groomed to run
Gabriel Industries.”
    Mr.
Kensington looked questioningly at his wife.
    “Surely
you did not miss our daughter’s conversation with the endearingly polite Mr.
Gabriel, did you?  He has Zand’s life planned out and I don’t think it
includes our baby girl.  Alex may be young, but if Jackson ever tells Alex
that she can’t see Zand…”
    Mr.
Kensington let out a low whistle.  “Look out Jackson.”
    “Yes,
indeed!” Mrs. Kensington added dryly.
    “Do
you think it will last long?  They are so young.”
    Mrs.
Kensington stared out into the night sky.  She could still remember being
that age and terribly in love.  She smiled for the first time that night.
    “I
was completely taken with a handsome young man at that age,” Mrs. Kensington shared
as she hugged her husband.
    “Oh? 
What happened?” he asked.
    She
leaned back and placed a soft kiss on his waiting lips.
    “I
married him.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
    Six
weeks had passed since the Kensingtons had left L.A. to see Alex’s
grandmother.  The stroke had left more damage than initially perceived,
and although she was allowed to go home, she wasn’t able to fully care for
herself.
    Mrs.
Kensington, being an only child, was not willing to be on the other side of the
country while her mother needed her.  There were plenty of relatives that
lived locally and could help out, but it was not the same.  The decision
had been made to temporarily move back to North Carolina and live with Alex’s
grandmother until she could take care of herself.
    With
the help of office equipment set up in a spare bedroom, the Kensingtons were
able to be hands-on with their business, albeit cross-country.  If it was
needed, the jet was always on stand-by to leave at a moment’s notice.  So
far, the arrangement had been working