July - Lilies of the Valley with Ferns

July started on a sweet note all because of my gentle remembrance to Sonny that he do something for Mike for Father's Day. After my attempt at breakfast went up in smoke, he called his father and invited him over for dinner, and then did something that only Sonny Corinthos can do and called my photographer for a command Sunday performance. By five that afternoon, Sonny had a father/daughter portrait to present to Mike. What took me two weeks plus the appointment time, Sonny accomplished in eight hours flat. Dinner was simple and low-keyed, and when Sonny showed Mike what he had received for the occasion, Mike made over the portraits as if he had never seen such works of art. The joy on Sonny's face was evident when like a little boy, he took the portrait of father and daughter out of the closet and presented it with a simple "Happy Father's Day Mike." Mike's tears were equal to Sonny's earlier that day and the embrace between father and son was genuine and heartfelt. That little girl of ours had been able to do in five months what no one had ever thought possible - she had made a family out of Mike and Sonny. I shed a few tears myself.

I was working at home on Monday afternoon when the familiar knock of George the florist came rapping on my door. He presented me with a large basket of lilies of the valley and ferns as he winked and said, "You seem to be expanding your horizons, Ms. Davis." Puzzled, I closed the door behind him and searched for the ever-present card from Sonny, only this time, it was not Sonny's almost indecipherable scrawl that I saw, but a clear, concisely printed "Alexis" on the envelope. The front of the card inside was a preprinted 'thank you' and as I opened it my eyes jumped to the bottom signature "Fondly, Mike." I went back to the top of the note and began reading: "Dear Alexis, As you know, I am aware of and approve my son's wooing you each month with flowers, but after yesterday, I asked if he minded if July's came from me. He approved and encouraged, so here I am. I told Michael's florist that I wanted something for a very sweet, fascinating woman. He suggested this combination which covers both bases. Alexis, if not for my beautiful granddaughter, if not for you and your gentle ways I would still be a lonely bitter man. You and KD have opened Michael's eyes to being a father, and your sweet gentle nature has led us back together. I can never repay you for what you have done, but know that I am forever grateful and happy. I can think of no better mother for my granddaughter, or woman for my son than you. Fondly, Mike"

Life does have its completely wonderful moments. That was one of mine.

KD was growing and sprouting up before my very eyes, but she had been a little slow getting her first tooth and when it started coming through, the poor thing had such a terrible time with it. Her little gum was so swollen and tender she chewed on anything she could get her chubby little hand around: a stuffed animal, a washcloth, her fist, and my shoulder. It hurt so badly that she started refusing to eat her solid food - the spoon was too painful in her mouth. I was frazzled and at my wits end one evening as Sonny let himself in on his nightly visit. I had already called the pediatrician, whom I was sure was wrong when he tried to assure me that no infant ever starved them self to death, so when Sonny came in and took one look at me I burst into tears of frustration and motherly worry. In no time at all his funny faces and silly noises had KD giggling wildly, at which point I would shove a spoonful of food into her mouth. She had to be fed like that for two more days.

The morning of the fourth day I got KD in position for nursing; we were down to twice a day - first thing in the morning and just before bedtime. She gurgled, cooed, latched on, clamped down and I screamed bloody murder - the girl had a tooth! I put KD back to her crib where she proceeded to cry in hunger while I was doing my best to see the underside of my breast and see if she had broken skin; it felt like she had torn off a chunk. What I didn't know was that Sonny had been opening the front door just as I screamed, so as he bounded into the nursery in alarm, my head was practically under my breast as I searched for teeth marks and possible blood.

"Whatever it is you're doing, I guarantee you I can do it better."

His remark went over my head as I got lost in my excitement. "She has a tooth. It broke thru overnight." I picked our daughter up and tried to pry her mouth open to show Sonny. "Come on Sweetie, show Daddy your new tooth. Open your mouth like a good girl." KD held out her arms to her Daddy who promptly moved to take her from my arms when his hand accidentally came into contact with my still bare skin and an electrical jolt went thru both of us. Time seemed to stand still as we stood there - Sonny not removing his hand and me not backing away. Thankfully, KD wiggled and howled, breaking the moment, and Sonny completed the transfer of our daughter from my arms to his.

Turning my back, I quickly secured myself, turned around and went back to my bedroom, not once glancing at him. "As of today I'm finished nursing Vampira. I'll go express and then you can give her a bottle." As I was walking down the hall I heard him tell KD that her loss was his gain. So he was that sure of himself, huh? OK, so after the robe incident a few weeks ago, I could see where he would be, but by golly, I was going to make him work for it.

Within two days my daughter had another tooth in and I swore she was cuter than ever. I just couldn't see any more than two teeth in that mouth - they would ruin that cute little grin for sure - a grin people commented on every time I took her on an outing. Since the weather was getting quite warm in Port Charles, KD's usual mode of dress became sunbonnet, sundress and naked toes; that baby of mine loved having naked toes. Now that she was over six months old I was able to put some baby sun blocker on her and we could go to the park and soak it up. Sonny found a pair of infant sunglasses to protect her little eyes and I swear she was quite the sight sitting in her stroller and commanding attention in her little Foster Grants.

Our baby girl was also crawling. Pride and fear consumed me at the same time; my sweet baboo was mobile and just cute as a button getting from place to place, as I fretted and worried over what she might find on the floor: a dropped hairpin or button, a popcorn kernel, a bug - my mind went rampant and I went around on my hands and knees to see things from her perspective. It wasn't a pretty sight and the next time the cleaning lady came, she was going down on all fours herself. But the shivers I got from crawling around on the floor were nothing compared to what happened the second week in July. Thank God I wasn't home to witness it.

I was at the office and Sonny was with KD when he called, frantic with the news that she had been hurt and they were on their way to the hospital. My heart stopped. I yelled into Cameron's office as I raced past "KD's hurt, I'm meeting Sonny at the hospital," and the next thing I knew he was driving me there telling me about all sorts of scares children can give a parent; scares that you laugh at once you get home from the doctor's or hospital. I gave his experience little credence as I imagined my baby fighting for her life in the OR. I ran into the emergency room and the first thing I saw was Sonny standing at the nurse's station, shirt soaked in blood. I stopped cold - I mean I could not even walk a step once I saw him. He was talking to a nurse and didn't know I was there until he looked up for a second. All I could do was stare - no words could come from my mouth, and I felt the complete, total fear that only a parent can feel. That was my child's blood all over her father's shirt. She was not in his arms. I think I might have fainted had Sonny not reached me at that second.

"She's fine."

I still couldn't talk or remove my eyes from his shirt. Sonny cupped my face, forcing my eyes to meet his. "Alexis did you hear me? She's fine."

Part of my brain was trying to relate what he said to the evidence on his shirt when I heard my daughter's laughter.

"See, she's fine. She crawled over to the sofa and pulled herself up to a standing position when she fell down hard and evidently her bottom teeth slammed into her top gum. Lots of blood but no damage. She's OK, Alexis."

Bobbie emerged from an examining room with a giggling KD in her arms. "See, there's your Mommy and Daddy. You're such a good little girl." Looking at me, Bobbie continued, "They're scary creatures, aren't they. One little scratch in the wrong place and you think they're done for. Too bad they don't come complete with instruction manuals."

I took my baby from Bobbie's arms and about hugged her to death, showering her head and face with kisses as the tears fell freely from my eyes. "You scared me to death, Pumpkin. Don't do that again, OK?" I looked at Bobbie, "Can I take her home?"

"Sure. She's fine Alexis."

So we went. I had all but forgotten Cameron drove me over and since Sonny wanted to go back to his place and change clothes, we transferred KD's car seat to Cameron's car and he took us home. KD fell asleep in the car, which gave Cameron and I some time to talk about the business and Zander.

Cam surprised me with the news that Zander had applied and been accepted to PCU's School of Business and was thinking about moving in with his father to save money. Pride and elation were written all over my partner's face as he talked about his son and their budding relationship. Once Cameron had begun accepting Zander for himself and quit trying to make him into what the father thought the son should be, the closed doors had flung wide open, letting their relationship flourish. As Cameron waxed eloquent on the brilliance of his son, he casually let slip that he had even reopened the communication lines with his ex-wife and was about to be the go-between twixt mother and son. I knew nothing about Cameron's ex-wife or their relationship, but it was evident in his voice and face that he was hoping to rebuild something between them as well. Knowing full well how much sweeter things could be the second time around, I secretly wished him all the luck in the world.

That night when KD and I went over to Sonny's for dinner, he broached the subject of vacation. I had to admit that I had never given extended time off any thought. The last vacation I had taken was...well...when Sonny and I went to Puerto Rico almost two years ago, and it had been such a foreign idea to me then, that for the first day or two it had felt like I was someone else. Sonny had planned his plea carefully, complete with brochures and information on pediatricians in each locale (should they be needed.) I almost felt like I was being blindsided and immediately went on the defensive.

"Let me get this straight - you get to decide when and where I'm taking a holiday? I assume you've consulted my caseload and already pre-approved it with Cameron? Did it not occur to you that maybe I want to be the one who decides if I am able to take time off, and that I want to have a say in choosing where I go? That is if and when I do decide that time off is warranted? And that KD and I may want to take off on our own without you?" The more I talked, the angrier I got at his presumptuousness. "And I assume that since you're the male figure and in your full macho pride decided when and where we should go, that you would pay for all of this? Being male and territorial and all. I also assume that you've already made sure my passport is up to date, gotten one for our daughter, and consulted with her pediatrician as to the advisability of taking her on an airplane?" I was on a roll and just getting warmed up when he brought his fingertips to my lips to hush me.

"If you'll just quit ranting enough to let me get a word in edgewise, I can answer your questions. First off - yes, I've talked with KD's doctors because I didn't even want to bring up the subject if she was not able to travel. Secondly, yes, I did check your schedule with your office to see if it was possible. Thirdly, my suggestions are just that - suggestions. Before you went off on your high horse I was going to say that we should talk to the travel agent about all our options before we - note that - we - make a decision." He grinned wickedly. "And if you decide that you want to pay for any or all of our vacation, should we decide to take on, be my guest. My macho pride, as you call it, can take it." He replaced his fingertip with a quick brush of his lips then drew back. "Besides, I know you'll insist on separate rooms and I fully expect you to pay for your share."

I hit him with a throw pillow from the sofa before I made him call and make an appointment with the travel agent. I was going on vacation. We were going on vacation. One or two weeks of nothing to do days but play in the sun with our daughter; one or two weeks of getting away from work. I envisioned a deserted tropical island with our own house and beach. Lazy days, romantic nights, just the three of us...

I envisioned one or two weeks of twenty four hours a day temptation. What in the world had I just agreed to?

part 08