"Oh my God, Mira! I can't believe how time flies. Seeing you again made me realize how I missed you." Alexis exclaimed after getting out of her friend's tight hug.
"I missed you too. I have missed this place..." Mirabelle said, glancing around the elegant living room of Alexis' penthouse. Then they took their seats besides each other on a sofa.
"Talking on the phone isn't the same. I am glad you are finally back." Alexis said.
"So, girl, what is happening? How has life been?" Mirabelle asked with a bright smile as she stared at her friend.
Alexis offered her friend a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Huh, so-so." She replied. The smile on Mirabelle's face diminished.
"I could tell something was wrong whenever we talked on phone. But hearing it and seeing you like this… it's different." Mirabelle said gently.
Alexis sighed then looked away, her gaze drifting to the window.
"It has been almost ten years, Mirabelle. Ten years of trying, hoping, praying… And still no baby." Alexis said, her voice breaking slightly.
Mirabelle reached across, placing a comforting hand over Alexis'.
"I'm so sorry, Lexi. I can't even imagine how hard it must be." She said empathetically.
Alexis swallowed hard, trying to blink back the tears that were threatening to spill.
"It feels like I'm failing. Like I'm not enough. We have tried everything—doctors, treatments, prayers. Nothing is working..."
Mirabelle squeezed her friend's hand gently.
"You are not failing. You are one of the strongest women I know. And Mikel… how has he been through all of this?" She inquired.
At the mention of her husband's name, Alexis' face softened.
"Mikel has been my rock. He… he is everything, Mira. He is the reason I can still get out of bed some days." Alexis said.
"Wow! He sounds like the perfect husband." Mirabelle said with a smile.
"He is... He has always been supportive, always reminding me that we are in this together. I don't know what I would do without him." Alexis said quietly.
"Then, you are lucky, Lexi. Not everyone finds that kind of love." Mirabelle muttered as she leaned back, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Alexis glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just past 2 p.m. She sat up a little straighter, a knowing smile creeping onto her face.
"You will see what I mean in a second." She announced.
"What do you mean?" Mirabelle asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just watch. At the count of three." Alexis said and was grinning.
As if on cue, the doors slid open, and one of the household staff, a middle-aged woman named Clara, stepped in, holding a bouquet of red roses and a box of Alexis' favorite pastries.
"Ma'am, these just arrived." Clara said with a smile as she walked over to Alexis.
"Thank you, Clara." Alexis took the bouquet and the box, her smile widening.
"Mr. Mikel insisted they be delivered on time. He wants you to eat the pastries warm." Clara said with a knowing smile.
"Of course, I know he does. Thank you." Alexis told Clara.
Mirabelle watched in amazement as Clara left the room.
"Wait… Mikel sent you flowers? In the middle of the day?" She asked incredulously.
"He does it every day." Alexis said and laughed softly.
"Every day?" Mirabelle's eyes widened.
"It is his way of saying sorry for leaving me alone in this big penthouse while he is at work. He knows I hate being alone." Alexis explained happily as she opened the box and offered a pastry to Mirabelle.
"Wow. That… that is like something out of a fairytale." Mirabelle said, taking the pastry, still looking stunned.
Alexis shrugged, but her smile was intact.
"He is the best man I have ever known." She said.
Mirabelle leaned back, shaking her head in disbelief.
"You are so lucky, Lexi. I mean, look at me. My ex cheated on me and didn't even bother to hide it. But Mikel… he would never do that to you." She said firmly.
Alexis' smile grew bigger.
"Never. Mikel would never betray me. He loves me too much." She said as a matter of fact.
Then the two friends spent the following hour talking, laughing, and reminiscing about old times.
For a while, Alexis forgot her worries, basking in the comfort of her friend's presence and the knowledge that Mikel's love was unwavering.
~~~~~~~~~
The following day, in evening;
"It is my favorite time of the day!" Alexis mumbled with a grin.
Alexis was standing by the door, waiting for her husband. The elevator chimed and her heart did its usual little flutter.
"Hey darling!" She called out as he stepped into the room.
He looked as handsome as ever in his expensive tailored suit. His eyes lit up when he saw her and she jumped into his waiting arms.
"Hey, beautiful!" He murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Long day?" Alexis asked, smiling up at him.
"Exhausting. But it is better now that I'm home." He admitted, loosening his tie.
She led him to the sofa, helping him unbutton his shirt.
"You should relax. I will make you some tea or would you prefer food immediately?" She asked him.
Mikel caught her hand, stopping her.
"No, not yet. I want to sit here with you first and make up for what I have missed all day... Your warmth." He said.
Alexis blushed, her heart feeling warmed but before she could respond, Mikel's phone buzzed.
He pulled it out from his pocket and glanced at the screen, and his expression shifted.
"Sorry, my love. I need to take this... It is from work." He said quickly, standing up.
Alexis nodded and watched as he disappeared into his study.
"He has just returned and they are disturbing him already?" She mumbled and frowned slightly.
Inside the study, Mikel leaned against his desk, his phone pressed to his ear.
Then his serious expression melted away, replaced by a small grin.
"Hey, baby girl! What's with the late-night call? That's unusual." He said, his voice softer, more intimate.
On the other end, a woman's voice was heard, shaky and distressed.
"Mikel… I know we agreed not to call this late, but… I'm in trouble."
Mikel's smile dropped instantly.
"What kind of trouble?" He asked and the line went silent.