Robin Alexander [Alexander - Love, From A to Z

Chapter One

Nicki seeks advice on how to save her relationship with Megan, Alicia Seguin announced as she walked into her house with her twenty-year-old niece trailing behind her. Watch your step Nic, weve got a new cat and she likes to trip her human servants. I call her Trip and she likes it.

Nicki scooped up the white kitten rubbing against her shoe and petted it. Another new addition to the cat and dog pack?

My wife is a vet, remember. Alicia smiled and scratched Trip under the chin. Someone had left this little baby on the doorstep at her office in a box on the day I brought lunch to Zoe. Every time I passed her cage shed stick her little paw out at me. Id been chosen.

Zoe Rivers-Seguin walked into the living room. Trouble in paradise again? she asked Nicki with a sad smile.

Nicki set Trip down when she began to fidget. Megan woke me up this morning at six oclock and said I needed to start cleaning the house. Its Saturday, the one day I get to sleep late, and she pissed me off, so we got into a fight. Im so sick of hearing how Im such a pig and feeling like I do everything wrong. Nicki plopped down in a chair and raked her hand through the long locks of hair on top of her head and then began to toy with the very short hairs on one side of it. Megan isnt perfect either.

Neither is that hairstyle, Alicia said as she and Zoe sat down on the couch. Whats that called, half a Mohawk?

Its called, what I like, Nicki said dryly.

I like the color, Zoe interjected. Alicias hair was platinum blond when she was in elementary school. Lets get back to you and Megan though. Whyre yall fighting so much lately?

Nicki shrugged. I cant do anything without her bitching at me constantly. Im getting so sick of it that Im about to stop caring whether we stay together or not.

What specifically does she bitch about? Alicia asked as she watched Trip viciously attack her toy mouse.

She says Im a slob. She says we never have any money, but Im the one going to school and working two jobs. She only has one. I dont say anything about the giant ass brown hair clogs in the shower drain, and I dont fuss at her every time I have to take her car in for an oil change because she cant remember to do it. Nicki sat up straight. She fusses at me for everything. Like last night, she bitched at me about my shoes stinking.

Alicia gazed at the holes in Nickis sneakers. I dont know how that could happen, theyre really ventilated. Do you want some new shoes for your birthday?

The holes in my shoes and jeans are on purpose. I like the look, and Dad does too. He says no one will try to rob me because I look like Im broke. So, whats the secret? Yall have been together forever, how does that happen?

Well, someone has to clean the litter boxes and scoop dog poop from the yard, so I keep Alicia around, Zoe replied.

And someone has to do the grocery shopping, though lately she hasnt been doing a very good job of it, Alicia added.

Nicki noticed that Alicia and Zoe werent laughing or even smiling. But yall are happy, right?

When Im not forced to eat clean and theres more than vegetables in the fridge, Alicia replied, watching Zoe out of the corner of her eye.

Zoe pursed her lips. I would be happier if there wasnt a four-foot lava lamp in our bedroom that makes it look like movie set for a porn flick made in the seventies.

It is not four feet tall, and it soothes me to sleep, Alicia argued. If the bedroom looks like a porn set, its because of the giant red pillows you put on the bed. Then you covered the canopy in all of that She waved a hand as she thought. Gauze.

Sheers, Zoe snapped and smiled tightly at Nicki. Yeah, were happy.

Nicki stared at Alicia and Zoe for a moment. Are yall lying to me and yourselves?

We have our arguments like every other couple. The first time I really noticed Zoe was when she tried to yank the hair out of my head in the third grade. Alicia laughed. We started our life together fighting. Thats why were really good at it.

When did the fighting turn into something else? Nicki asked.

During the flood of 1998 when your great-grandma kidnapped me, I was forced to sleep with Alicia and she tried to kill me with her boat, Zoe replied. Twice.

I only ran into

The snake. Zoe held up a finger. You always forget the snake, Alicia. You nearly put me eye to eye with it before the crash.

Alicia grinned at Nicki. I was never gonna run her up on that snake, it mightve gotten into the boat with us. And Zoe, stop making it sound like I forced myself on you. I slept on the floor and gave you the bed.

You showed me your trashy underwear. Zoe winked at Nicki. Your aunt was a ho.

They were collectible undies, and they werent on me at the time, Alicia said dryly.

Nobody in the family mentions these details when they tell stories about yall. Dad always talks about how yall hated each other. Grandma Grace brags about how she got yall together. Nicki sank back into the chair. I want yall to tell me your story, and take your time telling it. I have no desire to go home.

Anything to keep me from scooping dog shit. Alicia thought for a moment. Grandma had been in the boat with us and when

No, thats not the beginning, the night of the flood was. We were both at Jacks, Grace came into the bar and shut it down. Then she kidnapped me. Zoe waved a hand. Ill tell it.

No, Ill start at Jacks then. Alicia pointed to Nicki. Your dad had just turned twenty-one

Nicki sat back and listened as Alicia and Zoe began telling the story of how they became a couple by finishing each others sentences.

*******

July 1998

Ignore her.

Alicia was lining up for the shot that would end the game of pool she was playing against her brother, and glanced at him. Who?

Zoe Rivers, she just walked back in, Tony replied and kept an eye on Alicias nemesis.

I dont care about her. Alicia made the winning shot and grinned. You owe me a drink.

Ladies and gents, Jack, the owner of the bar, yelled loudly and switched off the music. Zoe just told me Carter Bayou Bridge just washed away. Those of you who live on the other side are stuck with us because this part of town is an island now. Im declaring myself mayor and the bar as an emergency shelter. Well be serving all night long, but yall are still paying.

The announcement was met with cheers. Alicia laughed and turned to Tony. Ill take a rum and pineapple, light on the rum, heavy on the pineapple. I have to start off slow if were gonna be here all night.

I could throw a rock and hit your house from here, so this aint your shelter.

I know, but we dont have to work tomorrow, and were celebrating you being legal drinking age. Alicia patted Tonys cheek. So, you walk over to that bar and buy me a drink, big twenty-one.

Alicia watched Tony go and then her gaze moved to Zoe who was drying her face with the towel Jack had given her. Water formed a puddle around Zoes feet as it dripped off her soaked clothing. Her normally curly, shoulder-length, brown hair was plastered to her head. Alicia knew Zoe lived on the other side of the bayou and she wondered if she should offer to loan Zoe some of her clothes until someone waved their fingers in front of her face.