She watched him from the doorway, nervously. She wanted to go in, to help him in some way but she didn't know what to say or how to help. Suddenly he turned around, as if he sensed her presense.
"Hello, wanna play?" He asked. She was touched by the invitation, by his willingness to accept her.
"Um, sure." She responded uncertainly coming into the room and gingerly sitting beside him.
"That's a nice boat." Great Alexis, Harvard would be so proud of your amazing oratory skills,she thought.
"Do you like boats?" Michael asked.
"Sure, they're great" she replied. It wasn't exactly a lie, she had nothing against boats, well other than Helena's yacht. Michael, unimpressed with her answer continued to play with his boat. Well that was a bust Alexis thought, obviously there was nothing she could do for him. Like Sonny, he would not let her in, not allow her to help. She was about to get up and leave when he noticed something on her hand.
"Did uncle Sonny give you that ring?" Alexis was startled as she looked down at her mother's ring.
"No, it was, it was my mother's ring."
"Oh."
"Michael why did you think Sonny gave me the ring?"
"Cause that's what boys do when they like a girl, uncle Sonny used to love Mommy and he gave her a ring, now he loves you." Michael told her with the logic of a six year old. Alexis marvelled at the simple way children saw the world, if only things really were that easy.
"Did she give you the ring?" Michael continued. Alexis was so caught up in his comment about Sonny loving her now that she missed what he had said.
"Your Mommy," Michael repeated, "Did she give you the ring or are you just borrowing it." Alexis debated for a second on how to respond before answering.
"Actually she left it to me when she died."
"Your Mommy died? Was it a long time ago?" He asked suddenly very interested. Alexis knew he was thinking about his own mother.
"Yes it was a long time ago, I was just a little girl."
"Were you sad?" Michael asked slowly coming to sit closer to Alexis.
"Yes, I was very sad."
"Did you cry?"
"Yes I cried."
"Did your Daddy cry too?"
"My Daddy wasn't with me at the time so I don't know but I think he probably did."
"My Daddy's not with me either, but I have uncle Sonny."
"Yes you're very lucky to have him, and he's lucky to have you." Michael crawled into Alexis' lap and allowed her to put her arms around him as he took her hand with his to examine the ring more closely.
"Do you still miss your Mommy?
"I do, I'll always miss her, but it hurts less than it used to. And now I can remember the happy times without being sad because I know that she loves me and she's watching over me and loving me, just like your Mom is watching over you."
"Know what Alexis?" Michael asked as he snuggled into her arms. "I think uncle Sonny and I are lucky cause we got you."
Sonny watched from the doorway, thinking just how right Michael was.