âThe sound guys?â And itâs then that maternal instinct surfaces, one thatâs eluded her in the first few years into motherhood, but now she only just manages to keep at bay, afraid to be quintessential Tiger Mom that had led to severe repercussions in Maggieâs own life. But the frustration lies there, adeptly hidden so as not to scare Alexis off from divulging her doubts, but palpable just so in the way Maggieâs courteous tone slightly falters. âYou shouldnât have to get used to them giving you a hard time. They should know better than to gang up on you.â
Deep down, she knows that Alexis isnât delicate. Far from it â sheâs much stronger than she realizes, having come out of harrowing experiences that wouldâve broken most people stronger and wiser. And while Maggie has been there for her, in every step of that toiling path, sheâs certain her daughter can survive anything on her own. But sheâs afraid to turn the lens onto herself â her unwillingness to let go of Alexisâs hand, that once sheâd secured against her own, but is now admittedly the one that keeps Maggie steady.Â
âMy day went well,â she begins, taking a generous sip, before she adds (because, she knows Alexis wonât be satisfied with those four words â theyâre privy to each otherâs secrets than most), âI took to painting earlier today. Itâs been a while since Iâve held a paintbrush,â she remarks wistfully, knowing her days are now often spent in the confines of her office than her studio, âIâve almost forgotten how exhilarating it felt.â Â
   Heroes came in many shapes, sizes, and temperaments. As a kid, even before Margaret and Nate accepted an orphan into their home to raise and love as their own, her mother's cool older friend Maggie had always been source of fascination and adoration for the little girl. Other little girls wanted to be like Cinderella but Alexis wanted nothing more than to grow up and be just like Margaret Chen. Something that remained true til this very day. Her lips curve upward in obvious amusement at the telltale signs of her motherâs thinly-veiled concern. âMom, itâs okay.â Lexie assured with a flash of a smile, the tickle of laughter in her throat swallowed down long enough to reach across the table to intertwine their fingers. âIâm sure they are just hazing the newbie.â Â
   âTheyâll get bored soon enough. Itâs nothing I canât handle.â Plus Alexis had already concocted her own strategy for winning their favor. It include bribery of course, but not the monetary kind. Years of being limited to nowhere but home when she wasnât in the hospital meant that Alexisâs baking skills were nothing less than superb. Something the people on her crew were soon going to find out. After all, how can you continue to be grumpy and dismissive to a person bringing you baked goods?
   Giving Maggieâs hand a final firm squeeze of encouragement, as if her mother was the person with conflict and not her, Alexis pulled back to finish off her glass of whiskey. The liquid burned on itâs way down but she only turned to cough once she was sure Maggie wasnât paying attention. âOh really?â Lexie inquired, excitement evident in her tone. âHow far along did you get? Gosh, it really has been a while huh? I remember whenever I couldnât go to sleep, Iâd always be able to find you painting and would doze off on the couch watching you. Dad must have gotten so sick of tucking me into bed only to have to carry me back upstairs a couple hours later.â