Stevie could find no words to describe the feeling of flying above the world with Alex. Leaving everything and everyone behind down below, it was as if it was just the two of them left in the entire world. And that's exactly what Alex was hoping for. She had been anxious about being with him. Scared of what she would do or say if he backed her into a corner. But he put her at ease immediately. His smile, his warm laughter, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. All of her fears melted away as soon as her eyes locked with his.
"Where are we going?" She asked him, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. She felt as if she was a teenager on her first date.
"That depends" He replied and grinned at her.
"What do you mean?" She asked confused
"Well, see the thing is Stevie, we are going to fly around up here until I get an answer to my question." He told her.
"Alex, don't be stupid" She protested.
"I'm not kidding. We have plenty of fuel, so take your time. I'm not in a hurry." He responded. She could tell from the tone of his voice that he was serious.
"Alex. Stop it." She was genuinely annoyed with him now, and beginning to regret ever getting on the stupid helicopter.
"Look, all I want is the answer to one question, and you're not getting off this helicopter until I get it. So you may as well just tell me." He insisted.
She turned her head away from him and stared out the window. Perhaps if she ignored him long enough he would get bored with this silly game, and he would taker her home, and that would be the end of everything. Finally she could stand the silence no longer.
"Alright, so what's your question?" She asked, dreading the answer.
"Today I told you how I felt about you Stevie. And the only thing I want to know is – do you feel the same way about me?" He thought it was a fair question.
She was caught off guard by this. She had expected him to ask about Lawrence or the wedding, or any of the million other questions she was not prepared to answer. But this question she didn't have to think twice about.
She answered without hesitation "Alex, I love you more deeply than I have ever loved any man. But…"
He put his finger over her lips to silence her.
"No buts, cowgirl. That's all I need to know. Everything else will work itself out. You and me together- that's all that matters."
She looked into his eyes briefly, and for a moment she believed him. He turned his attention back to the helicopter, but she couldn't take her eyes off him. She longed to be with him for so long. Is it possible that her dream could finally come true?
She was so caught up in her thoughts she didn't even notice that he had landed on a cliff top by the sea.
"I can't remember the last time I went to the beach" Stevie told him.
"Me neither" He replied "So I thought it'd be fun."
He took her hand as they climbed down the long rocky path to the shore. The view was breathtaking, miles and miles of beach as far as the eyes could see. And the best part of all, they were alone. Not another person in sight. No cars, no houses, no people. Just the two of them. She stopped still stunned, taking in the view.
"Alex, this is beautiful." She whispered.
"So are you" he told her as he put his arm around her waist and led her along the shore. They took off their boots leaving them behind, rolled up their jeans and walked along the water edge. After walking for what seemed like hours they sat in the sand, to watch the sun go down over the ocean.
"Hey I thought we were having dinner?" She reminded him
"Are you hungry?" He asked her
"No" she replied. Food was really the last thing on her mind. All she needed was Alex.
"Me neither" He answered. "So let's skip the food, and talk."
Here we go, she thought to herself. Things were going so well, and he had to spoil it by talking. By bringing them both back to the real world. She wasn't ready to tell him all the things he wanted to know. She really wasn't ready to face them herself. And she just wanted to be here, with him, away from everything. She looked quickly over her shoulder. There really was no where to run, no where to hide. She had been foolish to come here with him. Now she was stuck.
He sensed the fear creeping up in her, and took her hand.
Before he could speak she pleaded with him "Alex, Lets not spoil this beautiful night by talking. Just for tonight let's pretend that the rest of the world doesn't exist, that it's just you and me on this beach."
"Alright." He smiled "I think I can do that."
He brushed aside the curls from her face, and leaned forward to kiss her. For so long she dreamed of this moment. At last she was free to express her love for him, love that she had hidden for so long. It felt so right being in his arms. For a brief moment she was swept away. For that moment she let herself dream of being married to him, having a family with him, and living happily ever after.
And in that moment, she understood what it must have been like to be Liz Ryan. She understood how tempting it must have been. How easy it was to tell one little lie. But it tore apart the Ryan family when the truth came out. And as good as it felt to give in to her passion tonight, Stevie knew she couldn't continue living the lie forever like Liz had done. There was only one thing to do, and that was tell Alex the truth before things went any furthur.
She pulled away from him abruptly.
"Alex, there's something you should know." She blurted out before she had time to reconsider.
Gees, now she wants to talk! Alex thought to himself; but he didn't let the disappointment show in his voice as he told her "I'm listening."
"Alex, I'm pregnant."
