Chapter 13 - Part 2
"Why didn't you wake me? What time is it?" Claire yawned as she came in sight in the bedroom door. Alex was sitting at the dining table feeding Charlotte some baby mush - it wasn't Meg's homemade but she gladly took it. "Well I thought I would let you sleep" Alex said and wiped a chunk of mush away from Charlotte's chin. "You looked so peaceful and considered the night didn't involve a lot of sleeping, I thought you could use it" Alex said and sent her a seductive smile. Claire couldn't help but feel a bit shy as he had said his last words, and a small laugh found it's way out. It sure had been a good night with Alex she thought to herself as she pulled out a chair, and joined them at the table. He kept smiling at her, knowing he had hit a weak spot in her - He loved teasing her with stuff like this, because it meant that Claire didn't have control over absolutely everything around her.
"Stop smiling like an idiot will you" she said with a smile and shook her head. She knew he enjoyed seeing her like this too much and she kinda hated it a bit - she liked being in control but around Alex her guard dropped completely. "Your dad is a weird species" Claire prattled to Charlotte and glanced at Alex. "But a hell of a good species if I must say it myself" He said and laughed. Well, Claire couldn't argue with that. He was about the best, if not the best thing in her life, apart from Charlotte of course. She still cursed herself and him sometimes, for taking so long to share their feelings towards each other. Sometimes she even took herself thinking about how life could have been, if they had been honest with eachother years ago. She sighed and looked at her daughter and then at Alex, it didn't really matter - she had everything know, and that was the most important thing. Her thought got interrupted by the phone. "I got it" Alex said and reached out to the phone at the wall behind him. "Yeah?" he said, not even bothering to introduce himself.
"Oh, hey Jodi" he said and frowned at Claire, which made her laugh. "Urgh Jodi, wait a minute. You have to talk to Claire about this, I don't wanna hear any details about that stuff" he said and reached the phone to Claire. Claire sent him a confused look before taking the phone out of his hand. "Jodi?" Claire asked curiously. "Yeees Jodi, I'll remember to buy the purple set and not the pink." she rolled her eyes and got up from the chair. Alex gave Charlotte the last spoon of mush before cleaning her hands and face with baby wipes.
"Okay, byyyye Jodi" Claire said and hung up the phone. Jodi had asked Claire to buy her a piece of lingerie from the city, she had seen in a magazine and made sure that Claire wouldn't forget it the week leading up to their trip. "I can't believe she want to spend that much money on underwear" Claire said as she walked to Alex's side to place the phone back on the wall. "Jesus Claire - I don't wanna know" he said and shook his head as if he tried to forget the words he had just heard. "It's just underwear Alex" Claire said and placed an arm around his shoulders. "Yeeah, but it's for Jodi we are talking - not you" he said and looked up at her. "And the difference is?" Claire asked, it was underwear for crying out loud - he didn't have to imagine Jodi in it or anything. "The difference is" he said and pulled Claire in so she landed on his lap "That I would be the one to take it off you" with his words followed a gentle kiss on her lips. His lips were as soft as ever and the kiss had a mild aftertaste from the fruit he had been eating for breakfast. She looked him in the eyes, not wanting the moment to stop - everything around her disappeared as she closed in to kiss him again, this time their kiss was deeper and more powerful. She could do this all day if it was up to her, and she had a feeling Alex could as well. Their embrace got interrupted by Charlotte. She was babbling in the high notes and a laugh escaped her mouth as she dropped the spoon on the floor, she had got a hold on. "I better get her dressed" Claire said and pulled away from Alex. "Yeah" Alex said as he cleared his throat. It was probably good Charlotte had interrupted them when she did, he had lost himself in Claire's kiss and everything else had disappeared - he had been ready to clear the table from plates and whatever, right here and now. Until Charlotte had made a note of herself. "I'll clean this up then" he said and watched Claire walk back to the bedroom with Charlotte in her arms, wearing nothing but one of his shirts. She'll be the end of me he thought to himself as he tried to gather his thoughts on the cleaning, but it was nearly impossible when she walked around being all so sexy and the best part was, that she didn't even try.
"What is up next?" Alex asked as Claire got out from the lingerie store. He had kindly offered to stay outside with Charlotte, he didn't really feel like seeing another woman's underwear - if it had been for Claire, it had been a different story. But he didn't quite have the urge to make a note of Jodi's. "I think we have it all" Claire said and took a quick look at the bags under the stroller. "I could do with some lunch" Alex said and took a quick look around the area to see if he could spot a café of some sort. "Oh yeah, I would kill for something to eat - and BOM is out like a light as well. Would be nice with a quiet lunch for once" she said as she adjusted the blanket in the stroller. "Let's find something in the park, aigh?" Alex asked and took one of his hands off the stroller for Claire to hold.
"Here is a good spot" Alex said and pointed his finger at a bench under a big oak tree. They placed themselves at the bench under the tree - some food would do them good, especially Claire since she hadn't eaten all day. They had found a little sandwich shop near the pond in the park, it looked really good and Claire was starving. "I think this is the best sandwich I've had" she said with her mouth full. Alex found it amusing, it was the first positive thing Claire had to say about the city. "So the city isn't all that bad then?" he joked and took a bite of his own. "Give me a break - I'll take Gungellan pub over any of this, at any time" Claire said and moved the hair that was getting in her way, behind the ear. "Yeah, me too" Alex said and pushed to her leg with his. Claire sent him a smile and a steam of happiness rushed through Alex's body.
Charlotte was still out like a light in the stroller when they were finished eating their sandwiches - it allowed them to cuddle up into each other arm's and admire the view, just the two of them. Alex grabbed himself thinking of how lucky he was right now, how happy he had been for the past months. The thought of living each day with Claire and Charlotte filled more and more, it was the only thing he wanted to do. Never in his whole life had he come across a woman like Claire. She could make his blood boil like no one and her stubbornness annoyed him to pieces sometimes, but at the same time she could calm him like no one else and she loved him for all he was - And he loved her no matter what she might throw his way. He kept caressing her shoulder as he thought about how perfect they were together. He knew what he had to do, there was only one thing he could do. He hated being apart from them and his heart ached by the thought of not having Claire by his side. Yes, he wanted to propose to her - he was ready more than ever, to start a whole new life with her at his side. His thoughts about Claire and him, suddenly got replaced by the thoughts of how he should propose, what kind of ring she wanted and would she even say yes? She was used to manage everything by herself and weren't good a taking help from others, especially not guys - maybe she didn't even wanted to get married after all that had happened with Peter. He quickly shook the last thought off him, he had to pop the question despite of the past. Peter was a out of her life for good and he was ready to make her the happiest woman on earth.
"What are you thinking of?" Claire asked and snapped him out of his thoughts. He squeezed her shoulder and looked at her with a smile before saying "You and me. Life - How happy I am". Claire smiled at him, she couldn't believe the happiness she was feeling as well. The past months had really turned out to her favor, it made the past with Peter seem like a decade ago. Alex had managed to almost let her forget she ever had anything with Peter, and it was the best feeling she could ever wish for. Having Alex around made all the problems that came her way seem so small. Claire placed her hand on top of his and it made Alex's thoughts race back to the ring question. Maybe he should ask Tess about what kind of ring she would like - but there was no chance for him to find anything in Gungellan, he would have to go to Fisher or something like that. No, he needed the ring to be perfect, just as Claire was. A quick thought came to his mind, maybe he could call Tess from the hotel and pick up a ring here, today, before they went back home tomorrow. That way he was assured of a good quality ring and Claire would be taken by surprise when the day come, and he would ask her to marry her - he didn't plan on that day being too far away in the future though. "You wanna head back to the hotel?" Claire asked and looked at him. "Before BOM wakes" she continued. "Yeah, that's a good idea" Alex said and freed Claire from his grip - if he wanted Tess's opinion on the ring he should call her soon, before the stores closed. It would have been so much easier if he had brought his own phone, then he could have sneaked out now and bought her a ring and meet her back at the hotel - Maybe he should just go to the jewelry now, and pick a ring out himself. He didn't really needed Tess in on this, he wanted it to be a complete surprise for everyone when he would ask Claire to spend the rest of the life with him. "Actually Claire" he said as they got up, getting ready to leave. "There's a thing I need to do"
"Oh, we can do it before going back" she said and started to push the stroller ahead of her. He needed to find an excuse fast, but what? It had to be something good to make her go back to the hotel by herself. "You wouldn't wanna go" he said and walked to her side. "Why not?" she asked and looked confused at him. "I promised Nick I would go a check a couple of the local bike shops around here - he is looking into buying a new one" Alex said, and hoped for the best. "What? Didn't he just buy one 3 months ago?" Claire asked. "Yeah well, you know - it never hurts to look". Claire smiled at shook her head. "You boys and your toys" she said and stopped. "I'll just see you back at the hotel then?" Alex nodded to answer, but before sending her off he swooped her in and kissed her.
As he put the keycard in the lock at the hotel room a bundle of nerves started to find their way to him, he stopped for a second at took out the ring from his pocket - he had found the perfect ring, if he should say it himself. It was a beautiful white gold diamond ring, it was very simple but not too boring - He was sure he had found the perfect combination for Claire. He just had to hide it from her until the big reveal and that would be the hard part. He quickly put it back in his pocket and opened the door.
"Did you find anything?" Claire asked as soon as he got in the room. "Found what?" he asked, he had totally forgotten his own excuse about the bikes. "For Nick you silly" she said and walked to him. "Oh yeah, no. Nothing for him there I would say" he said a bit nervous and walked past her. He needed to secure the ring in his bag before she would notice it. "You okay?" she asked him and followed him into the bedroom - he felt a little tense and out of himself. Why did she follow him into the bedroom, she weren't supposed to do that. He patted himself on the chest to make sure the ring was still there. Of course it's still going to be there you fool, you put it back in not more than 2 minutes ago he thought to himself. He took a deep breath and turned to Claire, he had to act normal or at least try - but it was easier said than done. It was a huge step and having the ring around made his head spin with a lot different scenarios. What if she didn't say yes and what if she didn't like the ring he had picked for her?
"Alex?" Claire said and waved her hand in front him. "Have you even heard a word of what I just said?" she asked and kept looking at him. Get yourself together Alex, you'll give yourself up. He smiled at her, and took her hand. "Sorry Claire, I just spaced out - it's been a long day. What did you say?" he asked and kissed her on the top of her head. Claire frowned at him, why was he acting so strange?
"Well .. nothing important - but could you however look after Charlotte while I'm in the shower?" she asked. "Sure, take as long as you need" he said and sent her off with a smile but he did notice her suspicious look before she vanished into the bathroom. Her shower was the perfect opportunity for Alex to place the ring in the pocket of one of his shirts in the bag - She'll never find it there he thought to himself as he zipped the bag and placed it in the closet once again. He felt more at ease, knowing the ring was in a safe place where Claire wouldn't find it.
"What is my big girl doing?" he said as he walked to Charlotte in the other room. She was lying on her playmat busy looking at herself in the little mirror, that was hanging in the string amongst other colorful objects, such as little animals in different shapes and sizes. She giggled and smiled as she noticed Alex's voice - he placed himself on the floor with her and occupied her attention with different noises as he tried to imitate the noises the animals on the string would say.
- Claire was asleep on his arm in the bed that night and he couldn't get his eyes of her. They had had the most fantastic trip together - it was just what they had needed. Even though the whole Bryce thing didn't work out as he had expected, he was still glad he took the chance to meet him and see where he came from. He didn't know what the future had in store for him or Bryce, he didn't even know if he wanted a future with him, knowing he was more of a bastard than Harry. He closed his eyes and his mind got back to the fact, he was lying in bed with the most beautiful girl in the whole world - he couldn't wait to ask her to marry him, he couldn't wait to get married to her and start their life together. He smiled for himself, maybe Charlotte would have a sister or a brother in the nearest future?