Chapter 9: Promise kept

Around 5'o'clock in the morning, Claire went into house. She walked upstairs and slowly opened doors of Charlotte's room. She entered and looked at the crib. Warm smile washed her face; her daughter was sleeping peacefully.

Claire fixed blanket on asleep child and went out from the room on her toes. Than she went to check on Tess. She opened the doors and smiled. Tess and Nick were sleeping in each others arms.

Claire slowly shut the doors, smiling slightly to herself. She was sooo happy for Tess and Nick. They were meant for each other.

She took her bag up from the floor and opened doors of her room...

Claire sighed, putting her bag down.

"Home at last", she mumbled quietly.

She took her jacket off and while she did that, she saw something shining on her bed.

It was still pretty dark 'cause dawn still didn't broke up.

Claire slowly walked toward her bed. Two steps from the bed, she saw diamond shining in the dark. She gasped and tears filled her eyes.

She reached out and took box from the bed, tears were now rolling like a river down her cheeks... It's him, she knew it. It's her Alex.

Claire put palm on her mouth to stop the sobs. And than...

And than she felt two strong arms hugging her around her waist and she heard that voice that she adored:

"I've kept my promise..."

As tears were choking her, Claire whispered in reply:

"What promise?"

Alex turned her around to face him and said :

"I promised that I won't leave you, Claire", he wiped her tears away and added "And I never will."

Holding little box in her hand, Claire could only watch to Alex's eyes as her eyes filled with more and more tears.

Alex wiped her tears away , gently with his thumbs. And than, he cupped her face in his palms and kissed her...

Claire felt how whole world stopped while Alex's lips were touching her lips. She responded eagerly, kissing him back, wrapping her hands around his neck...

Alex took her in his arms and carried her over to bed and gently laid her down, still hugging her around her waist.

Claire's left palm traveled up Alex's neck and caressed his cheek as she whispered, while she tried to catch a breath:

"Oh, Alex...I love you soooo much!"

Alex looked at her face, at those blue eyes that he wanted to look at until death separate them...

He took box from her hand and brushing his lips over her lips, he asked her:

"Claire Louise McLeod...will you marry me?"

Claire laughed and cried at the same time:

"YES! YES!"

Alex smiled warmly and took her hand. He slowly kissed every inch of her ring finger and than put engagement ring on it. He kissed her palm and whispered:

"I love you, Claire...I love you more than my life!"

Claire kissed him with all love that she was hiding all these years. Alex responded eagerly, still couldn't believe that his biggest dream came true...

This is not the end! Greetings from Vesna