08/06/2016
Just want to let you guys know, that we are currently working on a new chapter!
Should be finished within the next couple of days.
-Thank you for showing us so much support - We get super excited
everytime we look at how many people that have read the story so far
7/17/2016
More chapters will be coming during the next weeks, but due to holiday and stuff
we have decided to take a break and continue writing, when we both are back home
- But no fear, they will be coming!
Chapter 16
"Come on, you can do it" Alex said in a cheerful way as he reached his arms out towards Charlotte. She fell into his big arms with a huge giggle and smile - She was exactly one year old today and was beginning to take an interest in walking. He squeezed her tight as she landed in his arms and gave her a big cuddle. He was sitting on the floor in his and Claire's bedroom, it was still early in the morning but both him and Claire had been up early, to make sure everything was ready for her 1st birthday. "Daddy have a biiig surprise for you, my little angel" he said and got on his feet with Charlotte still in his arms.
"What kind of surprise?" Claire asked as she got in sight in the door. "Nah, you'll have to wait and see" Alex said and sent a smile her way. Claire sighed for herself, this could only mean one thing - he had found something extraordinary. "Nothing too big or fancy I hope" Claire said and smiled at Charlotte. "Nothing is too big for my little girl, aigh?" Alex said and kissed Charlotte on her head. Claire couldn't help but smile and shake her head, she still had him wrapped around her littlefinger - well, she had everyone wrapped around her littlefinger, including Claire. Alex formed his lips in a kiss and turned his head towards Claire, to let her know he expected a kiss from her.
"Is everything ready?" Alex asked as their lips parted again. "Meg finished all of the food last night and Tess is decorating the cake right now" Claire said and walked to the closet. "When will Harry and Liz be here?" she asked and pulled out a top from the bottom drawer. "In a couple of hours, the same with Nick".
"I think you should wear this one" Alex said and came to her sight. Claire looked at him and then at the dress that was hanging in the back of the closet. "Really?" she asked and pulled out the dress - Tess had bought it to her for her birthday a couple of weeks ago, she hadn't worn it yet. "You'll look stunning in it" Alex said and sent her the look only he could. Claire couldn't help but feel her legs turn into jelly, he always knew what to say - maybe she should give it a go, it was Charlotte's birthday after all. "We'll head downstairs" Alex said and started to walk towards the bedroom door. "I'll be down in 5" Claire said as she took the dress in her hands. She allowed herself to admire it in the mirror before putting it on. It was in a soft tail-greenish color, light and not too long or too short - it was perfect for a summer day like this. She never used to wear dresses, let alone any clothes that weren't fit for work - but after all of Alex's compliments throughout their whole relationship, she was beginning to embrace the thought about shopping for a few dresses, just so she had some for parties and stuff like that - she still prefered some good jeans and a shirt over anything else.
Claire took an extra look at herself before heading out of the bedroom and down to meet the others, in the kitchen. Tess's eyes lit up when she saw Claire was wearing her dress, she had known that color would look great on her and boy had she been right. "Good thing you are here" Tess said to Claire. "Can you take this? I need to get dressed" Tess said and handed Claire the cake. Meg had baked her famous strawberry cake, with fresh strawberries and cream inside. Tess had decorated it with some small bunnies and flowers, and the text was saying Happy 1st Birthday Charlotte. Claire took a look at the cake and was impressed by how well it had turned out - She never understood how Tess could be good at so many things, like, where did she get the skills from?
"Hurry, take a picture" Alex rushed on Terry. He wanted to capture the perfect moment, where Charlotte would take her first bite of a cake. The whole scenario were a disaster, cake everywhere, both on the ground and on Charlotte - but that was to be expected by a 1 year old. "Claire and Alex, could you stand on each side of Charlotte?" Terry asked. He wanted to get a nice family photo with the three of them.
"You have made quite a mess, haven't you?" Claire asked her daughter as she kneeled down beside her to clean her hands and face from cake and cream - Charlotte found it extremely funny to have all the attention on her, and she sent everyone one of her sweet giggles. "Pressie time" Tess said from a distant and waved everybody closer to the gift-table. "Mine first" Tess said and handed Claire her gift, as they all gathered around the table. Claire was excited to see what Tess had bought for her niece, probably something very Tess-like Claire thought to herself as she started to unwrap the present. "They are beautiful Tess" Claire said as she saw the present. It was a complete set of knife, fork and spoon in silver, with little bunnies on. The back had Charlotte's name engraved - they were truly amazing and it would be her very first cutlery.
After a good half an hour all the gifts had been handed out from everyone at the party, and it almost brought tears to Claire's eyes to see her little girl was loved as much as she were. Meg and Terry had bought her a bracelet with small animal charms and her zodiac sign on - they practically functioned as grandparents for her, along with Liz and Harry, so they wanted to give her something special for years to keep. Jodi and Becky had bought heaps loads of clothes and it was clear to see that Jodi had been in charge of the shopping, since most of the clothes were dresses and skirts. But all the clothes were very cute, nothing to set a finger on. Harry and Liz had gifted Charlotte the biggest of all gifts and they had left everybody speechless, including Alex. Harry had started a trust fund in Charlotte's name, for her to have when she turned 18 - Every month, from this day, Harry and Liz would be putting aside money for Charlotte's future. An investment in her education and future, as Harry had called it. Alex had disappeared shortly after all of the presents had been opened, he had his own surprise to plan - it was then Claire saw him coming from the driveway, with a red box in his hands. "We have one last gift" Alex said and handed Claire the box. She looked at him with a curious look, she had no idea on the gift Alex had planned. As she opened it she noticed a tiny riding helmet in black. "What is this for?" Claire asked with a smile, not quite sure what he had planned with this. Charlotte couldn't even walk properly yet and riding was out of the question until she turned at least 3. "Come on, walk with me" he said and took Claire's hand. The rest of the crowd followed them to the stables.
"You didn't?" Claire asked him as she noticed the dark brown pony with a white mane. "You bought her a pony?!" Claire asked surprised. Never in a milion year had she expected this - They had talked about getting her a pony, but that was way out in the future. "Wow Alex, it's really sweet" Jodi said and walked closer to it, to pat it on the muzzle.
"I know she can't ride yet, but I figured - every girl needs a horse, and if she is just half the McLeod you are, she will be riding sooner than later" Alex said and smiled to Claire. He was right, she was a McLeod and a McLeod needed a horse - And it wouldn't even surprise anyone if Charlotte picked up the saddle in a young age, with a mother like Claire. "It's perfect" Claire said and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm sure Charlotte will be thrilled about it, when she can understand more" she continued and walked to pony with Charlotte on her arm.
"Charlotte's first photo with a horse - we have to get this moment" Terry said and instantly pulled out his camera.
It was getting late in the afternoon and everybody was sitting around the table on the veranda, talking and having a laugh. Tess had stepped aside for a bit, to clear her thoughts - she still thought about her and Nick, and she damned herself for being too scared to do anything about the feeling she had for him.
"Too much for ya?" Nick said and came to her side. She made a quick startle when she noticed him, she had been too busy with her thoughts that she hadn't seen him walk up. "Yeah, sometime you just need to digest everything" Tess said and smiled at him. His presence made her nervous, considering the thoughts she had just had about him and her - she knew he felt the same as her, and she was the one that couldn't make up her mind about them. "Tess .. " Nick said and looked at her "There is something I need to figure out"
"Yeah?" Tess asked and turned her body against him. "The other day - we almost kissed Tess" Nick said. "I guess what I'm trying to say it, I need to know where we stand - You feel it and I feel it" he said and took a step closer to her. Tess got captured by his words, he was right and she wanted to admit it, more than anything - but she was scared. She wasn't used to love someone like he was, she couldn't trust people enough not to get hurt, because of her past. But Nick was different, she knew that and yet she found herself struggling with the idea of them becoming more than friends. "It's not that simple Nick" at least it wasn't for her. "Why not?" he asked and took her hands. "We both want this, don't we?"
Tess sighed and closed her eyes - there wasn't anything she wanted more than him. She had never felt like this before. She wanted what Claire and Alex had, and she felt like Nick could be the right person to bring her that. Before she knew it she had closed in for a kiss, she didn't have the slightest idea of how and when, but in the moment their mouths met she knew she couldn't let him go - this felt more right than anything in her life ever did. "You see, it's simple as that" Nick said as he pulled away from her. Tess couldn't help but smile. Maybe it was this simple, but she wasn't quite sure - she definitely needed to think all this through and not just rush through with something. "I think we should head back - they will wonder where we are" Tess said and looked at him one more time. She didn't really want to leave this moment and head back, but she knew she had to. Staying could get Nick's hope up and if she weren't sure about where this thing between them should go, it was better to let him wonder a bit now other than break his heart.
