Chapter 17 - Part 3
It was getting late and the bright blue sky, was slowly beginning to turn into an orange delight to look at. The sun was crawling it's way behind the hills and a mild summer breeze had started to flow over the afternoon sky.
Alex was leaning against the small brick wall around the veggie patch, with a beer in his hand. He had withdrawn himself from the celebration inside the tent, he needed a moment to gather his thoughts, before he was about to hold his speech. He had it all written down, but it was another thing to actually stand in front of all his friends and family and express his feelings towards Claire. Both Nick and Tess had been holding fantastic speeches about love, unison and family - and he was afraid his would be a blur compared to theirs. He took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. It had been a day full of love, joy and laughter. He was the happiest man on earth right now and he had everything he ever wanted. A beautiful daughter and the fact that he had just married his best friend and soulmate, overwhelmed him with feelings. Feelings he found hard to describe and that was also one of the reasons why he was so nervous about his speech to Claire. He felt a stare behind him and turned around to see Nick, standing a bit away on the other side of the brick wall.
"What are you doing mate?" Nick asked and walked up to the wall that separated the two brothers. Alex smiled and finished the last of his beer, and placed the empty bottle on the wall.
"Just thinking mate" he said and turned to face Nick.
"Be careful not to flatter yourself" Nick teased. He could clearly feel the tension coming from Alex's body.
"Oh, shut up" Alex said and shook his head with a laugh
"What are you thinking of?" Nick asked with a clean face and placed his arm on the wall to support the weight from his upper body, as he leant himself up against it.
"Just everything and nothing. Especially the speech" Alex said and pulled it out from his pocket.
"Don't worry. It's a great speech and Claire will love it" Nick said, trying to calm his brother's nerves.
"I hope you are right mate" Alex said and smiled, while he kept his look on the speech.
"We better go back inside" he said and folded the paper in his hands a few times before putting it back in the pocket. He wasn't sure he would ever get ready to hold the speech, or at least any more ready than he already was, so anytime was as good as now. Alex made a small jump over the wall and dusted the dirt off his hands, before him and Nick went back to the tent.
"Have you told him anything yet?" Tess asked Claire.
"Not yet" Claire said and turned her head to look at Tess and John that was sitting on her lap. "I will, very soon" she continued and felt a warm feeling inside when her nephew smiled at her, and reached out his toy car towards Claire. He was growing so fast, she remembered how she had found it hard to keep track with Charlotte when she was John's age, it felt like it was yesterday she was this little and still keen on cuddling up on her lap.
"If everyone would be seated, the dessert will be out shortly but before that, we have the last speaker of the day ready. The groom!" Terry said from his seat further down in the tent.
"Ups, we better find our seat" Tess said and gave Claire a smile before they both made their way back to their table. Alex could feel the pressure as he got up from his chair and watched how the guests followed his every move. A little voice inside his head was constantly telling him he couldn't do it, that his speech was awful and he would make a fool out of himself - He had the biggest urge to get back on the chair and never do the speech, but then he turned his head to Claire, who was looking at him with her bright blue-greenish eyes and her divine smile. In that moment he knew Claire deserved his speech, deserved to know how he felt, because that wasn't something he was that good at explaining. But neither was Claire, but that was okay, because they know how they felt for each other - but she deserved to actually hear it, coming from him. He pulled out the speech from his pocket and cleared his throat.
"Claire .. " he stopped, and unfolded the last of the paper.
"You are the one person I need more than need. You bring me calmness, love, laughter and joy each day. Every time you are standing in front of me I wanna hold you, and even then it's not close enough.
You have given me the most beautiful daughter in the world, you two are really making my life complete. I couldn't ask for more. It took us years and years to get where we are, some may even say we were blind - I can't speak for you, but I was. I wanted you more than I wanted anything in my whole life, I just didn't see it. But someday I was lucky enough to finally catch a glimpse of the way you've always seen me, looked at me and that was when I knew." He stopped and looked down at Claire. She was still sitting with her beautiful smile, taking in every word he said.
"I knew, that I couldn't live without you. I'm blessed when I see you in jeans and no makeup - but let me just say I have never seen anything quite like you tonight, where I'm blessed to be seeing you in white. Everytime you look at me, I feel like I could die.
I know we are right for each other, cause right is more than right. My feelings are more than feelings, a feeling I can't describe. I will take this moment, surrounded by our family and friends with me. It will forever hold a place in my heart, and guide me through the rough patched like you guide me when life gets tough." He cleared his throat and looked how Claire had to wipe away tears with her napkin. He folded his speech back together and tossed it on the plate, he didn't need a paper for this part.
"When I look into your eyes Claire, as you sit here by my side, I can see my eyes. I feel my heart beating in yours - They are merged together like two perfect pieces that doesn't fit with any other.
Word's isn't always enough to describe what you are feeling - And when I look at you, sitting here looking this beautiful, my words come nowhere near enough.
Claire, I love you more than love and I can't wait to live the rest of my life with you and our beautiful daughter." Alex finished his last words with a shaken voice and he wasn't able to hold back his tears any longer, saying out loud what Claire really meant to him had opened his eyes even more. He loved her, he had always loved her and he wouldn't want to live without her - But in the progress of writing this speech, he had found out what she really meant to him and she was indeed everything. Her and Charlotte were the two most important person in his life, and he couldn't live without them nor would he.
Claire got up from the chair and kissed him on the mouth, a long soft kiss that ended in a warm hug.
"I love you Alex Ryan" Claire said and smiled at him with tears in her eyes and tears rolling down her cheek. A even bigger smile formed itself on his face and they placed themself in their seats once again, to the applause from the guests.
"Do you mind if I go put John down in the spare room?" Tess asked Claire.
"Not at all" Claire said and smiled at Tess and stroke little John's cheek. He was fast asleep in her arms. Claire watched Tess make her way back to the house and turned her head back to Alex the moment Tess was out of her sight. Sitting like this with him was everything to her - She couldn't help but think about his speech earlier and how much she had come to realise they meant to each other. This was the perfect moment to tell him about the pregnancy, but there were too many people around.
"Can we go for a walk?" Claire asked, hoping he would take a short walk around the house or something. It didn't needed to be very long, just long enough for her to share the big news with him.
"You trying to leave me astray are you?" Alex asked with a cheesy smile on his face. Claire frowned at him, he was such a tease sometimes.
"Oh, look who comes here" he said as Charlotte was coming towards them. She crawled on top of Alex's lap and snuggled into his arms.
"You tired angel?" Alex asked and kissed her on the top of the head. Charlotte shook her head, but both Claire and Alex knew she was tired. It was 2 hours past her bedtime and she had been up since 5, it was only natural she was getting tired. Claire smiled and leant in to place some of her hair behind her ear.
"You want mum and dad to tuck you in?" Claire asked and took her hand in hers.
"No" Charlotte said in a firm way and crossed her arms. "I'm not tired" she said and snuggled her head even deeper into Alex's chest.
"It that right?" Alex asked and started to tickle her. She was trying not to laugh and stay upset, but Alex made it really difficult for her.
Tess came back in the tent and made her way over to Alex and Claire, and pulled out a chair to accompany them.
"You look tired" Tess said and stroke Charlotte's cheek.
"I don't want to go to bed" she said and jumped off Alex's lap.
"No? Why not?" Tess asked her niece.
"Just because" she said and began to walk away from them.
"Chaaarlotte" Alex said, trying to get her back. It was way over her bedtime and she should be a sleep.
"Let her go" Claire said. "We only get married once" she continued and smiled at him. She was right, and one night of staying up late wouldn't do much damage.
"About that walk" Claire said and remembered the talk they were having before Charlotte had walked over.
"Guys, gather around the dance floor please. It's time for Claire and Alex's first dance" Terry shouted, making sure everyone heard him. Claire froze, dance, her? No she couldn't do it, not in front of everyone. Alex got up from his chair and took out his hand like a real gentleman, waiting for Claire to take it. She looked at his hand and then at him. "I can't do it" Claire said and looked like she could run out of the tent any minute.
"Claire you have too" Tess said "It's tradition"
"I can't do it. I can't dance in front of everyone. I don't dance" she said.
"Come on, up you get" Alex said and took her hand and forced her on her feets. "Everything is going to be fine, I am the grandchild of a ballroom dancer after all" Alex joked as they made their way onto the dancefloor. Claire was panicking, but his joke had managed to put a smile on her face for a brief second, but as soon as they were standing in the middle of the dance floor with all the people around them, she felt her heart starting to beat fast and she got really nervous. "Relax" Alex said in a soft sweet voice and pulled her in. His big arms felt like a shield that protected her from all the bad things. "Just look at me, forget about the rest - It's me you are dancing with, not them" he said and started to lead them over the floor. They looked so graceful as they swiped over the floor, the look they gave each other really established the love they had for each other - You couldn't even see how nervous Claire was. But that was just one of the things Alex was good at, calming her down and making her nerves go away.
"Hey look at that, you are actually smiling" Alex said and sent her a big smile. Claire let out a small laugh, she was. She felt safe and she had managed to leave out the people around them from her mind. Right now, in this moment it was just her and Alex and the music, nothing more nothing less.
"Alex .. I" she said and looked into his bright blue eyes. "I'm pregnant" she continued with a big smile, making sure to keep his stare. This had felt like the perfect moment to share the news with him.
"What?" Alex said confused, still leading her around the floor.
"I'm pregnant. We are going to have a baby boy or girl" by now Alex had stopped and it looked like he was grasping his head around what Claire had just told him.
"Are you serious right now?" he asked still looking like he was in shock. Claire nodded and bit her lip like she always did, when she was getting a bit shy, nervous or uncomfortable.
"That is the greatest news!" Alex said and a huge smile spread its way from one side of the face to the other. He pulled her in and hugged so hard that he managed to lift her from the ground. Both Claire and him smiled and laughed. "I love you McLeod" he said and took her head between his hands and kissed her.
The guest were clapping at them, thinking their dance was over, not knowing the conversation they had just had.
"It looks like I gained more than her forever today" Alex said and faced the crowd. The guest looked at each other, they didn't quite understand what he was on about. "We are going to welcome another McLeod-Ryan to the family" he said and kissed Claire again. It took a moment before the guests had understood what he was talking about, but when they finally understood it was another baby he was talking about, they all clapped.
Everyone was eager to tell their congratulations to Claire and Alex. It wasn't quite what Claire had had in mind, telling everyone here and now - But Alex looked so thrilled about the pregnancy, she wouldn't want to take his moment of fatherly pride away.
"I thought this day couldn't get any better" Liz said and embrace Claire in a hug with tears in her eyes. She placed her hand on her stomach, which made Claire feel a little uncomfortable. "How far along are you dear?" Liz asked, still with her hand on Claire's stomach.
"It's still early, only a couple of weeks" Claire said and took a step back, to get Liz to take her hand off her stomach. There wasn't even anything to feel or see yet.
"Let's hope we can get a little grandson this time around" Harry said. Alex shook his head, a boy would be great, yes, but it wasn't everything - if they got another girl he would be just as thrilled.
"You just won't settle, won't you?" Alex asked him and watched how Harry put on a cocky smile before him and Liz made their way to mingle with some of the other guests.
"I don't understand why he has to do this!" Alex said and turned his head to Claire. He damn well knew why Harry was in eager to get a grandson from Alex - he wanted someone to run Killarney and of course that was a man's job. Nick had granted him a lovely grandson, but that wasn't enough, because for Harry it was the oldest son who got the farm and that would mean Alex, despite him not being his biological father, he still saw Alex as his own.
"You know how Harry is" Claire said and placed her arm under his "Just let him be." Alex looked at his wife - The word wife still tasted funny on his tongue and he couldn't quite grasp his head around the fact they had given each other their forevers - and smiled.
"Well this was a huge surprise" Nick said as him and Tess came towards them. Nick hugged both Claire and Alex. "I'm really happy for you" he continued and placed his hand around Tess. Alex studied his brother's look to see if he could catch a glimpse of sorrow in his eyes, but he couldn't. Their pregnancy didn't seem to affect neither Tess nor Nick.
"Thanks Nick" Alex said with a genuine smile.
"Oh, that reminds me" Tess said and looked at Alex. "You know the thing you've planned, it's now" she said and looked at Claire with a big smile.
"What?" Claire asked and looked at Alex, then at Tess.
"Oh yes, we better get going!" Alex said and started making his way out of the tent.
"Now hang on a bit. I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what you have planned?" Claire said and placed her hands on her hips. She hated surprises and she hated the fact, that Alex had planned something she didn't know of.
"Come on" Alex said and stopped his walking and looked straight at Claire.
"I've told you - I'm not taking one more step until you tell me what is going on"
"Are you coming or will I have to carry you out of the tent McLeod?" Alex said and started to walk towards her. Claire thought of her options for a few seconds before she started to walk - Neither of the options was appealing to her, but she sure wasn't going to be carried anywhere. The four of them walked outside and made their way to the front of the house, at first Claire didn't see anything out of the ordinary but not long after a beautiful old open horse carriage, appeared from the driveway. The carriage was drawn by one of the most beautiful white horses, Claire had ever seen. The carriage was decorated with flowers and candles, that made it glow all they way up the driveway.
"What is this?" Claire asked, trying to hide the fact she was amazed by it.
"It's going to take us to Gungellan, where our car is waiting for us with our luggages" Alex said with a big smile.
"Luggages? Gungellan?" Claire asked with a questioning tone of voice.
"Look, we know you said you didn't have the time to go on a honeymoon" Tess said and walked closer to the horse carriage. "But, we all thought it was silly not to go, so we planned a little something". Claire looked with a steady look at Tess and then at Alex.
"Will someone mind telling me what all of this is?" Claire hissed.
"When we get to Gungellan, we get in the car and we take a 4 day trip to the coast" Alex said and took Claire's hand. As much as the idea of going away with Alex seemed appealing to her, they couldn't go. There wasn't any time with the horses, the breeding and the daily chores around the place to keep the farm running.
"Alex .. It's a beautiful idea - but, we can't" Claire said "There is too much to be doing here. And what about Charlotte?" she continued.
"We have Charlotte covered" Nick said. Claire smiled at him.
"But it's not just Charlotte - It's the whole place. How are we supposed to get any work done, miles and miles away?"
"You don't have to worry about that, we are all here - and we know what to do" Meg's voice sounded from behind and behind her both Jodi and Becky appeared.
"Guys, it's really sweet of you - but you all have so many other things to look after, and none of you can train the horses" Claire said.
"We'll manage. 4 days is nothing" Becky said.
"And for the horses - I've already talked with all of our contractors to let them know the training, will be falling behind 4 days .. Now, in you get" Alex said and started to push her towards the carriage.
"But we can't just leave like this, what about all of the people in there?" Claire asked and pointed her finger towards the tent.
"Of course you can leave, you HAVE to leave - it's tradition for the bride and groom to disappear out of the blue" Tess said and smiled. "Now, do as your husband is telling you too and get in. But before you do that, I need a hug". Claire smiled at her sister and embraced her in a big hug. "Now, keep BOM 2 safe" Tess said as she pulled away from Claire.
"Don't worry, I'll be watching her every step of the way" Alex said and guided Claire up in the carriage.
"That'll sound about right" Claire said with a frowned look and cheesy smile.
"I can't believe you've done all this" Claire said as they had taken their seat.
"I had a bit of help from Tess and Nick" Alex said and placed his arm around her.
"That's why she had to borrow some clothes from my room, huh? I did find it a bit weird" Claire said and looked back at the 5 of them standing in front of the house.
"How is it possible for me to love you more and more each day?" Claire asked and looked back at Alex. He stroke her cheek and planted a soft kiss on her lips, as he pulled away he placed his hand on her stomach and looked her in the eyes, with all the love he had for her, Charlotte and their unborn child.
The two of them looked so happy, as the carriage drew them away in the clear night sky, the only light that surrounded them was the candles and the bright light from the stars and the moon. During her time here on Drover's, Tess had seen the best and the worst side of it all. There had been good days and bad days - But this was indeed one of the best days on Drover's Run and she knew that many more were to come. She could only wonder what the future would bring them, but one thing was for sure. This was home for everybody around her, including herself and it would always be.
Thank you for all your reads, it's incredible importent to us!
We plan on ending the story here - but please let us know if you guys
want us to continue the story or simply work out a storyline, inspired by this
- Maybe something in the future or a moment from one of the chapters.
Could be anything, let us know with a review if we should!
