Chapter 57 Your name
It was Aislin's name giving party. The sun was shining. Kate had made some nice Italian snacks and everything was set on the veranda of Drovers. It was just a few days after Stevie, Alex and Aislin had come home and the parents had tried to keep the name a secret and they had been pretty successful till the moment Rose had arrived and picked up her baby sister, of course calling her name.
'I'm sorry mum', Rose said when they were preparing to get to the veranda. 'It's okay', Stevie smirked. She watched her two daughters, Rose holding Aislin. She could look at it forever. Alex kissed Stevie on her cheek. 'So my ladies, ready to reveal the big secret?!' He grinned, obviously teasing Rose about her 'mistake'. 'You gonna tease me with that the rest of my life, will you Alex?' Rose said, slightly annoyed. 'Yes', he showed a huge smile. 'Well let's get outside.'
Rose kept holding Aislin in her arms, while Stevie and Alex were holding each other close, facing their friends who were gathered together. Alex coughed to get every one's attention. 'Before we get to the champagne, I have a few words to say. We're thankful for you all to come to our daughter's name giving party. I wanna thank my stepdaughter to be, Rose, for blurting out her name in front of everyone. That takes a load of my shoulders', he jokingly said, winking at Rose. Stevie rubbed his back, hoping he would continue his speech, otherwise she would take over.
Alex looked down at her, holding his tongue for another moment so she would continue rubbing his back. When she noticed that stupid grin on his face she poked him. 'I think my lovely fiancée wants me to continue', Alex said, causing laughter from the rest. 'Well, I think as this moment I'm the happiest man alive. I have a wonderful fiancée, if she doesn't poke me, a great daughter to be, Rose and a beautiful daughter. May I introduce you to the best thing that ever happened to me, besides of course the woman, which made it all possible ...', Alex grinned again, '... Aislin Louise Hall-Ryan!'
Everyone started to clap. 'Can we now open the bottle of champagne?' Marcus shouted. 'I need a drink!' Riley yelled right after. 'Boys, wait', Alex calmly showed his hand palm. 'Especially you Marcus, but first I will give my fiancée some speech time.' 'Well thank you, my fiancé', Stevie had to laugh, glad Alex wasn't acting too serious about this whole thing. She took a moment before staring to talk. 'Aislin is our dream, in many ways. It isn't any wonder that her name means dream in Gaelic.' The crowd finished that line with an 'awwww', before Stevie continued. 'I think we both never could have expected her to be this perfect, and even not waking us up last night.' 'She did', Regan said quickly, 'but I went to her.' Stevie laughed. 'Okay, Auntie Regan makes us believe our daughter is perfect. Well, Louise is her second name and it refers to Claire, our dear friend.'
Alex nodded. 'So we're coming to the last part, before this party will really get started. We would like to ask Marcus and Regan to be the Godfather and Godmother of our little Aislin, so what is your answer to that?' Regan and Marcus were standing closely together, Marcus' arm around his girlfriend who smiled sweetly at him, before they both agreed excited. 'Nice! And with that I would say, Pat hand me the champagne!'
Some time later Regan gave Stevie a tight hug. 'There is just on other thing I have to ask you Regan', Stevie said, while Regan finally let go. Her friend gave her a questioning look. 'You know Alex and I are going to get married, and that will be pretty soon. And as you have always been there for me, never judged my feelings for him or my actions', Stevie showed a funny look, being serious at the same time. 'Would you be my best woman?' 'What?' Regan mouth was wide open. 'You're kidding?' Regan held her hands on her friend's shoulders and gave her a look if Stevie had gone crazy. 'Of course not!' 'But I thought Rose would be.' 'Well she will give me away, but I want you to do the hard work', Stevie laughed. 'So?' 'I would love to!'
Alex had changed a glass of champagne for a bottle of beer. He had been chatting with Marcus and Riley, and as Riley finally had left the conversation, Alex rubbed his boot in the sand in front of the veranda. Slightly nervous what to say, so he just went for the direct way. 'So Marcus, I am looking for a best man. So would you like to have the honor?' 'The what?' Marcus asked surprised. 'The honor, well at least I hope you would feel it an honor to be my best man.' 'Well, yeah of course mate, it would be an honor', Marcus said, giving Alex a soft punch on his arm. Alex smirked. 'Great mate. It will be great!'
Marcus raised his bottle of beer to toast. 'May I ask if there is a maid of honor?' Alex grinned and nodded. 'I think you will be pleased with Stevie's choice.' 'Good!' They both took a swung of their beer. 'Can you believe last time I asked Stevie?', Alex said to Marcus, though his eyes were looking at Stevie on the veranda, laughing with Rose and Regan, while she held her baby girl. 'You did?' 'Yeah, yeah, call me a fool. Now I get why that didn't really work out that well.' Marcus laughed, turning her face to see what had caught Alex' eyes. 'You're a lucky man Alex.' 'I know, I know.'