Chapter 51
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Alex
AFTER TYPING, DELETING, AND retyping my response to Rose, I finally gave in and headed to her hotel. There were so many things I needed to say to her, and I couldn’t convey it in an email. I was taking a chance of having her slam the door in my face, and I was okay with it. She said she needed time, and I was willing to give it to her, but I needed to see her and make sure she was okay after her meeting. I stepped off the elevator taking in the room numbers, stopping and tapping on door number 407 while prepping myself for her rejection. After a few seconds that seemed more like hours, she finally answered.
“Alex?” she whispered with her head resting on the doorframe. “How did you know where I was?”
“Marisa kinda told me. You can tell me to leave, go to hell, or whatever it is you’re thinking right now, but I just need to know if you’re okay.”
Much to my surprise, she opened the door farther and allowed me inside. I cautiously took the first step in. Her puffy eyes were encompassed in dark circles, and her face masked with exhaustion and worry.
“I know, I look horrible,” she remarked.
“No, you don’t. Not at all. You just look tired.”
She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I was actually gonna call you,” she whispered. “I met with Phillip York earlier.”
“I know.”
“How do you know?”
“My uncle said he called him for your number. I told him he shouldn’t have given it to him, and it was only going to make matters worse.”
“Actually, it didn’t. It kind of helped me put things in perspective.” Taking a seat on the bed, she tapped on the mattress for me to sit next to her. “I needed to hear his side of the story, and I’m glad I did,” she continued once I sat down. “They were in love, and he was willing to take a chance at losing everything for her, but she wouldn’t allow it. He says he didn’t even know she was pregnant with me until she was eight months along. I know that still doesn’t make up for him not being a part of my life, but I’m not sure if I really wanted him to be. Despite everything that’s happened, my mother and father loved me. They gave me a good life…maybe too good, and that’s why I turned into that bratty, spoiled person you hated so much.”
“You’re nothing like the person I once thought you were. In fact, you’re the exact opposite.”
“You know, even though I acted like I did toward you at first, I never really hated you for feeling that way about me. In fact, I think I admired you. You were the first person who ever made me take a step back and take a good look at myself, and I think that’s what I needed. I realize now that life isn’t all about money and material things, and I have you to thank for that. My aunt let the love of her life walk away when she was pregnant with his child, and given the circumstances, I don’t know if I blame her.” Her warm, soft hand covered mine and her deep brown eyes set into me. “And I almost let the love of my life walk away over some stupid petty joke.” Her voice wavered before continuing. “I love you, Alex. I was afraid to say it out loud to you before because I knew if I did, it would be real, and it would hurt so much worse if something were to happen between us. But I realize now, whether you say it or not, you still feel it deep inside, and it hurts just the same.”
“Rose, you know I’m sorry for not telling you, and I could apologize to you a million times more, but unless you’re able to trust me that it will never happen again, then all the apologies don’t mean a thing.”
“I know.” She nodded. “I sat there today, staring at this stranger who resembled me in so many ways, and through him, I realized what matters most.” She nervously bounced her leg up and down, and I gently placed my hand on her thigh to stop her. “I don’t want to be my aunt Kate.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I need to tell you something, and I don’t want you to get freaked out or angry, but it’s something you need to know.” She drew a deep breath and her eyes lit up with emotion. “I’m pregnant.”
I stared at her blankly, certain I didn’t hear her right as she continued to ramble on.
“I was on the pill, but stupid me didn’t realize when you get sick with the flu and are throwing up nonstop for days, you should really use a backup method. I mean, how dumb of me. I can tell you anything you want to know about being pregnant. Turns out, I should have become more educated on—”
I grabbed her face and kissed her, putting a halt to her nervous chattering. This was the biggest shock of my life but also the happiest one. I never thought much about having kids. I thought maybe someday it might happen, and now was that someday. Our kiss ended, and my forehead pressed against hers.
“I was so scared you weren’t going to be okay with this. I don’t want you to think I tried trapping you because, I swear, that’s not what happened.”
“Rose, stop. I’m better than okay with this.”
“So, you want this baby?”
“I want our baby, and I want you. I love you, Rose, and it doesn’t get any realer than that.”
She smiled and threw her arms around me, suddenly bursting into tears, allowing all the bottled-up emotion from the past twenty-four hours to come to the surface.
“I have to go see my aunt,” she whispered through her sobs. “Will you come with me?”
“I will, but first lie down and get some rest. You’re exhausted.”
We lay down on the bed, and I pulled her close. She rested her head on my shoulder, and it wasn’t too long until she was fast asleep in my arms. I placed my lips on the top of her head, measuring each breath she took.
Before Rose came in my life, I thought it was over. My dreams had been crushed. I was no longer a Marine—I was a failure. Now, I realized it was just a chapter of my life that had come to an end. The real story was about to begin, and I was so excited to start it with this beautiful woman lying beside me and my child who was growing inside of her.