The Time of Her Life: Sister's at Heart Book 1

Chapter Thirty-Two: Alex's Apology

  Annie's POV

   I was walking brusquely down the hall with Louie towards Alex's hospital room, I had no clue what his rush was. I was just so thankful that Alex had finally woke up! It had been four agonizing days since I had last seen his beautiful face, and for a girl in love, that was considered a lifetime.

  So when Louie had come over and demanded we leave immediately, I had no problem with it. I was however, curious as to why we had to rush, but I wasn't complaining. My heart sped up as we reached his door. Louie gave me an encouraging smile and nod, then knocked gently.

   " Come in." I heard Alex's deep warm voice say, and that's all it took. I opened the door and flew into the room, stopping beside his bed to take in his appearance. He was still pretty pale, but the smile he had on his face at the moment, gave his warm green eyes a wonderful shine.

   " Hey" I said a bit shyly. His smile widened, and he patted a spot on the bed next to him. I sat down carefully, trying not to jar him up any.

  " Your fine, really." He said, catching my worried expression. " I'm not glass, I won't break." He chuckled softly. It helped me to relax, hearing his sweet, soft laugh.

   " Why was Louie in such a rush to get me here?" I gave him a puzzled look, and he just grinned. Louie cleared his throat from the doorway.

   " Here's the uh... thing you ask me to pick up Alex" He said, handing him a small box. " I'll just go down the hall to get some coffee, and give you two some privacy." Alex nodded, and they gave each other this silly knowing grin before he left.

   I looked back at Alex, still totally confused. " Did I have to have a reason for wanting to see my girl?" He asked me nonchalantly.I smiled shaking my head, he took my left hand and started playing with my fingers.

  Things were quiet for a moment, before he turned serious. " Annie, I never cheated on you." He started, but I cut him off.

   " I knew she was lying, the moment I was kidnapped Alex. Well honestly somewhere in my heart I knew it all along, but it just hurt at the time." I said smiling softly.

   " Right, well I just wanted to make sure everything was good on that end." He said giving me a relieved sigh. " I love you Annie, I've loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you. Which ironically happened to be the same day that I ended things with Maggie, but at that point it wasn't to get back at her.

  I honestly never had any intentions of hurting her like that." He finished casting his eyes downward for a minute, then looking back to me with tears in his eyes. " I am so sorry that you had to go through any of the things she put you through, or me even. But Annie." He started, grabbing my face in between his warm hands.

   " I. Need. You." He said letting a few tears roll down his cheeks. I was so surprised, yet understood exactly what he was saying, and how he was feeling.

   I nodded, a bit numbly. " I need you too Alex." I said warmly. His face lit up with a huge smile, and I reached up to wipe the tears from his face with my fingers. He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on my lips, and it felt like I had come home.

  His arms belonged around me, and his lips belonged on mine, just like my heart was now his. He pulled back, and sighed contently. " I have one question Annie." He said huskily. I gave him an intrigued look.

   " Did you mean what you said that day on the stair way, you know if we both made it out alive that you expected a proposal?" I laughed, there was definitely nothing wrong with his memory.

   " Yeah I think I remember saying something along those lines." I grinned lovingly at him.

   " Good, because I just so happen to have a ring that I think would look great on the third finger of your left hand." He said opening the little grey box that Louie had given him earlier. A princess cut diamond that was probably a three carat ring set in an antique looking band rested in the box.

  I gasped, " It's beautiful." I said tears falling down my cheeks. He slipped it out of the box placing it on my ring finger, it fit perfectly.

   " It was my grandmother's engagement ring, I hope you don't mind. We can buy you a new one if you'd rather..." I shook my head vigorously no.

   " It fits perfect, I love it." I said, giving him a gentle hug. He pulled back and kissed me tenderly.

   " I cannot wait to make you Mrs. Annie Watkins." His smile was contagious, I loved this man more than anything in the world. He'd been with me from the get go with my Leukemia, and everything else. He was definitely the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with!

******

Alex's POV

   It had been a month since I had been released from the hospital, wedding plans were in the air, Annie wanted a spring wedding so that meant we had three months left to prepare for it. I walked down the long grey corridor, I couldn't believe I was here, but it was something I had to do. Since being saved, I had been trying to deal with all my demons.  And Maggie was one of the biggest ones I had.

 I of course had ask for Annie's permmission first, she thought it was a great idea. So here I was,I sat down in front of the protective glass, and picked up the phone. She looked at me skeptically, before picking up on her end. " What do you want Alex?" She demanded, in a tired voice.

   " I need to ask for your forgiveness." I replied simply. The look of shock on her face was priceless, I knew she hadn't been expecting it.

   " Forgiveness?" She asked bewildered, then she started laughing hysterically. " Your asking me for forgiveness?" I nodded, but remained silent. " Shouldn't that be my place?" She asked, softly, but seriously.

   " Well that's up to you really, but I need it for hurting you to begin with. You see, I didn't lie when I said I was a changed man Maggie. I got saved shortly after getting out of the hospital, but I had been running from the Lord and didn't even realize it.

So you see I need your forgiveness, and to let you know that whether you ask for mine or not, that I forgive you too." The shock that was on her face turned to understanding. We stared at each other, for a long time before she said anything.

   " I don't know what to say..."  She started, " I uh... thank you?" She said it as more of a question, her hardened expression softened. " She really has changed you huh?" She asked. I shook my head.

   " No, Annie didn't change me. She just helped me open my eyes to believe in something again, God changed me Maggie." She nodded, a few tears falling from her brown eyes.

   " You really do love her, don't you?" I nodded, and smiled.

   " We're getting married in three months, but I didn't come here to rub that in your face, I hope you know that?" I replied honestly, the last thing I wanted was to hurt her again. She smiled sadly, and swiped at the tears on her face.

   " Congratulations Alex, I really do wish the best for you both." She said, hastily getting up and motioning for the guard. " Oh and I do forgive you Alex, it's taken me a while to realize that we weren't meant to be together, and some strong medication but I know now." She said, hanging up the phone. She gave me a small wave, which I returned, and she left.

    I walked out of the building feeling a thousand times lighter, like a huge burden was lifted from my shoulders. I skipped to my car, I couldn't wait to get home to my soon to be blushing bride! 

  Author's note: Okay I get that this chapter is short, but it seemed very fitting :) I hope you all enjoy it, and I am currently working on the epilogue, which will be longer than this chapter!

Thanks APdreamgirl :P