That night, April felt like a normal girl. Since she was strip of her youth, she feel like she could start now. Have a new life in England with her son.
During dinner, The Hawthorne's had made her feel welcome and like she was an extended part of their family. The thing that April liked the most about them is that they never treated her like she was incapable of doing or deciding on stuff. At most, they asked for her opinion.
Alex was kinda different too. He was more approachable than before. He would joke around like his parents and that would bring a whole laughter on the table. There wasn't any dull moment at all. Even April cried from too much laughing. She almost wished for this night to never end, but it had to.
When dinner ended, The Hawthorne's bid goodnight while Alex will drive April home. After April said her thanks and goodbyes, she left with Alex.
Theo and Phoebe was still standing by the door, looking as Alex's car drove off.
"What do you think?" Theo looked at his wife and asked her.
"I think April likes our son, I'm sure of this. Our son though, I think he is getting there and just didn't realize it. We might have a change of daughter-in-law in the future dear." Phoebe giggled.
Theo looked at the sky and sighed. Everything is fated. This he believes in. He then ushered his wife back inside.
----
On their way home, Alex and April was silent again. Alex didn't know why it always gets to this, like he didn't know how to open a conversation with a woman. It had been always easy for him before, its seems different with April. He didn't know what type of topic would be appropriate to talk about. While Alex was contemplating, April decided to take a different route.
April didn't want the night to end, she didn't have this much fun before. She knew that this might be the only chance she'll get, to be alone again with Alex.
"Can you not bring me home yet?" She asked Alex.
Alex looked at April, they were currently on a red light. "Where do you wanna go?"
"Anywhere, I don't want to go home yet. Is it okay?" April looked back to Alex. He looked so good today, she thought. She had been secretly admiring him the whole day. That's how Phoebe got the clue about April's feelings.
"Hmm.. okay." Alex looked back at the road and pushed the gas when the light turned green.
April pursed her lips. She didn't know where Alex is bringing her to but she was happy. Happy to be with the one you love, is all that she was asking for. She wasn't greedy. She knew that her and Alex can never be together.
-----
After a 45 minutes silent drive, Alex parked at an Ocean view Villa. It was already almost 9 pm at night.
"Where are we?" April asked as she got down from the car, not waiting for Alex again.
Alex had been wanting to open her door, but she always gets to it faster than he was. He sighed. What's with independent woman? He was raised as a gentleman.
"We're in Brighton and this is my villa. Come." Alex walked ahead to open the door for April. Nobody was currently in this villa. He only let someone to clean it every Monday, its currently Thursday night.
April wasn't surprised with Alex having a Villa in Brighton. Brighton had a very lovely seaside view. This Villa wasn't as big but it was still luxurious. Inside, the villa looked all too white and clean. All the furnitures was modernize.
"Im getting myself some wine, what would you like to drink?" Alex set his keys on the countertop and went to the kitchen.
"Can I have some too? I promise not to drink a lot." April pursed her lips. She wasn't sure if Alex will let her. It was hers and Colm's little secret. It only started when Sky was born, she was able to convince Colm to let her sip some.
"Are you okay with it?" Alex looked back to April, she followed him to the kitchen.
"If you have something light, it'll be fine. I'll only ask for 1 glass and nothing more." She raise her right hand, like she was taking an oath.
Alex chuckled, "Okay. I do have some light ones here. Let me get it." Alex went to get the glasses and their wines. Since he was still going to drive later, he only took one glass for him as well.
April sighed. Success! she thought. She was grinning ear to ear when Alex handed her glass.
"Come, let's go to the balcony. Its prettier out there at night." Alex lead her to the balcony. When April got there, she knew that he wasn't lying. It was really pretty indeed. Though the villa wasn't near the ocean, they could still see and smell the ocean. There were lights everywhere near the beach side. Though it was night already, the night life was just starting.
"Thanks for bringing me here. It looks lovely." April took a sip of her wine and sighed. It tastes good, no doubt it was an expensive one.
"No problem, I thought you would like it as well." Alex nodded towards the view. He always like the ocean, it calms him down at times that he and his wife had an argument. This place is somewhat his hiding and favorite place. His wife hated this place though, she said it smelled like fish.
Alex looked at April, she was admiring the view in front of her. The night lights makes her brown eyes sparkling and her hair was being blown by the ocean breeze. April look dazzling tonight, he thought. He then noticed April's body was slightly shivering, he forgot that she didn't have any coat on. Alex made the gentleman move by taking off his coat and putting it on her.
"We don't want you to get sick out here." Alex chuckled to cover his nervousness.
April didn't know that she was cold until Alex gave his coat to her. "Thanks Alex." She held his coat like it was him. She could smell his body scent on it and It was warm like Alex was hugging her. She blushed. April drunk the whole glass, her thoughts was getting wild again.
"Hmm.." Alex sipped his wine and was stunned when he saw April drunk the whole glass. "Are you thirsty? I could get you some water." Alex set his glass down and was about to head inside.
Without thinking, April stopped Alex from going in by grabbing his arm. "No, I'm alright. Thanks. Just wanted to get my insides warm too." She smiled to Alex. The wine she drunk was light but she could still feel a warm sensation inside her stomach.
Alex looked at her hand, her hand was cold as ice. He grabbed her empty glass and set it down next to his. He then grabbed her two hands, both of it was cold.
"Why didn't you say you were cold?" Alex rubbed them together with his, to build friction on it.
"I.. I didn't notice." April's face was turning red. She looked at Alex's worried face. It not like she was fragile. She pulled her hands off his.
"It's alright, I can do it." She then rubbed her hands together and blow hot air on it.
Alex wasn't prepared to get rejected. He thought that it was only appropriate to act like gentleman. He already forgotten that April was a special case. She didn't like any kind of physical touch. He was just shocked earlier when she touch his arm herself.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." Alex rubbed his neck and grabbed his wine glass again.
April looked at Alex, why did it sounded like he was mad at himself? It wasn't that she didn't like him touching her, it was the opposite. Her heart was beating too fast, she was afraid that he would hear it. That's why she pulled her hand away from his. Did I hurt him somehow?