Chapter 30 Alexandra Moves On
Evan was inseparable from the mountain valley that had remade her. He was in the whisper of wind through pines, the steadfast gaze of the horses, and the unconditional affection of his two small dogs. That world had drawn her out of her old Pittsburgh self, revealing a strength and a connection to nature she never knew she possessed. Yet, within this new version of Alexandra, the old promise to her fiancé, Cameron, seemed even more essential.
The irony was sharp and painful. The very clarity and self-possession she had gained in Evan’s world was what now compelled her to leave it. The old Alexandra might have been swept away by her feelings, but the new one was bound by her word. She had been changed by the one thing she was now forced to abandon. With grim determination, she pressed onward toward Phoenix, the highway unfolding before her like an unwritten future.
As the suburbs of Phoenix bled into the skyline, logic became her shield. She began constructing a narrative where this was the right, sensible choice. She and Cameron were better suited; they shared a history, a social circle, a life plan. This detour with Evan hadn't been a mistake, but a test that had made her a better person, someone more resilient. They could have the children they’d discussed and settle into the life they always intended. Glendale had mountains nearby, she reasoned. Perhaps there were even horses. She could blend her new self with her old life, creating the best of both worlds.
Navigating from I-17 onto Loop 101, she pulled into another convenience store, the engine finally falling silent. It was time. Taking out her phone, she dialed Cameron’s number, a nervous energy buzzing beneath her practiced calm.
“Hello, babe,” he answered, his voice a familiar comfort.
“Hi, honey,” she managed, forcing a smile. “What are you up to?”
“Just finishing up some work before heading home,” he said. “Long day. Figure I’ll grab some takeout, pop open a beer, and I’ll be golden.”
This was her opening. “I have a better idea,” she said playfully. “Why don’t you come get me, and we can go out to dinner?”
He laughed. “Nice thought, babe, but unless you’ve mastered teleportation, that’s not very practical.”
“Actually,” she began, biting her lip to contain a nervous giggle, “you won’t have to go that far. I’m in Phoenix.”
The line went silent for a beat. “You’re where? At the airport? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I’ll head there right now.”
“I’m not at the airport,” she said, enjoying his shock.
“Then where are you?”
“I’m at a Maverick station, right off Loop 101 and I-17.”
Another pause, this one longer and filled with confusion. “How did you…? Did you rent a car? I could have picked you up.”
“I didn’t rent a car,” she replied softly. In the stretching silence that followed, as she knew he struggled to connect the dots, a new realization dawned. The woman who had just driven across the country by herself was a stranger to him. He couldn’t even conceive of it. After a moment, she took pity on him. “Just come get me, okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” he stammered, his voice still reeling. “I’m on my way. Where was that again?”
“Loop 101 and I-17. The Maverick.”
“Okay,” he said. “I can be there in about fifteen minutes.”
Fifteen minutes. She leaned her head back against the seat, the reality of her decision settling in. It was one thing to surprise him; it was another entirely to see if he would recognize the woman who had arrived.
"Don't rush too much," she cautioned, her voice laced with affection. "While I'm eager to see you, please, don’t do anything dangerous."
He scoffed, a playful glint in his eyes. "Me? Dangerous? I laugh in the face of danger!" A villainous chuckle escaped him.
"Yes, you're still adorable," she relented, a smile tugging at her lips. "But I'm serious. Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."
"Understood," he replied, the playful tone softening. "On my way."
"See you in a bit," she said, ending the call. As the screen went dark, her own words echoed in her mind: "I'm not going anywhere." A resolute determination settled within her. For days, she'd grappled with the truth of that statement, but now, with her decision made, she would make it a reality.
Later, seated across from Cameron in a restaurant, he marveled, "I still can't believe you drove all this way by yourself." It was the tenth time he'd voiced his astonishment since their reunion.
"There's a lot about me you wouldn't believe, Cameron," she replied, a subtle hint of her past with Evan lingering just beneath the surface, a secret she guarded fiercely. She pushed the memory away. "I've grown. I can be independent, responsible even. I doubted myself, not sure if I could make this drive alone. But I did it. It's an accomplishment I'm proud of."
"And you should be," Cameron agreed, his eyes shining with pleasure at her presence. "So, tell me, are you driving back, or leaving your car here and flying home?"
A knowing smile spread across her face. "That's another surprise. I'm not going back. I quit my job, packed everything into a moving truck, and came here to stay."
"A moving truck?" he repeated, bewildered. "You beat it here? How fast were you driving?"
She giggled, a sound of pure delight. "Cameron, you do realize you can schedule when the truck makes its delivery, right?"
"You can?" His eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes," she confirmed, reaching for his hand. His charming naivete always melted her. "It should be here tomorrow, I think." The moving truck had completely slipped her mind. She'd intentionally scheduled its arrival a week after her own, wanting time to settle in. Perhaps fate had a hand in it all. If she'd lingered any longer in Colorado, she might have missed her chance, and everything with Cameron could have ended in disaster. A wave of gratitude washed over her as she reflected on how perfectly things had unfolded. Her luck and her new life were lining up.
"Then you arrived just in the nick of time," he exclaimed. "You do have a few surprises up your sleeve, don't you? I never would have imagined you handling something like this on your own. You've always been smart, but you never seemed to take on big responsibilities. This is a good change. I like it."
"In that case," she declared with a laugh, "I'm ordering dinner tonight."
"My pleasure," he responded, his smile radiant. He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
Just as she opened the menu, her phone chimed. Laura’s name flashed on the screen. A week without their daily calls was unusual. "It's Laura," she announced, answering the call. "Hey, how's it going?"