After a delightful lunch, Alexander led her to a car waiting for them. In twenty minutes they drove over to the iconic Sonoran Desert where they embarked on a guided tour in a 4-person ATV that Alexander had booked only for themselves. Accompanied by a guide, they traveled through giant Saguaro cacti, and deep canyons carved by flash-flooding rains while learning about the plant life, wildlife, and stories of the Native Americans who lived there. With Alexander’s arm behind her seat, cocooning her, Eva was lost in the experience of a lifetime! She could spend a lifetime in his company if only he would allow her! They soaked in the breath-taking views of the Agua Fria River and its valley, “Wow, deer!” gasped Eva, spotting a herd of deer a little further up the creek crossing. “Yes, ma’am. You can spot coyotes, bobcats, deer, rabbits, quails, and even rattlesnakes here,” informed the driver. True to his words, in the next 3 hours, they spotted almost all of them. The driver dropp

Alexander unlocked the cottage and just as Eva had expected, it opened into a small living area with a bedroom at the backside. “Where will I sleep?” she gasped, staring at the queen-sized double bed with concern. “I can sleep in the car if you want me to. Sorry, this was all I could get. The place is full-booked for a wedding.”“No need to sleep in the car. You’ll get cramps,” she said, walking inside to inspect the place. There was no sofa where she could sleep. “There’s a patio outside. I’ll ask Mrs. Morris for a mattress and sleep there. You can use the bed,” he said, opening the door and walking out. Eva came to her senses and caught his hand to stop him. She wouldn’t be able to sleep after throwing him out. “No, you can sleep on the bed as long as you stay on your side,” she whispered, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Did she look like a desperate teenager eager to sleep with her first crush? “I’m just concerned for your health since you’ll be driving for the next coupl

The sun was about to set when they drove over to the Dead Horse Ranch State Park after visiting the nearby Tuzigoot National Monument. Although Alexander had come here before, watching the awestruck look on Eva’s face satisfied his soul. It was indeed worth the effort he took of collecting their dinner from the nearest Red Rock Grille and negotiating with the staff here for an overnight stay. Eva gasped with amazement at seeing the scenic Verde River with its three lagoons gushing alongside the campsite. Were they camping here? Would she sleep in a camp with him? A million questions flashed across her head, but Alexander drove further ahead, away from the campground to the log cabin circle tucked behind trees. It was a perfect haven, far from all the chaos. Eva’s eyes widened further at seeing the tiny one-room log cabins that looked half the size of the one they stayed in last night. It only meant one thing! The bed would be smaller than the one they slept in last night! Neverthele

The next morning Alexander woke up early, feeling warm and nicely refreshed. Although he had a tough time restraining himself initially, it turned out to be the best sleep of his life, far better than the one at the ranch. Their confessions last night cleared a lot of ambiguities and got them closer instead. He felt nicer that he had admitted to her he cared for her. It wasn’t a feeling he developed overnight. His feelings for Eva were deeply etched in his heart since the time they were young. He used to care for her the most among all of Alyssa’s friends. Why? He didn’t know the reason himself. Confused by the intensity of his feelings for her, he always refrained from approaching her yet even after a decade, those feelings persisted, only deeper than ever before. He sighed, not wanting to go into their depths again. It was confusing why he cared so much for a single person who wasn’t even related to him by blood. He never desired Beatrix in his four years of engagement, yet one look

Alexander’s phone buzzed with an incoming call from his mom and the magical moment was lost immediately. He groaned but couldn’t avoid the call. Nodding at her, he got up and walked away towards the balcony to take the call. “Yes, mom.” “Where are you, Alexander? Daniel isn’t well and we need to return immediately,” said his mom, her tone strained and worried. It immediately alerted Alexander, bringing him back to reality. “What happened to dad?” he asked with worry. “He has been coughing up phlegm for the last three months. He doesn’t have any appetite and his weight has reduced considerably. Recently he has been suffering from shortness of breath too. I think we need to go for a proper check-up when we reach home. We’re at the airport now. Our flight is in an hour. When are you coming home?” “I’ll be there in a day or two. Will you wait for me or take him to Columbia Superspeciality Hospital?” asked Alexander, understanding the gravity of the situation. He knew he had to cut sh