Stevenson (1986), 79 N.C.App. 236, 240, 339 S.E.2d 49, (internal citations omitted), affirmed per curiam, 317 N.C. 330, 344 S.E.2d 788; see, also, Helms v. Schultze (2003), 161 N.C.App. 404, 409, 588 S.E.2d 524. Therefore, " 'it must be presumed the parties intended what the language used clearly expresses, and