Lulu's Loves (15 page)

I was more interested in the deck off the living room. It looked out to the water with more of the colorful bougainvillea framing the amazing view. There was a small pool, just off our villa, that Anwar explained was shared with the two villas in our grouping. Ours was at the east end. I was anxious to sit there and watch a sunrise.

When he showed us to the bedroom, there was a canopy bed draped with sheer fabric curtains that could enclose the bed. There were tropical flowers everywhere in the room. The doors to the deck were open and a breeze fluttered the curtains in a fairy-like dance. Our bags were in the corner.

I turned and Thom was watching me with a big smile. “This is beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here.”

Anwar left, telling us if we needed anything to call him. Once he was gone, Thom came to me, pulling me into his arms. I leaned closer for a kiss.

“Thank you for joining me. I’ve wanted to come here for a long time, but it never seemed like a place to come alone. I wanted to experience this with someone who’d appreciate it
with
me. I can’t wait to explore with you.”

That evening we went to the dining room at the resort. Anwar recommended that we ask for an outside canopy table. We were led to a two-person table in an open cabana. Soft music played in the background, though the sound of the waves rolling onto the beach was music as well. There was a breeze from the water making it more pleasant. Thom ordered wine and the conch fritters, that Anwar suggested, to begin our dining experience.

“I’ve read and researched this for months,” Thom explained.

Anytime we went anywhere he’d done the same, ‘so we don’t waste time figuring it out.’

“I have kayaks on reserve for the morning. If the weather is good we’ll paddle around the bay.”

“Perfect! These are a little spicy,” I said taking a bite of the fritter.

“You like it spicy.” I looked up as he said the words and found him grinning. “I adore you, Lulu.”

He reached across the small table and took my hand, his thumb rubbing my fingers in a soft caress.

“I love you.”

We dined by tiki torches on grilled grouper, atop grilled onions with a spicy Creole sauce, served with beans and rice. The side dish had us giggling over our experience during our trip to Savannah early on. Later, Thom ordered a bowl of black pineapple torte that we shared.

“Black pineapple is grown here. It’s supposed to be the sweetest pineapple grown,” Thom explained before we had a bite.

“Oh, mmm,” I moaned as I took the first bite.

“Stop it,” he chuckled, and I grinned.

That night, we made love. It was honestly the most passionate, romantic lovemaking we’d ever shared. My heart beat only for this man. I couldn’t imagine ever being happier.

Thom’s alarm woke us early and we dressed for our kayak excursion. When we arrived, the guide was waiting.

“Peter,” he said and extended his hand to Thom. “We’re waiting on one other couple.”

“The sunrise here is amazing,” I noted, as I sat down on the sand to appreciate it.

At last, another couple came scurrying toward us, apologizing for being late. We got in the kayak and the guide led us along the edge of the bay. As we paddled, he pointed out the mangroves. We saw an area that was roped off.

“We’re constantly replanting in order to keep the ecosystem intact,” he explained.

We saw pelicans and bright colored birds hiding in the greenery that the guide pointed out. I heard a splashing sound and turned to look.

“Oh my! Look!” I called out, softly.

Everyone turned to see what I was pointing to. There were three dolphins about a hundred yards to our east. The guide pulled out binoculars and smiled.

“That would most likely be the trio we call Curley, Moe, and Larry,” he laughed. “They like to put on a show when they find us. Watch.”

First one, then another, and finally, the third dolphin took turns coming up so that we could see them. It was a special treat.

We’d been out about an hour and I noticed that the other woman seemed annoyed.

“Everything all right?” the gentleman accompanying her asked.

I heard her reply, “I didn’t think to bring a hat and my neck is scorching.”

“Thom, paddle closer to them,” I said over my shoulder.

“Lulu,” I said, as we approached and took the canvas floppy hat from my head. “Wear this to keep the sun away. I’ll be fine. If I start to feel like I need protection, I’ll steal Thom’s hat.”

As we paddled away, Thom leaned forward. “That was awful sweet of you.”

“I’m a sweet girl,” I laughed.

“In all the right places,” he taunted and I accidently, on purpose, skimmed the water with my paddle in a way that the water splashed him.

“In reality, I didn’t want her misery to ruin our morning,” I whispered, leaning back. Thom snickered and leaned forward to kiss my neck.

We paddle for another hour and headed back to the resort.

“This was great!” I shouted, and threw my arms around Thom’s neck.

“Wait until you see what we’re doing tomorrow!” he laughed.

I saw the lady I’d given my hat to approach us.

“This was awfully kind of you.” She had an accent that sounded English, but I couldn’t be sure. “I don’t know what I was thinking not bringing one. It was an enjoyable excursion because of your kindness.”

“It was nothing, really. Besides I like stealing his hat,” I laughed.

“Thom Miller,” he said. “You’ve met Lulu.”

“Cecily and Myron White,” she said as her husband approached. “We’re vacationing from Wales.”

“We’re here from the U.S., Florida and South Carolina. Enjoy the rest of your stay,” I replied.

We waved and Thom took my hand leading me quickly away. “I was afraid they’d want to hang out or something. Keep walking,” he whispered. “I don’t want to share you. After we clean up, Anwar has a golf cart for us to take to the market. We’re eating in tonight.”

We rode the golf cart to an outside market with fresh local produce, including some of the black pineapple. They had shrimp aplenty, and Thom had them pack some on ice for our return to the resort.

When we returned, we swam in the pool. It didn’t appear that anyone occupied the other two villas. It was nice being able to share it alone.

Later, Thom prepared the shrimp and we enjoyed them shrimp cocktail style on our deck with fresh veggies and a dip Thom whipped up. We drank wine and took pleasure in the evening.

When we went in for the night, Thom sliced the pineapple and placed the slices in a heated skillet, just long enough to caramelize the edges. It was wonderful.

“What an awesome day,” I told him, as I snuggled into his arms.

“Go to sleep,” he whispered in my ear. “We have to get up early. Tomorrow we’re going sailing.”

Wrapping his arms around my naked body, I drifted off to the heavenly peace I always found in his arms.

At six the next morning, we met Anwar. He drove us to another part of the island, promising to return by six that evening.

“Good morning. Captain D.J. Barnes at your service! Come aboard! I’ve got everything ready. We’ll sail out to watch the sunrise continue over the mountain.” He reached for my hand. Once I was aboard, Thom handed me our bags.

Captain D.J. Barnes was a gentleman in his mid to late sixties. He was tan, and his hair was blond from the sun.

We began under motor because he wanted us to experience the sunrise. A woman appeared from below and handed us glasses.

“Mimosas,” she explained. “I’m the first mate. He can be the captain if he wants, everyone knows the first mate is the important one,” she laughed.

“My wife, Kellie,” the captain explained with a grin.

“Lulu Welk and Thom Miller.” Thom slipped his arm around my shoulder. I noticed, the captain grabbed his binoculars quickly and rose to look.

“Curley, Moe, and Larry?” I asked, noticing the three dolphins.

“Ah, you’ve met our local celebrities,” Kellie laughed.

At last the captain shut the motor down, and we sat in the quiet watching the dolphins and the sun, as it made itself known to us.

“Beautiful,” I said.

Twenty minutes or so passed as we watched a kiss of gold on the horizon become a full sun that peeked over the top of the mountain. Kellie and the captain raised the sail and we began our day. Once we were under way, Kellie went below and returned with a basket of muffins and a pitcher, adding to our glasses.

We sailed around the bay for a couple of hours and finally, the captain found a spot where we dropped anchor. There was an island just to the east.

“The tide is right so that we can walk to the island for lunch,” Kellie stated.

Thom helped me off the boat and the captain helped Kellie. Thom helped hand the bags over the side while Kellie and I made our way to the island.

“It’s beautiful!” I said as she popped an umbrella tent and handed me a blanket to spread. Thom and the captain approached as Kellie spread things out on the blanket.

“You’ve got a couple hours to do whatever you choose before the tide change forces us to scurry on,” the captain said.

I noticed that there was only two of everything. “Wait,” I said. “You’re not staying?”

“We’ll be on the boat,” Kellie answered.

“Won’t you stay and tell us about the island? Share the lunch and wine?” Thom suggested.

I think sometimes he can read my mind.

“This is your time to enjoy,” Kellie said.

“I think we’d enjoy you joining us,” I told them.

“If you’re sure,” the captain said. “No one has ever invited us to join them. Couples usually want to be alone.”

“We can be alone at the villa. We’d like to hear about your island,” Thom added.

The captain and Thom returned to the boat to get some more things. When they returned to the island, we sat in the sun with a picnic of meats, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

“All local,” Kellie informed and opened a bottle of champagne. The captain told us that he was an optometrist in Miami, and one day decided he hated that life. He sold his practice and his home, and at age thirty-three, an unmarried man, he came to Antiqua. A pleasure sailor, he bought a small sailboat and began doing day charters. Kellie was on one of the charters and they struck up a conversation.

“We married six weeks later and we’ve been doing this together ever since,” she said with a bright smile.

Thom told ‘our story.’ I loved hearing his version of me capturing his heart.

The day was pleasant. The sail back to the end of our day went by too fast.

Thom slipped his arm around my shoulder and whispered. “I was going to make wild crazy love with you on that beach.”

I turned so quickly to look at him, I swear I almost got whiplash.

“Priceless.” He smiled and tucked a strand of hair that was blowing in the breeze behind my ear. “I love that surprised look. It was a beautiful day shared with good people. I’ll make wild crazy love when we get back to the villa.”

“Were you serious about making love on the beach?” I asked when we returned.

“No. We’d have had to go in the bushes for them not to see us and I know you don’t like bugs,” he laughed.

We spent the rest of our time in beautiful Antiqua riding bikes and being tourists. Each night we made the wild crazy love that Thom promised.

June 2001

Back to reality, and boy did things get real. Six weeks after our trip, I had a bout of nausea that threw me into a tailspin. After thinking about it, I realized that I hadn’t had my period. In a panic, I stopped after work to purchase a pregnancy test kit. There were two sticks. I peed on one immediately: positive.

Oh dear God, I can’t be pregnant. I’m on birth control! I grabbed the pill pack. All were accounted for. I’m not ready for a child! But Thom? We’ve never talked about any of this. I know he loves me. Our relationship seems to be working for us. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?