The Cancun Trilogy, An Erotic Beach Romance (18 page)

“What?!
” Terra said, eyes
wide.

“Kidding.
Yes, for the
hundredth time, I have the ring,” Vicky said, smiling.

“My God,” Terra said, clutching her
chest. “You’re horrible.”

“I know. But it’s fun to be me.
Listen, just enjoy yourself out there. Everyone’s here for you
guys. You’ll never again have so many people throwing their love
your way, so enjoy it.”

“Okay. Thank you, Vik.”

“Um hum,” Vicky said with a knowing
smile as she strolled out.

Anna took Terra’s hand and led her out
to the deck, where Carmine was waiting. “You look gorgeous,” she
said, playfully bumping shoulders with her. “My brother doesn’t
deserve you.” Terra smiled and took a deep breath as she watched
Anna walk off the deck.

Terra looked out over the sand at all
the people gathered. Now it looked like more than a hundred. Much
more. Some were standing, others sitting in chairs or on the sand.
The wood planks made a neat path off the deck to the arbor and
trellises.

Spidey had been right. Though there
were still dark clouds sitting on the horizon, it was a picture
perfect day, warm and sunny, with just a hint of breeze. Remnants
of last night’s bonfire left a pleasant, woodsy smell in the clear,
crisp air.

Terra looked at Nik, standing under
the arbor with the minister. He couldn’t see her yet from where she
was standing. He looked absolutely ravishing in a loose, tan khaki
suit and white, open collared shirt. Terra felt a surge of emotion
so strong it nearly buckled her knees. She never knew it was
possible to feel so much love for someone.

Catching her breath and pushing an
emotional tear away, Terra took her eyes off Nik—and they fell on
Nik’s mom. She was easy to spot with her tall posture and raven
hair, now sitting in one of the chairs at the front. Terra had
hoped, foolishly she realized, that maybe she wouldn’t sit so close
and it would be easier to block her out.

Terra searched for a friendlier face.
She saw Red, who was standing near the back.
Why aren’t you
sitting down
, Terra thought, looking at her. She glanced around
for Soren, and saw him darting around the periphery with two
cameras around his neck, already snapping pictures.

The reggae band from Circle Rock bar
was set up on the sand. On cue, they started the refrain from the
Beatles’
Here Comes the Sun
. Carmine took Terra’s hand and
turned to her. “Ready?” he said.

“For what?” she said, playing
innocent.

“For the rest of your life,” he said
with a grin.

Terra took a deep breath, letting it
out slowly. She nodded to Carmine. They stepped off the porch, onto
the wood planks. The guests turned in unison to look at them as
they started their walk toward the arbor.

When Nik got his first look at Terra,
he was flooded with gratitude. He saw everything he loved and
everything he hoped for walking toward him. Terra looked at Nik,
wanting to run the short distance into his arms. Carmine kept her
at a slow, steady pace. Vicky was right—Terra felt a rush of love
from all the guests as they watched her with open, radiant
faces.

Half way down the wood planks, Terra
saw a blur of crimson off to the side. She looked over and saw Red
drop to one knee, holding her belly, her red hair falling toward
the sand. Nobody else noticed her. Carmine tugged on Terra’s arm,
thinking nerves had caused her to pause. The band was well into the
song now. Everyone’s eyes were on her.

“Wait!” Terra said, loudly. Carmine
stopped, his head swinging toward her.
“Wait!”
Terra said
again.

The band came to a slow, halting stop,
unsure what was happening. A confused look came over everyone’s
faces. Terra broke away from Carmine. Gathering her dress in one
hand, she dashed through the crowd to where Red was
kneeling.

“Red,” Terra said, reaching her.
“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, God, Terra. Nothing, I’m
fine
. Get married! What are you doing?” But as she spoke,
her words trailed off until they were just a whisper.

Carmine arrived, crouching on the
other side of Red. “What’s wrong?” he said. Red tipped to the side.
Terra moved fast, falling to her knees and catching her. Others
were gathering around now. Soren came bursting through. “What’s
happening? Red—are you okay?” he asked, panicked, his cameras
swinging.

Terra heard Nik behind her. “I got
her,” he said in a calm voice, smoothly sliding his hands under Red
and lifting her gently. Nik stood with Red in his arms. “What’s
happening?” Soren continued saying. Red appeared limp.

Wedding guests talked in hushed tones,
unsure how to help. “Take her to the medical clinic,” Terra said as
she stripped off her heels. Guests separated as Nik started running
toward the building, Red’s hair bouncing behind him. Terra ran to
catch up.

Carmine turned the lights on in the
clinic. Most of the equipment was still wrapped. Nothing was
sterilized or set up to receive a patient. Terra hesitated,
thinking maybe they should take her to the house. As she was trying
to figure out what to do, Nik’s mother came in and strode up to
Red, who was still limp in Nik’s arms. She felt the side of Red’s
neck and lifted one of her eyelids.

“Anemia,” she said. “Terra, pull that
bedding over. Quickly.” She pointed to the sleeping bags and
blankets that Terra and Anna slept on the previous
night.

“Maia,” Terra said. “Maybe we
should—”

“I said
quickly
,” Maia snapped,
tying her hair back.

“Shouldn’t we—” Terra stopped,
remembering what Anna had told her, that Maia used to be a nurse.
Terra pulled the bedding out, laying it in the center of the room
like a nest. Nik gently laid Red down in the middle. Maia was
rolling up her sleeves and taking her rings off. “Hot water,” she
said. “Is there hot water in here?”

“Yes,” Carmine said. “It was hooked up
last week.” Red let out a low groan.

“Nikolaos,” Maia said. “Call the local
hospital. Have them send an ambulance. We need supplies. She needs
treatment.”

Nik ran outside to get better
reception on his phone. Carmine followed him. As Nik was getting
the number for the local hospital, Carmine went to Spidey’s tree.
He looked up. Spidey looked down at him, and mournfully made his
barking sound, sorry to give the bad news. Carmine went to Nik, who
was now dialing the hospital. “Rain coming,” Carmine said. Nik
lowered the phone and looked at the sky. Overhead it was still
clear, but the dark clouds had moved off the horizon. Spidey was
never wrong—rain was on the way. “Ambulance won’t make it through
the mud, will it?” Nik said. Carmine shook his head.

Nik ran back into the building. Maia
was on the ground, examining Red, who was moaning and writhing side
to side. “Rain is on the way,” Nik said. “Ambulance won’t be able
to make it on the dirt road when it turns to mud. I can make it on
the motorcycle, though. Tell me what to get.”

Two minutes later, Terra heard the
loud whine of Nik’s motorcycle as he took off. She feared for his
safety. Maia had told him to hurry, so Terra knew he’d ride as fast
as possible.

Maia ran her hand over Red’s abdomen
and talked to her in soothing tones, telling her it was all going
to be just fine, she was in very good hands. Terra had never seen
this side of Maia.

Maia turned to Terra and asked her in
the same soft tone, “Do you have any training?”

“In medicine? No,” Terra said. “I
haven’t started medical school yet. We were going to hire someone
for the clinic.”

“Is there a doctor, or anyone else
here with medical training?” Maia asked.

Terra looked at Carmine, who shook his
head. “No, I don’t think so,” Terra said.

Maia looked squarely at Terra. “Then
it’s me and you,” she said. “Are you okay with that?”

“Yes. Yes, I can help you,” Terra
said. Maia nodded and went back to examining Red.

“We’ll have to work together,” Maia
said. “Wash your hands, and clear everybody else out of here. I
don’t think Nikolaos will be back in time. This baby is coming
early.”

Chapter 12

Nik didn’t make it back in time, and they did deliver a baby.
A beautiful, healthy boy with a head of flaming red hair. The baby
was breached, making for a difficult, painful birth. Maia was a
steady hand, knowing exactly what to do, having Terra sterilize
equipment as she needed it. Terra’s experience was limited, but she
knew enough to realize that Red was in real trouble, and that Maia
may have saved her life. As the two women spent hours working
shoulder to shoulder through the difficult process, they gained a
silent trust and respect for each other.

Red, pale and shaken but stable, drank
coconut juice through a straw as Maia sutured her. Terra sat with
the baby bundled in her arms. She was still in her wedding
dress—now soiled and ruined. Rain drummed the roof. Maia looked up
from her work, locking eyes with Terra. It was the first time Terra
had ever seen Maia smile. Terra heard the far off sound of Nik’s
motorcycle approaching.

By nightfall, the rain was coming down
in sheets. Red had been given folic acid and a vitamin B12
injection that Nik brought back from the hospital. She was resting
comfortably in Nik’s bed, with Soren lying at her side, holding
their baby in a bundle of blankets.

Guest milled in and out of the house,
mostly gathering in the living room. Once everyone was assured that
Red and the baby were okay, the atmosphere changed from concern to
celebration. The food from earlier was unwrapped and laid out. Wine
was opened. More guests came in, shaking off the rain and cramming
into the house.

Terra, exhausted from the emotional
roller coaster, stood in the shower. She could hear voices and
laughter in the house as she let the hot water drill against the
back of her neck and shoulders. Her muscles were stiff and sore,
but she felt good. In fact, she felt great. She kept thinking that
her wedding was ruined, and she should be upset, but she wasn’t.
Helping to deliver Red’s baby was the most amazing experience of
her life. She was filled with the pride and satisfaction that comes
from doing something truly remarkable.

When Terra stepped out of the shower,
she could tell by the noise that more people had arrived. As she
toweled off, Vicky stuck her head in the bathroom door.

“Hey, doctor,” Vicky said.

“Hey, yourself.”

“Good job in there, kiddo.”

“Thanks.”

“Seriously. Rock star
stuff.”

Despite wanting to seem casual, Terra
grinned from ear to ear. “Have you seen Nik?” she asked.

“Not for a while. He was talking to
Carmine, then they disappeared. The house is filling up, fast. It’s
like everyone is cramming in here.”

“Speaking of Carmine,” Terra said to
Vicky’s reflection in the mirror as she brushed out her
hair.

“Yeah?” Vicky said to the ground,
suddenly looking bashful.

“He likes you.”

“Well, I can be quite
alluring.”

“What about you? Another trip to the
rodeo?”

“He’s alright,” Vicky said.

“Just alright?”

“Okay, he might be more than alright.
Maybe a lot more. But I’m trying to play it cool, you
know?”

“Vik, that’s big city stuff. Don’t
play strategy. Just go for it.”

“Oh,
you’re
giving the advice
now? You’re not even married yet, you know.”

“Yeah. I’m not sure how to fix that
one,” Terra said.

“Well, let me know what you come up
with. I already planned one wedding. I’ll try to find
Nik.”

Terra finished in the bathroom and
went into the walk-in closet she shared with Nik. The sounds from
the house were even louder now. She shut the closet door and took
her time dressing, thinking about everything that had happened that
day. She put on a pair of jeans, sandals, and a simple yellow
blouse. She was about to go out and try to find Nik, anxious to
find out what he thought they should do about the wedding, when
there was a soft knock from outside the closet. Terra opened the
door. It was Maia.

“May I have a word with you?” Maia
asked.

“Yes, of course,” Terra said. She came
out of the closet, but quickly realized the noise would make it
hard to talk. “Here, why don’t we go in here,” Terra said, leading
Maia into the closet. “Yes, this is fine,” Maia said. Terra shut
the door.

Terra waited, an awkward silence
spreading between them. Maia looked at the floor as she fingered
the medallion around her neck. “You did very well. You’re going to
be a good doctor. Yes, a very good doctor.”

“Thank you.”

“You are compassionate. This is… This
is very hard for me.” Maia took a breath, looked directly at Terra,
and spoke softly. “I was wrong. About you. And I’m sorry. You gave
up your wedding day to help someone. You showed me your—your true
character. I hope you can forgive me.”