Chapter 29: Paradise
The Arrival
The sea was impossibly blue.
Jay pressed her face against the small plane window, staring down at the Maldives spreading beneath them like a dream. Tiny islands ringed with white sand. Water so clear she could see the coral reefs. Palm trees swaying in perfect postcard perfection.
"Keifer, look.
Look at the water.
It's not real.
It CAN'T be real."
He leaned over her shoulder.
His warmth against her back.
His lips near her ear.
"It's real, Mrs. Watson.
All of it.
For you.
For us."
She turned.
Found those storm-gray eyes.
Soft.
Happy.
Hers.
"We're really here.
On our honeymoon.
In the Maldives.
This is our life now?"
He kissed her nose.
"This is our life now.
Get used to it."
She grinned.
"Best. Life. Ever."
---
The Seaplane
They landed on the water.
Small seaplane.
Just them and the pilot.
Landing gear replaced by floats.
Splashing down like something from a movie.
A boat waited.
Sleek.
White.
Private.
Crew members helped them aboard.
Smiling.
Welcoming.
"Mr. and Mrs. Watson.
Welcome to paradise."
Jay grabbed Keifer's arm.
Whispered.
"They know our names.
Is that normal?
Is this normal?"
He whispered back.
"This is our honeymoon.
Nothing is normal.
Everything is extraordinary."
She laughed.
"Extraordinary.
I like that."
He kissed her forehead.
"You're extraordinary.
This is just the setting."
---
The Overwater Villa
The boat stopped at a private dock.
Extending from a villa.
Sitting over the turquoise water.
Surrounded by nothing but ocean and sky.
Jay stepped onto the dock.
Stared at the villa.
At the water below.
At the horizon beyond.
"Keifer...
This is...
This is..."
"Ours," he finished.
"For the next two weeks.
Just us.
Just this."
She turned to him.
Tears in her eyes.
Happy tears.
Always happy tears now.
"I don't know what to say.
This is too much.
Too beautiful.
Too perfect."
He cupped her face.
"Nothing is too much for you, Jay.
You deserve everything.
Every beautiful thing.
Every perfect moment.
Every bit of paradise."
She kissed him.
Deep.
Grateful.
Loving.
"I love you, Mr. Watson."
He kissed her back.
"I love you too, Mrs. Watson.
Now.
Let's explore our home for the next two weeks."
---
The Villa Tour
Inside was even more beautiful.
Floor-to-ceiling windows.
Glass panels in the floor.
Water rushing beneath them.
Fish swimming below.
A bedroom with a bed draped in white linens.
Petals on the pillows.
Champagne chilling.
Fresh fruit waiting.
A bathroom with a sunken tub.
Big enough for two.
Overlooking the ocean.
Surrounded by candles.
An outdoor deck.
Private infinity pool.
Steps leading directly into the sea.
Sun loungers.
Hammock.
Paradise.
Jay walked through it all.
Touching everything.
Not believing any of it.
Keifer watched her.
Smiled.
Loved her.
"Jay.
Come here."
She walked to him.
Into his arms.
Her head on his chest.
His heart beating beneath her ear.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For this.
For us.
For everything."
He kissed her hair.
"Thank you for saying yes.
For fighting.
For staying.
For being mine."
She looked up.
Those storm-gray eyes.
Her home.
Her heart.
Her forever.
"Always yours, Mr. Watson."
He smiled.
"Always yours, Mrs. Watson."
---
The First Swim
They changed into swimsuits.
Simple.
Comfortable.
Ready for the water.
Jay stood at the edge of the deck.
Steps leading down.
Water so clear she could see the bottom.
Fish swimming past.
"I've never been in the ocean like this.
Not really.
Not somewhere this beautiful."
Keifer took her hand.
"Then let's change that.
Together."
They walked down the steps.
Together.
Into the warm water.
Into paradise.
Into forever.
Jay gasped as the water reached her waist.
"It's so warm!
Like bathwater!
And the fish!
Keifer, look at the fish!"
Colorful fish swam around them.
Unafraid.
Curious.
Beautiful.
Keifer watched her.
Not the fish.
Her.
Her joy.
Her wonder.
Her happiness.
This was why he brought her here.
To see her like this.
Free.
Happy.
Alive.
"Jay."
She turned.
Found him watching.
"What?"
He smiled.
"Nothing.
Just...
I love you.
That's all."
She swam to him.
Wrapped her arms around his neck.
Water lapping at their shoulders.
Sun warming their faces.
"I love you too, Keifer Watson.
More than all the fish in this ocean.
More than all the water in this sea.
More than everything."
He kissed her.
Soft.
Sweet.
Salty from the sea.
Perfect.
---
Sunset
They watched the sun set from their deck.
Sitting together.
Legs dangling over the edge.
Water below.
Sky on fire above.
Oranges.
Pinks.
Purples.
Gold.
Jay leaned against him.
His arm around her.
Her heart full.
"I didn't know colors like this existed.
Not real ones.
Not outside of paintings."
He kissed her hair.
"The world is full of beauty, Jay.
We just forget to look sometimes."
She smiled.
"With you, I always look.
With you, everything is beautiful."
He held her closer.
"Even me?"
She laughed.
"Especially you.
Grumpy face and all."
He gasped.
"I don't have a grumpy face!"
"Keifer.
You have THE grumpy face.
It's your trademark."
He considered.
"Fine.
But it's a handsome grumpy face."
She nodded.
"Debatable."
He tickled her.
She shrieked.
Laughed.
Almost fell into the water.
He caught her.
Of course.
Always catching her.
"I've got you," he whispered.
"Always."
She looked at him.
Those storm-gray eyes.
Soft in the sunset.
Full of love.
"I know.
That's why I'm not scared.
Ever.
Because you always catch me."
He kissed her.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of forever.
---
Dinner on the Deck
They ate dinner on their private deck.
Candlelight.
Fresh seafood.
Tropical fruits.
Champagne.
A private chef prepared it.
A server brought it.
Then disappeared.
Leaving them alone.
Just them.
Just this.
Jay took a bite of lobster.
Closed her eyes.
Moaned.
"This is the best thing I've ever eaten.
I didn't know food could taste like this."
Keifer smiled.
Watching her enjoy everything.
Every moment.
Every bite.
Every bit of paradise.
"I'm glad you like it."
She opened her eyes.
Found him watching.
"You're not eating.
You're just staring at me."
He shrugged.
"Staring at you is better than eating.
You're more beautiful than any food."
She laughed.
"Cheesy."
"Honest."
She threw a piece of bread at him.
He caught it.
Ate it.
Grinning.
"This is our life now?
Throwing bread at each other in paradise?"
He nodded.
"This is our life now.
Get used to it."
She grinned.
"Best. Life. Ever."
---
The Stars
After dinner, they lay on the deck.
On comfortable loungers.
Looking up at the sky.
No city lights here.
No pollution.
Just stars.
Millions of them.
Burning billions of miles away.
Jay reached up.
Tried to touch them.
Couldn't.
But tried anyway.
"It's like they're close enough to grab.
But they're not.
They're so far away."
Keifer took her hand.
Held it.
"Some things are better from a distance.
Stars are beautiful because we can't touch them."
She turned her head.
Looked at him.
"But you're not.
You're beautiful AND I can touch you."
He smiled.
Pulled her closer.
"Lucky me."
She kissed his cheek.
"Lucky us."
They lay together.
Watching the stars.
Listening to the waves.
Feeling the gentle breeze.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
---
The First Night
Later, they moved inside.
To the bedroom.
To the bed draped in white.
To the sound of waves beneath them.
Jay stood by the window.
Looking out at the water.
Moonlight painting silver on the surface.
Keifer came up behind her.
Wrapped his arms around her waist.
Pulled her close.
"What are you thinking?" he whispered.
She leaned back against him.
"About how different this is.
From last month.
From the hospital.
From the darkness."
He kissed her shoulder.
"You're not there anymore.
You're here.
With me.
In paradise."
She turned in his arms.
Faced him.
Those storm-gray eyes soft in the moonlight.
"Because of you.
Because you never left.
Because you loved me through it all."
He shook his head.
"Because YOU fought.
Because YOU never gave up.
I just held your hand."
She smiled.
"Then thank you for holding my hand.
Through everything."
He kissed her forehead.
Her nose.
Her lips.
"Always, Mrs. Watson.
Always."
She kissed him back.
Deep.
Slow.
Full of everything.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson.
On their honeymoon.
In paradise.
Forever officially begun.
---
The Night
The waves sang them to sleep.
The stars watched over them.
The villa held them safe.
Jay lay in Keifer's arms.
Her head on his chest.
His heartbeat steady beneath her ear.
"Keifer?"
"Yeah, love?"
"Best day ever?"
He kissed her hair.
"Best day ever.
But tomorrow will be even better."
She smiled.
Eyes closing.
"How?"
He held her tighter.
"Because we'll have another day together.
Another day married.
Another day in paradise.
That's always better."
She pressed closer.
"Good point, Mr. Watson."
"Goodnight, Mrs. Watson."
"Goodnight, my love."
They slept.
Peaceful.
Happy.
Together.
Forever.
---
Morning
Jay woke to sunlight and waves.
Keifer's arms around her.
Warm.
Safe.
Perfect.
She stretched slowly.
Pressed closer to him.
Listened to his heartbeat.
Alive.
Loved.
Married.
In paradise.
He stirred.
Pulled her tighter.
Kissed her hair.
"Morning, Mrs. Watson."
She smiled.
"Morning, Mr. Watson."
"How did you sleep?"
"Like I'm in paradise.
Because I am."
He laughed.
Opened those storm-gray eyes.
Soft.
Happy.
Hers.
"Good.
Because we have another day.
Another adventure.
Another forever moment."
She kissed his nose.
"Then let's start."
He grinned.
"Let's start."
---
The Water
They spent the day in the water.
Snorkeling among coral reefs.
Swimming with colorful fish.
Floating in the warm turquoise sea.
Jay couldn't stop smiling.
Couldn't stop laughing.
Couldn't stop loving every second.
At one point, she floated on her back.
Eyes closed.
Sun on her face.
Water holding her up.
Keifer floated beside her.
Holding her hand.
Just being there.
"Jay?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you happy?
Really happy?"
She opened her eyes.
Turned her head.
Found him watching her.
"I'm more than happy, Keifer.
I'm complete.
I'm whole.
I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."
He squeezed her hand.
"Good.
That's all I ever wanted.
For you to be happy.
For you to be whole."
She smiled.
"You did that.
You and this family.
You healed me.
In every way."
He shook his head.
"You healed yourself.
We just loved you through it."
She swam to him.
Wrapped her arms around him.
Water lapping at their faces.
"Then thank you for loving me through it.
That's everything."
He kissed her.
Salty.
Sweet.
Perfect.
"Always, Mrs. Watson.
Always."
---
Afternoon Naps
They napped in the hammock.
Strung between two palm trees.
Overlooking the water.
Rocking gently in the breeze.
Jay curled against him.
Her head on his chest.
His hand in her hair.
"This is the life," she murmured.
"This is everything."
He kissed her forehead.
"This is just the beginning.
We have a whole lifetime of this."
She smiled.
Eyes closing.
"A whole lifetime.
I like the sound of that."
He held her closer.
"Me too, love.
Me too."
They slept.
Peaceful.
Happy.
Together.
---
Another Sunset
Another sunset.
Another masterpiece of color.
Oranges and pinks and golds painting the sky.
Jay and Keifer watched from the deck.
Wrapped in each other's arms.
Witnessing beauty together.
"Every sunset here is different," Jay whispered.
"Every one more beautiful than the last."
Keifer kissed her hair.
"Like you.
Every day more beautiful.
Every day more loved."
She looked up at him.
Those storm-gray eyes soft in the fading light.
"You're going to make me cry again."
He smiled.
"Happy tears?"
"Always happy tears.
With you, always happy."
He wiped a tear before it fell.
"Good.
That's all I want.
Your happiness.
Forever."
She stood on tiptoe.
Kissed him.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of forever.
"You have it, Keifer.
You have all of me.
Forever."
He held her close.
"And you have all of me.
Forever."
---
End of Chapter 29