Chapter 30: Honeymoon – Day One
Waking Up in Paradise
Jay woke to sunlight and the sound of waves.
Not the harsh beep of hospital monitors. Not the anxious whisper of nurses outside her door. Not the weight of fear pressing down on her chest.
Just sunlight. Just waves. Just Keifer's arms wrapped around her.
She opened her eyes slowly. The overwater villa was bathed in golden morning light. Through the glass floor beneath them, she could see turquoise water and colorful fish swimming lazily. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Indian Ocean stretched to the horizon, endless and impossibly blue.
She smiled. Turned in Keifer's arms. He was still asleep, those storm-gray eyes closed, face relaxed, looking younger than his years. His hand rested on her waist, fingers curled possessively even in sleep.
She traced his eyebrow. His cheekbone. His lips.
He stirred. Mumbled something. Pulled her closer without opening his eyes.
"Mmm. Stop staring."
She laughed softly. "Can't. You're worth staring at."
One eye opened. Then the other. Those storm-gray eyes found hers, soft and sleepy and full of love.
"Morning, Mrs. Watson."
Her heart fluttered. It always did when he called her that.
"Morning, Mr. Watson."
He kissed her forehead. "How did you sleep?"
She stretched against him. "Like I'm in paradise. Because I am."
He smiled. "Good. That's the goal." He pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair. "We should stay here forever."
"Keifer, we've been here for twelve hours."
"And? I'm already convinced. We live here now. This is our home."
She laughed. "Mamma would kill us. Keiran would never forgive us. Percy would track us down and drag us back."
He groaned. "You're right. Annoyingly right." He kissed her nose. "Fine. We'll stay the full two weeks. Then we go back. But we come here every anniversary. Deal?"
She grinned. "Deal."
---
The First Swim
They changed into swimsuits and walked onto the private deck. The infinity pool sparkled in the morning sun. Steps led down into the lagoon. The water was so clear she could see every detail of the coral below.
Jay stood at the edge, staring down. "It doesn't look real. It looks like a screensaver. Like someone photoshopped the water."
Keifer came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "It's real. Touch it."
She stepped down into the water. Warm. So warm. Like bathwater. Like heaven.
She gasped. "It's perfect. It's absolutely perfect."
He followed her in, water lapping at his chest. "You're perfect."
She splashed him. "Cheesy."
"Honest."
He pulled her close. Water rushed around them. Fish darted beneath their feet. Sunlight sparkled on the surface.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I can't believe this is our life now. I can't believe this is real."
He kissed her forehead. "It's real. You're real. We're real. This is just the beginning."
She looked up at him. Those storm-gray eyes, soft in the morning light. Her husband. Her forever.
"I love you, Keifer Watson."
He kissed her. Soft. Sweet. Salt from the sea. "I love you too, Jay Watson. Now. Let's explore."
---
Snorkeling
They spent the morning in the water. Floating above coral gardens. Watching schools of fish in every color imaginable. Jay pointed at everything, gasping behind her mask, grabbing Keifer's arm every time something new swam by.
"Keifer! Look! That one is neon blue!"
He watched her. Not the fish. Her joy. Her wonder. Her happiness.
"Jay. Come here."
She swam to him, pulling up her mask. "What? Did you see something?"
He cupped her face. "Yeah. You. You're the most beautiful thing in this ocean."
She splashed him. "You're ridiculous."
"Ridiculously in love with you."
She kissed him. Quick. Salt on her lips. "Now come on. I want to see the sea turtles."
He laughed. Followed her. Always followed her.
---
Sea Turtle Sighting
They found the sea turtle near a coral reef. Huge. Graceful. Gliding through the water like it owned the ocean. Which, Jay decided, it probably did.
She grabbed Keifer's arm. Squeezed. Didn't speak. Didn't want to scare it.
They floated together, watching. The turtle swam closer. Curious. Unafraid. It circled them once, twice, then disappeared into the deeper blue.
Jay surfaced, pulling her mask off. "Keifer. That was a sea turtle. A real sea turtle."
He surfaced beside her. Grinning. "I saw."
"A sea turtle, Keifer. On our honeymoon. On our first day. This is the best day of my life."
He pulled her close. "Better than our wedding?"
She considered. "Okay, second best day. But a very close second."
He laughed. Kissed her. "I'll take it."
---
Lunch on the Deck
They ate lunch on their private deck. Fresh seafood. Tropical fruit. Cold coconut water. A private chef had prepared it, a server had brought it, and now they were alone again. Just them. Just this.
Jay stretched out on the lounger, her skin warm from the sun, her hair curling from the salt water. "I could get used to this."
Keifer sat beside her, feeding her pieces of mango. "You should. This is our life now. Breakfast in paradise. Lunch on the deck. Sunsets over the ocean."
She took a bite. Sweet. Juicy. Perfect. "And what about after the honeymoon? When we go back to the real world?"
He shrugged. "The real world is wherever we are. Doesn't matter if it's the Maldives or the mansion. As long as I'm with you, I'm home."
Her eyes filled with tears. Happy tears. Always happy tears now.
"You're going to make me cry."
He wiped a tear before it fell. "Happy tears?"
She nodded. "The happiest."
He kissed her forehead. "Good. That's all I want. Your happiness. Forever."
She leaned against him. Watched the waves. Listened to the sea. "You have it, Keifer. You have all of me."
He held her close. "And you have all of me. Forever."
---
Afternoon Nap
They napped in the hammock. Strung between two posts on the deck, overlooking the turquoise water. The gentle sway rocked them. The warm breeze dried their skin. The sound of waves lulled them to sleep.
Jay curled against him. Her head on his chest. His hand in her hair. Their legs tangled together.
"This is the life," she murmured. "This is everything."
He kissed her hair. "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. The hammock swayed. The waves sang. The sun moved slowly across the sky.
---
Waking Together
She woke to Keifer watching her. Those storm-gray eyes soft in the afternoon light.
"Staring again?" she murmured.
"Always. You're worth staring at."
She stretched against him. "How long did we sleep?"
He kissed her forehead. "Couple hours. You needed it."
She sat up slowly. Looked out at the ocean. The sun was lower now, the light turning golden. "What time is it?"
"Almost sunset. You slept through the afternoon."
She turned to him. "And you just watched me? For hours?"
He shrugged. "Best hours of my life."
She laughed. Pulled him close. Kissed him. Deep. Slow. Grateful. "I love you, Keifer Watson."
He kissed her back. "I love you too, Jay Watson. Now. Sunset is coming. We don't want to miss it."
---
Another Sunset
They watched from the deck. Sitting on the edge, legs dangling over the water. The sky was on fire. Oranges and pinks and purples bleeding into each other. Gold light reflecting off the water. Clouds painted like brushstrokes.
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."
She turned to him. "Keifer. You have THE grumpy face. It's your trademark."
He considered. "Fine. But it's a handsome grumpy face."
She nodded slowly. "Debatable."
He tickled her. She shrieked. Laughed. Almost fell off the deck. 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. Full of forever.
"I know. That's why I'm not scared. Ever. Because you always catch me."
He kissed her. Soft. Sweet. Full of forever.
---
Dinner Under the Stars
They ate dinner on the deck. Candlelight. Fresh lobster. Grilled vegetables. Champagne. A table set for two, overlooking the darkening sea. The sky was black now, scattered with stars. The water reflected them back, endless and eternal.
Jay took a bite of lobster. Closed her eyes. Moaned softly. "This is the best thing I've ever eaten. I didn't know food could taste like this."
Keifer watched her. Always watching her. "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 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."
---
Dancing
After dinner, music drifted from hidden speakers. Soft. Romantic. Perfect. Keifer stood. Held out his hand.
"Dance with me, Mrs. Watson."
She took his hand. Let him pull her up. Let him pull her close.
They danced on the deck. Under the stars. Above the ocean. Just them. Just this.
She rested her head on his chest. His heart beat beneath her ear. Steady. Strong. Hers.
"I love you, Keifer. I loved you in the hospital. I loved you in the darkness. I love you here, in paradise. I'll love you everywhere. Always."
He held her tighter. "I love you too, Jay. I loved you the moment you walked into my office. I loved you when you were fighting. I love you now, healthy and whole and here. I'll love you forever. No matter what."
She looked up at him. Those storm-gray eyes. Her home. Her heart. Her forever.
"Dance with me forever?"
He smiled. Kissed her forehead. "That's the plan, Mrs. Watson. That's always been the plan."
---
The Night
Later, they lay in bed. The glass floor beneath them showed the dark water. Fish glowing faintly in the moonlight. The waves sang them to sleep.
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."
The waves sang. The stars watched. The villa held them safe. Mr. and Mrs. Watson. On their honeymoon. In paradise. Forever officially begun.
---
End of Chapter 30