Chapter 31: Honeymoon – Day Two
Waking to Rain
Jay woke to the sound of rain.
Not the harsh, angry rain of the city. Not the cold, miserable rain of winter. Soft rain. Warm rain. Tropical rain tapping gently on the roof of their overwater villa.
She opened her eyes. The sky outside was gray, but a soft gray. Gentle. The rain created ripples on the turquoise water below their glass floor. The world felt quiet. Peaceful. Wrapped in a cocoon of water and warmth.
Keifer was still asleep beside her. His arm draped over her waist. His face relaxed. Beautiful.
She watched him for a long moment. Traced his eyebrow with her fingertip. His cheekbone. His lips.
He stirred. Pulled her closer without opening his eyes.
"S'raining," he mumbled.
She smiled. "It is."
"Good." He buried his face in her hair. "Rainy days are for staying in bed."
She laughed softly. "All day?"
He opened one eye. "All day."
She kissed his forehead. "We're on our honeymoon in the Maldives. We should be outside. Swimming. Snorkeling. Exploring."
He pulled her closer. "Or. We could stay here. Listen to the rain. Watch the water. Make love. Order room service. Stay in bed until tomorrow."
She considered. "That's a very convincing argument."
He grinned. "I thought so."
---
Rainy Morning
They stayed in bed. The rain continued, soft and steady. They watched fish swim beneath the glass floor. They listened to the waves. They talked about nothing and everything.
Keifer traced patterns on her bare shoulder. "Do you remember the first time it rained at the mansion?"
Jay nodded. "I was still recovering. You made Mamma let me sit on the patio. Under the awning. You wrapped me in a blanket and held me while we watched the rain."
He kissed her shoulder. "You fell asleep on me. I didn't move for three hours. Didn't want to wake you."
She turned to face him. "You're sweet, Mr. Watson. Don't tell anyone I said that."
He grinned. "Your secret's safe, Mrs. Watson."
She kissed him. Soft. Sweet. Rain falling around them. The world quiet.
---
Breakfast in Bed
Room service arrived. A floating tray, somehow delivered to their villa without either of them getting out of bed. Fresh fruit. Pastries. Coffee. Fresh coconut water.
Jay propped herself up on pillows. Stared at the spread. "This is ridiculous. This is absolutely ridiculous."
Keifer poured her coffee. "This is our honeymoon. Ridiculous is the point."
She took the cup. Breathed in the aroma. "I could get used to this."
He smiled. "You should. This is our life now. Breakfast in bed. Rainy mornings. Nothing to do but love each other."
She leaned against him. Watched the rain. "I love rainy days. Always have. They feel like permission. Permission to slow down. To rest. To just be."
He kissed her hair. "Then we'll have more rainy days. I'll make sure of it."
She looked up at him. Those storm-gray eyes soft in the gray light. "You can't make it rain, Keifer."
He shrugged. "I can take you places where it rains. Scotland. Ireland. The Pacific Northwest. We'll chase rainy days. All over the world."
She laughed. "That's the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me."
He raised an eyebrow. "More romantic than 'I love you'?"
She considered. "Different kind of romantic. 'I love you' is forever. 'I'll chase rainy days with you' is adventure."
He kissed her nose. "Then let's have both. Forever and adventure."
She smiled. "Deal."
---
The Rain Lets Up
By mid-morning, the rain softened to a drizzle. The sky lightened. The clouds parted in places, letting through shafts of golden light.
Jay stood at the edge of the deck. The water below was calm. The air smelled fresh. Clean. New.
Keifer came up behind her. Wrapped his arms around her waist. "Ready to explore?"
She leaned back against him. "I thought we were staying in bed all day."
He kissed her neck. "We can do both. Swim. Explore. Come back to bed. That's the beauty of a honeymoon. No rules. No schedule. Just us."
She turned in his arms. "Then let's swim. But first—"
She pushed him into the pool.
He surfaced, spluttering. Stared at her. "Did you just push me?"
She grinned. "I did."
He grabbed her ankle. Pulled. She shrieked as she hit the water. Came up laughing. He pulled her close.
"That was revenge," he said.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Worth it."
He kissed her. Water streaming down their faces. The drizzle soft on their skin. "I love you, Mrs. Watson."
She kissed him back. "I love you too, Mr. Watson."
---
The Open Water
They swam out beyond the villa. Into the open lagoon. The water was warm. Clear. They floated together, looking down at the coral below.
Jay pointed. "Look. Clownfish."
Keifer looked. Smiled. "Nemo."
She laughed. "You're such a dad."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'm not a dad."
She swam closer. "Yet."
He pulled her close. "Yet," he agreed. "Someday. When you're ready. When we're ready."
She rested her head on his chest. "Someday. But not yet. I want more of this. More us. More adventures. More rainy mornings."
He kissed her hair. "Then that's what we'll have. As much as you want. As long as you want."
She looked up at him. "And then someday. When we're ready. Little ones. Running around the mansion. Keiran teaching them about dinosaurs. Keigan teaching them science. Percy teaching them chaos."
He laughed. "Mamma will be insufferable."
She grinned. "She'll be the best grandmother in the world."
He held her close. "Someday. But not yet."
"Not yet," she agreed. "Right now, I just want you."
He kissed her. Deep. Slow. The water holding them up. The sun breaking through the clouds. "You have me, Jay. Always."
---
Lunch on the Beach
They took a small boat to a nearby sandbar. Just a strip of white sand in the middle of the ocean. Nothing else. No buildings. No people. Just them.
A picnic was waiting. Someone had set it up while they were swimming. A blanket. A basket. Champagne. Fresh fruit. Sandwiches. A small umbrella for shade.
Jay stared. "How? When? We were in the water ten minutes ago."
Keifer shrugged. "Honeymoon magic."
She laughed. Sat on the blanket. "You planned this."
He sat beside her. "Maybe."
She kissed his cheek. "You're ridiculous."
"Romantically ridiculous?"
She nodded. "The best kind."
---
The Sandbar
They ate lunch on the sandbar. The ocean stretched around them in every direction. Blue. Endless. Peaceful.
Jay lay back on the blanket. Stared at the sky. "I've never been anywhere like this. Where there's nothing. No one. Just water and sand and sky."
Keifer lay beside her. Took her hand. "That's why I brought you here. So you could have nothing. Nothing to do. Nothing to worry about. Just us. Just this."
She turned her head. Looked at him. "I used to think I needed things. Money. Security. A future. But now? Now I know I just need you. You're my security. You're my future. You're everything."
He lifted her hand. Kissed her knuckles. "And you're mine. My past. My present. My forever."
She smiled. "We're disgustingly romantic."
He grinned. "Disgustingly."
They lay there. Hand in hand. Ocean around them. Sky above them. Nothing else.
---
The Afternoon
They swam in the shallows around the sandbar. The water was so clear they could see their feet on the sandy bottom. Small fish darted around their ankles. Tiny crabs scuttled sideways.
Jay splashed Keifer. He splashed back. They chased each other through the warm water. Laughing. Playing. Being young and in love.
At one point, she slipped on a patch of coral. He caught her. Always catching her.
"I've got you," he said.
She looked at him. Water dripping from her hair. Sun on her face. "You always do."
He kissed her. Salt on her lips. Sun on her skin. "Always will."
---
The Return
They took the boat back as the sun started to lower. The sky was turning gold. The water reflected it back, endless and beautiful.
Jay sat in the front of the boat. Hair drying in the wind. Face warm from the sun. Heart full.
Keifer sat behind her. Arms around her. Chin on her shoulder.
"Best day?" he asked.
She leaned back against him. "Best day. But yesterday was also best day. And tomorrow will be best day too."
He smiled against her neck. "That's the plan. Every day with you is the best day."
She turned her head. Kissed his cheek. "Every day with you, Keifer Watson. Every single one."
---
Sunset
They watched the sunset from their deck. The sky was a masterpiece. Oranges and pinks bleeding into purples and blues. The clouds catching fire. The water glowing gold.
Jay sat between Keifer's legs. Her back against his chest. His arms around her. Their hands intertwined.
"Keifer?"
"Yeah, love?"
"What do you think happens now? After the honeymoon. After the wedding. After all of this. What comes next?"
He kissed her hair. "Whatever we want. That's the beauty of it. We can do anything. Go anywhere. Be anything. Together."
She smiled. "Together. I like that."
He held her closer. "Together. Always."
---
Dinner
They ate dinner on the deck. Candlelight. Fresh fish. Grilled vegetables. Wine. The stars coming out one by one overhead.
Jay looked up at the sky. "There are so many stars here. More than I've ever seen."
Keifer looked up too. "No city lights. No pollution. Just stars."
She leaned against him. "It's like the universe is showing off."
He laughed. "Maybe it is. Maybe it's celebrating with us."
She looked at him. "You think the universe celebrates weddings?"
He considered. "I think the universe celebrates love. Real love. The kind that survives. The kind that fights. The kind we have."
Her eyes filled with tears. Happy tears. "When did you get so philosophical?"
He kissed her forehead. "Since I married you. You make me think about things. Big things. Important things."
She smiled. "Like what?"
"Like forever. Like what it means to love someone completely. Like how lucky I am to have found you."
She kissed him. Soft. Sweet. Grateful. "You found me, Keifer. And I found you. And the universe celebrated."
He held her close. "It did. And it still is. Every day. Every moment. Every star."
---
The Night
Later, they lay in bed. The glass floor beneath them showed the dark water, lit by moonlight. Fish glowing faintly. Coral swaying gently.
Jay traced patterns on Keifer's chest. "Two days down. Twelve to go."
He kissed her hair. "And then? After the honeymoon?"
She looked up at him. "Then we go home. To our family. To our life. To our forever."
He smiled. "Our forever. I like the sound of that."
She kissed his chest. "Our forever. Starting now. Continuing always."
He held her close. "Always, Mrs. Watson. Always."
She closed her eyes. The waves sang. The stars watched. The villa held them safe.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson. Day two of forever. And so many more to come.
---
End of Chapter 31