“Okay,” Cindy had finally murmured. “You plan it and I’ll go along for the ride.”
Mattheus had smiled gratefully. “It will be more than a ride, Cindy, I promise.” His voice dropped. “It will be everything the both of us having been wanting for a long time. It will practically be a honeymoon of our own.”
Cindy wanted to say something in return, but her voice caught in her throat. The memory of her honeymoon with Clint suddenly rose in her mind. She thought of him disappearing while surfing in Barbados. She remembered running out on the beach, calling for him, and receiving no reply. Cindy had refused to believe it was an accident and had searched relentlessly for Clint’s killer. And found him. It had been the start of a whole new life for her.
Mattheus seemed to feel the swift change in Cindy’s mood. “This won’t be anything like your honeymoon with Clint,” he insisted. “That was a nightmare, not a honeymoon.”
Cindy couldn’t help but agree.
“Our time on St. Lucia will be a real honeymoon,” Mattheus continued fervently, “the first one you’ve ever had.”
Cindy smiled. Last time, with Clint, she’d had the wedding without the honeymoon. Now, with Mattheus, she would have the honeymoon without being married.
“Let’s take this slow, Mattheus,” Cindy urged. “It’s a vacation, that’s all.”
“Just give me a day and I’ll make all the arrangements.” Mattheus was obviously thrilled that Cindy even agreed to go.
*
They were about half an hour from landing now and the flight was on time.
“Clear skies up ahead on the enchanted island of St. Lucia,” the voice of the pilot came over the loudspeaker. “As we fly over the rain forest, we’ve got warm weather for you and sunshine. A perfect day to arrive in St. Lucia.”
Mattheus leaned closer to Cindy and put his arm around her. “Almost there,” he whispered. “I’ve booked a gorgeous hotel, right on the water. The number one spot for honeymooners.”
Cindy felt at ease. This was the first time Mattheus had taken complete charge and it felt good letting him do so. She was more tired than she realized and deeply needed to unwind. She had taken on too many cases in a row and there had been too much volatility in her relationship with Mattheus as well. It had taken a toll. Also, these days the loss of her sister, Ann, was hitting Cindy hard as well. She missed checking in with Ann regularly, as she used to do. She longed to hear her sister’s reassuring voice and practical guidance on the other end of the phone. But Cindy knew it took time to become adjusted to a loss of this magnitude.
“Once we’re settled on the island we’ll make a list of all the wonderful things to do,” Mattheus went on. “It’ll be completely up to you. I want you to be really happy.”
Cindy felt grateful. It seemed as though Mattheus was dead set on making their relationship right this time, doing everything he could to please her. Cindy didn’t want him to walk on eggshells, though. She felt like telling him that he didn’t need to work so hard at it. They just had to be themselves with each other, natural, relaxed, and most of all, honest. Cindy wanted to say that what she loved most about him was just who he was when he wasn’t running away.
“I love you so much, Cindy,” Mattheus murmured then, his tone half garbled.
“I love you, too, Mattheus,” Cindy whispered back, even though she’d promised herself she’d play it cool, give it lots of time, be careful before she said that.
“I know it, I know it,” Mattheus replied. “We can’t really stay away from each other. We belong together. It’s our destiny.”
*
When Cindy and Mattheus finally got out of the airport and into a taxi, she felt as if the pilot was right. She’d been transported to a magical world. As they drove along, Cindy saw both sides of the highway glowing with the incredible colors of the natural foliage there. As the taxi turned up into the lush mountains, the exotic beauty of the landscape took Cindy’s breath away.
“There’s wildlife roaming in these mountains,” Mattheus mentioned, as they drove along.
Cindy shivered. It was thrilling to be close to wildlife living freely in their natural habitats.
“The island is only twenty-seven miles long,” Mattheus continued, “and it has nineteen thousand acres of rain forest along with a steaming, sulfur volcano. Can you believe it?”
“It’s awesome,” Cindy murmured, grateful to be part of it.
“People come from all over to bathe in the sulfur springs and relax on the fantastic beaches. We’re lucky to be here,” Mattheus went on.
“It’s wonderful,” Cindy agreed. She had never seen Mattheus so taken by his surroundings. Yet, this was the first time she and Mattheus had gone to an island without a case to work on. Mattheus finally had the opportunity to truly relish where he was now. And Cindy felt she would finally have the opportunity to learn more about him now as well.