Authors: Annalisa Simon
“Nathan,
I’m sorry, this was a big mistake. I can’t go to the intensive anymore, I am leaving on the next flight back to Barbados,” said Candasee leaping to her feet and looking around for her travel bags.
Nathan, completely puzzled by her reaction reached out and
held her wrist gently but firmly.
“
Wait Candasee, where are you going? I thought this news would’ve made you as happy as it made me!”
“Nathan you don’t understand!
I really can’t go anymore! I’m sorry to do this to you on short notice but there are some things I haven’t told you!” she replied still trying to pull away her hand.
Nathan held on firmly now becoming alarmed at the sudden change in Candasee’s demeanour. All it took was mentioning the change in venue and she immediately became a different person.
Her face had become a cool mask, devoid of emotion but her eyes reflected the truth. She was afraid of something, but what could it be?
“Candee, please talk to me! You aren’t making much sense right now!”
“Nathan, I haven’t been completely honest with you and there’s a lot about me that you simply don’t know!” replied Candasee shaking her head as she continued to pull her hand out of Nathan’s strong grip. But still he refused to let her go!
“I’m not letting you go until you agree to talk to me!” he
replied forcefully causing a few heads to turn in their direction. He whispered his next words, “Something is really bothering you and I would like to help you if I can.”
Finally
, deciding not to cause a scene she sat again and tried to take in several deep gulps of air to steady her shattered nerves! She hadn’t seen or spoken to Darius in just over a year and just the thought of being near him threw her into an immediate panic. She was engaged to be married now! When Nathan blurted out his name, a mixture of emotions immediately boiled up within her. The first one was pain, then hurt, then disgust, then anger, then the unbelievable knowledge that she still missed him was the strongest of them all.
That was crazy!
The faster she got to a ticket counter and made her way back to Barbados the better it would be for all concerned!
She was losing her mind!
“Candasee I don’t think there is anything that you could do or say to make me hate you or be disappointed in you! You are the most
remarkable woman I have ever met and I know that you must have had your reasons for not saying whatever it is you haven’t said to me as yet,” replied Nathan softly moving a tendril of hair that had fallen over her eye. “Just talk to me, you can trust me!”
Nathan’s presence always seemed to be able to calm her down and his controlled reaction to her irrational outburst was again testament to the character she knew he possessed.
“Nathan, its statements just like that one that let me know that I really don’t deserve your trust sometimes,” said Candasee.
“Let me be the judge of that! Now tell me why
you reacted like that at the news?” Nathan asked her once more.
Before answering
, Candasee swallowed deeply and closed her eyes. The best way was to just get straight to the point.
“Nathan,
I think you should know that I was married to Darius Brogan when I lived on this island for four years! I was also once on the board of trustees for the hotel.”
“
Darius Brogan is your ex-husband?” exclaimed Nathan. as his eyes widened with surprise. Whatever she was about to say, he surely didn’t expect her to say that!
“See
, I knew that you wouldn’t take this news well!” began Candasee just wanting to run from this or any moment that forced her to see Nathan’s judgment of all she neglected to mention about her failed marriage.
He knew she had her secrets but he
never imagined that it would’ve been this one.
“
All this time, I’ve considered your ex-husband to be the craziest man alive to have divorced you. But now to hear that it was one of the savviest businessmen in the Caribbean leaves me totally shocked.”
“I don’t follow
you, Nathan!” replied Candasee puzzled.
“I don’t know what happened be
tween you two and I know your past isn’t any of my business but a man only becomes that wealthy when he can seize a good investment as soon as he recognizes one. So, I am left to wonder how come he is willingly missing out on the greatest of them all!” said Nathan sincerely touching the newly placed engagement ring she wore on her left hand, to convey the depth of what he was expressing to her.
“That is a really sweet thing to say Nathan
, but it does not change the fact that I don’t want to go within ten miles of that hotel right now!” said Candasee.
“Is he such
a terrible person, Candasee? Did he abuse you?” Nathan asked now concerned that Candasee was afraid for a deeper reason.
“
No, not in that sense but he hurt me more than anyone else has in my life and I can’t forgive him for that! I just can’t!” she replied. This was the first time she’d ever let him see a glimpse of what she thought of her ex and it was very telling, thought Nathan! Her vehemence alone signalled that there were still unresolved feelings there and that thought put him on alert.
“
I love you Candasee, and I don’t care who you were married to before. All I care about now is that you are willing to take a chance with a man who loves you, values you and appreciates you. Me! I’ve never hurt you nor do I ever plan to. You can trust me to protect you! I know I can’t force you to come to the intensive with me, but I can say this. Give me a chance to help you heal all that he broke inside of you!”
“Nathan, my relationship with Darius has been over for
two years, we haven’t even been in contact for more than a year!” Candasee explained, wondering silently why mentioning his name was still setting off mini electrical storm waves all throughout her body.
Wouldn’t she ever be able to forget him
?” she fumed inwardly. God only knew how much she wanted to! Obviously he had successfully purged her out of his! Never once since she walked out did he ask her to come back or tried to convince her he’d made a mistake or even tried to apologize. Why didn’t he call her begging for her forgiveness? Why if he’d really loved her at all did he just sign the divorce papers without contest? She wanted a fight and she never even got one. Just thinking about it made her want to throw things around and to scream until her throat was raw.
Any thought of this trip being neutral territory to convince Candasee to deepen their relationship was now pretty much over, thought Nathan as he saw how conflicted she was. Everything about taking this intensive regional was a risk from day one, but that was the only way to expand. Business was no longer a local thing but opportunities now crossed borders and even hemispheres.
I
f the academy could establish more branches assisted by the exposure he would get from the travel show that too would be the fulfilment of one of his biggest dreams. A lot was now riding on the success of this trip for him and for his family. He envisioned himself returning home not just with another successfully completed arts and media intensive but also hopefully with a rock solid relationship with his fiancée.
“Candasee, I know this is going to seem
abrupt to you but the delegates are being asked to share rooms to cut down on expenses. I want us to share a room while we are at the Derrien Grande. It will give us a chance to be together in a way we’ve not been able to before and you won’t have to worry about being there alone,” he said.
“Nathan,
we can’t do that, not in that hotel and certainly not with all the Academy staff there with us! I don’t think I’m ready for that step as yet!” said Candasee feeling overwhelmed by the far-reaching implications of his suggestion.
“
Candee we are engaged now and they already know that we are dating. I just want to be close to you, besides it will be economical,” he explained hoping to convince her with the money angle.
“
Nathan, if it is a problem with money, I can pay for my own room, this does not have to come out of the academy’s funding!” said Candasee firmly, knowing that she was financially sound after the divorce settlement. Nathan didn’t know it and she had no need to brag about having millions of her ex-husband’s money in her own bank accounts. It was a scandalous amount which Darius insisted she receive and she didn’t even need to work at all. Her career existed purely because she loved to dance. Just the monthly interest payments from her account were more than her entire annual salary at the academy. She did not spend any of it though, preferring to live as independently as she could even if it meant living on less.
“Candasee
,” Nathan replied turning more to face Candasee so that he held both of her hands in his, “two years is a long time to be divorced. You are already making real steps to move on with your life with me and maybe this is a good way for you to finally prove to yourself that you aren’t living in the past still. It shouldn’t be a problem that we are staying there together surely?” he prodded.
“Nathan
, I just don’t think I am ready to face him yet and especially not like this! This whole arrangement is making me very uncomfortable.”
All the excitement Nathan felt about moving to the
Derrien Grande was draining away quickly with the realization that he would be entering a battle zone for Candasee. He didn’t know how Darius felt about his ex-wife but he knew that he’d also planned this time away with Candasee to seal their love. With all the flooding on the island he knew Solange would have selected the accommodations with a lot of thought and the Derrien Island Grande would be their home away from home for the next eight days. Changing that again would be almost impossible!
H
e had to be optimistic here; after all he seriously doubted that Darius could erase the pain of a two year separation in a week. At any rate, where would Darius find the time even if he was interested in rekindling his relationship with Candasee. The intensive’s demanding schedule would ensure that Candasee spent most of her moments busy and with him anyway.
Candasee looked into Nathan’s dark eyes set in his handsome, face
. He had such kind, warm dark-brown eyes and chocolate brown skin and his full beard was always well trimmed and shaved low to the skin on his face. She could see the sincerity and love for her shining in his eyes and once again being with him made her feel calmer, like she could make it through this time if he was with her. He was a safe haven for her, while every thought of Darius was the very embodiment of chaos. It was time to fully commit to this new life with Nathan and let go of these maddening feelings she still felt for Darius. That was the key! She wasn’t trying hard enough to resist this madness and Nathan was right. Two years was a long time to still be pining over anyone and Darius didn’t deserve another second of her time!
As Darius prepared to leave his room for the evening to get some dinner in the restaurant downstairs, his phone rang again!
It was a long day and after the meeting and last minute negotiations, the last thing he wanted to do was talk to anyone else.
Picking it up he looked at the screen
hoping it wasn’t more bad news.
“Hello?” he answered a little impatiently.
“
Good evening Mr. Brogan, its Eloise Graham here in reservations. I thought you would want to know this bit of information before you left for the evening! Ms. Hassell from the Meridian Hotel faxed over the list of the names of the delegates and...”
“Eloise, you d
on’t need to tell me exactly who would be coming, just grant the concessions I discussed with Solange!” interrupted Darius tersely now hearing his stomach begin to growl.
“But sir, you don’t understand, I am trying to tell you that Candasee is on the
guest list!”
“Wh
at did you say?” bellowed Darius with shock almost dropping the phone.
“I said Candasee is on the guest list sir!” Eloise repeated. “S
o I wondered if you wanted her to have any special accommodations or should I just let her bunk with everyone else?” asked Eloise pointedly emphasizing the word
bunk
.
Eloise had been a part of the hotel sta
ff from the inception and she’d always loved both Candasee and Darius just like her own children. She hated the fact that their marriage had ended in divorce so quickly! Darius Brogan was a proud man but she always noted with interest, the total admiration which filled his eyes whenever he was with his wife in those days. Now that warmth had been replaced by a cool, impenetrable wall most of the time and she wanted to see his happiness return.
“Uh, wow
!” said Darius finally sinking into his desk chair completely taken aback by the news. Candasee was here on Derrien Island and would be here at the hotel for the next eight days? He wasn’t ready to see her yet! Every plan he’d thought of to rekindle their relationship seemed ridiculous and she would’ve seen through them all in an instant. Was he being handed a second chance by fate? Whatever it was, he couldn’t blow this opportunity. He needed a plan, and he needed one fast!
“Darius, are you still there?
Eloise asked using his first name after noting the long silence with interest.
“
Uh yes, I am still here. Make sure she has a room on the seventh floor,” he said thoughtfully, remembering just how much she’d always loved the decorative Oriental theme on that floor. “Aside from that don’t do anything else, let me think about this for a little while, and thanks for calling Eloise, I really appreciate it,” finished Darius.
“You are more than welcome, you know that!” replied Eloise with a smile before hanging up the phone.
Eight days with Candasee staying right here at the hotel! This was too good to be true. Feeling suddenly spontaneous and unlike his usually stoic nature, he spun the chair in a circle as he rested his head back against it and allowed himself to laugh at his good fortune. As the chair completed the circle bringing him face to face with his desk he picked up one of the framed photographs he still had of her on his desk. In this one her hair was flying free in the breeze as she leaned back and smiled at him while he took her picture on their honeymoon in Bali.
Becoming serious for a moment he allowed himself to feel just how much he missed her and
how much he wished he could show her just how much she still, in fact always meant to him. He was never great at showing his vulnerabilities and that was great for business, but far too often he neglected to shut it off when he’d dealt with his wife over the years. He’d betrayed her and treated her like traded stocks and shares when all she’d ever wanted was his unconditional love!
The past
two years gave him time to think a lot through and he was sure now about what he really wanted. He wanted to show Candasee that he could be worthy of her again, that she could trust him to take care of her, not just financially but to take care of what mattered most, her heart!
It was seven-thirty in the evening when Nathan and Candasee arrived by taxi at the Derrien Island Grande Spa Resort. The sun had already gone below the horizon and the stars were appearing in the sky now that many of the heavy dark rain clouds were gone. She almost expected to see Darius waiting for her in the lobby to tell her that she wasn’t welcome there, but from all appearances he was not even around at all. She felt an unexpected flash of annoyance at that!
Before she left the airport she made sure to comb h
er hair and to brush her teeth and to apply some light makeup just in case she saw him. She wanted him to know that she was strong and still looking good and she certainly wasn’t pining! She saw Nathan’s eyes narrow at her slight improvement in appearance when she finally emerged, but she pretended that she did not really notice his eyes as they travelled the length of her body.
“You lo
ok beautiful honey, but you didn’t have to do all of that for me,” he said half-jokingly.
“I
just thought I would spruce up a little!” Candasee replied simply.
“Hmmm!” was Nathan’s only reply as he fought the thought that came to his mind about her
trying to look her best for her ex. As the hours passed he’d tried to ignore the few slip-ups she’d made when she referred to Darius as her ‘
husband
’. He could see she was putting up a good front but inside she was a nervous wreck and that could only mean one thing, she wasn’t over Darius as yet!
His stomach churned at the idea that all of this could be over for him in a few short days
if they got a chance to reconnect and somehow repair the damage to their relationship. He scanned the lobby for any sign that Darius was there waiting for them and thankfully there was no sign of him as yet!
Every
time Candasee saw this hotel, she was simply swept away by the sheer beauty and simplicity of the white marble floors which were always polished to a shine, the thick comfortable white and gold furniture and the accentuating plants and fountains that gave the lobby the feel of a sheikh’s desert kingdom. This wasn’t just an upgrade from the Meridian Hotel but they had moved up two whole stars and more. The fact that Darius agreed to this generous exchange more than piqued her curiosity, after all he made it clear to her he was first a business man and then a human with a heart of stone second, she thought bitterly. But then again, he would still be the one benefiting most wouldn’t he? After she’d calmed down Nathan had gone on to explain the other conditions of the hotel exchange.
As
they walked up to the front desk in the exquisite reception area, she immediately recognized Eloise, one of the hotel’s most trusted employees.
“Welcome back Mrs. Brogan
!” said Eloise purposefully using her married surname, while maintaining a warm, welcoming smile. “I was so glad to see your name on the guest list; we have all missed you around here!”
Candasee returned the smile and inwardly groaned
at hearing her former surname. This was going to be a long week, she sighed inwardly.
“Oh thanks Eloise, and by the way my name is Candasee Maxwell now!” she said.
“Oh yes! You are right dear, it’s just force of habit you see! You and Mr. Brogan were always such a wonderful couple,” she explained with her eyes twinkling. “Seeing you just now just brought all of those memories back!”
“Yes, I’m sure we were,” replied Candasee flatly.”How
is your family?” she then asked in an attempt to change the subject. Only two seconds in the hotel and already she was already being reminded of what she was trying to forget.
“Everyone is well!
Both of my sons are now working in Antigua but they come home to look for their mother occasionally,” replied Eloise with a smile.
Nathan
watched the open gleam of joy and admiration in the other woman’s eyes and certainly did not miss her deliberate use of the name Brogan. It was obvious that she still held Candasee in very high esteem and still considered her the mistress of the estate. But, that name was now her past and he would do anything to make sure it stayed that way. So, to fight the sudden irritation he was experiencing at their conversation, he silently rehearsed what her name would sound like as Candasee Maxwell- Carthswright. It was a bit of a mouthful he noted but he would leave the option up to her whether she would hyphenate her name after they were married.
“And you sir, welcome to the
Derrien Island Grande Spa Resort,” said Eloise turning her bespectacled gaze on him.
Nathan replied to the greeting and quietly laughed to himself about the
intensity of the direction of his inner thoughts. He was getting ahead of himself there but he didn’t care. A man needed to be clear on what he wanted if he was going to have any chance at having it.
Eloise completed the check in process and handed them their room information and pass keys.
“Okay Mr. Carthswright, here you are, your room is on the fifth floor and is number 510. We managed to house all of your delegates on that floor as well so I hope you find that convenient?” asked Eloise. “You will not be sharing a room because we thought that as Principal that would go against protocol!”
“Yes
, thank you!” he said accepting the key.
“Oh we are pleased to serve yo
u! You will find a welcome drink and refreshments in your room as a token gift from the hotel to you as well,” replied Eloise politely.
“Thank you!” Nathan replied
again, quietly impressed by the hospitality so far.
“Ok
ay now Mrs. Brogan, you will be staying on the seventh floor in room 746,” said Eloise, once again ignoring Candasee’s instructions about her surname.
“
Pardon?” spluttered Candasee, “Why am I not staying on the fifth floor with everyone else?”
“I’m sorry but that floor is
now full, unless of course you wish to share a room?” inquired Eloise with an arched brow. “The only available room on the fifth floor is Mr. Carthswright’s and I think you would prefer to have your privacy, wouldn’t you?” she asked in a slightly motherly and disapproving tone!
“
Yes, you are right, I don’t want to share a room,” replied Candasee meaningfully, speaking quickly before Nathan could suggest his earlier solution to her again! Sharing Nathan’s fifth floor room was bound to start tongues wagging about how close their relationship was getting and the favours she was most likely receiving. She didn’t need or want the public scrutiny. She just needed to survive these eight days and then she could finally leave this place and never return.
“Are you sure that there are no other rooms available on the fifth floor with the delegation?” asked Nathan realizing that Candasee would be all alone on the seventh floor, away from him and also open to Darius should he make a move to contact her. That thought did not leave him with a sense of peace at all.
“I am certain
sir, but I’m sure that you will be able to connect up with each other at anytime, won’t you? It’s only two floors away,” said Eloise innocently.
“What about the seventh floor are there any other rooms available there?”
“I’m sorry again Mr. Carthswright but all of the rooms on the seventh floor are either occupied or reserved for other hotel guests arriving during your stay. These summer months are quite a busy time for us here at the hotel.”
“I see.”
“Yes, I do hope that you have a wonderful stay,” Eloise said finally.
After
thanking her for her service and after refusing help from the bellboy service, Nathan and Candasee moved toward the bank of elevators around the corner.
“Just my luck not to get a room with you guys!” said Candasee
now feeling a little nervous about being away from the rest of the group. Talk about a series of unexpected events! Could anything else possibly go wrong?
They got on the elevator and Nathan selected the floors they would
each would be staying on.
“Listen
Candee, as I said earlier, I want us to stay together. I can stay with you on the seventh floor and that would give us some more privacy away from the delegates,” he suggested, leaning over to quickly kiss her on the cheek before slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her close to his side, nuzzling her neck gently with his lips.
He smelled so good, thought Candasee inhaling the scent of his cologne.
“I want to be with you too but I could never relax with Darius knowing I am here sharing a room with someone else,” replied Candasee.”I’m sorry!”
Nathan gritted his teeth with the beginnings of impatience.
“I don’t think I have to remind you of this, but Candasee you guys are divorced and it’s been two whole years! He has no say in how you live your life anymore! You are mine now,” replied Nathan forcefully. “For all you know he has moved on with his life already. I doubt he has been thinking twice about asking your permission to bring his lovers here!”