Unplanned Love (Savage Love) (8 page)

     The service was simple and sweet. They each quoted part of the scripture from the Song of Solomon in the Bible. It was the same scripture written in Hebrew on their wedding rings.
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.
Soon the handsome couple were kissing and everyone else was cheering and whistling. Most of the women were wiping their eyes. Carrie was there snapping pictures and Bryce had to admit she was behaving like a pro. They all walked off of the pier together to a wonderful meal. Usually the evening meal was served in the enclosed dining area, but tonight they ate in the open with the tropical breeze blowing.

     Afterwards the tables and chairs were shifted and a local DJ began to play everything from classical to Jamaican reggae. They all started laughing when the “chicken dance” song came on. Samantha and Seanna had decided to keep the Wisconsin tradition of the chicken dance and soon they were all in a circle hands clapping, wings flapping and rears shaking. Even the three grandparents had joined in.
Because of the odd number of women to men, except for a few slow songs, they tended to dance in a group.

     By the end of the evening, the older ones were sitting and enjoying watching the younger ones. The DJ called for the family dance. Daffyd grabbed Seanna and Samantha pulled Bryce to the dance floor and they danced to an old “Firehouse” song. Half way through the song, they switched and Seanna was in Bryce’s arms.

     “You look beautiful,” he said leaning in so she could hear. “You and your mom both.”

     “You don’t look half bad yourself,” she teased.

     “You look happy,” he said as they moved around the dance floor.

     “I am. I have another Dad and a big brother now,” she said as she smiled up at him.

     “It is pretty amazing isn’t it?” he said.

     Seanna looked into Bryce’s eyes and for just a split second saw something new there. She chalked it up to the seed planted by Alyssa earlier and gave herself a little shake.
“You should dance with Alyssa. I can tell by the way she is watching you that she wants to dance.”

     “Can I finish the dance with my little sister
first,” he asked, not ready to turn her loose. Bryce was enjoying the closeness with Seanna. Seeing her walk down that isle had made him see her in a little different light. Not sure what exactly that was, he was just taking it for what it was.

    “Anything for my big brother,” she said patting his shoulder.

     Soon several other couples had joined them on the floor. Trisha and Leal, Pastor Bill and his wife, Pastor Shane and his, Kate and her husband, Lucille and Bryson and the last ones to enter the floor were Kevin and Carrie. Bryce couldn’t help noticing the way the two of them looked at each other not quite the way cousins should. When they had turned so that Seanna got a look at the cousins, her heart skipped a beat and she missed a step and tripped over Bryce’s foot.

     “Whoa there,” he laughed as he righted her. “They didn’t spike the punch did they?”

     “No, I guess I’m getting a little tired,” she said covering her tracks.

     Bryce looked at the concerned look on her face and realized she was staring at her boyfriend. “Would you like to sit down, Sea?”

     “Actually, I think I’d like to take a trip to the ladies room,” she said making light of it. Bryce walked her to the edge of the dance floor as another slow song started. “Go ask Alyssa to dance,” she said pushing him towards the girl sitting next to Sally.

     When Seanna got to the bathroom, she took a good look at herself in the mirror. Her face looked pale and her eyes looked huge.
What is the matter with you, girl? He was just dancing with his cousin.
She splashed some cold water on her face and took a few deep breaths before walking out the door. By the time she got back to the dance floor, Kevin was sitting with a drink in his hand and Carrie wasn’t around.

     “There you are, I was looking for you,” he grinned as he pulled her onto his lap.

     “I was just using the bathroom,” she said as she pulled loose and sat in the chair next to him. “Where is Carrie?”

     “She said she had gotten enough pictures an
d was ready to call it a night,” he replied.

     “Last song everyone!” called the DJ.

     “You heard the man,” said Kevin pulling Seanna to her feet.

     They joined everyone who had enough energy to be on the dance floor for one last dance. Before it was over Samantha and Daffyd had snuck off to the honeymooners’ cabana that had been prepared for them to share the remainder of their stay on the Island. Hugs and ‘goodnights’ were shared as everyone drifted off to their perspective cabanas. Kevin’s was in the opposite direction from the others, so he was the first to leave. Bryce walked Alyssa and Seanna to their cabana, a pretty girl on each arm. When they were just saying goodbye at the steps, Seanna remembered the film and the sim card.

     “Bryce, do you know if anyone got the film or the sim card from Carrie?” she turned and asked.

     “I don’t think so, but I’m sure it will be ok until the morning,” he replied.

     “Yeah, you’re right. It’s not like she’s going anywhere,” she said giving him a final pat on the arm. “Good night Big Brother.”

     “Sweet sleep you two,” he called as he walked away.

     “That was fun,” said Alyssa as she got ready for bed.

     “It was!” agreed Seanna as she walked into the bathroom. When she was done Alyssa was already comfy in bed.

     Seanna got in her own bed and thought about the day. Though it was a wonderful day, something niggled at the back of her mind. Not being able to go to sleep she got back up and put on some clothes. As she was leaving, Alyssa called sleepily to her, “Where are you going?”

     “I’m going to go and get the film. I just have a feeling I should,” she answered. “I’ll sleep better knowing that I’ve got it
.”

     It only took her a few minutes to get to Kevin’s cabana. She almost turned around when she saw that the lights were off.
This is silly. They are already asleep.
No sooner had that thought come, her mind then registered the low voices coming from the open window. Quietly she walked up the stairs and to the window. She didn’t know why she didn’t just make herself known, but that niggling feeling was back. Enough moonlight was streaming in the window that she could clearly see two people in bed together. She stood there long enough to know that they were
not
sleeping. Suddenly her stomach felt hollow and her throat so tight she couldn’t breathe. horrified, she forgot all about the film and quickly stumbled down the stairs and headed for her own cabana. She was crying so hard that she didn’t see Bryce until he caught her right before she would have crashed into him.

    
“Sea, what’s wrong,” he asked with concern, holding her close.

     “Get me out of here,” she said grabbing him by the shirt. Bryce turned around keeping his hold on
Seanna with one arm and led her back to his Cabana. He got her inside sitting on the couch and calmed down enough to understand what she was saying. “I couldn’t sleep, I kept thinking about that stupid film…I can’t help it I just never liked his cousin…oh, God…I hope she’s not his cousin…”

     “What happened Sea?” he asked gently he still had his arm around her shoulder sitting next to her.

     “Bryce, they were having sex…” she sobbed into his shirt.

     “Are you sure…” he had to ask.

     “I stood there like an idiot not wanting to believe it, but they weren’t covered…yeah, I’m sure. I feel sick. I’ll never be able to get that picture out of my mind,” she continued to cry.

     Bryce was at a loss as to what to say, so he just sat quietly and let her cry it out. Finally she heaved a heavy sigh and sat up. She took one look at his soaked shirt and giggled, which worried him even more. He’d never heard Seanna giggle before.

     “I’ve soaked your shirt,” she stated.

     “That’s ok,” he said shaking his head.

     “I’m pretty sure some of that is snot…”

     “In that case why don’t I put on a clean one,” he said. He grabbed a box of Kleenex off of the table and tossed it to her before he took off his messy shirt.

     “Where were you going?” she asked from the couch.

     “
…I’m changing my shirt?” he said confused.

     “I’m not delirious, just humiliated.” She said
with a snort. “I meant, when I almost mowed you over. Where were you going?”

     “I kept thinking about the pictures. I figured you must
have mentioned it for a reason. If you were having second thoughts about it, then maybe I should just go get them,” he answered as he came back in a dry t-shirt.

     “I just can’t figure it out. If she’s not his cousin and they have some kind of relationship, what’s he been doing with me? And why bring her here. Unless the whole ‘wedding surprise’ was just
a ploy to get her here for a free tropical vacation,” she said wearily.

     “What do you mean
‘wedding surprise’? Didn’t you two plan that together?” he asked with a frown.

     “No,” she
said with a frown. “I didn’t know a thing about it until I saw her on the beach!”

     “He told Leal and I that you knew all about it. That’s why Daffyd decided to let her stay, because he thought you were in on it.”

    “That jerk. How could I be so stupid,” she said jumping up from the couch. “He’s up to something. Why couldn’t I have just trusted my gut feeling about him? I knew he wasn’t being honest, but I wanted to believe he really liked me.”

     “Well, sometimes we get fooled.”

     “Would you have been?” she demanded.

     “I’m studying to be a lawyer and I’ve been around Daffyd too much, so no, probably not,” he answered truthfully. “
So, Sea, what do you want to do about it?”

     “
I think I want to confront him about it all, quietly without causing a scene. Tomorrow morning before they come for breakfast, I’m going over to talk to both of them and to get the film and the sim card. Then I am telling them to leave,” she said firmly.

     “I’m going with you,” he said.

     “I made this mess, I need to take care of it,” she stated.

     “I’ll stay outside then
. But you’ll know I’m there for moral support,” he suggested.

     “Ok, deal.”

     “Now, I’ll walk you back to your cabana. In the morning, you stop and get me on your way to see them. What time do you want to head over?” he asked.

     “I certainly don’t want to catch them in bed
again…let’s say about eight. That gives us time before everyone meets for breakfast. Maybe you could talk to the manager about getting a boat to get them out of here,” she asked.

     “
Ok, let’s get you to bed.” He helped her to her feet and she gave him a big hug.

     “Thanks, Bryce,” she whispered into his chest.

    “Hey, what are brothers for,” he whispered back into her hair.