No More Wasted Time (40 page)

“Tess, I realize now that the manta rays have a different
meaning for you, don’t they? They hold a special place in your heart for
Richard.”

She could only nod her head as tears streamed down her
cheeks, thinking of Richard and the manta ray box that held his ashes
. How
could he possibly know that?
“How did you know? How do you know about the
manta rays?”

“I’m not sure, just a gut feeling, but when you said you
were afraid he was watching us in the lagoon together, I knew I was right. I
thought this
motu
would be perfect because you can visit him here,
but….did I make a mistake, Tess?”

Tess took a deep breath. “Richard and I tried to see the
manta rays several different times, but they never showed up for us. On our
last trip here, we were shopping at the market when he found a wooden box with
a carved manta ray on the lid. He thought the box was the perfect souvenir to
take home. Richard kept it on the counter next to his sink in the bathroom,
that way he could look at it every day, determined to see them the next time we
came back here. He never got the chance.”

Both of them stood in the sand with tears streaming down
their faces. “After he died, I looked at that box every single day, knowing how
badly he wished to swim with the manta rays. I woke up one morning and decided
to bring him here, so he could see their show every day. I needed to say
good-bye to him. My kids thought I had completely lost my mind, but ten days
later, I was on my way here to Bora Bora with his ashes in that manta ray box.”

Tom nodded his head, listening to her story.

“I set him free so he could be here in the lagoon forever.
The next day you invited me to go with you. When the manta rays actually showed
up, I couldn’t believe it. I know it sounds silly, but at that moment, I
could’ve sworn the manta ray was Richard waving goodbye telling me,
Hi,
baby! It’s me. I made it. Thanks. I love it here.
It was okay for me to be
happy again. I allowed myself to feel again. I wanted to be with you, Tom.” She
laid her head on his shoulder. “I love it here. It’s better than perfect. Thank
you so much.”

Tom tilted her face up to his own. “I was hoping you could
have the best of both parts of your life. Your old life and your new life. I
want you to love our home here, and you can visit him, too. I don’t mind
sharing you. You’re with me now, but I understand you miss him. I want you to
be happy when you see him, not sad or stressed out. Don’t you think he deserves
to know you’re happy?”

Tess agreed nodding her head. “How can you be so
understanding? How do you know me so well? You’re so wonderful to me.”

“Because I love you, Tess, more than I thought imaginable.
I’m sorry you had to go through the pain and heartache of losing Richard. I’ll
admit, I do get a tiny bit jealous of him, well envious is probably a better
word. But in my mind…I almost feel as if he took good care of you until I could
find my way to you.”

“We’re meant to be together. Soul mates,” she whispered.

“Do you feel better?”

She nodded and he held her for a long time. Finally, Tess
said, “I’m hungry.”

A huge grin lit up his face. “Come on. Let’s go.”

They headed back to their bungalow. Right after breakfast,
she put on a bikini. “Are we kayaking or taking the boat tied up to the dock?”

“Where are we going?”

She pointed to the dark water. “The sooner the better. I need
to do this.”

“Let’s kayak.”

They tossed their gear in the kayak, and paddled for the
dark water. Slipping into the warm blue water, Tess sensed Tom’s uneasiness,
unsure if he should hold her hand. His eyes smiled beneath his mask when she
reached for his fingers. They drifted above the underwater trench, watching
schools of the fish, turtles and even a few sharks swim beneath them.

This time Tess saw them first. Three huge shadowy black
figures came from the deep, gracefully twirling, rolling, and dancing to the
underwater music. Each one glided effortlessly through the water doing back
rolls and somersaults, coming so close they both could’ve reached out and
touched it. They drifted alongside the manta rays, watching in awe as they
performed underwater ballet before returning to the depths of the underwater
trench.

Just like the first time, she wrapped herself around him and
both wore huge smiles. “You don’t think I’m crazy, do you?” she asked.

“No, Tess, I don’t think you’re crazy. I told you he’d be happy
to see you.”

“Thanks.” She beamed.

They paddled back to their own private paradise. Tess lay on
the bed content and happy. Tom came to lie beside her.

“I’m so lucky. You’re so wonderful. I can’t believe you
bought this
motu
for us. How long are we staying? Seriously, how long?”

“Indefinitely. Tess, the last time you were here, did you
really decide at the last minute to come on your trip?” Tom questioned
inquisitively.

“Yes, ten days before I got on the plane. Why?”

“I arrived here the day after you and I made my reservations
eleven days before I left. That’s the
exact
same day you made your
reservations to come to Bora Bora,” he said with a look of astonishment.

She sat straight up in bed.

“Everything
does
happen for a reason,” Tom and Tess
said simultaneously.

“I knew it was love at first sight.” Tess smiled.

Tom grinned. “From the very first moment I laid eyes on
you.”

###

BEVERLY PRESTON

For the past twenty-one years,
Beverly Preston has been a stay at home mom, although she prefers the title
Domestic Engineer, raising her four amazing kids.  Along the way, Beverly
worked side by side with her husband Don, the love of her life, designing,
building and selling custom homes. As her children begin to venture out on their
own, she’s left to shed a tear—for a minute—wonder what’s next in life, and
embrace the feeling of empowerment that surely must’ve been wrapped in a
present she received on her fortieth birthday.

Beverly lives in Las Vegas and
if she isn’t at home riding her spin bike, you’ll find her spinning richly
emotional and sinfully sexy romance stories.

Don’t miss the next novel in
this sensational new series. Visit Beverly at
http://www.beverlypreston.com/