Eye Candy
Authors: Frederick Germaine
Also by Frederick Germaine
Ladies’ Man: An Entertaining Love Novel
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Copyright © 2012 by Frederick Germaine
Published by: F. Germaine Publishing
Cover Design: Brand Concepts Creative Media
ISBN: 978-0-615-62375-7
eBook ISBN: 978-0-615-64924-5
Printed in the United States of America
This book is dedicated to all the eye candy on planet Earth.
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE: THE WEDDING IN HAWAII
PART I: THE REVITALIZATION PROJECT APRIL
EPILOGUE: THE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IN HAWAII
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2007
The enchanting island coastline being that of Kauai, Hawaii, was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. As I looked out the window of my resort bedroom, the thunderous waves from the Pacific Ocean bounced off the jagged rocks along the shore. Not far from there, the ever-so-white ivory sand extended throughout the coastline for miles. I was on the majestic island to marry the woman of my dreams named Monica Carmichael. Within a short period, she would soon be my wife.
“Are you ready to do this, Aaron?” I asked myself still looking aimlessly into the ocean. Before I could answer my own question, there was a knock at the front door.
“Hey, Aaron, are you ready yet?” said the noticeable voice from the door. “It’s me, Sebastian.”
Sebastian Carter was my best man for the small and intimate wedding ceremony on the island. He was a catch for every woman since he was tall, dark, and handsome. Other than that, we were best friends and co-workers at Donaldson and Bradshaw an architect firm back in Atlanta. There, we were both senior designers and loved our job. I met Sebastian when we were freshman at Florida State University. Back then, I was a geeky and shy eighteen-year old engineering major, and he was on his way to being named college football’s freshman of the year by the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“Yeah, I’m in here,” I shouted from my bedroom as I walked to the front door briskly in my boxers and tee shirt. “Just calm down and hold your horses.”
As I opened the door, Sebastian stood there already in his tuxedo as if he was the one getting married.
“Aaron, you’re not even in your tuxedo yet,” he said entering my room.
“Relax Sebastian. I already took my shower and it’s only going to take me fifteen minutes to get ready.”
After I closed the door, we both walked promptly to my bedroom where I needed to finish getting dressed.
“Well, you better hope so because the ceremony starts in less than an hour. I already went down to beach and it’s real plush and elegant.”
“It should be. Monica’s father spared no cost to see his only daughter get married the right way.”
“With all that damn money he has stockpiled, I bet this wedding didn’t set him back one bit. Come to think about it, I haven’t seen the professor all day.”
Before Sebastian could get the last statement out of his mouth, there was a loud banging knock at my door. We both knew it could only be one person with such a distinctive presence.
“Aaron, are you in there?” asked the firm voice on the other side of the door. “It’s me, Dr. Carmichael.”
“Well, speak of the devil,” said Sebastian laughing a little.
“Quiet, Sebastian, before he hears you.”
By now, I had my pants and shirt on and made my way to the front door for our visitor. Mister or should I say Dr. Carmichael was a tenured English professor at Emory University. He found it quite offensive if anyone called him anything else besides Dr. Carmichael. Outside of teaching at well-known Emory University, he was a New York Times Best-Selling author with a handful of published works. Lecturing and book tours kept him busy and also allowed him to amass a substantial amount of wealth from his recognition. The entire wedding, including everyone’s first-class airfare and resort rooms, was paid by him.
“Hello, Dr. Carmichael,” I said as I opened the door smiling.
“Aaron, I see you’re not ready yet,” he replied looking down at his watch while entering the room. “We have less than forty-five minutes before the wedding ceremony commences.”
“Yes sir, I’ll be ready shortly,” I said closing the door behind him and tucking my shirt into my pants. “Plus, I have Sebastian here to make sure I look just right.”
By now, Sebastian had made his way from the bedroom and joined Dr. Carmichael and I near the front door.
“Hello Dr. Carmichael,” Sebastian said to the professor as he stood by my side. “You look very distinguished in your suit.”
“Thank you, Sebastian,” he said while tugging on the front portion of his suit that was already perfectly tailored. “Now Aaron, I just came by to wish you much success on the marriage to my daughter.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Aaron, I know I don’t have to tell you this, but I feel compelled to say it,” began Dr. Carmichael with his short speech. “My daughter means the world to me and I want you to treat her with the utmost respect. Besides loving her with all your heart, I want you to remain faithful to her no matter what.”
“Dr. Carmichael, I promise I wouldn’t have it any other way for your daughter. I truly love her with all my heart and soul. Besides, I’m thirty years old and ready to settle down.”
“That’s good to hear, son. You know I’ve been married to my wife for over thirty years now and never once have I stepped out of bounds. I expect the same from you.”
“I always promised myself if I ever got married, the one thing I would do was remain faithful. Dr. Carmichael, I have too much respect for your daughter to ever think otherwise.”
“Just remember, Aaron, marriage is a work in progress. You only get out what you put into it. Nowadays, young couples want to rescind their marriage as soon as they hit a bump in the road.”
I stood there nodding my head agreeing to everything Dr. Carmichael was saying. It all sounded good and I knew he meant well. Sebastian stood there in silence and listened also.
“Well enough of me babbling,” he said finally coming to the end of his speech. “I’ll let you finish getting dressed and see you in the wedding area shortly.”
We shook hands, hugged each other, and then I opened the front door for his departure. The next time I would see him, he would be walking my bride-to-be down the aisle.
“Aaron, do you believe that crap Dr. Carmichael said about him never cheating on his wife?” Sebastian asked finally speaking.
“Why would he have to lie about that?”
“Oh, please! All married men cheat at some point in time during their marriage. It’s just in a man’s genetics.”
“Well, Sebastian, you can exclude me from your all married men cheat theory because I plan on remaining faithful to my lovely wife. Plus, everyone is not trying to be a ladies’ man and add another notch on their belt like you.”
“Oh, so you got jokes.”
“Come on now, you know I’m just kidding around. Besides, you and Shanna may even hit it off here at the wedding.”
“Now, you really think you’re a comedian today.”
Shanna was Monica’s close friend and designated maid-of-honor. The pair was very different as Monica was quiet and reserved while Shanna commanded attention and was a self-proclaimed know-it-all. The two hit it off at North Atlanta High School where they were teachers. Shanna couldn’t stand Sebastian and the feelings were mutual with him too.
“Haven’t you heard that opposites attract?” I asked placing my tie on.
“Never in a million years will me and her ever attract,” he said. “And you can take that to the bank!”
Within a few minutes, I was fully dressed. Sebastian made sure there wasn’t a glitch on my tuxedo and we made our way out of the room and down to the beach.
When the ceremony began, I couldn’t have asked for anything else more picture perfect. The sun was setting in the evening sky as the burnt orange haze reflected off the blue ocean’s waves. You could hear the sea in the near distance as a woman dressed in all white played soft music on a cello. The white gazebo, where we were to be married, was placed on the beach but far enough from the water to give the wedding a tranquil and romantic feel. The small wedding party stood near the gazebo, which was decorated in our color theme of white and coral.
Monica and I stood in the gazebo and faced the vast and ambiguous ocean. The ocean would symbolize no boundaries and our endless love for one another. To my right, stood Sebastian and of course Shanna was to my far left. In the center, facing the audience was Pastor McGregor, who would orchestrate the wedding. He was a dear friend of Dr. Carmichael and was elated to be presiding over the ceremony.
“Are you sure you want to go through this?” Sebastian asked in a whisper but loud enough over the music.
“Quiet,” I mumbled barely moving my lips.
The music continued to play as we awaited instructions from Pastor McGregor. The eager onlookers included Dr. Carmichael, his wife Allison, a few colleagues from Emory, friends from his publishing company, and of course Monica’s close friends. Missing from the audience were any members from my family. Since I grew up in foster homes my entire life, I really never had anyone I considered close to me.
“You may now face each other,” ordered Pastor McGregor as the music came to a halt and he began to speak. “The book of Proverbs states, he who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.”
As Pastor McGregor continued to speak, I barely heard a word he said. All I could do was aimlessly look into Monica’s eyes knowing how she would complete me. She held my hand with a firm grip of nervousness and looked back at me as tears of joy slowly filled her eyes.
“Aaron, you may now recite your vows to your bride,” said Pastor McGregor regaining my attentiveness.