Forever and a Day (53 page)

“I remember that, yeah it was mostly me… Oh wow! Is that where I know you from?” She said excitedly and bounced a bit in anticipation.

A way out dawned in front of him, he knew he could not outright lie to her, “You know? I’m not sure… could be. You may have seen my pics?”

Halo stared at him for a long time thinking, “Well I don’t remember… but I hate to bother you, I really, really have to go potty.”

“OH!” Xander said, happy to get out of the conversation. He quickly scooped her up and carried her out of the tent.

“So did your wife find out?” She asked as he quickly carried her to the loo.

“No. Your personal page wasn’t up long enough, just a few days. It became a moot point, I did tell my daughter though…”

“I’m seeing a pattern here Mr. Mystery man.”

“Oh?” He gently sat her down on the loo.

“Xander?”

“Yes, Halo?” He asked as he began to turn away.

“I need help, and I’m not wearing a blanket.” She almost burst out laughing as his mouth fell open; she held her laugh to a loud giggle.

“I’ll run back!”

“No, just close your eyes if you want.”

“It’s no prob…”

“It’s either now or I’ll have to change them.”

“Oh hell!” Xander moaned.

She wanted to tell him to think of his grandma, but she did not want that thought in his head when he thought of her, “Just like before, think about this: You would have seen me naked anyway.” She saw his hand stop in midair as he was going to help her up. “Seriously, I would have only had on panties and pasties.”

With a hoarse voice Xander replied, “That isn’t helping. You know you are killing me, right?”

“Yes, but I really need to go.” She began bouncing on the seat.

“No! Don’t do that, you might fall in. Here, let’s get this over with.” He pulled her close to him, hands trembling.

She felt his hands slide down and slip under the waistband of her yoga shorts. He got them down past her bum as his head was turned. He then looked directly at her face and sat her up on the loo.

“Hey, I think I got this. Do you have any…” He quickly handed her his ever handy supply of moist towelettes. “Thanks. I’ll call you back.”

He nodded and made sure she would not fall in and then stepped away for a short walk. He heard her call out to him and he came strolling back looking away from her.

Halo began chuckling at him as he stepped close, “Oh Xander, you really crack me up. I’m sorry if I’m being a pain!”

“It’s fine. You just don’t understand…” He looked away and with still trembling hands, he got her tight fitting shorts up. He did find out how soft her bum was and his manhood threatened to let him know how it felt about it too.

“Why are you so red? Are you ok?”

“Wha? Oh, I think I bent over too quick.” He made it sound as believable as he could. “Ready?”

“Yes, thank you. I feel much better.” She felt herself lifted off as if she was but a feather to him, she so enjoyed being in his arms. She knew why he turned red, he had brushed against her bum…

“So, what is it I don’t understand?” She asked quietly as he carried her back.

“Halo, you are you! Half the men in the world would give anything to be with you or even meet you. Don’t you get it?”

“I know what you mean. Xander, really I’m just another pretty face…” She stopped short at his look, “What?”

“See? You don’t get it.”

“No Xander, it’s you who’s not getting it.” She countered, “Xander, do you know how hot you looked? I saw you this morning and you looked like some perfect Greek sea God coming up out of the water. Hell, if you weren’t married, and with me sick or not…”

Xander laughed and suddenly stopped short when she gave him a hard look.

“You have no idea…” She replied with irritation in her voice.

He gently set her down in the tent and plopped down next to her. Looking at her, he replied with a frown, “Halo, I’m just a guy. A two-bit actor out of… Oregon no less.”

“And I’m an actress out of New York then California…” She countered. “You my handsome hero, just don’t want to acknowledge it. I know the real reason why, and it’s ok… for now.” She teased.

“Halo…” Xander stopped talking and put his head in his hands, hiding his face, and shook his head.

Halo reached over and rubbed his knee, “Xander?” She asked softly. She watched as he shook his head and looked up at her with glassy eyes.

After a quiet moment he spoke, “You don’t get it.” She started to interrupt, “Halo, please listen!” She stopped her interruption and let him continue, “I will do anything for you! Shit, I’d rather die than see you hurt, ok?” He sighed as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders, “I—I’m married…” He groaned.

Halo saw him look away with hurt in his face, she felt horrible all of a sudden. She had the biggest urge to lean over, hold him and kiss him for all she was worth. Then a small revelation dawned on her, for him to get upset this way… there has to be more, more than just him liking her too. She let that go for now, but he made his point but she felt she just had to counter it—just a little bit.

She reached out and caressed his hand with hers as her own eyes began to tear up, “Xander, I’m sorry if I hurt you. It was not my intention. I have one more question on this subject, may I ask?” She leaned over to see his face as she watched him nod as he refused to meet her eyes, “What if we are stuck here for months, a year or forever? Then what?” She watched as he turned to her with widened eyes, he gave her a tight-lipped frown and shrugged. ‘Fuck getting rescued!’ Shot through her mind like a flaming arrow at his look of uncertainty.

She squeezed his hand with hope in her heart, “Ok, Mr. Mystery man. I’m so sorry if I hurt you. Please, can I give you a friendly squeeze? You look like you need one.” She saw him hesitate but she did not relent and she began to tug at his hand. She felt a moment of resistance, but her persistence won out and he leaned close and she met him half way and pulled his head down to her shoulder.

She whispered at him as she wrapped her arms around his strong shoulders, “It hurts me to see you upset, I am so sorry.” She felt him nod then he gently pulled himself away.

“I need to start dinner before the rain hits.” He mumbled.

Halo watched him get up and shook her head at herself, she reminded herself not to push the poor guy. She sat back and had herself a think. Perhaps she did see his picture and checked out his Facebook profile. Is that where she knew him from, did they chat? She could not remember, maybe they did and he is afraid to tell her. It still did not quite fit…

The smell of fish roasting made her stomach rumble and it took her thoughts to food. She crawled over so she could watch him better, sat back and watched him cook their dinner with a smile.

Xander watched as Halo slowly took her time as she walked across the sand to the new and closer loo that he built. This one had more privacy as he built a short wooden three-sided frame and lined it with palm fronds. The seat was made with four overlapping pieces of wood planks that had washed up on the beach a few days earlier. He had taken to walking the around the island’s beaches every morning as various forms of junk and plastic were being deposited by the current.

“You are doing great, Halo! Take your time.” He urged her.

Halo was using a walking stick and her legs felt like rubber bands, but she was determined to get there and back without Xander’s help. She enjoyed it when he carried her, but being a pain in the ass was not sitting with her well. “Woo.” She sighed and stepped up to the loo and sat down on the wood plank seat.”

“You think you can handle getting your shorts off?” Xander asked quietly.

“We shall see…” Halo mumbled as she began sliding off her shorts.

“Hey!” Xander exclaimed and quickly turned around, showing her his back.

“Oh, sorry.” She smiled then got her shorts down and frowned. Even though it was awkward with him helping her go potty, she enjoyed his touch and liked the feeling of him taking her clothes off. “Ok Xander, you can take a little walk please.”

Without turning around, he called out, “Yes ma’am!” Then headed off towards the beach whistling, ‘Never on Sunday.’

He gave her a few minutes before he came back whistling the same song and saw her waiting and ready to head back. He shot her a smile, she returned it and began slowly making her way back to the camp with him close at hand.

Halo collapsed in a heap in the tent, out of breath and sweating, “Wow, that was tiring…”

“You did very well! I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, can’t believe not more than a month ago running seven miles was nothing. Here I can hardly walk fifty yards…”

“Yes, but consider how you were a week ago. Most people do not recover this quickly from pneumonia or whatever you had.”

Halo looked up at him and winced, “My back kinda hurts more now.”

“As a reward, tonight I’ll massage it for you if you would like?”

Halo nodded emphatically, hoping he would offer a back rub, even though her back was actually getting much better. He had already stopped with the cupping as her breathing was improved. She so enjoyed his hands on her, but she felt guilty asking as he was always so exhausted when he would return home in the afternoon from working the garden and from fishing.

Even though he was tired and hungry, he would make them dinner and help her with whatever she needed. As soon as he laid down at night, he was out like a light. In addition, every night like clockwork, he would roll over and spoon her until early morning, when it would be her turn. She still thought he never realized what had been doing. She knew he enjoyed it when he woke in the morning and she was curled up around him.

One time she caught him lying awake and stroking her hand softly as she hugged him close. At first, she thought he was thinking about his wife, but through her hair she watched him watch her. She loved the look on his face… it looked like he was in heaven. She worried if she could even fall asleep without him now. A shiver ran through her at the thought of him not being next to her.

“So, are you good with me heading out to the other island today?” Xander asked interrupting her thoughts.

“Oh… well, ok?” She replied as she bit her lower lip at him.

“Hey, it’ll be fine. There is enough food and water for days. Trust me, I won’t do anything stupid and risk your safety. I have to find us somewhere else to camp soon. It’s going to get hotter and well… it has been two weeks.”

“I know, are you sure you are not too tired?” She asked.

“A little, but I’m good. I’m just going to find a route over there, I will probably have to do some swimming so I’m packing light. Now, please listen carefully, ok?”

She nodded at him and watched as he sat down with a serious look on his handsome face.

“If I am not back by sundown, I want you to look towards the island and watch for flares. If you see one then I’m staying the night. If you see two, it means I am in trouble but ok.”

Halo interrupted, “What if I don’t see any?”

Xander looked at her for a long moment, “Then stay put and do whatever it takes to survive. DO NOT come and look for me. The garden…”

“Excuse me?” Halo said in as loud a voice as she could muster.

“Uh, what?” Xander replied.

“Don’t come looking for you? You think I’m going to just sit here and let you die out there alone? The hell with that!”

“Halo! You won’t make it over there!”

“Xander, you think I want to stay here without you? No way.”

“Halo…” Xander came up close to her and extended his hand out and cupped her cheek softly in his hand, “Halo, listen. You are in no condition to try to make it there. You can hardly make it to the loo. If I didn’t feel it was important, I wouldn’t go. You are important to me, if I think something is dangerous, I’ll come back right away.” He felt her press her cheek into his hand and she closed her eyes and nodded.

“Halo, I need to know that you will stay here in safety.”

She opened her big blue eyes at him and saw the worry in his, “Ok, I guess.” She lied then held her hand up to her heart and with her voice full of emotion she continued, “I don’t know what I would do without you, Xander…”

He smiled as he pulled his hand away, “You were fine before you met me, you’ll be just fine now. The fish traps are marked in the water, the garden and fruit will keep you going for months.”

With a falling tear she lunged forward, grabbed him and pulled him to her, she rested her head under his chin and could hear his heart thumping wildly in his chest, “Please come back to me!” She sniffed and looked up at him, “I don’t think I was ever ok…” Until now, she thought. She felt his arms come around her and rock her for just a moment.

“I will, Halo. It’s just a quick jaunt next door!” Xander knew he would walk through hell and back and die a thousand deaths for her. “Ok, if you get into trouble I’m leaving you the gun and half of the flares. Just point up and pull for the flares.” She nodded to him.

“I’m sorry I raised my voice to you.” She replied as she wiped her nose.

“It’s fine, I’m used to it.” He said chuckling.

Halo moved her head back and gave him a serious look, thinking that his wife must yell at him. She did not want to be that way towards him, “Oh?”

“No worries, Greeks have a tendency to talk with their hands and be very loud.” He joked.

Halo did not believe him, “Xander, be careful and hurry home, please?” She expressed and released him and wiped her eyes. “Sorry I’m being emotional…”

“It’s fine, ok I need to get moving. Feel free to use any of my electronics. I will see you soon…” She caught him off guard as she quickly leaned up and softly kissed his cheek. His breath caught and his heart felt like it stopped cold in his chest then suddenly his butterflies took off in his belly with a frenzy. He watched her hand come up and caress his cheek tenderly. Without thinking, he moved her hand to his lips and kissed the palm of her hand, pausing his lips against her soft skin for a long moment. When he realized what he was doing, he cleared his throat and quickly stood up, unable to utter a word he gave her a wave as she smiled up to him.

“Hurry home.” She said and sat back and watched him leave the tent.

He grabbed his gear and stumbled over the fire pit and ungainly righted himself and quickly continued on. When he was clear of the camp, he leaned against a palm tree and touched his cheek where her lips had kissed him. It felt like his heart went from a dead stop to a hundred miles an hour as he remembered the feeling that took over his mind and body. Never had he felt like this, with anyone. She definitely was a force to be reckoned with… his heart was nearly defenseless against her.

Xander righted himself from against the tree and stumbled forward with butterflies swimming happily in his belly. Soon he found himself at the beach facing a sandbar that lead northward to another small tree filled island. Beyond that, he saw another sandbar and another island, that one looked bare, beyond that were three more islands.

With a nod to himself, he began walking into the water towards the sand bar fifty yards away.

By the time he reached the largest and northern most island he was nearly exhausted. His last push there involved swimming at least three hundred yards praying all along that no sharks or jellyfish were present. Panting hard on the warm sand, he willed himself to catch his breath. He looked back towards Halo’s Island, it looked small and lush from here. His thoughts went to her and worried if she was ok. He pushed himself upright, turned to the tree line and immediately saw what looked like an opening, much like the one on Halo’s Island.

Leaning warily on his walking stick, he began heading towards the opening, scanning the trees up ahead. Something struck him as odd as he came closer… there was no vegetation on the ground. No grasses, no plants and the trees looked bare at least five feet up their trunks.

Goats, Xander thought. They were voracious eaters and could easily strip an island clean, and goats meant food and maybe milk.

He slowed his pace and headed up the pathway. Sure enough he could see the gnaw marks on the trees. He remembered the continuously pissed off, male horned goat of his youth while visiting his grandparents in Greece and kept his senses alert.

He saw movement up head among the coconut trees and held his stick at the ready. He crept forward and sure enough he heard a ‘bah’ then he saw the animal: it was a small shaggy brown and white goat. He saw the goat swing its triangular shaped head towards him from behind a tree. They stared at each other for a moment before it trotted away.

He kept moving up the incline of the trail when something off to the side caught his eye. He turned towards it and saw a long dark log adjacent to the sandy path. It was in fact an outrigger, turned upside down on wooden stands.

“Wow!” Xander exclaimed as he examined the roughly made ancient outrigger canoe with its attached pontoon. It looked like it had not been used for some time. Upon further examination, it appeared to be intact. He saw that he could easily carry or push it down the path to the sand and into the nearby lagoon. Peering under the outrigger, he saw two paddles underneath it. He nearly let out a whoop, no swimming or a long trek back he thought excitedly. Well, as long as it floats…

He turned his attention back to the path and considered what may be waiting up at the top of the incline. Moving carefully he crested the incline and saw, a large opening that led to large rocky hill. Scanning the area, he dropped to a crouch. A rough handmade wooden water tower lay off to the left of the hill, adjacent to that was a small wooden hut complete with a door and palm fronds for its roof. The buildings lay two hundred yards ahead. He scanned the area around him and he caught sight of a large brown horned goat staring at him from under the water tower. He checked the area all around him then slowly stood up.