Forgotten Love (Derrien Island Trilogy) (26 page)

She hugged her father and allowed to nurse to escort them back outside to the hallway where her mother was waiting.

“How was it dear?” asked her mother standing up quickly from her seat.

Natasha hugged her mother. “Mom you were right, it was alright! I think things are going to be alright!”

After the hospital visit, Marcus dropped off Natasha at the hotel and was very gracious about postponing their conversation till the next day until she got some rest. The flight had left her totally jetlagged and she was more than emotionally spent after meeting with her father. So he helped her get checked in and walked her to her room. After hugging her briefly and kissing her gently on the cheek he allowed her to go in promising to come by the next day. Natasha stumbled across the floor to the bedroom after depositing her suitcase near the door. Falling across the bed she drifted off to sleep almost immediately.

In the morning when Natasha rolled over, she was at first a little disoriented and wondered where on earth she was. Slowly the memories came flooding back and she tried to roll over from her stomach onto her stiff back. From her horizontal vantage point she had the chance to look around the room.

No wonder her friend Ramon had chosen this hotel as the site of his second honeymoon. This room was absolutely breathtaking in it’s’ hues of crème and orange. A sliver of sunlight snaked in under the corner of the curtain illuminating a vase of brightly coloured fresh flowers that stood on the writing desk.

As her thoughts turned to her friends
Ramon and Courtney, she smiled because despite the many difficulties they experienced, they had managed to hold on to each other and rebuild their marriage stronger than ever before. It had only been almost six months since she caught the bouquet at their sunset wedding at the marina. She remembered the way they had looked at each other as though nothing and no one else existed that night and for a brief moment she had almost reconsidered her decision to leave Marcus. Especially when she caught the bouquet!

After
having a shower, she changed her clothes and sat on the balcony to enjoy the salty sea air she sorely missed. She noticed after her shower that she did not have her carry-on luggage with her. Lucas must still have it with him, she thought with dismay. She did not have her toiletries but thankfully the hotel supplied her with all she needed including a brand new toothbrush, bath soap, shampoo and even a floral body mist. That was a touch of class she really appreciated especially today.

With
the surprise of seeing Marcus and wanting to see her father she’d completely forgotten about Lucas. She would have to get her things from him later when he contacted her. She hoped that he did not find too much difficulty in locating a hotel room.

She sipped on the glass of chilled orange juice and bit off a piece of the buttered toast that was a part of the delicious breakfast that room service brought up for her.  It was a surprise considering that she did not order it, but well thought out considering that the plate was filled with all of her breakfast favourites. There was a generous heap of caramelized bacon with eggs sunny-side-up, toast and fresh cubes of cantaloupe with a flagon of hot steaming ginger tea. It was perfect especially being able to enjoy it in the warm salty air blowing off the sea below. It must be Marcus that she had to thank for this. He was the only one who knew that this would have been perfect for her.

It had been such a long time since she had a swim and today she decided that she had waited long enough.
She was home and in the distance the glittering turquoise waters seemed to be drawing her in by pure magnetism. She always travelled with a bathing suit in case she got a chance to swim in the pool during her down time so she was sure to have one in her suitcase. She did not have much of a chance to unpack after the trip to California and she only switched out a few of the outfits when she’d rushed home from the restaurant the day before.

Swimming was
one of her favourite ways to relax. She had been under so much stress lately with the album recordings, image appointments, interviews, concert rehearsals, finalizing the divorce and now her father’s illness. This swim would be a welcome relief from it all!

Her thoughts of swimming were
suddenly interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. Looking at the screen she saw Ashley’s name and number come up. She really had a lot of nerve for the stunt she pulled off yesterday but somehow Natasha felt more grateful than angry at her friend.

“Hello traitor!” she answered with mock seriousness.

“Natasha, you know I love you, you are my girl and I would never do anything to hurt you!” responded Ashley defensively.

Natasha laughed out loud at her friend
’s nervous response.

“You can relax, everything worked out fine. I am
not mad at you for lying to me. Although it would have been nice to see you,” said Natasha smiling.

“Seriously? I switched with Marcus and you are laughing?” asked Ashley
grateful for the happiness she heard in her friend’s voice.

“Yes, it all worked out for the best.
We ended up having a really important conversation with my father. So I really should thank you instead!” replied Natasha, imagining the stunned expression on Ashley’s face.

“You guys spoke to Rev. Mitchell and it was great? I am having trouble believing you,” said Ashley in complete shock.

“Well I guess his brush with death allowed him to think about some things and we were all able to finally put the past behind us!” replied Natasha. “He asked for our forgiveness, and I do not remember a night when I slept so peacefully. It is as though something was lifted from my shoulders.”

“Wow,
” was all Ashley could say in response.

“Yeah, wow! It was an answer to
my prayers over the years. All I wanted for so long was for my parents to accept that Marcus was the one I chose to be with!”

“How did Marcus respond to that?” asked Ashley.

“He was really gracious and he forgave my father as well. I can’t tell you how good that felt. I only wish we could have had this conversation before.”

“Why?” asked Ashley
listening to the regret in her friend’s tone.

“This whole divorce mess and now my own confusion about how I
really feel about Marcus are really affecting me. I thought I had resolved all of this before but more and more I think I made a mistake,” said Natasha as her voice became low and her thoughts drifted back to how she felt stealing small glances at her husband as he drove her back to the Hilton yesterday evening.

“
Are you sure that confusion is the word you want to use. You have always been very clear on how you feel about things. It’s your stubbornness that gets in the way,” replied Ashley.

“
You are right; I’m not confused at all. I fooled myself into thinking it was over while I was here but I was so wrong about that. We didn’t even discuss the divorce yesterday. It is as though he never even got the papers. We plan to meet to talk about everything sometime today.”

Natasha had to pull the phone away from her ear as Ashley squealed with excitement.

“The next time you do that could you at least give me a little warning first,” said Natasha dryly.

“You don’t know how happy that makes me. You and Marcus might have a chance of getting back together!”

“I did not say that Ashley, I said we would talk!” said Natasha defensively.

“Talk, schmalk! Listen
, I think you should have an open mind and heart and hear what he has to say. At least give him that before you ask him put the final stroke on those papers.”

“Final stroke huh? I have not signed mine either
,” Natasha confessed. So it wouldn’t actually be the final stroke. I left mine back in my apartment in Atlanta.

“Natasha, can’t you see? You are not ready to end your marriage either. This really confirms what I am saying to you.”

“I know and it is not really a decision that’s in my hands anymore. My contract requires that my divorce is finalized before my first album launch next month,” said Natasha cringing at the explosion she knew would follow her admission.

“You what? How could you do something so ridiculous Natasha? Surely you could
n’t want this career that much?” blurted Ashley angrily.”Sometimes I feel that I could strangle you!” she shouted into the receiver in disbelief at what she was hearing.

“I thought I did at the time. I let myself get so jealous of Marcus and I just wanted something that would make me stand out for once!” said Natasha now filled with regret. “Marcus seems so different now, so calm
, considerate and assured. I thought he would be so angry and resentful toward me. But all I see in him is love for me and I can’t understand it at all!” said Natasha with a hoarse whisper as tears began to prick behind her eyelids.

“May
be you are the one who is different now that you are finally seeing what a great guy you had all along!” replied Ashley.

“Hey, are you trying to become my personal marriage counsellor?” asked Natasha
swiping her hand at her eyes to remove the tears that just escaped her eyes.

“No. I am just being your best friend. I wa
nt to see you happy, that’s all, and you know that right? It might not be too late for you guys to work this out.”

“You are a great friend
, Ashley Green!” replied Natasha with a sniff. “So when am I going to see you?”

“We can meet up tomorrow probably, once Marcus does not have plans for you.
I don’t want to get in the way of you guys making the most of this time. By the way, how long are you going to be staying?”

“I have to be back in Georgia in
three days to begin preparation for a major concert I am opening at Madison Square Garden. I am sure the team is going crazy with me being gone at a time like this,” said Natasha wondering if there would be a career waiting for her once she and Marcus were done talking. She still had the problem of the divorce to think about and the fact that she didn’t want it anymore.

I am thinking about going for a swim in about an hour or so,” proposed Natasha.

“I think that is a fabulous idea, you will be able to think more clearly when you are relaxed,” said Ashley encouragingly.

After
Natasha hung up, Ashley’s mind was already racing with her next plan to save her friends marriage. Natasha had two more days on the island, three really if you counted today. There was certainly nothing wrong with giving her another slight push in the right direction. She immediately dialled Marcus’ number to give him a heads up on Natasha’s beach plans.

The hotel was a tropical paradise! On her way down to the beach, she’d noticed some stores and kiosks selling local souvenirs. At one shop in particular, a lovely turquoise beach wrap literally called out to her fashions sensibilities. So she decided to pass some of the time exploring the hotel shops to see what else she could take with her. After asking the saleslady at the first store to hold the wrap for her until she came back, she kept walking and soon found a jewellery store with many unique pieces. She saw one that reminded her a lot of the shark’s tooth pendant that Marcus used to wear when she first met him. He’d lost it years ago and she’d missed seeing him with it. Maybe she should get it for him, she thought.

“What is the price of this necklace?” asked Natasha
the saleslady

“Thi
s one is six hundred US dollars. It is made from onyx and twenty-four carat gold,” replied the sales clerk holding it up to the light.

“Oh
it is so beautiful, I want it, but I don’t want to take it with me now, what time do you close?” asked Natasha thinking about when she would be able to get her money. She’d left all her valuables and cards in the hotel safe in her room.

“We close after six thirty this evening so you have
a lot of time to buy it still after your swim,” replied to the sales clerk noting Natasha’s attire.

“
Natasha, you are hard to find! I must say that this hotel has kept your presence here a closely guarded secret! I tried calling you but I guess you shut off your phone?”

Natasha whirled around to face the familiar voice and smiled.

“Lucas, what are you doing here?” she asked in surprise. She had completely forgotten that he was here.

“
I’m visiting you of course! How are you and how is your father?”

Natasha bid goodbye to the sales clerk and promised to return later as she left the store to speak with Lucas more privately. They walked out
side and Natasha sat on the edge of a large, elaborate waterfall near to the front lobby area.

“My father seem
ed to be recovering miraculously. It’s a real blessing for all of us. I plan on visiting him again later this afternoon.”

“I am glad to hear
that, you look great by the way,” said Lucas with admiration shining in his eyes. Even in a simple bathing suit and shorts she looked ‘front-cover of a magazine’ amazing!