InHap*pily Ever After

by Kim Desalvo

  Seeing his native country through her eyes made him fall in love with Australia all over again, and he couldn’t wait to take her to his favorite place. Nicknamed, “The Prom,” by the locals, Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling national treasure encompassing beautiful beaches, rocky outcrops, lush forests, mountain peaks, and an abundance of native wildlife. He couldn’t wait to walk with her over Squeaky Beach, take her for a hike through Lilly Pilly Gully, and bring her snorkeling in the beautiful marine reserve. He’d had many a vacation at The Prom, and it was there that they took one of their final trips as a family, him carrying Shelby on his back along the beach when her strength failed her, twisting his feet with each step over the round pebbles of quartz to produce a squeak worthy of both of them. He hadn’t been back since that day, but he knew that being there with Tia would make for a healing presence, and that he could re-live some of his fondest childhood memories without the crushing sadness of loss overtaking him. He’d really been harboring this way too long, he thought. About bloody time he enjoyed life again, just for him. And, of course, for Tia.

  “Oh Dylan, it just keeps on getting better and better, doesn’t it?” Tia asked as they entered the park boundaries and headed for the coast. “This is just the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen, and every time we round another curve in the road, it just gets more breathtaking. Thank you for sharing this with me…I am so glad you decided to come this way.”

  Dylan pulled off to the side of the road and put his hands on her cheeks. “Bloody hell I love you, woman,” he said fondly, bringing his mouth to hers for a soft kiss. “Every day I wake up thinking I couldn’t possibly love you more, but by the time I lay my head on the pillow at night, with you by my side, I realize that I didn’t even know what love was when I woke up.”

  “That’s got to be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me,” she replied breathlessly. “We just keep getting better and better, don’t we?”

  “Indeed we do,” he answered with a smile, “and we always will. Always and forever.”

  “I’ll never get tired of hearing that,” she said, leaning across the seat to steal another kiss.

  Dylan pulled the car back onto the road, the tan sedan pulling out behind them. “We’re camping under the stars tonight,” he said. “I’ve reserved us a tent—not rustic in the camping sense, but in a great location, and at night, a lot of the nocturnal animals sniff around the campground—echidnas, bandicoots, opossums…and in the morning, some of the most amazing birds you’ve ever seen will come and beg for breakfast. I’ve brought some nuts that they like to eat—sometimes they’ll sit right on your arms to eat them.”

  “Oh, I love it already!” Tia exclaimed.

  The “tent” was more like a luxury hotel room, and Tia’s breath caught in her throat as they walked in. It had a queen size bed, a wooden deck, and a private bathroom; although it shared a communal kitchen with the rest of the campground. They dropped off their bags and headed out for a hike, Tia clasping her hands in silent reverence under her chin when she saw a dozen or so cockatoos soaring overhead. The scenery took her breath away—lush greenery, blue sky, and wildlife everywhere—she felt a sense of absolute peace here. She couldn’t help but rush to the water when they saw a pod of dolphins swimming by as they walked along the beach, and she looked forward to the next morning, when they’d be snorkeling in the marine reserve that encapsulated the entire south side of the park.

  They watched the sunset together from the beach, then returned to the campground for a quiet evening of wildlife watching and stargazing. They’d picked up a couple nice steaks and some fresh salad fixings in one of the towns they’d passed through, and they planned to grill out and enjoy dinner outdoors.

  “We’re going to need some utensils,” she said, “to cook these and to eat them. Where was the kitchen?”

  “Right down that path,” Dylan pointed. “The barbie’s over there too, so just grab the grocery sacks and I’ll get the cooler. We’ll pick up Deb and Michael on the way—I bought some extra steaks, since they’re going to be here anyway. And wear your hat.”

  After the debacle in Melbourne, Dylan insisted that Tia wear an obnoxious floppy hat whenever they were wandering in public. “It’s just hideous enough that most people will turn away rather than stare,” he’d said when he presented it to her. “With that and a pair of sunglasses, hardly anyone will recognize you.” She groaned and pulled it over her head, tucking her hair beneath it. It was that or a wig, Dylan had insisted, and she sure as hell didn’t want to deal with that kind of inconvenience.

  He did have a point though, and it was well taken. It was disconcerting having strangers come up to greet her in random places, and it did happen. The night of the Melbourne incident, when they went to dinner with Dylan’s folks, she’d been followed into the ladies room by another restaurant patron. She was a very nice woman who had just wanted an autograph, a picture, and to show her support, but it was incredibly awkward being addressed from the other side of the bathroom stall when she was trying to pee.

  The two members of their security detail were staying in the next tent over. Tia knew that it was their job to accompany them everywhere they went—although they’d pretty much stayed out of sight during their little adventures, she’d felt their presence everywhere they’d gone—but she still felt bad about intruding on their evening to have them follow her and Dyl to the barbeque area so they could cook their dinner. She didn’t feel comfortable with the fact that they had to drop whatever they were doing to follow their every whim; even though they were being paid well for it. It was simply well outside of her own comfort zone.

  They were sitting on the wooden deck of their tent, eating sandwiches from wax paper wrappers and sipping iced tea from paper cups. As soon as they saw the couple approaching, they rewrapped their makeshift dinners and stood. “Heading out?” the man, Michael asked, ready to forgo his own dinner to follow them wherever they went.

  “Just over to the kitchen—Dylan got dinner for all of us,” Tia said, holding up the shopping bags and motioning to the large cooler Dylan carried. “The grill…I’m sorry, the barbie…is just down the road. Come and join us.”

  Michael was down the few steps in an instant, taking the cooler from Dylan. Tia noticed that he was younger than she first thought; perhaps in his late thirties, with thinning hair and strong arms. “That’s very kind; I’m pretty sure whatever you’ve got in that cooler beats these lousy sandwiches,” he said. Deb took the bags from Tia, and followed them toward the kitchen.

  “You’re sure?” she asked. “We wouldn’t want to impose.”

  “Positive,” Tia answered, turning on the path that led to their destination.

  “Hold on,” Dylan said, “I’ve forgotten something.” He looked at Deborah. “You two go ahead; we’ll be right behind you.” Michael set the cooler down, and followed Dylan back to their quarters.

  Tia looked around the long narrow ‘tent’ that served as a kitchen. There was a group of people already out in the barbeque area, but they were already cooking and the kitchen was empty. Deb set the bags down on one of the tables and groaned in pleasure as she started pulling out the contents. “Oh, this is just great,” she said excitedly. “That was probably the worst sandwich in the history of sandwich making—it got wet in the cooler and the bread was absolutely saturated. Thanks again for inviting us—this looks amazing.”

  “Absolutely,” Tia smiled. “Dylan got enough food for a small army—plenty to share.” The kitchen was rustic but well appointed, and she began pulling out some plates and utensils as Deb began scrubbing vegetables. Tia tossed her hat on the table next to the bags and unwrapped the steaks; rubbing some seasoning onto them and piling them on one of the plates. She was digging through the silverware drawer looking for some tongs when the door swung open, and four women walked in, each carrying a bag of their own.

  “G’day,” one of them said, smiling. “Beautiful evening, isn’t it?”


  “It couldn’t be more perfect,” Tia replied.

  Their heads turned toward her. “An American, are you?” an older woman with gray hair and crinkly eyes asked.

  “Yes,” Tia laughed. “Is it that obvious?”

  “Hard to hide the accent, love,” she said kindly. She walked toward Tia offering her hand to shake, but stopped a few paces away. “Wait a minute,” Crinkle Eyes said, her head tilted and her eyes narrowed. “I know you from somewhere.” She cocked her head the other way, trying to make the connection as Deb tensed and moved closer to her side.

  A slightly younger heavyset woman set her bags on the opposite table and studied Tia as well. “No way,” she said, reaching into a huge cloth bag. Tia ducked instinctively and chastised herself for panicking when the woman pulled out a magazine. She looked from the rag to Tia and back again, then held it up for the others to see. “It’s you, isn’t it?” she asked, turning the magazine toward Tia. It was her face on the cover, all right, there was no denying it. Thankfully, they’d used one of the pictures that had been taken at the airport, and not one where she was covered in blood; although the headline read, “Battle of Hastings.” An image in the corner showed the woman who had allegedly hurled the blood bomb. She was wearing a “Free Penelope” t-shirt, and was being dragged away by two security officers. “I can still see the bruise. You’re Tia Hastings.”

  Tia pasted on her best smile and extended her hand. The women looked friendly enough, with open faces and genuine smiles, but she couldn’t help but feel her self-preservation instinct kicking in. The ladies looked at her, eyes wide and smiling. “That’s me,” she said kindly. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  They shook her hand in turn, chattering all the while and comparing her face to the one on the magazine again and again, as if to make sure they weren’t mistaken. Each of them told Tia her name, but the only one she remembered was Agnes, aka Crinkle Eyes, who seemed to be the spokesperson for the group.

  “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe this,” she said. “Can I just say that I’m appalled by what happened to you the other day. I saw the program—but the way you stood tall and handled yourself…” she whistled through her teeth. “Like a real lady,” she finished with a smile.

  “Thanks very much; I appreciate that,” Tia said graciously. It seemed she was saying those words a lot lately, much as Dylan often did.

  “Are you on holiday, then?” another woman asked, “with Dylan Miller?”

  “I am,” Tia answered, “and I have to say, this is honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. And with just one exception, the people are lovely, too.”

  “Is he here too?” the heavy-set woman asked excitedly.

  Just then, Michael walked through the door toting the cooler, with Dylan right behind. “Oh my stars, I can’t believe this!” Agnes exclaimed. “I never would have thought…” She rushed over to Dylan and took his hand, introducing herself and the rest of her little group. “We’re with the Sunshine Seniors,” she explained. “We’re a travel club that goes…oh who cares?” she giggled. “I’ve been travelling all my life, but I’ve never run into any celebrities before! This is our lucky day!”

  The other ladies chimed their agreement.

  “Oh, won’t you join us for dinner?” Agnes begged.

  “Oh please do. We’ve got more than enough, we always do,” the heavyset woman said. “It would mean so much to us—please say you’ll have supper with us.”

  Dylan smiled and put his arm around Tia’s shoulders. “How can we say no to an offer like that?” he said. “We’d be happy to. We’ve got some steaks and a few other things to toss in, too.” Tia looked at him from the corner of her eye, and he just shrugged, leaning over and whispering, “It’s already a party, and it’s a bit of harmless fun. We’ll spend an hour and they’ll have something to brag to their kids about tomorrow.”

  “OK then, sounds great to me,” Tia agreed, and the ladies pumped their hands in the air in a victory cheer. Agnes took Tia by the hand while two others; Beth and Laurel, she tried to remember after they introduced themselves again; flanked Dylan, lacing their arms through his. They led him out the door and around the back of the building, where about six other people were gathered. Several women bustled about, stacking plates on picnic tables and pulling food from coolers. A smaller group of men sat on the fringes, laughing and drinking beer from oversized cans. Michael trailed behind with the cooler, and Deb followed with the stack of plates and cooking tools Tia had gathered from the kitchen.

  Agnes cleared her throat loudly. “Ladies and Gentlemen,” she began, “we have a real treat here tonight—two real live celebrities have agreed to join us for dinner!”

  One of the men looked up and slid a pair of glasses onto his face. “Real life celebrities, huh?” he said doubtfully. “What kind of celebrities?”

  “Oh my gosh…I just saw you on television,” a brown-haired woman breathed. She rushed up to greet them as Agnes passed the magazine over to the men, who looked over the top of it at Dylan and Tia as they skimmed the story. “This isn’t awkward at all,” Tia whispered sarcastically from the side of her mouth.

  “Wait a minute,” one of the men said, “I heard this story—it’s the one where that actress tried to break you up, right?” He stood and reached into a cooler, handing Dylan one of the giant cans and extending his hand. “I’m sorry I’m not familiar with your music, but I can tell you that my daughter and granddaughter are both big fans—I had to buy the granddaughter a poster of you last Christmas. I can’t tell you how jealous they’re going to be!” Several others agreed, and just like that, they were welcomed into the fold.

  An hour turned into two, pictures and video greetings were recorded, autographs were signed. It was nearly ten by the time they said their goodbyes, and Tia and Dylan headed for their own tent, trailed by Deb and Michael, whom they’d also gotten to know better over the course of the evening.

  “So, your first celebrity excursion,” Dylan said. “Kind of weird, huh?”

  “At first, yeah,” Tia agreed, “but it was kind of fun in the end. Why did you agree so quickly? I mean, I’m not sorry you did, but I didn’t expect it, I guess.”

  “It’s a fine line, this,” Dylan said, swirling his index finger in the air. “You don’t always know which side you’re walking, but sometimes it’s a no-brainer. This was just about being nice to some people who wanted to rub elbows with celebrity; for whatever that’s worth. It wasn’t for the cameras, it wasn’t a publicity stunt…it was just about making someone’s day. We had company anyway, with Deb and Mike, so what’s a few more people? Their kids and grandkids will think they’re cool, and they’ll have a great story to tell on their next trip. Maybe the media will get wind of it and maybe they won’t, but that wasn’t the point. The point was simply to bring a little joy to people, and that, to me, is the fun part of the fame.” His eyes widened, and he leaned down to the cooler that Michael had left on the porch. “Oh damn, I forgot something,” he said, reaching inside and pulling out a now crumpled and wilting wrist corsage. He took Tia’s hand and slipped it on her wrist.

  “What’s this?” she asked, looking oddly at the unusual gift.

  “We’re at “The Prom,’” he said, “I meant to give this to you much earlier, but then…”

  Tia hopped on the first step to their tent and turned toward Dylan. They were eye to eye, and she put her hands on his shoulders, pressing her forehead to his. “Listen,” she whispered. “Remember what you said this morning, about not knowing what love was when you woke up in the morning?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Times about a million,” she smiled, putting her hands behind his neck and pulling him in for a soft kiss. “You’re an incredible man, Mr. Miller. I am so beyond lucky to have you in my life.”

  Dylan grabbed her around the waist and swept her into his arms. “Why don’t you show me?” he murmured against her neck.

  “Over and over, always and forever,” she r
eplied, as he swept her into his arms and carried her to their bed.

  The tour of the coast ended way too soon, with a trip to the summit of Genoa Peak in Croajingolong National Park, a snorkeling excursion with the seals in the crystal blue waters of Montague Island, and a dolphin spotting off the shores of Jervis Bay. As they had in Europe, Tia and Dylan discovered that they were compatible in all the ways that mattered, and each and every night, he kissed her under the stars before they returned to their room to make love; rediscovering the scents, tastes, and contours of each other’s bodies.

  It was the perfect mix of adventure and down time, and in the many hours they spent in the car they chatted about mundane things like favorite ice cream flavors (Tia, cookie dough, Dylan, rocky road) to favorite books (Tia, The Stand, Dylan, the one Tia was going to write about their romance because he couldn’t wait to see how sexy she made him out to be) to Dylan’s ranch in Colorado that Tia would soon make her own. She had marveled so many times at how much they still had to learn about each other, but by the time they got to Sydney and she got her first views of the incredible city, she felt as as if they’d known each other all their lives.

  Chapter 16

  “Hey, good evening everyone, and welcome to After Dark!” Tony crooned after he finished his monologue and took his usual place behind the big desk. “I’ve got a great show for you tonight—the last one of the year. It’s all about deception, secrets, and finding lost love.”

  “Ooooh…” the audience responded.

  “Yeah, it’s big stuff, right? And speaking of big stuff, the news just came out that authorities are very close to striking a deal with the government in New Zealand to extradite Penelope Valentine. Apparently, they’re going to settle for an “undisclosed fine;” I’d hate to have to pay that bill! Now, if you saw my special last week—and I’m sure you did—you got to meet Tia Hastings, the woman at the center of this whole controversy, for the first time right here on this stage. You heard her say that there was only one person outside of the band who knew about her relationship with Dylan Miller—her best friend, who was sworn to secrecy for almost seven months…” the audience groaned in reply… “I know, seven months! Can you imagine having to keep a secret like that? I don’t think I could do it!” He paused to let the audience react. “My first guest tonight is arguably the best friend anyone could have; not only did she keep that secret, but she was there for the early days of their relationship and was the only one Tia could turn to after the allegedly fabricated break-up. Here to share some inside scoop about the story no one can seem to get enough of these days is Tia’s best friend…please welcome Lexi Summers!”