During the toast as Nathan raised his glass to the health and to the happiness of the group, their eyes met and the brief shift from his forced smile to hurt was clearly evident. She prayed in that moment that he would find someone to love him and who could be for him all that he needed. He did deserve to be happy, but it just couldn’t be with her!
She’d given her heart to Darius years before and now there was a chance to work things out. It was all she’d ever wanted deep inside, to be back home with him here on this island. That was what her heart wanted and trying to do the opposite would only mean she would be living a lie just to please Nathan. He deserved so much more and she felt confident that someone would see that.
Even as she had that thought Solange came to stand beside her at the doorway. She was dressed in a gorgeous sea-blue sheath which emphasized her petite form.
“Hi, I don’t think we’ve officially met, but I’m Solange Hassell,” she said somewhat nervously. Candasee turned to see the woman at her side extending a hand to her. She shook it and returned the friendly smile that was being offered to her.
“Hi, I’m Candasee Maxwell,”
“So this is it for the intensive huh, did it surpass your expectations?” Solange asked.
“Actually it did! I’m so glad that we had it here. The academy is going to get really excellent exposure and I’m sure it will help Nathan and his family extend their business further around the world,” replied Candasee sincerely. At least he got something wonderful out of this experience even if it wasn’t a life with her.
“I also think that this whole week was so unusual, almost fated, the way things happened,” Solange agreed.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, the way everything seemed to go wrong, from the storm, to my hotel losing the intensive, to me losing, well, the last one doesn’t really matter anymore,” she said with a sad smile. “But as you said, look at all the good that came of it.”
“So did you come to see Darius?” asked Candasee now wondering why Solange was there.
“Oh no, I heard about his injury and I know he’s in the hospital right now. Besides, I know when a man is deeply in love with someone else and I know when to back off. I know you two were married before and it’s clear to me that there’s still something there between you two. Besides, he was never interested in me like that! I actually came to say goodbye to Nathan. We’re really old friends from back in college days.”
“I see! I’m sure that he will be glad to see you!” Candasee replied.
“Oh he’s waving me over now, it was nice to finally meet you Candasee!” she said before crossing the floor and giving Nathan a hug. Who knew what the future could hold for those two, thought Candasee as she observed the pair.
Chapter 16
“Now that you’ve spent your morning buying up half the city, I know the perfect place to take you for lunch,” said Courtney with a mischievous smile.
It’d been a month since the intensive finished, and Candasee had returned to Derrien Island two days ago after going home to see her father and tell him of her decision to leave Barbados. He’d been disappointed but he’d come to accept her decision and offered her his love and support. She’d resigned from her post at the Academy as well. She’d only seen Nathan once during that time and he’d avoided her but she couldn’t blame him. A clean break was best considering all that happened between them. The last she’d heard was that he’d left for the United States. She too needed time to let go of Nathan and all their relationship meant and to be sure that she wasn’t rushing back into a relationship with Darius still clouded.
She’d contacted Courtney immediately when she arrived to get news about Darius and she was told that he was out of the hospital and he was almost one hundred percent again. Did he still want her back?
Courtney suggested that they spend the day together and she thought it was an excellent idea. She didn’t leave much room in her life recently for girlfriends and it was a refreshing change of pace.
“I haven’t had this much fun shopping in a long time Courtney and yes I am starving!”
“Good, I know somewhere you can enjoy a wonderful view and a delicious meal with just the right company,” she teased.
“Now you’ve got my attention piqued!” Candasee laughed.
They stowed away their bags in the trunk of Courtney’s car before she took the wheel and began driving them away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
“I know you didn’t say why you came back but I suspect it’s because of Darius,” Courtney stated.
“You’re right! I broke off my engagement with Nathan and I’ve spent the last month really thinking about what I really want in life. It’s the same as it always was ever since I met him. Meeting Darius six years ago changed everything for me and there’s nothing I could say or do to make that any less true,”
“I can say the same about myself and Ramon. I resisted him for years because I didn’t want to get my heart broken. It only made things worse,”
“You too seem to have come through it all really well, I hope I have the same story.”
“Well you can and I have a sneaky feeling that you will. By the way we are here.”
Candasee looked around slightly puzzled by her surroundings. This did not look like a restaurant at all.
“Where are we?”
“Ramon and I thought you and Darius needed a little push in the right direction so we’re making sure that you guys don’t mess this up this time around. I’ll let Darius tell you where we are.”
“Darius is here?”
“Yes, since he came home from the hospital he’s been spending most of his afternoons at the back of this building alone. He doesn’t want to admit it but letting you go is killing him and it’s time for you two to really talk.”
“I don’t understand. But I must say that this building looks really familiar, like I’ve been here before.”
Courtney just smiled but said nothing and offered Candasee the crook of her arm as they went around the side of the building. Around the corner, Candasee saw a beautiful garden with benches and many tropical flowers under shady trees.
“Wow it’s so beautiful here Courtney.”
“It sure is,” said Ramon stepping out from behind one of the trees holding a basket in his hand.
“You are in on this too?”
“What can I say, I’m addicted to planning events especially for two people who need a little push in the right direction,” he said with a wink.
Wow, Darius was lucky to have found such wonderful friends in Ramon and Courtney, Candasee thought.
“So here is where our journey with you ends today,” said Courtney. “I will hold onto your shopping for you till later.”
“Where are you going?” asked Candasee in confusion.
“Just follow the path out to the end and you’ll find who you are looking for.” Ramon then handed Candasee the picnic basket he held in his hand.
“Good luck and we are looking forward to having you guys over for dinner soon to celebrate something special.”
With those words and chuckle Ramon took his wife’s hand and they walked away quickly without giving Candasee time to respond.
She was so nervous all of a sudden. This felt like she was on a first date and she didn’t know what Darius would think or if he’d changed his mind. She walked along the path slowly admiring the flowers and soon she came to a gazebo set against a breathtaking ocean view. But she only saw it for a few seconds because at that moment Darius who was leaning against the post suddenly looked over his shoulder and all her breath left her body. She would never forget how the tortured look in his eyes slowly dissolved as he seemed to draw in every aspect of her appearance.
“Candasee? Am I dreaming?” he asked slowly.
“No, it’s me you aren’t dreaming!”
“But I thought you left. Nathan...”
“I want to come home again Darius,” she interjected as tears began t
o flow out of her eyes. A weight began to lift off her chest now that she’d given herself the permission to be honest about how she felt. She climbed the stairs and rested the basket on the floor and for a moment it seemed as though neither moved and there was only the sound of the wind in the trees.
“Is your offer still open?” she asked tearfully.
Darius crossed the floor in three strides and captured her mouth in the fiercest kiss she’d ever experienced in her life. She opened her mouth to grant him access and he tasted every part of her mouth with a possessiveness that made all her senses reel. It was a kiss that was meant to meld them into one living, breathing whole. Taking a ragged breath he said,
“Is that enough of an answer for you?”
“No, it isn’t,” Candasee said reconnecting their lips. Now that she’d allowed herself to truly feel what she wanted with Darius again she didn’t want to stop.
“I can’t believe you’re actually here. I thought you would be married by now,” Darius confessed raggedly as his warm breath caressed her lips.
“I couldn’t marry Nathan if you still have my heart silly, I thought you knew that already,” she joked through her own tears.
“And you will always have mine Candasee, I love you!”
“And I love you too! I always have!” Candasee confessed.
With a loud whoop Darius picked her up and spun her around and together they fell to the floor in a heap laughing.
“If anyone told me this morning that this was how my day would turn out, I wouldn’t have believed them. This is the best gift I can remember in a long time,” he said before he grew suddenly serious. “How did you know to look for me here?”
“I had a bit of help from Ramon and Courtney. They actually masterminded this whole meeting. They said we both needed a push in the right direction.”
Darius looked at her oddly before pulling her up to stand with him.
“Come I want to show you something.”
He took her hand and led her back around to the front of the building.
“Does this building look at all familiar to you Candasee?”
“Yes, it does, I told Courtney that it looked familiar when we arrived.”
“You asked me while we were on Krispin why I never told you that I was sorry. I’ve wanted to tell you how sorry I was about us for a long time now but I preferred to show you rather than to just tell you. Mere words or an apology would never have been enough to make up for what I did. So, I went ahead and I got copies of the plans you’d made for your dance school and I had it constructed. This is what you designed! Surprise!” he said smiling broadly.
Candasee stood in stunned silence as she struggled to comprehend what Darius was saying to her. “How long ago did you start this?”
“The building and landscaping has been finished now for about four months but I started working on the construction about eleven months ago now. I wanted to show you rather than tell you how much I’d changed and that I wanted you back and I would give you the world if I you’d only let me back into your heart!”
“But, but, but you knew I was angry with you and you had no idea I’d even talk to you, so why did you do this?” stammered Candasee still reeling from the shock and the implication of Darius’ admission to her.
“That’s simple, I loved you and I wanted you to know it beyond the shadow of a doubt!” he replied simply before looking across at her and the love in his expression nearly floored her. “It is crazy, but there is nothing rational about how I feel about you Candee.”
“Darius, I don’t know what to say!” Candasee felt as though she would burst as she turned toward Darius and wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into the warmth and strength of his chest as she cried. He’d loved her all along too, and across the distance separating them he was working at rebuilding their relationship even when hope no longer seemed to exist.
“Come, I want to show you inside the building”.
The building was a beautifully designed two story structure which featured a blend of smooth cement walls and dark-stained hard wood panelling on the outside with a quaint cobbled pathway lined by short palms and other colourful botanicals. It was perfect! He took her inside and showed her the six individual dance studios with full mirrors and polished floors, the built in sound recording studio, and even a small performance amphitheatre with a stage for rehearsals and small concerts. There was spacious office space for herself and her staff, and the garden area in the back with the gazebo boasted a breathtaking view overlooking the sea. It was like walking through her actual drawings. He didn’t change a thing and everything was done just as she’d always envisioned it to be.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this when you saw me last month?”
“I was going to at first but then I decided not to use this to try to influence your decision. I’m done with trying to manipulate you. I just want your love.”
Candasee was utterly speechless at what she was seeing and hearing. This was her dream literally standing before her eyes.
They were finally back at the gazebo and Darius leaned against the rail of the gazebo while Candasee wordlessly looked back at him with wonder in her eyes. It was that look that he wanted her to have for the rest of her life. He would give her whatever support she wanted, and he would be her biggest fan.
Just when she thought she understood this man, he always went and rewrote the script. All within the last year while she was busy thinking he just didn’t care he was actually re-crafting an entrance into her life that would obliterate all that gone wrong before. It wasn’t even the fact that this facility was wildly expensive because she could have built her own if she wanted to as well, but it showed her that he’d really changed. It was a statement that he wanted to be the one who supported her like no one else could.
“Thank you for doing this for me! I don’t even know where to start with how much this means to me! I don’t deserve this after how I treated you,” she whispered as her voice became thick with emotion.
“Don’t be ridiculous Candasee, of course you deserve it, and you always did. It just took me a while to realize what a fool I’d been! Your being here with me and loving it, is thanks enough. You won’t regret giving me a second chance, I promise you!” he said taking her hands in his, his slate grey eyes focused upon hers without wavering. “I want all of whom and what you are and I couldn’t be more proud of what you are doing with your life. I watched you those few days with the delegates and how much they just loved you and your approach to teaching them and I knew that you were meant to impact lives in this way. I am with you one hundred percent,” he said.
They sat and ate and enjoyed the view and being with each other until the sun was setting.
“Candasee, I am so glad that you are here again and I don’t want us to waste another minute apart,” he confessed consumed with a desire to have all of her once again.
Falling slowly to one knee before her, Darius reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box and opened it. Inside was a glittering diamond solitaire ring. Candasee gasped in surprise! How long had he been carrying that around?
“I know, it might seem too soon for this but I don’t believe in wasting any more time. We’ve been apart long enough and I need to know that you are mine again in every sense of the word. Will you honour me by marrying me again?”
“Yes Darius, I will,” breathed Candasee with elation as Darius slipped the ring onto her finger. He stood again and captured her mouth in a kiss that made her tremble with need.
“Is this week too soon for us to get married?” he asked between kisses to her lips and along her neck.
“I would marry you tonight, if I could Darius!” responded Candasee fervently as she threaded her fingers through the soft curls of his hair as she arched into his warm embrace. The line of kisses he was trailing along her neck felt like liquid fire in her veins. She wanted him and she’d wanted this for so long. Even in the coolness of the night breeze blow
ing against her skin her temperature had already risen by a whole degree.
“I don’t want to ever be away from you again, I don’t want to know what that feels like ever again!” she confessed.
Chapter 17
Everything about today was absolutely perfect, thought Candasee as she and Darius posed for pictures with Marianne and Francis. When Marianne heard the news that they were getting re-married, she suggested that they have a double wedding. Both she and Darius thought that it was an excellent idea and both she and Marianne got to work with the plans right away.
All of the guests she and Darius would’ve invited, Marianne would have invited as well, so it made sense to combine the events into one. Even though it meant postponing their wedding for another three weeks, Candasee couldn’t have been happier. The extra time also allowed her father to fly in for the celebration. He and Darius had a long private talk in the study when he arrived at the house. But when they finally emerged, her father was happy to call him son for the first time.
“So Mrs. Brogan, have you guessed as yet where I’m taking you for our honeymoon?” asked Darius cryptically, as they returned hand in hand to their seats for the first dinner course at their wedding reception.
She had no idea.
He loved surprising her and he’d done so on their first honeymoon by taking her almost to the other side of the world to Bali. That trip was pure magic! If he could find a way to top that she would be surprised. The truth was that she really didn’t care where they went, once she was with him. She simply couldn’t believe it. They were married again and it felt even better the second time around.
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