Romance in Color

by Synithia Williams

  The only family member who knew about this was his aunt and only because she was a high-ranking officer. He never even told Anna because she worked for a state-owned media house. If any of her colleagues had gotten hold of that information, it surely would have been damaging to her career. And he surely wasn’t going to let that happen to his only sister. Not after all she had been through with her divorce. He also had his two nephews to think about.

  He was raised to do the right thing. He considered himself a man of honor and courage. He knew all this but was he prepared to face the consequences after? Adrian was so afraid about this one. Afraid that yet another woman would walk out of his life when he needed her the most.

  After much pondering and soul searching, Adrian finally made up his mind about it. There was nothing else left for him to do if he wanted Cory in his life, and he absolutely did.

  It was a little before five in the afternoon when he pulled up to her office building.

  His hands shook from nerves. It’s your only option, Adrian. No turning back now, he kept reminding himself. He was early. He parked in front the five-story building and waited for her. She had to walk this way to get to her car. Adrian’s only company was the ever so often gentle hum of the engine as the air-conditioning cooled the interior. This faint rise and fall irritated the hell out of him.

  Half an hour ticked by ever so slowly and Adrian was losing all his resolve by the minute. Just as he was about to dial her number, he saw her walking out with Jay. They were talking intensely about something. He didn’t know why he felt an instant jolt of jealousy threatening.

  Cory hadn’t noticed him there but when Adrian called out to her, she totally ignored him and deliberately looked straight through him. She kept on walking.

  To stop her, Adrian quickly reached for her arm. That was when he was thankful that Jay excused himself.

  “Baby, please.” Then he reached for her cheek and softly caressed it. He could only see pain in her eyes.

  “Please don’t touch me, Adrian.”

  Adrian immediately dropped his hand to his side and said, “Cory, I’m sorry I didn’t return your calls. I know you must be really angry with me right now. But I was so caught up with work these past days with the summit.”

  “Yeah, I know. But a simple returned phone call when you got a spare moment would’ve done the trick, I think,” she angrily lashed back at him.

  “Cory, again, I’m truly sorry,” he quietly said.

  “So that’s it? I haven’t seen or heard from you for days and that’s all you can come up it. Please, Adrian, I’m not a fool, okay.”

  “Cory, I haven’t even gotten enough sleep during the last how many days. We were working round the clock.”

  “So that’s the reason you’re looking like this?” Cory asked. “And you’re hurt.”

  “Not really,” Adrian quickly responded. “Just a small accident I had.”

  “The last time I saw you, Adrian, you just left me there feeling so completely humiliated and like such a fool. You were so angry with me.”

  “Cory, yes I was angry at first but … look, I know you must’ve been worried and I owe you a huge apology.” So that’s what she thought this was all about? She thought that he was angry with her? “I really am very sorry, baby.”

  “I thought you had abandoned me, Adrian,” she added softly.

  “Cory, never! Why would I ever want to abandon you?” Adrian took her into his arms and held her. She felt so stiff there. He knew how hard it had been for him, he could only imagine what it must have been like for her. “I have all that I could possibly ever need with you, Cory. That’s why I need to talk to you about something.”

  “Now?” she asked in an agitated tone.

  “Yes, now. Do you have somewhere else to go?” This couldn’t wait any longer.

  “Not really. So what is it, then?”

  “Let’s go. I want to take you somewhere.”

  “So where’re we going?” she enquired, when he passed his apartment.

  “Do you trust me?” Adrian asked in return.

  “Yes,” Cory answered. “Unfortunately.”

  Adrian drove in silence. They went up and around a hilly roadway. Round and round and up and up they went. When Adrian finally pulled into a compound, the sign said, Welcome to Fort George Historical Site.

  Adrian held her hand as he helped her out. There was an eerie quiet to the place. Only a handful of people milled about the Fort, mainly tourists taking pictures.

  “It’s so beautiful and so peaceful up here,” was all she could manage. “I’m positive you can see the entire island from up here.”

  Adrian agreed with her as he moved to hold her around the waist. His hands immediately snaked around her, gently pulling her closer to him. He underestimated the power of this and what holding Cory so close could do to him.

  “Cory, believe me when I say just how much I really missed you.”

  “If you really missed me that much Adrian, why didn’t you return any of my calls?” Cory demanded. “Or texts. Or e-mails?”

  She wiggled out of his grasp then and started walking toward the many cannons that lined the Fort. She climbed atop one and perched herself comfortably on the cannon. “I absolutely love it here,” she whispered.

  Cory was such a vision to behold. Sitting on that cannon, her hair blowing freely in the breeze. Adrian couldn’t wait anymore, “Cory, I should’ve told you this all along. But I was just trying to deny it so many times. And I can’t anymore. You mean more to me than anything in this world and I’m really thankful that you’re in my life right now,” he finally let out. “The things I went through this last week, Cory, they only made me realize that I really can’t be without you in my life. I love you too much … I’m in love with you, Cory.”

  Adrian paused briefly for a deep breath. He was reaching very deep to get this out right. He covered her small hands with one of his and reached into his pockets for something with his other hand. A small, dark blue box came out.

  Then Adrian got down on bended knees. “Cory, I’ll be honored if you’d be my wife. Will you marry me?”

  Chapter 22

  What? Cory nearly fell off the cannon in shock. She was nowhere near to expecting Adrian to just spring this question on her like that. The big question. The question every woman dreams of being asked at one point or the other in her life. She was at a total loss for words.

  She had to steady herself on the cannon.

  “Adrian, what’re you asking me?” was all she could muster at this point. Then he opened the box in his hand. And there it lay. Sparkling in the setting sun. The ring. No, the most beautiful solitaire she’d ever seen stared back at her. How did he know? This was her dream ring. Ever since she was a little girl, Cory had dreamed and imagined what this day would be like. Nothing she had come up with then could have compared to this moment now.

  Adrian was looking at her expectantly, probably waiting on her answer. Tears welled in her eyes.

  “Do you really love me, Adrian? Because if you’re playing with me … .”

  “I’m not playing, Cory,” Adrian interrupted her. “I’ve fallen so completely in love with you. I adore you. I came to this island never expecting anything really. And here I was able to find you. To find love. Baby, I’ve never needed anyone like I do you, Cory. If that answers your question?”

  Cory had wanted to hear these words coming from Adrian so much. The tears started slowly rolling down her cheeks now. “Yeah, but are you seriously asking me to marry you?”

  “Yes, I am, Cory. I’ve never been more serious in my life. If I didn’t want you to be my wife, I wouldn’t have asked you such a question. I want this more than anything,” he smiled. That gorgeous, heartwarming smile that made her feel like flying with angels.

  “Then,
yes. I’ll marry you, baby.” Adrian quickly slipped the solitaire onto her wedding finger. “I’ll be everything you need.”

  Cory smiled between the tears as Adrian lifted her off the cannon. “I love you so much, Adrian. I can’t even describe what I’m feeling right now. I’m just so happy, baby,” she said.

  Overcome with emotion, Cory was laughing and crying at the same time. She quickly forgot the anger she had felt earlier. She was now experiencing the greatest feeling in the world. It was indescribable, the moment unforgettable. She was literally on top of the world, high up on the most beautiful fort, more than a thousand feet above the city. In one of the most breathtaking and most romantic places on the island and the man she loved more than anything just unexpectedly proposed to her. Cory couldn’t help but wonder if Adrian’s reason for proposing here had anything to do with the fort’s military history. That would definitely be a very sentimental thing for him. Fort George was a military fortification built in 1804 by the British to protect the capital from invaders.

  Adrian had been in love with her all the while. He wanted her to be his wife. So nothing else mattered. Cory was so close to being in heaven right now. She kissed him. She never wanted to let go of him. She thought she might wake up at any moment and this would all be a dream if she ever let go of him. It felt so surreal. Only this was so real.

  “I love you so much,” Adrian said again.

  When Cory suggested that they get married sooner rather than later, Adrian was only too happy to oblige. First, she had the daunting task of telling her father about their impending nuptials. So far, she only wore her engagement ring when she was with Adrian because of the disaster that nearly erupted when both men had met. Cory knew she had to prepare herself for another battle.

  When she finally mustered the courage, she came home from work early one afternoon. Albeit, she was a nervous wreck, Cory really felt that a heart-to-heart talk with her father was the best way to tell him the good news. Her father never tried to actually hide how he really felt about Adrian, so this was going to be very difficult indeed. She knew she was going to do her best sales pitch as clearly and as quickly as possible. She had to sell her love for Adrian and his love for her and the fact that they wanted to be together.

  They were doing the right thing by getting married, anyway. Her father should be happy about that. They weren’t going to just move in and live together as was the norm these days. Cory knew he would hit the roof and probably disown her in the process if she ever decided to do that. She also hoped that maturity would prevail and he would try to be happy for his only daughter.

  “Hey, Dad,” Cory cheerfully greeted her father as she planted a big kiss on his cheek, something she hadn’t done in a while.

  “Hi, Princess. You’re home early today.”

  “Yeah, I know. Isn’t that great though? I can finally spend some quality time with my favorite dad.” She passed her hand through his straight graying hair.

  “Okay, what do you want?” an ever-alert Jonathan asked.

  Cory threw her handbag and car keys on the coffee table and grabbed an armchair next to him in the living room.

  “What makes you think I want anything?” she asked, with a broad smile spreading on her face.

  “So what’s all of this about, then? The cheerfulness, the kiss, the … .”

  “Dad, I always kiss you,” Cory said.

  “Not anymore, you don’t,” he huffed.

  “Oh, forget it. I do have some good news, though,” she announced.

  “Please tell me that you got a big promotion so I can finally retire.”

  “Dad? You’re retiring next year, anyway.”

  “Okay, okay. So what’s your good news?”

  Cory took a deep breath. “Adrian asked me to marry him, Dad.”

  She waited for her father’s response. Silence. After what seemed like an eternity, Cory asked, “Dad, did you hear what I just said?”

  “I heard,” Jonathan replied coldly as he removed his glasses. “So what’s the rush? Are you pregnant, Cory?”

  “Dad … no!” a horrified Cory exclaimed. “We just love each other and we want to get married.”

  “This is all happening rather quickly, don’t you think? I mean you only just introduced the guy to me two weeks ago.”

  “Yes, I know that … but we’ve been seeing each other before that. We know what we’re getting into, Dad.”

  “Do you? Well, something just isn’t sitting well with me on this one, Cory,” he said, playing with his well-trimmed graying beard.

  “Dad, I just want you to be happy for me. Besides, you have always wanted to walk me down the aisle and give me away on my wedding day, right?”

  “I don’t think I’m prepared to do that under these circumstances.”

  “What circumstances? Dad … what’re you saying?” a shaky Cory asked.

  “Cory, you’re an intelligent girl. I just cannot accept this whole marriage proposal thing … something just doesn’t seem right. So I’m telling you from now. Don’t expect me to be at this wedding,” Jonathan said matter-of-factly.

  Cory couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was her father refusing to even attend his only daughter’s wedding?

  “I think you should really listen to me and not go against my wishes. Take your time, Cory … get to know this young man some more before you rush off and make the biggest mistake of your life,” Jonathan pleaded with her.

  “Dad, you’re being so unfair to Adrian. You don’t even know him. He really is a good, decent man. He’s not like the others. I told you he’s different. Why are you being so stereotypical?” There, she finally said it to her father’s face.

  Those words felt strange coming from her own mouth. A few months ago she had been the very same way but at least she was smart enough to have overcome it. She owed this all to Adrian. He was successful in making her see things differently. This was the first lesson he had taught her on only the first day.

  “Well, Cory, I guess I don’t want to see my only daughter get hurt and then divorced and then end up as another single mother living on this island.”

  “Dad, that’s not going to happen. You and Mom were married soon after meeting each other too,” she shot back.

  “That was different. This is not one of those damn romance novels you read all the time. This is real life.”

  “I know this is real life. This is my life,” she shouted. Cory inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself. “Look, Dad. I’m really tired … I’m so tired of having to fight you about everything ever since Mom died. And you know what? I am going to marry Adrian whether you like it or not. And if you don’t want to be at our wedding, well, then that’s your choice. No one’s forcing you but do know that this wedding is going to happen, with or without your blessings.”

  With that, she purposely walked away and left a shocked Jonathan still sitting there. When she opened the door to her bedroom, the tears started rushing down her cheeks. Her entire body shook with violent sobs. What did you really expect, Cory? You were a fool to think he’d ever accept Adrian.

  She pulled out the stack of boxes from beneath her bed and began to grab clothing out of her closet and angrily shoved them into the boxes.

  Cory finally felt the need to be set free and be on her own again. And this was the best opportunity she had so she was going to take it. Cory slipped her engagement ring onto her finger, for good this time. Between her tears, she was admiring the fine quality of the sparkling diamond in the light, thinking about the wedding and what her new life with Adrian would be like. There was a bitter-sweet feeling in her heart but finally, she was going to marry her knight.

  Chapter 23

  It was actually Adrian’s idea for them to get married on the beautiful sister isle of Tobago. He had told Cory about joking with his mother at JFK, t
he day he returned to Trinidad. To make her feel better, he had promised her an invitation to a tropical wedding in paradise one day. His mother always loved the idea of a wedding on a Caribbean beach. It never even crossed his mind then that it would actually be his wedding.

  Cory thought it was a fantastic idea. Tobago was one of the most fought-over islands throughout the entire Caribbean and she couldn’t blame them. The island was just spectacular. The beautiful calm beaches, the Buccoo Reef, the waterfalls, the magnificent sunsets. It was nothing like her sister Trinidad, always busy with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Tobago was always serene and so romantic. Thus, it was the perfect choice for their wedding and honeymoon.

  Within a few weeks, all the hectic preparations were in place for their wedding day. Due to the time factor, it was pretty much a very intimate gathering on the beach. Cory didn’t want to spend another day apart from Adrian, especially with the way her father had been acting.

  Everything about this wedding was going to be simple and beautiful. Cory chose a dress made by a local designer for her big day. It wasn’t white in its entirety as there were beautiful hand-painted tropical flowers down the front of it. She had spotted it in a local magazine and just fell completely in love with it. For Cory, it was perfect for a beach-themed wedding and it suited her style. Form-fitting and elegant with a sexy low cut back. Just like the dress she was wearing when she and Adrian saw each other the first time at the police station.

  She wore a pair of flat white sandals encrusted with crystals. Cory left her hair out, curly and wild, blowing in the wind. Her ensemble was completed with a small bouquet of tropical flowers made with pink and green hybrid anthoriums, matching the flowers on her dress.

  As Cory walked down the white sandy beach to where Adrian was waiting for her, the melodious sounds of the island’s steel pan drifted in the breeze. Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky” was being expertly played. A little too retro for her but so beautiful all the same.