When I Look at You
Chapter 12: Apologize
~Matthew~
It was our last day in some ways since it was our last stop before heading for home. The cruise had gone by so fast! Five days of the cruise had already past. It was scary how time flew. It seemed like we were just getting ready to leave for the cruise, and now it would be over in two days.
"What'cha thinkin' about?" Kelly asked, coming up to me, and turning me so that I was facing her. She kissed me.
I smiled, and placed my hands around her waist. "I'm just thinking about how fast this cruise is going. This is our last stop, then we have one day at sea before we're home. I'll be glad to see our kids, but I'll miss being on the cruise."
She kissed me again, this time a little more sweet than passionate. Then, she brushed some hair out of my face. "Don't worry. It won't be our last cruise." She kissed my lips again. "I promise."
I grinned, and rested my forehead against hers. "Good!"
I loved her so much. I hoped to have many more vacations with her as my wife. She meant the world to me, and I didn't wanted to enjoy every minute of being married to her! I knew I would though. I kissed her, then rested my head against hers.
~Kelly~
"Welcome, everyone, to the Dolphin Swim and Dunn's River Falls excursion! I will be your tour guide as I drive you to your destinations. First up, I will be driving you in an air-conditioned bus to the scenic Northern Coast of Jamaica to Dunn's River Falls. Once we get there, you will be escorted by another guide up the six-hundred-foot falls, and be able to enjoy the natural beauty of them! After that, I will transport you all to Dolphin Cove, where you will be given the opportunity to swim with the dolphins! Who's ready for that, huh?"
The rest of the group and I clapped and cheered. Matthew just smiled.
Our tour guide motioned with his hand for us to follow him, so we did.
He led us to our bus, and we piled in. I sat by the window, and Matthew took his place beside me.
He took my hand in his, and smiled at me. "It sounds like it's going to be quite an experience today. It should be fun."
I smiled, and rested my head against his shoulder. "I know it will be because I'm with you."
We kissed, then I rested my head on his shoulder again as I thought about the night before.
After we had gotten back from the Cayman Islands, we made up for what we hadn't been able to do on the beach beds. We spent a couple hours doing so, only resting for a few minutes in-between. It wasn't as special as it would have been on the beach beds, but it was still pretty incredible. Honestly, I had been a little disappointed that it didn't work out to make love on the beach beds. However, on the other hand, it was kind of a relief. I think I might have been too nervous that we'd get caught to enjoy it much. Well, I would have enjoyed it of course. But I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it as much as I do when there's no chance of anyone walking in on us.
After we made love, we showered together, then dressed for dinner. We had had dinner and dessert, then changed into our swim suits and gone swimming and hot tubbing for about an hour and a half. After that, we headed back to the room, changed for bed, and ended up finding a good movie on the television, which was a miracle in its own since the television only has two channels.
After the movie, we kissed until we had gotten tired, and fell asleep in each other's arms.
The bus took off, shaking me from my thoughts.
I smiled. Now that it was another day and we were in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, I had a really good feeling that today was going to be just as magical.
I kissed my husband's cheek, then turned to look out the window at the beautiful scenery as the tour guide talked about the area.
~Matthew~
I couldn't get over what a beautiful place Jamaica was. I had been to lots of other countries and cities before in my life, but I had to say, Ocho Rios, Jamaica was one of the prettiest. And I hadn't even gotten off the bus yet!
It was a really nice scenic ride through the city. The tour guide was very informative. It was interesting to hear all the facts about the places we were passing by.
We finally arrived at Dunn's River Falls. It had been a two-hour drive, but I was almost sad we were there already.
We piled off the bus, and were told to meet back at the bus in an hour and a half.
"So, are you ready for the falls?" I asked my wife as I squeezed her hand in mine.
She smiled at me. "As soon as I ditch my shorts and shirt."
"Mm, forget the falls, let's find a private place to—"
She cut me off with a finger to my lips and a smirk. "Down, boy. I meant down to my swimsuit."
I wrapped my arms around her waist. "I can work with that."
She grinned, and we kissed.
"Welcome to Jamaica! I will be your tour guide for the remainder of your time here at Dunn's River Falls. The bathrooms and lockers can be found right over here. If you all would like to change, place your things in the locker, or even just go to the bathroom, you can do so at this time. We ask that you wear non slip shoes, and rid yourself of all your jewelry. We just wouldn't want you to slip and fall, or lose anything of value to you. Once something is lost in the falls, sadly, it is lost for good. If you do not have non-slip shoes, they are available for purchase int he gift shop, which is right over there." The guide pointed a few feet away to the gift shop. "I ask that you all meet me back here in ten minutes, then we can head right on over to the falls!"
"I have to go to the bathroom, and ditch my shirt," I said to Kelly.
She nodded, and placed her hand over my arm. "I do too. I'll meet you back here in fifteen." She kissed me, then was off to the bathroom.
I sighed. I missed her already, as corny as that sounded. I used to think people were just being stupid when they said they missed their significant other, whom they'd only been gone an hour from. Now, here I was, missing my wife when she had only been gone a second. I had never felt about anyone the way I felt about Kelly though—not even for my first wife, as awful as that sounded.
I headed to the bathroom, shaking my head at myself. She had turned me soft. For once. I smirked at the thought.
Once we were all ready for the falls, and our things were safely tucked away in our lockers, Kelly and I met back up with the rest of our group.
We had gotten back just in time. Our guide reminded us of falls climbing safety, and then he took us to the falls.
I just hoped I didn't fall flat on my butt and embarrass myself in front of my wife and everyone else. Even though I had on shoes that should be non-slip, it would still be just my luck for that to happen. I'd just have to take Kelly's hand, so that, if I fell, she'd fall too and I wouldn't be embarrassed all by myself.
Ha! Kelly would kill me if I fell and pulled her down with me, but I'd make it up to her later. I grinned to myself at the thought.
~Kelly~
"It's a good thing neither of us are afraid of heights!" I said as I climbed the falls with my husband.
"Yeah, don't put that idea into my head," he said, looking down.
I smirked. "We're only on the first rock."
"Yeah, but there are six-hundred feet to the falls," he said.
"We're with a guide. Besides, you're with me." I kissed him. "I'd never let anything happen to you."
He suddenly looked guilty. I knew that look from when he ate the last of the cookies, or when he drank most of the milk and left the container in the fridge with not even enough for one glass.
"What?" I asked.
He blushed. "What?"
"You look guilty. What did you do?" I asked.
"Nothing." He shifted his eyes from mine, and I knew he was lying.
I placed my hand on my hip. "Don't you lie to me," I warned.
He still wouldn't look at me as he confessed. "I was going to hold your hand so that, if I fell, I could pull you down with me so I wouldn't be embarrassed by myself." He quickly looked at me. "But I won't do that! You telling me you'd never let anything happen to me made me feel bad. I learned my lesson!"
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, well, you better have! Men! So inconsiderate of women. They always put their needs first." I walked on ahead of him.
He hurried to catch up, then took my arm and stopped me before I could climb the next level of the fall. "Please don't be angry." He kissed me, and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. "I love you more than I love my own life. I'm a man. I have moments of being an idiot. It's in my nature."
I smiled. How could I stay angry with him after he said that? I couldn't. I kissed him passionately, then took his hand in mine, and nodded toward the next rock. "Come on. Let's climb this thing."
He grinned; visibly relived that I had forgiven him.
He took my hand and kissed me on the lips, then climbed up the next level of rock with me.
It took us forty-five minutes to climb, but we finally made it to the top.
"Wow. Look how far we climbed!" Matthew said, looking down.
I placed my arm around his waist, and smiled. "And you didn't get any acrophobia."
He nodded. "Very true!" He looked at me, and his eyes lowered. "Come here." He placed his hands around my waist and kissed me.
I closed my eyes and sighed with contentment as I kissed my husband back. I knew no one on earth would ever be able to enjoy the true essence of happiness that only Heaven could bring, but, right at that moment, I was pretty sure that I was the closest to Heaven as one could get on earth.
~Matthew~
I was amazed that I had climbed six-hundred feet. At first, secretly, I had been a little worried that, at forty-two, I'd have a little trouble climbing the to the top of the falls. After all, I wasn't as young as I used to be. However, I was able to climb the falls with ease. I guessed I wasn't too old after all.
As we slowly headed back down, I took Kelly into my arms and pulled her toward the water.
She cried out in delight as the water poured down over our heads.
I kissed her passionately, and she kissed me back just as passionately as the water poured down over us. It was romantic, yet erotic, and I could hardy wait to get her back to our room and ravish her whole.
She broke the kiss and smiled at me. "We better get down there. We don't want to miss the bus to Dolphin Cove."
I nodded, and squeezed her hand in mine. We could enjoy our last stop, but, once we were back on the ship, she was all mine.
When we got to the last part of the rock, I stopped my wife to kiss her again.
"Keep doing this, and I might just have to pull you away somewhere and, well, do things two people mustn't ever do in public," she purred in my ear.
I lowered my eyes. "In that case..." I kissed her more passionately, my hand lingering up to her chest.
She smiled, and let me touch her for only a second, before gently moving my hand away. "Later," she promised.
I shivered as she climbed down the last rock.
I had to have her soon or I was going to spontaneously combust!
I went to climb down after her. "The best part is, I didn't fall flat on my ass like I thought I would!" I said. No sooner had I said that did my foot slip, and I fell into the water at the bottom, landing on my side. It was only about a foot drop, but it still didn't exactly feel nice.
Kelly put a hand to her mouth, but it didn't hide her smile. "Are you all right?"
I groaned, and slowly sat up. I rubbed my right arm, which I had fallen on. I moved my forearm back and forth. At least it didn't appear that I had broken or sprained it. Though, no doubt I was sure to have a bruise there in a bit. "I'm fine."
She held her hand out to me. "Well, at least you didn't fall on your ass." She smirked.
"Haha," I said sarcastically; completely unamused.
She helped me up. "I'm sorry. I know I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to you. I just didn't expect for you to slip on the last rock." She giggled, then quickly covered her mouth.
"Yeah, yeah. That's it. Laugh it up!" I said grumpily.
"Are you all right? I saw you fall, and was worried," a young blonde, who looked to be no more than her mid twenties said to me. She was wearing a very skimpy purple bikini.
I grinned. "I'm fine. Just lost my footing there for a moment."
She giggled. "Just be glad you weren't up higher when you fell, like the top!"
I laughed too. "Tell me about it!"
Kelly's expression suddenly turned sour. I didn't have time to worry about it though, for more women, and some guys even, kept coming up to me to ask me if I was all right. One guy even clapped me on the back and told me that was awesome. The fall hadn't felt so awesome, but hey—anything that got me attention.
"I'll be in the gift shop, picking up something for our children," Kelly said slightly coldly to me. She took off.
I politely said goodbye to my fans, then followed her. Before we had gotten on the shuttle bus back to the ship yesterday, we had remembered we had wanted to get the kids something from every country we stopped at. Thankfully, there was a little gift shop in the restaurant area of the beach. So, we had headed in quick and bought a teeshirt for Anne, a Cayman Islands snow globe for her boyfriend, a little Cayman Island shirt for Lily, and another bucket and pail set so that we could give the three buckets and pails to Hermés, Helena, and Aven.
Anyway, I was hoping to get them something more special than a shirt this time around.
I came up behind Kelly, who was looking at the shirts, and wrapped my arms around her from behind. I kissed the side of her neck. "I'm sorry I got caught up back there."
"You should be apologizing for not getting angry when that purple bikini bimbo laughed at you, but getting angry when I laughed at you," she said.
So that was what this was about. I sighed. "I was a jerk again, and I'm sorry. I was just embarrassed. My ego was bruised. I don't like embarrassing myself in front of you. I don't want you to see me as anything less than stunning and graceful."
She turned around and grinned at me. She raised an eyebrow. "'Stunning and graceful?' Really?"
I shrugged, feeling even more embarrassed now.
She sighed, and pulled me in for a hug. "You're funny, handsome, trustworthy, sexy, sweet, talented, loyal, and incredible in bed. Will you settle for that?"
I grinned. "The last one alone works for me."
She shook her head and rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. She kissed me. "I love you. And, even if you fall, you'll always be stunning to me."
My eyes lowered with so much love for her, I thought my heart might burst. "And you'll always be stunning to me." I kissed her, and gently ran my hand up and down her back as she deepened the kiss.
After a moment, we broke the kiss, and she sighed as she surveyed the souvenir options. "I think I'm just going to get Gary a snow globe, then we'll get the others something at Dolphin Cove."
I nodded. "Sounds good."
Kelly picked out a snow globe of the falls that had Ocho Rios, Jamaica written on the base.
She paid for it, then we headed to get our things from the lockers and meet back up with the group.
I was looking forward to swimming with the dolphins. At least that was something that I couldn't mess up!
~Kelly~
By the time we got to Dolphin Cove, I was excited. This was going to be fun! First, we were going to swim with the dolphins, then we were going to tour a little jungle area. After that, we could look at the little craft village they had there, and finally, we'd be able to have lunch there—included with the price—before getting on the bus and heading back to the ship. It was sure to be a good day.
When we arrived at Dolphin Cove, we were taken to the bathrooms and lockers again. Then, when we met back up with the tour guide, we were given a brief presentation on dolphins.
Finally, we were taken to the dolphins. We were all given life vests that we had to put on, before getting into the water.
After their opening spill, Ashley and Brandon, our dolphin guides, called the dolphins over.
"Aw!" I said, smiling as they introduced the two dolphins as Bailey and Jessie.
Ashley and Brandon had the dolphins doing all kinds of tricks like axles in the air and bouncing beach balls back and forth. Then, they had them dance for us. It was one of the cutest things I had ever seen. I wished we had been allowed pictures and video cameras.
They had us splash, for the dolphins liked that as encouragement to do their tricks. The joke was on us when they splashed us back.
Next, we all had to get into a line and hold hands. I felt like I was getting ready for a line dance.
Anyway, as we all faced the dolphins and held hands, Ashley counted to three, and the dolphins jumped over our heads! I was so nervous they were going to fall on us, but they didn't! It was so precious. I wished the kids were here. I knew they all would have loved it. Even little Lily. Maybe next time, I thought.
After that, we got into two separate lines. Matthew and I were in Bailey's line. When it got to me, I got to rub Bailey's belly. Apparently, dolphins were like dogs in that matter. They loved to have their belly's rubbed.
Next, I got to kiss the dolphin right on the nose. Then, I got to have the dolphin give me a kiss, which was really just his nose to my cheek as I smiled at Brandon's camera.
I watched as Matthew rubbed Bailey's belly. When Matthew kissed Bailey, it was the new sweetest thing I'd ever seen. For some reason, my husband just didn't strike me as a dolphin kisser. However, he was so cute doing so.
The dolphin put his nose to Matthew's cheek as Brandon took a picture, then Matthew gave Bailey a quick head pat before heading back over to me and giving the next person in line their turn.
He placed his hands over my waist, and brushed his lips against my right ear. "I was getting a little jealous of all that action the dolphin was getting."
I laughed, and pushed him away. "You're crazy."
"Only for you," he said, pulling me close and kissing me.
I sighed, and placed my hands against his face as I kissed him in return.
Once everyone had finished kissing the dolphins, we all lined up into two lines again so that we could ride the dolphins.
Matthew and I got in two different lines so that we could swim-side-by-side.
When it got to our turn, I rode Bailey, and he rode Jessie.
It was so much fun! It went by really quick, but Matthew and I were both laughing as we held onto their fins as the dolphins rushed through the water like lightning.
I was sad that the ride was over already once we were back to our guides.
As the other people rode the dolphins, Matthew and I held hands, and watched with smiles on our faces.
"I think that was the most fun I've had on this entire trip!" I said.
Matthew looked at me. "What about making love with me?"
I nodded. "Yeah, this was definitely the most fun I've had."
"Thanks a lot!" he said with a laugh.
I grinned, and took his face in my hands again. "I was only joking. You know being with you is the most fun. Always."
His eyes lowered, and we kissed.
Once everyone had finished riding the dolphins, we were bid adieu from our guides, and told that we could pick our pictures up at the gift shop.
We then headed to the little "jungle" they had, which of course was just a mini version of a jungle. Even so, we got to see exotic birds and snakes.
I didn't want to be anywhere near the snakes, but Matthew got his picture with one over his shoulder.
"Yuck! I hate those things! They give me the creeps," I said,
He grinned wickedly. "Aw, come on! Hold it!" He stepped towards me.
I shrieked, and quickly stepped back.
He laughed, thinking it was just hilarious.
I rolled my eyes, and crossed my arms over my chest; not amused.
After the jungle, we were taken to some water tanks, where we saw the sharks that they had. They were creepy, but not quite as creepy as the snakes. Even so, I knew Hermés would have loved to see them both. It made me want to go on a cruise with the kids even more. We could bring the nanny, and get the kids and nanny their own separate rooms. I made a mental note to mention it to Matthew later.
We looked through the craft village and I ended up getting my mother a pretty vase with dolphins and water, as well as Ocho Rios, Jamaica painted on it.
At the gift shop, we picked up stuffed dolphin's for all the kids, and a dolphin snow globe that had Ocho Rios, Jamaica written on the bottom for Gary, my mother's boyfriend.
Finally, we headed off to eat our lunch. I hoped it was good!
"Hey, Kel, look!"
I looked over to see my husband grinning at me, a hat shaped like a dolphin face on his head. He pressed a button, and the hat shot water up from a blow hole.
I shook my head and laughed. Who cared if the food was good or not? As long as I had my husband—goofiness and all—I knew it would be the best time I've had in a very long time.
~Matthew~
Lunch had been wonderful. It was buffet style with chicken, rice, and beans. The dessert was cookies. It all tasted good enough, but I had had much better. The reason lunch was so great was that we sat next to that purple bikini girl that asked if I was okay when I fell at the falls. I was joking with her throughout a lot of lunch when I wasn't talking to my wife.
The girl's name was Tiffany, and she was laughing at all my jokes, and asking me questions about my life. It always felt nice to have a beautiful young girl interested in me and my life. She ate in her hot pink jean cutoffs and her purple bikini top. It wasn't a bad sight to see while I ate either.
After lunch, Kelly and I went to the bathroom then washed our hands. Then, we gathered our things from the lockers. After that, we met back up with our group, and got back on the bus.
I talked with Tiffany a lot on the bus too. She was a really cool girl!
However, when we arrived back at the ship, Kelly walked on ahead of me without saying a word to me.
I had a feeling something was up, but I wasn't for sure.
When we got passed security and back up to our room, I sat on the bed, and smiled at my wife. "Wanna play a little before dinner?" I wriggled my eyebrows up and down at her.
She rolled her eyes. "After you flirted with Tiffany for most of the day? I think not!"
"Oh, come on! I was being friendly. That's who I am." I could hardly believe she was getting jealous again. It was hot at first, but now it was getting a bit annoying. First Annalisse, and now Tiffany? Come on!
"Yeah, well, sometimes you're a little too friendly. You should have been talking with me during lunch and on the bus. Instead, you were talking with her!" She crossed her arms over her chest, and began pacing.
"I did talk with you during lunch! What? I'm only allowed to talk to you now?" I couldn't believe the way she was acting!
"Of course not! But you don't have to talk to every pretty young girl you see. I notice you never talk to men, old ladies or women your own age. And every woman you talk to is incredibly good looking, and at times, scantily clad."
I laughed. "Oh, so now it's my fault when they're scantily clad."
She glared at me coldly. "What I'm saying is that you obviously are lusting over these girls you talk to since you never chose to talk to ugly women, guys, or women who are your own age."
I stood up, and crossed my arms over my chest. "Oh I don't, do I?"
"You know, I can just see it when Helena and Aven are in high school. You'll hit on all their friends. Heck, why wait that long? When Hermés is in high school, you two can double date. You can date his girlfriend's best friend. Or, wait. Maybe you'd want to date the Chuck E. Cheese's age by then." She was so angry she was shaking.
"You're insane. You know that?" I asked. "Not to mention incredibly sick!" I was just as angry, if not angrier.
She had tears in her eyes now, and, for a brief moment, I felt my anger slipping. I hated to see her cry—especially because of me.
"Kel, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it." I tried to touch her, but she stepped back, and pushed my hand away.
She shook her head. "No. You know, I guess I'll never be good enough for you because, your eyes will always wander to something younger and better."
Before I could respond to that, she left the room, slamming the door behind her.
I sighed, then sat down on the bed, and covered my face in my hands. I honestly didn't know what to do anymore.
~Kelly~
I ran out of the room, so hurt. I didn't know how Matthew could act like he was so innocent in the matter and I was the crazy one! I was hurt. I honestly didn't know what I was going to do anymore. I really didn't. In fact, as much as I didn't want to divorce, I was beginning to think that this was just one more marriage of mine that was headed for the drain.
