Turks and Caicos Islands

The resort was perfect. Situated on a private island of less than 1000 acres, surrounded by clear blue ocean, white sand and a limited number of other guests there was little to distract them from focusing on their relationship, which was exactly what they wanted from an anniversary getaway.

Feeling the strong hands of the masseuse on her back, Sue Ellen's mind wandered. She was more relaxed than she had been in months and their surroundings were only partly responsible for that. She and JR didn't need a beautiful room at a secluded resort in order to intimately connect, to make each other feel the way they did, they only needed each other, but the magical location didn't hurt.

It didn't hurt either that things in Dallas had started to even out and get back to normal. She didn't even ask JR about the details of the oil business anymore, she found that all that did was stress them both out, but he hadn't come home in a mood recently so she had to assume all was well on that front. Socially things had improved markedly recently too. Bobby had grieved and rebuilt his life and he and Jenna were about to be married, news Jack didn't appear to be too upset by and Charlie was thrilled about. Bobby hadn't mentioned Pam's estranged mother or half-sister so she didn't know what was going on there but she had to assume that no news was good news. Jock had made it through the holidays without Miss Ellie, as had the rest of the family. Finally, she and JR were in a wonderful place, ready and willing to hear the news that their family of three was about to become four.

She didn't believe the news was imminent, the calendar had only finished resetting itself the day before they left Dallas, however considering how close she and JR had been in recent days and how relaxed she was, she wouldn't be surprised if Doctor Danvers had good news for her in the next month or two. If he didn't she'd be a little disappointed, now that they'd decided they were ready she was very ready and that readiness could turn into impatience quickly, however she was far more mentally prepared for disappointment than she had ever been before. John Ross hadn't come easily and that had been upsetting, however her second pregnancy had been a complete surprise, one that had ended tragically, but still been a surprise nonetheless, indicating that her body would do exactly as it pleased; she might very well leave the island with a living souvenir, there was no way to know.

Lying on the massage table beside Sue Ellen, JR's mind wandered in a different direction to hers. He hadn't realised how tired he was until they'd left Dallas, but now, 1700 miles from home, he remembered what being well rested felt like. Tennis, snorkelling, swimming, sailing, sunbathing and long walks kept them occupied during the day, and the stillness that followed dusk left them with plenty of downtime to fill with whatever they pleased.

The resort was as he wanted it, far from anything that would distract them from them. Their lives in Dallas had become noisy and busy, he didn't need or want to dance the night away to live music or to socialise with other couples, he wanted Sue Ellen all to himself and he had her.

Returning home was necessary at some point, he had a company to run, they had a son to raise, and a wedding to attend, but he wasn't in any hurry to leave the slower pace of life they'd discovered on the island, which was a change for him. At a point in time he'd been consumed by work and satisfying the impossibly high demands his father put on him, but in recent times he'd come to find his independence, able to separate what was important and doable from what was less so. He was the head of his own family and that came before being his father's eldest son.

Lulled by the faint sound of the ocean and the repetitive, soothing movements the masseuse was making, he was sure he'd fallen asleep, because the hour they'd booked seemed to come to a close much quicker than he expected.

Sitting up slowly as the spa door closed, leaving him and Sue Ellen alone, he watched her as she stretched and stood, collecting a white robe from the hook on the wall.

"That was wonderful."

Admiring the absence of tan lines on her smooth skin, a benefit of their isolated vacation location, he returned his gaze to her face when she spoke.

"It was."

"Did you have anything in particular you wanted to do this afternoon? I don't think I'm up for a game of tennis just yet, but I wouldn't say no to lunch and then maybe a walk and a swim."

Wrapping the robe around her, delicately knotting it at her waist, she enquired about his thoughts, suggesting a few of her own.

"I think that will work nicely."

Standing, approaching her, leaning over her to grab a robe for himself off the hook, he grinned as he noticed her head turning and her eyes watching him as he had her a few moments ago. They were very familiar with each other now, but it seemed they still managed to each other's attention with a glance or a peek of something usually hidden.

Grasping the soft fabric in his hand, he kissed her softly and then pulled away, separating them only enough to give him room to put his own robe on.

"Shall we freshen up first?"

Making a suggestion, he knew she knew what he meant. He wasn't always perceptive to her thoughts, but the ones she was having now weren't too difficult to decipher.

Nodding, she didn't say anything, she didn't need to.

Leaving a tip on the table, he opened the door for her, taking her hand as they left the spa, walking along the sandy path back to their beachside room.

To be continued…