Chapter 43

Tell me what? I was still trying to work out what was so special about today when Lula lifted up a clothes bag and unzipped the front to reveal the contents. I was speechless as I looked at the beautiful ivory colored dress underneath and was sure that there was something familiar about it. I looked from the dress to Lula and then back to the dress again realization hitting me. Ranger had said that we would elope to be married and he'd arranged for it to happen here. It was perfect and so what I would have imagined.I had no problem that he had gone ahead and arranged it.

Lula had obviously recognized that I knew what was happening now so rehung the dress back up before ushering me to sit down yet again.

"This cream, well it will help your skin, it's lavender and olive oil"

I felt as the young woman massaged the liquid onto the skin of my cheek and neck, though to be honest any marks on my cheek had diminished until they were barely visible.

"Be careful of the sun on those areas, your skin is very sensitive now so will need to be protected"

I honestly hadn't thought of that so accepted a tube of cream that was placed in front of me. The makeup that she applied to my eyes was subtle giving me a natural look whilst emphasizing the blue of my eyes, though I was pleased when she applied sufficient mascara. Next, she spent a lot of time kneading and massaging my hands with I presume the same lotion as before ensuring that they were smooth and dry. Looking down at my hands I knew that the marks from the burns wouldn't ever go away but they did look better after her treatment. Okay, I was impressed with the transformation.

"I'll let your friend help you with the dress"

As I looked at the reflection in the mirror it was then that I recognized the style of the dress. Long ivory material hugged the contours of my hips before falling to the ground and the bodice had a round neck that went up to the thin straps over my shoulders. The small bolero top that Lula held open for me completed the outfit and I was seeing my grandma and how she had looked on her wedding day.

"Ranger said that you should wear these"

Seeing the beautiful pearl jewelry had me close to crying. They looked to have been cleaned up and were laid out in a box lined with navy velvet. My hair was swept away from face on one side of my head by the hair comb before I added the other pieces. Grandma would have been so pleased to know that they were being used to adorn my wedding outfit. I looked down at my feet where my painted toenails peeked from underneath and looked at Lula.

"Who needs shoes on the beach? It's one less thing to have to remove afterwards"

She wasn't wrong there because all that I was wearing, apart from the jewelry was a pair of ivory colored lace panties and my dress. Lula, well she looked beautiful and so not like her. There was no tight colored spandex in sight. She was wearing a pale blue wrap around dress that flowed down to her calves and seemed to shimmer. The color looked amazing against her dark skin and the style and length made her look slimmer and taller.

"Girl Ranger asked me to give this to you. He said that it was totally up to you what you wanted to do with it"

That Lula looked nervous as she handed me an envelope had me feeling nervous as well. What would I need to look at that was so important? I tentatively opened the envelope and took out the sheets of paper from inside and then started to read them through. There was a note at the beginning that was written in Ranger's neat script writing.

"To the future Mrs. Manoso. This is a simplified version of the legal document attached. I would understand if you felt the need to protect yourself. Basically, the contents read that what you own is yours and what I own is ours"

Ranger was giving me choices and the control of my inheritance. He had understood my concern for Joe's motives in wanting to marry me and I was now holding a prenup in my hands. It had never occurred to me that Ranger would be interested in my money, hell he probably had a hell of lot more than I would ever own. I replaced the papers back into the envelope and then tore the whole thing into half and each piece into half again. I was damn sure that Lula was curious with what was in the envelope and why I'd just torn it up but give her due, she never asked. Instead, she smoothed an invisible crease from her dress and was stood next to me.

"We ready girl?"

I felt like a princess about to meet her prince charming, so of course I was ready.

"Yes I am. Thank you Lula, for being here with me and for making me feel so good about myself"

Okay that embarrassed the hell out of her and for once she didn't have a remark to throw back at me. It was as we approached the open doors that I was passed a large bouquet of flowers. Wild flowers that looked to be in every color. In every way Ranger had made sure that I could feel that grandma was with me.

As we stepped through the gate that led down to the beach there were fires set out in a row that led to a large arbor. Following the fires my eyes immediately found who I was looking for, stood there in ivory colored trousers and a short sleeved shirt. Our eyes met even at the distance we were at, and I was soon walking toward him. I stopped at the last fire, which obviously confused the hell out of everyone, and dropped the torn up envelope into the flames, watching as the flames took a hold. There was fear from seeing the flames as they engulged the paper and for the first time I realized that I had rid myself of the fear and guilt of what happened to grandma. It was a freeing feeling and so apt as I prepared myself for the next chapter of my life. Looking back to Ranger he knew what I'd done, there would be nothing standing between us, and certainly not a prenup arrangement.

Our ceremony was simple and beautiful, eloquent and meaningful. Our words were short but contained everything we needed to say to each other. We pledged our undying love for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, forever and always through supporting and loving each other.

The best part, the husband and wife kiss at the end. Come on, I was nervous wreck before then. Coming up for air I turned to see Lula before she was suddenly upon us squeezing the life out of both of us.

"I love you both and I'm so happy"

Came from her when she eventually released us. That was when I noticed Hal walk over to us, giving me a hug and slapping Ranger on his back.

"Congrats to you both and thanks for letting us be here with you"

I knew that Hal wasn't as close to Ranger as some of the other men, so I did wonder why he was here, that was until I saw him walk up to Lula and place an arm around her shoulder.

"Are they?"

Daft question I suppose as I watched them retrace the path and disappear into the cabana where I'd spent my evening and day. Me, well I found myself being carried up the beach in the opposite direction and finding myself within a walled garden. I'm sure that I moaned at seeing a table laid out with all sorts of food on it, hey, I hadn't eaten today. I was deposited on a chair within easy reach of the food taking in the selection and was wondering where to start. There was something of everything from shell fish, pastries and even pasta with a variety of fruits and small dishes with desserts in. After taking small samples of everything and feeling sufficiently full I was surprised when Ranger disappeared inside, only to return with what looked like a cake.

I was pretty sure that Ranger's intention was to ensure that I wouldn't need to eat for a long time because he had something else to sate another appetite. Very slowly he stood me up and one by one removed my pieces of jewelry, the intimacy of his movement and his gentleness already making me vibrate with anticipation. Wearing only my panties and with my dress pooled around my feet I was gently lowered into the warm water of the jacuzzi and then made to watch as he very slowly stripped off his shirt and trousers before stepping in beside me.

We spent the rest of that day, the night, all of the next day and night wrapped in each other's arms making sweet love. I wasn't sure how or when it happened but the food on the table seemed to replenish itself. It was on the morning of the second day that we even considered leaving the privacy of our cabana. I applied plenty of cream to the areas of the burns and Carlos added a high factor cream to the rest of me before we walked hand in hand down to the sea. Yeah, Ranger had become my Carlos now, as the full intimacy of being husband and wife became a reality.

I spent an age just sat in the shallow water looking out to sea across the turquoise blue waters totally lost in thought. Coming here had been perfect in every aspect. The quietness and privacy had allowed for both of us to relax which did surprise me. Normally Carlos would be so concerned for any dangers lurking in the background. I hadn't had any thoughts of my experiences or emotions since losing grandma and for the first time in ages felt good about myself. I suppose like the last time that we'd been here it felt surreal, as though we were in a different time and dimension totally isolated from the world.

"Deep thoughts Babe"

I felt Carlos behind me and as he sat with his legs on either side of me, my back to his front.

"I was thinking of how being here separates you from the outside world and allows you to just enjoy yourself with no worries or problems"

"Like that week when we were here together"

"Yeah"

Though up until now our stay here had surpassed it in every way. This would definitely be a special place for us and maybe for Hal and Lula as well because I couldn't see any sign of them out on the beach. I felt myself being lifted to my feet and was then squealing when my legs were swept from underneath me, and Carlos was wading out into the water. We spent the next three days lazing around the cabana and on the beach. My hair had lightened, and my skin had darkened and my love for Carlos had deepened, what more could I want from a honeymoon.