CHAPTER XII
Startled by the dream, Stiles immediately sat up in bed. Shaking his head as if to re-orient himself to check if he was dreaming or awake. It all fell into place. At first the name Katherine McCavoy did not ring any bell. He now remembered that Terri used the name Katherine "Kay" McCavoy when she posed as his fiancée in Mexico. And the blue martini he received that night at the bar. And the style of the portrait done by TLS was so real and lifelike that only an artist with an intimate knowledge of her subject can do. And all the incessant questions that Lyn asked him about his life, about Terri's family. Is it possible that Terri is alive after all these years? How many Katherine McCavoys could there be and what are the chances of one living here on the island? That she has been hiding here in Andros Island all this time? TLS? What does it stand for? Terri Lowell S.. Is she married? One thought entered his mind which made him smile, maybe it means Terri Loves Stiles?
He took the portrait and look at it very intently, trying to memorize all the lines, all the angles. He noticed something that he didn't notice before. In the portrait he was wearing a cross in his neck and Terri was wearing a silver heart-shaped locket. He was so sure they were not wearing anything around their necks in the picture. He immediately went in search of his wallet to see the actual picture. He threw his wallet out of frustration. Lyn still had the picture. He distinctly remembered that they took the picture after they have buried the cross and locket at the cove. They're supposed to meet there again after 5 years. And it will be exactly 5 years tomorrow at sunset. Scratching his head in frustration, he really felt as if he was grasping at straws or worse he was losing his mind.
===============
The following morning after taking his morning jog he went to the front desk to ask about renting a boat to go see the island. He was going back to the cove to face his past and move on with his life. He can't go on like this - living in the past, clinging to a foolish dream that he will be reunited with Terri and having no thought about his future.
A little before sunset, Stiles arrived at the cove. It hasn't changed one bit. If possible it was even more breathtaking than before. He immediately went to the spot where he remembered they buried the cross and the locket. He dug and he dug but they weren't there. He dug again in a nearby spot and still he came empty handed. He dug in several spots and still got the same results. He was so engrossed in finding the objects that he did not notice the woman at his back.
"Are you looking for these?" Terri asked as she dangled the objects Stiles has been searching for.
Startled he looked at the direction of the voice "What the he..? Totally shocked he could utter "Terri."
Deeply moved with so much emotion she could not utter any words. She could only bring herself to move forward and embrace Stiles as hard as she could.
"Oh God, it really is you. You're alive. You're here with me. I'm not dreaming or losing my mind am I?", Stiles said while cupping her face in both his hands.
With tears in her eyes she said smiling, "No Stiles, you are not dreaming or losing your mind. I'm here, flesh and blood."
"How? Why? What happened? You're alive? I saw you blow up in the farm. You've been here all this time?" Stiles rapidly fired the questions while he locked Terri in a tight embrace. He could not believe it. He was so happy he put both his hands on Terri's waist and spun her around and around while at the same time shouting, "Thank You God and I love you Terri.
Stiles had so many questions but he will just ask them later. He didn't give Terri the chance to answer because he kissed her as hungrily and as passionately as the previous night.
Startled by the dream, Stiles immediately sat up in bed. Shaking his head as if to re-orient himself to check if he was dreaming or awake. It all fell into place. At first the name Katherine McCavoy did not ring any bell. He now remembered that Terri used the name Katherine "Kay" McCavoy when she posed as his fiancée in Mexico. And the blue martini he received that night at the bar. And the style of the portrait done by TLS was so real and lifelike that only an artist with an intimate knowledge of her subject can do. And all the incessant questions that Lyn asked him about his life, about Terri's family. Is it possible that Terri is alive after all these years? How many Katherine McCavoys could there be and what are the chances of one living here on the island? That she has been hiding here in Andros Island all this time? TLS? What does it stand for? Terri Lowell S.. Is she married? One thought entered his mind which made him smile, maybe it means Terri Loves Stiles?
He took the portrait and look at it very intently, trying to memorize all the lines, all the angles. He noticed something that he didn't notice before. In the portrait he was wearing a cross in his neck and Terri was wearing a silver heart-shaped locket. He was so sure they were not wearing anything around their necks in the picture. He immediately went in search of his wallet to see the actual picture. He threw his wallet out of frustration. Lyn still had the picture. He distinctly remembered that they took the picture after they have buried the cross and locket at the cove. They're supposed to meet there again after 5 years. And it will be exactly 5 years tomorrow at sunset. Scratching his head in frustration, he really felt as if he was grasping at straws or worse he was losing his mind.
===============
The following morning after taking his morning jog he went to the front desk to ask about renting a boat to go see the island. He was going back to the cove to face his past and move on with his life. He can't go on like this - living in the past, clinging to a foolish dream that he will be reunited with Terri and having no thought about his future.
A little before sunset, Stiles arrived at the cove. It hasn't changed one bit. If possible it was even more breathtaking than before. He immediately went to the spot where he remembered they buried the cross and the locket. He dug and he dug but they weren't there. He dug again in a nearby spot and still he came empty handed. He dug in several spots and still got the same results. He was so engrossed in finding the objects that he did not notice the woman at his back.
"Are you looking for these?" Terri asked as she dangled the objects Stiles has been searching for.
Startled he looked at the direction of the voice "What the he..? Totally shocked he could utter "Terri."
Deeply moved with so much emotion she could not utter any words. She could only bring herself to move forward and embrace Stiles as hard as she could.
"Oh God, it really is you. You're alive. You're here with me. I'm not dreaming or losing my mind am I?", Stiles said while cupping her face in both his hands.
With tears in her eyes she said smiling, "No Stiles, you are not dreaming or losing your mind. I'm here, flesh and blood."
"How? Why? What happened? You're alive? I saw you blow up in the farm. You've been here all this time?" Stiles rapidly fired the questions while he locked Terri in a tight embrace. He could not believe it. He was so happy he put both his hands on Terri's waist and spun her around and around while at the same time shouting, "Thank You God and I love you Terri.
Stiles had so many questions but he will just ask them later. He didn't give Terri the chance to answer because he kissed her as hungrily and as passionately as the previous night.