Disclaimer: I don't own it or get paid for it : )

CHAPTER 20: Play to win

"Is something wrong?" Kara wanted to know.

"No, I'm sorry; I just realized that I never introduced myself. I thought I should do that before we take off. I'm Lyn Johnson." Lyn said as she offered her hand. Then, knowing the answer before she asked she added, "Let me guess, you're on your honeymoon?"

How Kara wished. Stiles jumped in with the answer. "No. I had some business to take care of and she decided to join me as a surprise."

'How inconvenient' Lyn thought, but replied in a more appropriate manner. "Oh, how nice."

Kara rolled her eyes in disgust. Something about this island made A.B. forget that he was engaged. He'd had a hard time admitting that since she got there.

"We're engaged."

"Oh." Lyn wondered why Stiles didn't say that.

Kara extended her hand, "Kara Matthews. This is A.B. Stiles."

After rounding up the children, Lyn spent several minutes chatting with the couple about where they were staying and how they liked the island. Eventually, she got to what she really wanted to know.

"So where are you from?"

"Washington."

"State or D.C.?"

"D.C."

"What a coincidence. My husband and I moved from that area about five years ago. How long will you be on the island?"

"Just until -"

Stiles response was interrupted. "Mommy! Charlie's throwing sand in my hair!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!

"You started it!"

"Guys, stop throwing sand!" Turning her attention back to the couple she asked, "So, how long are you staying?"

"We're leaving tomorrow afternoon."

"My husband's restaurant, Max's, isn't far from the Paradise Resort. If you don't have plans for dinner, please stop by; dinner on the house."

"Mommy!"

"I better go before they kill each other. Here." Lyn reached in her pocket and handed Stiles her card." Call ahead if you can come; I'll make sure you have a good table."

"Thanks, we'll think about it."

Lyn smiled as she walked away. She had her own plans for Mr. Stiles.

LYN went back to Terri's after her unexpected encounter with Kara and Stiles.

"Feeling any better?"

"No, not really"

"Honey I'm sorry, you will. Listen, I was wondering where it was that you and your husband were going to go on your anniversary. From what you told me, you had a pretty romantic time when you were here."

"Why?"

"You know me, I'm just curious. Besides, I love a good romance."

Terri was preoccupied with her thoughts so she told Lyn what she wanted to know. The sooner she told her, the sooner Lyn would leave her alone.

"At the Blue Cove on the far side of the island, near the waterfall." Terri proceeded to tell Lyn the exact location and why the spot was so important, right down to exactly what was buried there. The reason was even better than Lyn hoped.

Lyn found a babysitter and dragged her husband to the cove with her. Though he refused to admit it, he was just as intrigued as his wife. Terri's directions were so clear that it didn't take them any time to find the capsule. What Lyn saw inside made the effort more than worth it.

"SO, what do you think? Why don't we stay and get married here, tonight? We're already in the best suite in the hotel. We can make it the honeymoon suite."

"Uh, I thought you wanted a big wedding. What's with the change all of a sudden?"

"A.B., I'm 33 and I'm in love. What I want is you. We can have a big reception for all of our friends later. What do you say?"

Stiles didn't really care. He'd already had a big wedding and he was ready to move on with his life, but he wasn't sure that getting married on Andros near the anniversary of his visit with Terri was a good idea.

"If we get married this weekend, where will we live? You said you didn't want to move into 'Terri's house.' What will you tell your mother? Don't you have to go to work Monday?"

"I don't know where we'll live; we can work that out later. My mother will be fine once I tell her we're planning a big reception. Besides, she got to play mother-of-the-bride with my sister. I'll just call in to work; for once in my life I want to be spontaneous!"

"I don't know. I'm too tired to think about this right now; I'm going to take a quick nap. Why don't you call that woman we met on the beach earlier and make reservations? We can discuss it over dinner."

Kara took the card and agreed to make the reservations, buoyed that he didn't say no and agreed to discuss a quickie wedding.