Chapter 5

As the time passed, Jake Cutter tried to stick to his plan to forgive Sarah and Louie, but wanting to do it and actually doing it were two different things – because anger still got in the way. He spent his time working and not thinking too deeply about Sarah and what had happened between her and Louie, but then the bar opened again and although Louie was still upstairs resting and recovering for most of the time, the staff were handling business well, perhaps the knowledge that Louie was back on the premises brought the spirit of the place back to life, but not so for Jake...

The day he first walked in and the bar's noisy conversation dropped to a murmur, he knew word had got out – and it wasn't hard to figure out why, because Sarah had moved in with Louie and was spending all of her time with him. People liked to gossip on an island as small as Boragora, and when he looked around at the people in the bar - regulars who knew him well - and they looked away into their drinks or at the floor or back at their game of cards, he felt his anger rising up again.

"Yes that's right," he said aloud, "Me and Sarah broke up!"

And he wanted to say, Because of her love affair with Louie, but he held that back, and again wondered why he was protecting the man who had broke him up with Sarah. Then as he looked around the bar, those who had stared and looked away started to talk again and normal volume resumed, and not one person dared to say anything to Jake about Sarah.

"Hey Jake, calm down."

He looked down to see Gushie, the wheelchair bound waiter, looking up at him.

"I'm trying," Jake replied, "But its not easy."

Gushie looked at him sympathetically.

"I know what's happened, everyone does – you quarrelled with her in the street loud enough for half the island to hear. I'm not taking sides, Louie's my friend and so are you. And he's been through a bad time. But he was down here in the bar last night, he was almost the Louie we remember before the crash."

"Almost?"Jake felt a flicker of concern, and again wondered why he should care at all about the man who had stolen Sarah from him.

"He was standing by the bar, he lasted about half an hour and then Sarah had to take him back upstairs."

"Why?"

Gushie hesitated.

"Maybe I shouldn't say, it's not my business or yours."

"Just tell me," Jake said to him, "Is he okay?"

Gushie shook his head.

"Between you and me, no he isn't. He was leaning on that bar like he was dizzy. And he kept forgetting people's names – even mine! I know its only been three weeks since the accident, but he doesn't seem right, not yet. Maybe its too soon for him to be out of bed, but that's just my opinion."

Jake looked towards the door that led out to the stairway.

"Maybe you should just leave them alone," Gushie suggested, "Louie's not been feeling too good today. Bess is with him, Sarah asked her to come over and take a look at him."

Jake thought for a moment, and then he went over to the bar and ordered a beer, and then he stood there, looking towards the closed door.

"Jake," said Gushie as he joined him, "Don't start anything."

"I'm not," he replied, "I know Louie's not over the crash yet. I just want to know he's okay."

Gushie looked at him doubtfully.

"Really? After he stole your girl?"

Jake felt a prickle of anger at the reminder.

"I don't know," he replied, and then he swigged from the beer bottle and kept his gaze fixed on the door, waiting to see if Louie or Sarah came downstairs.

Upstairs, Louie was dressed in a white suit and looking his usual immaculate self – except that he didn't feel back to normal yet, and the way he was feeling as he rested on top of the covers of his bed made him wonder if he would ever get back to normal again, as a headache throbbed through his mind and he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

As Bess shone a light in his eyes he winced, feeling the ache in his head grow sharp, and then it began to fade out.

She closed her doctor's bag and glanced to Sarah, who stood by watching anxiously, and then she looked back at Louie.

"I don't want to alarm you," she said to him, "But these problems you're getting could mean one of two things – either you're healing and this is part of the process, or the injury is not healing, and if it's not, your condition could be life threatening."

She saw a flash of alarm in his eyes as he looked at her.

"But I've been getting so much stronger! I can get out of bed, get dressed, go downstairs to the bar -"

"And the dizzy spells and the memory loss could be a warning sign," Bess replied, "I'm sorry, but if the injury is not healing it will eventually prove fatal. The only way around this would be to undergo surgery – and that is complicated and immensely risky. If you do need an operation, your chances of survival are low. The only way to know for sure, is for you to go back to the hospital and let them take some x-rays and run some tests. I'm sorry, I wish I could give you better news, but I can't. I know it's difficult, but try not to worry too much until we have some answers – nothing is certain yet. And I'll arrange for you to see the specialist in a couple of days time. I'll be in touch."

And then she got up and left the room.

Now they were alone, Sarah went over to the bed and sat down beside Louie.

He had been keeping at a distance from her, avoiding all attempts at closeness, but now as she reached for his hand, he was thankful for her to do so.

"Don't worry," she said as she turned to him and reached up and ran her hand over his hair, "What ever happens, I'm here for you. I won't let you face any of this alone."

Louie looked at her, and fear flickered in his eyes.

"So it seems there is a chance I will not survive after all," he said to her, "And we have to wait two days to find out... I am sorry, Sarah."

"What for?" she asked him, and then as his gaze warmed with love for her, his voice trembled as he spoke.

"For pushing you away. I lied, Sarah. I do love you. And knowing all Bess had just explained, I think I've been a fool to waste so much time," and he managed to smile as he squeezed her hand, "Let's not waste any more time. I know a man who supplies a jeweller with very fine diamonds and I'm sure he has a ring at a special price for me, a ring worth considerably more than he shall charge me for it. A ring to tell the world you are my fiancée. Marry me, Sarah."

Tears sprang to her eyes as she nodded and put her arms around him, and for a moment neither spoke as they clung to each other, both overcome with emotion as they thought about the uncertain future that had to be faced.

They were both tearful as they pulled back from that embrace and sealed the arrangement with a kiss.

"Don't cry, Sarah," Louie said as he brushed a tear from her cheek, "It will either be good news or bad – and if it is bad..." he shrugged, "I must go through with the operation, it will be my only hope of surviving."

"You're not worried any more?" asked Sarah in surprise, "Louie, its a complicated operation, its brain surgery – and Bess said -"

"Bess is making guesses," he told her, suddenly sounding so much more confident, "I am sure when I have been to the hospital they will tell me I am healing well and these problems are just a passing phase. It has to be good news, Sarah. We can not think otherwise."

And then as the last of his headache faded out, he got up and held out his hand to her.

"Come with me, my darling – I shall take you down to the bar announce our engagement and then order champagne for everyone."

As she took his hand and stood up, worry reflected in her eyes.

"Are you sure we should be celebrating?"

There was a flicker of sadness in his eyes and then it was gone.

"This could be the last chance for us to celebrate," he told her, "And tonight when the bar closes you are coming back up here with me and I am taking you in my arms and making love to you, Sarah. I have no intention of wasting another precious moment."

And then he led her out of the bedroom and they went downstairs together, where Louie planned to announce his engagement to Sarah, to everyone who was gathered at the Gold Monkey Bar that night.

Jake had gone outside to get some air. It had been a hot, close night and the bar had felt stifling – or maybe he was just too aware of how so many people had stopped and stared when he walked in, perhaps that was why he had felt the need to step outside – but he stayed there for a while, drinking his beer and looking up at a clear night sky filled with countless stars that glowed in a sea of ink where there sat a crescent moon. Then after he had been out there for a while, he went back inside.

As he walked in, he stopped and stared at the sight of Louie at the bar with his arm around Sarah.

"To the future," he announced, raising his champagne glass, "And to my beautiful bride to be."

And then as the other drinkers toasted them, Louie leaned closer to her and Sarah kissed him. He looked very happy, and so did she – until Louie stumbled and leaned quickly on the bar to right his balance.

"Are you okay?" Sarah asked, and he smiled as he looked at her.

"Do not worry about me, I am a happy man tonight."

Then he kissed her, and as they broke off from that kiss, they turned to see Jake standing in front of them.

Louie leaned a little harder on the bar as he looked stunned, and then briefly confused.

"Jake...would you join us?" he offered, "We just announced our engagement."

Sarah's expression had turned wary as she caught a flash of anger in Jake's eyes.

"That was fast work, Louie!" he said, "You couldn't wait to rush into this, could you? What's the hurry, are you concerned she might change her mind or something?"

Louie's eyes widened, and then anger sparked in his gaze.

"Sarah is very sure she loves me."

"So was Daisy, and then she left you."

Sarah stepped forward.

"Stop it, Jake!" she said, "Leave it, just leave it, please!"

Jake wasn't sure if it was the heat of the evening that had got to him, or the beer on top of that – or simply that he needed to be angry openly, just this once - but he didn't hold it back.

"You stole her from me!" he raged, and then he grabbed Louie by the lapels of his white jacket and pinned him up against the bar.

"Jake let him go!" Sarah said sharply, "He's not well, let go!"

But Jake was still glaring at Louie as he pinned him there, and Louie looked back at him in alarm as he made no attempt to fight back.

"Jake," he said weakly, "I am not a well man, please let go."

"You look okay to me," Jake raged, "Standing there announcing your engagement to half the island! Doesn't it bother anyone that you and Sarah went sneaking around behind my back for months?"

Then a hand tapped him on the shoulder and he looked around to see three of the regular drinkers standing behind him.

"Let go of Louie," the tallest one said, and Jake did let go, and Louie leaned heavily against the bar as Sarah put an arm around him to steady him.

"Want us to throw him out?" the guy asked, but Louie shook his head.

"No need," he replied, "Go back to your tables and enjoy your drinks. Mr Cutter and I have had a minor misunderstanding. It is over now, and I want it known that I completely understand his actions, and forgive him for it."

And as the three men walked away, Jake's anger had not cooled as he glared at Louie.

"How am I supposed to react? Me and Sarah broke up three weeks ago and already you're getting engaged?"

Louie was still shaken, and it was then as he stood there waiting for an answer that Jake noticed his face had paled.

"Louie?" he said, and for a brief moment Louie seemed unsteady, and Jake caught the worried look in Sarah's eyes, and Louie promised her he was fine, and then looked back at him again.

"Your anger is understandable, mon ami," said Louie, "But perhaps in time you will come to understand why we chose not to wait. But I do want you to know that I do not blame you for your anger. I still think of you as my friend, and always will."

And he held out his hand to him.

"Shall we agree to put the disagreement behind us and shake on it?"

Jake looked into his eyes and noticed the way Louie was looking at him intently, as if silently begging him to accept their fight was over.

"Please," Louie said, "Please, Jake."

And then Jake's eyes clouded with confusion

"What's going on, Louie?"

He gave a sigh.

"Nothing I care to discuss with a man who will not shake my hand," Louie replied, and then he turned to Sarah.

"Let's order up some champagne, " he said, "I want everyone to celebrate our engagement."

"We just did that," Sarah reminded him gently, and Louie briefly closed his eyes as he shook his head.

"I forgot...I apologise," he said, and then Jake saw deep concern in Sarah's eyes as she placed her hand on Louie's shoulder.

"Maybe we should go upstairs, you need to rest," she said kindly.

And in that moment Jake realised something was very wrong indeed...

"Louie, what's going on?" he said, as his anger melted away, swiftly replaced by concern.

"Nothing at all, I am simply tired, Jake," he replied, "And yes," he added, looking to Sarah, "I think perhaps I should retire for the night – I am feeling very tired."

"Good idea," Sarah agreed, and Jake said his name again, but neither Louie nor Sarah looked back as they left the bar and headed for the stairway together.

Jake watched them leave, and then he set down his drink and left the Gold Monkey bar, where he stood outside for a moment feeling a mix of pain and regret as he recalled how he had let his anger get the better of him. He recalled the look in Louie's eyes, and how sincerely he had promised him he was forgiven, and then as he remembered Louie saying he was not well, he wondered if there was a reason for them moving so fast on their engagement.

It was then he felt a sudden flash of fear as he wondered just how unwell Louie was - and as he recalled how complicated his injuries had been after the accident, a horrible thought struck him that perhaps Louie was not recovering as well as he seemed to be, and he looked back at the bar and considered going up the stairs and knocking on the door and asking Louie to speak with him, but then he remembered Sarah was with him, and decided it would be better to leave them alone together, and to come back in the morning...

Then as his heart still weighed heavy with regret as he thought about the way he had lost his temper with Louie, Jake called to his dog, and then he walked off away from the bar, with Jack trotting beside him.

It was almost closing time and the noise from downstairs in the bar was fading out. Upstairs, the lights were out and as Louie closed the door behind them, he switched on a lamp, and it bathed the room in a soft glow.

"I'm sorry about Jake," Sarah said as Louie stepped closer, "He shouldn't have lost his temper with you -"

"He was not to know my situation," Louie said softly, and he reached out and ran his fingers through her hair as he looked into her eyes.

"Forget about Jake, forget about everything. Let this night be the first of many we will spend together – assuming I am healing and making a good recovery, we have the rest of our lives to be together and all of it will be wonderful, I will make sure of that."

Worry reflected in her eyes.

"And what if it's bad news? What if you're not getting better and you need the surgery?"

Louie pulled her close and held her in his arms, and she saw no trace of fear in his eyes as he considered his uncertain future.

"Nothing is decided yet," he said softly, "And tonight Sarah, I will show you how much I have missed you."

Then he took her by the hand and led her over to the bed and as they sat down together he tenderly kissed her.

"I do love you so very much," he whispered, and as she wrapped her arms around him they fell back onto the bed, and then as the tide ran to shore in the distance and the sound carried through the open window, the only other sounds that could be heard were Louie's jacket sliding off and then his shirt buttons opening as Sarah impatiently undressed him. He reached around to her back and unzipped her dress and she slid out of it, and then she gasped as he gently ran his hands up to the top of her silk stockings.

"You are so very beautiful," Louie said softly as his gaze ran over her body, taking in the sight of her lying there in just her underwear.

She reached for him, running her hands over his shoulders and then as he embraced her, she slid her fingers through his hair as their kisses grew more passionate.

And that night was the night their love was set in stone forever, it was the night that Louie had cast aside all doubts and told the world Sarah was to be his wife, and then took her upstairs, and as the sea rolled to shore on a moonlit beach far beyond the bedroom window of the upper floor of the Gold Monkey Bar, Louie made love to her tenderly, and then with more passion, as he told her that he loved her, and no matter what happened next, they would be together always...

Next morning Sarah woke first, went down stairs, cooked breakfast and made coffee and then brought it upstairs and she sat on the bed while her lover stayed in bed, and they shared breakfast together.

Afterwards Louie lay back, resting on pillows as he watched Sarah get dressed, and he smiled as he took in the sight of her curves and the way her summer dress flattered her shapely body so well.

"I can not take my eyes off you," he said to her as he finished his coffee and set it down next to the bed.

Sarah had just finished putting on her make up, and she turned around and looked at him, but her eyes were clouded with concern.

"You don't look ill," she told him, "You seem so much better today. I find it hard to believe you could be so unwell, you seem fine now."

"And we can only guess how long that will last, " Louie replied, and then he got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" she asked him as he put on a dressing gown.

"For a bath," he replied, "And then I am getting dressed and we are going for a nice walk along the beach. We need it make the most of this time – at least until we know if I have any kind of future to look forward to."

"Louie?"

He had reached the bedroom door, and he looked back.

"I'll be here forever, no matter what happens," Sarah told him.

Love and gratitude shone in his eyes as he looked back at her.

"I know you will," he replied, "I have no doubt that your love for me is real,for me, it has always been you, Sarah – and it always will be you."

And then he left the room and Sarah turned back to the mirror and picked up her hairbrush and ran it through her hair again, determined to look her very best, and to keep a smile on her face, because as Louie had said, they didn't yet know what the future held, and even if bad news was on the way, she wanted these last days before they found out the answer to be perfect for both of them...

Sarah and Louie left the bar and walked down the street, heading for the road that led to the beach. Along the way, many times they were stopped by locals who asked Louie how he was feeling and wished him well, the whole island knew about the plane crash and as the local magistrate and owner of the bar Louie was both respected and well liked around Boragora. And each time he stopped and spoke to someone he smiled and seemed happy as he said he was feeling much better.

It surprised Sarah that he could be so bright and cheerful considering the uncertainty that hung over him, but seeing him put on such a brave face only made her love and admiration for him deepen – Louie was happy for now, and wanted everyone around him to be happy, too...

When they reached the beach, Louie took her by the hand and they walked along together over golden sands and then he paused to kiss her as the breeze blew warm and sweet.

"Whatever happens," he promised her, "We will always have this, we will always have these memories and our love will never die. And I have used my influence as magistrate of this island to pull some strings on the mainland. I suggest we leave tomorrow, because it will give us a day to be together before I face the outcome of the diagnosis."

Then he took hold of both her hands and started to smile as a sparkle came to his dark eyes.

"I have arranged – if you will have me – to marry you tomorrow, on the mainland, Sarah. Please say yes."

The speed at which he had arranged it only reminded her of the fact that the future was uncertain, but as she blinked away tears her sadness was mixed with joy.

"Of course I'll marry you, Louie!" she said, and he pulled her close and they kissed as the wind blew sweet and tropical and the sea ran to golden sands as the sun shone down on a bright morning on the island of Boragora.