Who knows when love begins. Who knows what makes it start. One day it's simply there, alive inside your heart.
The rest of the plane ride went quickly. As they were landing, Elsie made sure her window was open so she could see them touch down in Acapulco.
"Look! You can see the beach." Charles pointed out, glancing over Elsie's shoulder.
She nodded, looking at all the beautiful trees and resorts. She threw Charles's book back into her purse as they stood to exit.
They found Bill and Beryl as soon as they walked back into the terminal.
Bill lead them down the halls. "To the baggage claim, this way."
They each took time to use the restroom before the baggage belt began to move. Charles saw his bag and grabbed it. Elsie moved to grab her bag, but Charles reached it first and set it down in front of her.
"I am perfectly capable of carrying my own luggage, thank you very much!" she fumed.
"Elsie, I was only trying to help. Don't be so defensive. It's not very becoming."
She walked back to Beryl and Bill who also had all their luggage.
"Right then, let's be off." Bill lead them outside to hail a cab. All their luggage barely fit in the trunk. Charles sat up front with the driver while the other three were squished in the back.
Luckily, it was a short drive to their resort which was situated right along the beach. It was a very small, secluded area with limited rooms. Elsie and Beryl chose and booked the place thinking it was perfect for them. Elsie remembered hoping that Joe would take her on some late night walks on the beach, or possibly a late night swim.
Charles was enamored with the place as soon as he saw it. He knew Elsie and Beryl booked the place and he would have to congratulate them. It was beautiful, non touristy, and had a real charm about it. "Well, I never thought I would say this but Elsie, you chose well."
She rolled her eyes at him and didn't dignify his comment with a response.
They found the front desk and checked into their three rooms. Their was a rather large courtyard in the center with rooms on three sides. Each of their rooms were a distance away from each other. They decided to dress for dinner at the resort bar and meet back in the center.
Elsie put the key in her door and swung it open. The single room donned a large bed placed directly in the center of the room. There was a rather large chaise chair by the front window that looked out on the ocean. The entire room was decorated in soft cream colors and the dim lights created a romantic mood. Elsie threw down her case and sat on the bed, alone.
Charles walked into the same sights. He was especially impressed by the large bed and excited to be able to stretch out comfortably for once. He removed his shoes and laid down on the comforter. He rolled and stretched until he was sure he would have the best night sleep he ever had.
The four of them met an hour later in the court yard dressed for dinner. Beryl and Bill wore matching floral print clothes. They had matching clothes planned for every day. Charles wore tan slacks with a button up shirt and a navy sports blazer. Elsie wore dark blue pants with a blue lacy top.
They proceeded to the bar and found a table for four. Bill pulled out a chair for Beryl as she sat. Charles pulled out a chair for Elsie. He would think twice about doing this next time, for the glare he received this time was not worth repeating.
"What would you like, love?" Beryl asked.
"Definitely something with fish. We are by the sea, time to indulge in the sea food!"
Charles interrupted Bill's exclamation. "I am not sure that is such a good idea. I read that the fish here often makes the tourists ill."
"Where did you read that? In a Dickens novel?" Elsie joked, this time with no malice intended.
"I read it in some pamphlets I got when I knew we were traveling here."
Bill spoke up. "Well, wherever you read it, I am sure it is false. Besides, I have tried fish all over the globe and not been ill once."
"Suit yourself." A warning was the best he could do. He turned to Elsie. "And what will you have? Salmon?"
She grunted a slight laugh and twisted her mouth. "I will have the chicken and beans."
Charles laughed out loud and she joined in with light giggles.
Their dinner was spectacular. Beryl and Bill praised their salmon dish, but both Charles and Elsie refused to try a bite. Charles ordered the beef meal and Elsie did in fact order the chicken. After eating, the live band started some music. Bill and Beryl were the first couple on the floor. Charles and Elsie watched their friends dancing with gusto. Though not very talented, they made up for it with enthusiasm.
"I hope he doesn't pull anything. We are all supposed to go fishing tomorrow morning." Charles began.
"If he doesn't, I'm sure Beryl will. She had a knack for always twisting something at university. I think every part of her body was damaged in some way or other."
"What was the cause of all those injuries?" He inquired.
Elsie thought. "Foolishness. She flew a mile a minute in her younger years. From party to party and then home in the early morning light."
"Really?" Charles had never heard these stories about Beryl. "And were you and Alice right on her tail?"
"Oh no. Alice was much too busy with her dance lessons. She really was a wonderful dancer. I always thought it was a shame she gave it up."
"I thought the same thing. She could have had a wonderful career on the stage, but she never had that dream for herself."
Elsie looked down at her glass of white wine. "I guess she dreamed more about falling in love, getting married, and caring for a family."
"More like caring for children." Charles corrected with a hint of bitterness.
Elsie looked up at him. He suddenly felt awkward and sipped his red wine. "Forgive me Elsie. I shouldn't be bringing up my complaints to you."
"No, I wish you would. Ever since your children were born I sensed a change in Alice, like she had a new purpose or drive in her life. I thought it was wonderful at the time and I was happy for her of course. But I was never as close to her after that."
He took a moment to comprehend what Elsie admitted. He looked into his red wine and sighed. "I was never as close to her either."
Elsie stared at his eyebrows settling down over his eyes. He still hadn't looked up from his wine. He swirled it in the glass. Elsie never saw him so vulnerable or never heard him admit something so personal.
She brought a smile into her eye and her voice. "I am sure she still loves you as much, if not more than the day you married."
He looked up to her. "Well I am glad someone thinks so."
There was nothing else to say at the moment, so both turned back to watch Beryl and Bill on the dance floor. A song came on that Charles recognized.
"Isn't this the song that you played at your wedding?"
Elsie was surprised he remembered. "It is, all of some 18 years ago." They both smiled. "Joe hated it, even forbid me from playing it."
"Yet you did it all the same." Charles could not understand her. She seemed to love Joe very much, but she was not understanding at all when it came to his business trips and his wishes for her. He thought about his next question. "Why do you do it to him?"
"Do what?" Elsie asked.
"Why are you always so hard on him when he has to go away? I am sure he wishes he could stay at home, but his job demands must take priority sometimes."
Elsie forgot to take a breath before her reproach. "Charles, you have no idea what you are saying so please just stop right there! Joe does not sometimes go away he always goes away. Even if he is not on a trip, he stays at his office until late in the evening. He constantly ignores me and I am sure that he does NOT wish he could stay at home…"
Her rant was interrupted by a coughing fit. Charles handed her a glass and she took a drink after her cough's subsided. Charles placed the glass back on the table.
There was more silence. Elsie could not believe she just ranted on about her marriage to Charles. Charles Carson, who only yesterday was her sworn enemy. She was so embarrasses she wished she could just climb into that comfortable bed and sleep all these memories away.
Charles sensed the atmosphere that descended. He turned to the table and a smile came on his face.
"How was the drink, Elsie?"
She was brought back from her musings. "What?"
"The red wine. You just drank some of my red wine."
Her eyes widened at his admission and the smile on his face. She had two choices in that moment. She could yell at him for tricking her and storm out or she could laugh along and stay in his company.
She chose the later.
Thanks for all your supportive reviews! The title of story and the song lyrics at the beginning are Love Never Dies by Andrew Lloyd Webber.