Lucas tipped Elizabeth's chin up gently, kissing her awake. "Babe, we're landing. We're in Maui."
"Hm? Oh." She kissed him back and looked out the window. "The sunrise is gorgeous over the water."
"Just think, we will have two weeks of this."
"Two weeks of heavenly newlywed bliss in our private beach bungalow?"
"Mm. Absolutely."
Thirty minutes later, they were standing near the baggage claim watching for their suitcases. Lucas found his first so Elizabeth kept watching. Lucas shot a quick text to everyone that they landed safely and then shut off his phone, living up to his promise to Beth that they'd check their phones only once a day to make sure Noa was happy and healthy.
"Why is my suitcase not with yours?" Elizabeth asked him.
"I'm not sure. I'm sure it will show up."
"What if it doesn't?"
"Well, to be honest, I don't think we will need much clothing."
Her cheeks heated and she bumped him with her hip. He slipped his arm around her and smiled.
"Babe, I bought something special for our first night…er morning. I'll be so annoyed if I can't wear it."
"I get it and believe me, I'm looking forward to seeing you in any and all pieces of "special items" but it's going to be an amazing morning, no matter what happens."
"I also brought that t-shirt from the first night we met."
"The one you refuse to give back?"
"Yes. I had these cute short shorts to wear with it."
"You can wear any of my shirts, babe. Believe me, you can make anything sexy."
She sighed and he leaned his head down to kiss her. "If your bag isn't here, we will figure it out. But honestly, how perfect our time together will be doesn't depend on what you're wearing."
"I know."
Which was good because her bag never showed. "Shoot. Now what? I have no clothes."
They reported her lost luggage and then headed to the car rental area.
"I'm sorry, sir. We don't have any SUVs available," the rental agent told him, checking his computer.
"But I paid for an SUV," Lucas told the man.
"I see that. We would be happy to refund the difference."
"Between what?"
"I'm sorry?"
"The difference between what?"
"Between the SUV and a compact."
"Compact? Are you serious? I'm 6'2", sir."
"I can't believe this. First my luggage is lost and now this? This isn't how a honeymoon is supposed to go." Elizabeth didn't want to be frustrated or show her frustration. She wanted to be in blissful heaven with her new husband, wearing her new lingerie. In their bungalow on the beach. In Paradise.
Lucas sighed and kissed her temple. "I'm sorry, babe."
"Its not your fault."
"You're right though. This wasn't how this was supposed to go." He looked at his wife and knew that nothing mattered more than her right now. "Okay, sir, if a compact is all you have, we'll take it."
"Very good, sir. And congratulations."
"Thank you."
Finally, about thirty minutes later, Elizabeth and Lucas were on their way to the resort.
After about ten minutes, Lucas pulled over and turned his phone on. "Babe, why don't you look up the nearest mall?"
"Really?"
"Of course. Just get whatever you need to."
"Thank you, hon. I know it shouldn't matter but…you and I have been apart for so long and we waited for today to be together again. I want to make it perfect."
"I need you to know that to me, you are what I've waited for. You are the only one I've ever loved, the only one I've been intimate with. You were my first, Elizabeth, and you'll be my last."
This man…so sweet.
"Can I borrow clothes from you, love?"
"Of course, but we can go get you some now."
"No. I think we should go to our bungalow. Shopping can wait until later."
She cupped his cheek, running her thumb along his jaw. "I love you. Nothing else matters," she whispered.
….
The next evening
Lucas couldn't believe the amount of love he felt for the woman laying next to him. It wasn't as if being with her again had actually been a new experience. However, the fact that they waited and now they were husband and wife made it more special.
"Mmm." She smiled and opened her eyes. "Hi."
He kissed her nose and pulled her close. "Good nap?"
"Yeah. I'm not sure if it's jet lag or just not sleeping a lot. Either way, yeah. Sleep felt good."
"Do you think we should get dressed up and go out?"
"Like a date?" she giggled, pulling him down on top of her. "Is it a date if we are married?"
"Absolutely. I fully intend to date you for the rest of our lives."
"So romantic," she mumbled as his mouth crashed into hers, taking her breath. "Room service sounds better."
….
The next afternoon
Elizabeth marveled at the beautiful scene below their helicopter. At first she had been scared, feeling more vulnerable than when in a plane but her very own knight in shining armor held her hand and strongly suggested she open her eyes because this was something she couldn't miss.
A private helicopter tour taking them all over Maui to see hidden waterfalls you can only see from the air or volcanos or cliffs all while holding the hand of your new spouse…what could be better?
Actually she wanted to try the hammock that Lucas had somehow acquired from the resort. She wanted to place it just perfectly so they could watch the sunset over the water and then stargaze while wrapped in each others arms.
She looked over at Lucas and kissed him, trying not to get their headsets tangled.
"I think we need to try the hammock tonight," she told him.
"Sounds good."
Late that evening, they did just that. After eating a romantic dinner under the stars on their private patio, they set up the hammock and took advantage of the privacy of their own beach.
"Can we move here?" she asked, trailing kisses up his chest as they swung in the ocean breeze. His lips found hers for a long moment.
"I'm good with that."
"I'd miss my parents and sisters though. Maybe we can just make sure to visit again?"
"Absolutely."
Elizabeth looked up into his eyes and smiled. He made her heart ache wonderfully.
"What?" he whispered.
"Just…the words 'I love you' seem so inadequate compared to how i feel."
This man, whom she had loved for years, never ceased to make her feel as precious as diamonds. Never ceased to make her heart race just by being in her thoughts or by touching her.
He dried a tear that had fallen from her eye and kissed her cheek. "Babe?"
"Just hold me."
He wrapped her up in his strong arms and sighed. His heart had never been so full.
"Always, sweetheart."
…..
The next ten days flew by but at the same time, they enjoyed every moment. Now Elizabeth was itching to see Noa and hug her hard. She had never been away from her for two weeks before and she missed her so much.
"Mommy!" Noa yelled, running toward her from the couch as they arrived home. "I missed you!"
"I missed you, punkin. So much!"
Elizabeth picked her up and held her tight while Lucas brought their suitcases inside. Hers had shown up in Maui a week after they had arrived.
"Where's Daddy?"
"Right here, sweet pea," Lucas said walking in the door with their bags and Martin since he had picked them up from the airport.
"Hi, Daddy!"
"Hi." Lucas took Noa and gave her a big hug. "Were you good while we were gone?"
"Yup."
"She was an angel," Helen commented as she walked in from the living room. "Welcome back, you two."
"Thanks."
"How was Maui?"
Elizabeth blushed and smiled at Lucas. "Perfect. Something smells good."
"I'm making spaghetti and meatballs."
"Yay! Sketti!" Noa yelled, running into the living room ahead of them.
Elizabeth kissed Lucas and smiled. "I'm going to get unpacked and start the laundry."
He nodded and watched her walk away, fully enjoying the sight.
"Son, our flight leaves at 8am tomorrow. Will you return the favor and take your mother and I to the airport?"
"Huh?" He swung his focus back to his father. "Right. Yes. Airport."
"Perhaps your lovely Beth needs assistance with the laundry?"
"Nah, she can handle it."
"A bit of advice, son," Martin said, an amused look on his face. "Use any excuse you can find to spend time with her. Seriously. I mean, your mother and I are here and we can watch Noa."
"Right. Yes. I suppose I could assist…."
Lucas bolted up the stairs to the master. The master he and his wife were going to share for the first time that evening. The master where their new king sized bed waited…where the fireplace waited for an inaugural fire…the jacuzzi tub waited for a hot, bubble bath…
"Whoa, Luke? In a hurry?" Elizabeth asked as she carried the full laundry basket toward the door that Lucas just burst through.
He gently took the laundry basket from her hands and put it down, flipping the lock on the door.
"Honey?" He lifted the edge of her t-shirt up and over her head, surprising her. "Babe, your parents are right down there."
He kissed her deeply, resting his hands on the soft, bare skin of her lower back. "Dad said they will watch Noa if I wanted to help you with the laundry."
He kissed her again and again before moving to her jaw and neck.
"Is that a metaphor?" she giggled, kissing him back.
He tossed her shirt into the pile of clothes along with his own. "Yep. There. I helped."
"Just checking."
A half hour later, they heard Noa giggling downstairs and the sounds of dinner being eaten.
"I'm hungry," Elizabeth mumbled from her comfortable space in his warm arms. "But I really don't want to move. This bed is comfortable."
"It is," he agreed. "I could go downstairs and get us some food."
"Would you? I'm starved."
"Sure."
He made himself presentable and left the room, entirely too adorable for words. His messed up hair, white t-shirt and flannel pants over that cute butt and those long legs, not to mention his bare feet.
Elizabeth could barely stop herself from squealing. Her husband. He was hers. Forever. How did she get so lucky?
….
Later, after everyone was in bed except them, Lucas and Elizabeth decided to enjoy a fire in the master. Elizabeth slipped into a special white silk robe she had purchased before their wedding and waited, leaning back against the end of the bed as she sat on the floor.
"Okay," he announced a bit too loudly.
"Shhh…babe. Noa is sleeping."
"Right. Sorry. I have strawberries and whipped cream and a bottle of Chardonnay," he told her, swinging the door shut with his foot.
"Mmm." She got up and locked the door behind him since his hands were full of their goodies. "That sounds great."
His phone buzzed on the bed and she saw the name Janette on the screen. "Surprised she didn't show up at the wedding."
Elizabeth dipped a strawberry in the cream and took a big bite, bringing Lucas' eyes and attention from his little Janette secret to her lips and how much he wanted to be feeding her the strawberries right then.
"Um…"
"Um? Um what, hon?"
"Um, I…we …I need to…" he sighed. Full disclosure. "She was there."
"Are you serious? I didn't see her."
"Sweetheart, we were distracted by everything else going on. She was there."
"You just decided not to share that information?"
"It didn't come up."
"Right." She sat back and sipped her Chardonnay. "I don't want to be jealous of her, Lucas but…I've never met the woman and she and you…used to go out and she probably knows more about you than I do."
"No one knows me better than you, Beth."
"I want to meet her."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"She just called you. Set it up."
"She's probably on her way to Madrid or something."
"Madrid? And before she was in Rome and Paris? What is she a supermodel?"
He didn't answer. She smacked him with the pillow she had been leaning on. "She is?"
"Not a supermodel. Just a model."
"Set it up. I want to meet your best-friend, the non-super probably gorgeous and stick thin model."
He took his phone and sighed. He wasn't going to get out of this so he pushed the call back button. It was time.
