by Anne Stone
When they woke, they were both starved. They ate and went about their day walking the nearby beaches and touring their little slice of heaven.
Alejandro arranged a special dinner. As far as he was concerned, this was their first night as husband and wife, and he was going to make it a memorable one. He arranged for a candlelit dinner for the deck of their bungalow. Soft music played in the background as they were served the island specialty, Poison Cru. It was a favored Polynesian dish of tuna marinated in coconut milk and lime. They danced to the soft music; then, Alejandro led her back to the table where a gift was waiting for her.
She smiled at him as soon as she saw it sitting beside her crème brûlée.
“Open it,” he said.
She flipped open the lid and gasped when she saw what was inside. A Tahitian Black Pearl necklace and matching earrings lay in front of her. The pearls were unique to the islands. They were made by grafting locally cultivated Pinctada Margaritifera oysters. Although they were called black pearls, they formed a wide variety of colors, and the depth of color was determined by the amount of black pigment the oyster secreted.
Earlier in the day when they’d been shopping, Angelina had become fascinated by the whole process. They had been advised that, if they purchased the black pearl, they should choose a color that looked best on Angelina, taking into account her hair, skin color, and wardrobe colors she most often wore.
It had been a difficult decision for her and she’d decided to just move on and continue with her shopping. Alejandro had stayed back and chosen the lavender-tinted pearls. He had the clerk wrap up the set and deliver it to their hotel where he’d arranged for it to be given during their dessert.
Angelina didn’t know what to say. Alejandro stood and reached for the pearls. He slipped the necklace around her neck. “Beautiful,” is all he said as he reached for her hand. Placing her hand in his, she stood and followed him into their slice of paradise.
When they crossed into their bungalow, Alejandro smoothed her hair behind her ears. “I’ve waited too long for this night,” he said as he kissed the side of her neck. Tugging on her hand, he led her into their bedroom. He pulled her again into his arms. “This is our night. I want you to remember every moment of it.” Turning, she noticed the rose petals that were strewn across the floor leading to their bed, the candles flickering all about the room. He’d built a scene right out of a fairy tale for her.
She could still hear the soft music playing in the background. She noticed her lingerie had been laid out on the bed. He motioned for her to go change.
As she exchanged her sundress for her satin nightgown, she realized that he’d created this magical setting all for her. He wanted to make their first night together one that she’d remember for a lifetime.
The next morning she woke wrapped in Alejandro’s arms. She glanced down at her string of pearls. She couldn’t believe that he’d surprised her with the gift, along with the special touches to make the night an unforgettable one. She felt like she was truly living in a fairy tale.
*****
Their honeymoon was an experience of a lifetime. Sunsets from their bungalow absolutely took their breath away. Nightly, as they sat on their deck overlooking the water, the orange and yellow hues mixed amongst the clouds on the horizon were the most amazing colors ever seen. After watching the sunset, they’d make their way to their bedroom where they’d spend the night wrapped in one another’s arms.
During the day, they found themselves snorkeling right off their bungalow. They went on an all-day excursion, touring the lagoon and private islands that surrounded them. She loved walking on the pristine beaches, looking out at the water at the vivid shades of emerald, turquoise, azure, and royal blue. It was mesmerizing watching the change in the colors of the water. No one would believe the color of the water wasn’t altered in their pictures. It was something she would never forget.
One of the highlights of their honeymoon was seeing a traditional Tahitian dance. They’d gone to one of the hotels for dinner and the show. They learned that the traditional Tahitian dance told a story of ancient legends and folklore of the Polynesian culture. The dances could be slow and sensual or fast paced and vigorous. They decided it was definitely something they were glad they’d done, as it was a beautiful insight into the Tahitian culture.
Before they knew it, their two weeks in paradise was coming to a close. They both got their wishes, and all too soon it was time to return home. They spent their last evening enjoying the view at sunset. He reached for her hand and held it close to his heart. “I’ve had a wonderful time.”
“So have I. I couldn’t have asked for more. I can’t believe it’s time to go home.”
“I know. I’m not looking forward to my schedule the next few weeks. But instead of going home to an empty house, I’ll be coming home to you.” He kissed her knuckles as they finished watching the last rays of sun from their honeymoon disappear on the horizon.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Eight weeks had elapsed since their honeymoon, and Angelina had wrapped up another school year. She had moved the majority of her things to Alejandro’s before the wedding and her parents had surprised her by moving the remainder of her clothes, along with their wedding gifts, to his house while they were on their honeymoon.
Both families surprised them with an impromptu celebration upon their return. They’d opened their gifts and described the true beauty of Bora Bora.
Angelina quickly adjusted to living with Alejandro. When she was in school, they pretty much got up at the same time. The hardest transition for her was sharing a bathroom first thing in the morning. They often found themselves bumping into one another. In time, they found the humor in it, but it took her a few days to see it.
Alejandro experienced a rough couple of weeks upon his return. His first day back greeted him with a six year old child who needed a kidney transplant. Matthew Johnson’s parents discovered his kidney problems when he was just four years old, and now he was in dire need of a transplant.
Working with children challenged Alejandro, as pediatric cases drained him emotionally since he needed to be more sensitive to their needs. He tried to bring the medical jargon down to the child’s level of understanding. He wanted each child to feel special in their own way, and dealing with a six year old was pretty challenging.
His own son would have been about the same age as Matthew if he’d lived. Alejandro often thought of Michael. He wondered what he would look like… What would his favorite subject be? Would he choose a career in medicine?
Alejandro was scheduled off for the long Fourth of July weekend and they were hosting a barbeque to celebrate. As they finished setting up the patio for the next day, and were enjoying their evening, they reminisced about the previous year, their engagement, and their spectacular wedding and honeymoon.
Alejandro changed the direction of the conversation and began to share Matthew’s story. It was something he really needed to talk about. “We’re hoping for a transplant, but you know how that goes.”
“I know, sweetheart. I’ll pray for him.”
“His parents are such interesting people. They were eighteen when they married. His mother, Jane, worked her way through college and graduated with honors. His father, Duane, is extremely bright and double majored in Engineering and Business. Although they married young, they had supportive parents. Unfortunately, now they’re facing Matthew’s illness alone as both sets of grandparents are deceased. I’m so impressed with them. Often I look at Matthew and wonder about Michael… How tall would he be? What sports would he enjoy? You know, all the parent type stuff.”
“Alejandro, we’ll have that someday.” She reached for his hand and squeezed it.
The Fourth dawned with a severe thunderstorm. It awakened Alejandro suddenly in the night, and he couldn’t fall back to sleep. He decided to get up and watch the early morning news. He made coffee and, just as he was ready to take a cup into Angelina, the news reported a
horrific accident on the interstate. A drunken driver had crossed the median and drove straight into the path of a car carrying a young couple. The news reported that the couple was killed instantly and the drunken driver walked away unharmed.
“That’s how it always goes. The innocent are killed,” he spoke as he took Angelina her coffee.
“Did you say something?” Angelina asked.
Alejandro told her about the accident. “It’s always the innocent that are killed so tragically.”
They went on with their day as both families joined them for the barbeque. Alejandro grilled with Wyatt’s assistance. Wyatt idolized Alejandro and followed him everywhere when he was around.
As they neared fireworks time, the phone rang—it was the hospital. Alejandro was off for the weekend, but they insisted on speaking with him. Angelina found him in the backyard sipping a cocktail, waiting for the fireworks to begin.
“Honey, the phone’s for you. It’s the hospital. They insist on speaking with you.”
He looked at her quizzically and took the phone. “This is Dr. Alvarez.”
“Alejandro, it’s Robert…” Robert was covering for him while he was off for the weekend. “I have some bad news for you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You know that little boy that you’re waiting on a kidney for?”
“Matthew Johnson?”
“Yeah.”
“Has his condition worsened?”
“No… His parents were killed this morning.”
“Oh, no.” Pausing momentarily, he said, “They were the couple killed on the interstate this morning, weren’t they?”
“Yes.”
“Does Matthew know?”
“Not yet. I thought you might want to be the one to tell him.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Angelina overheard the conversation. “Matthew’s parents were the couple that was killed this morning?”
He nodded.
“I’m going to the hospital with you.”
“No, you’ve got your parents and family here.”
“So do you. They’ll understand.”
Alejandro gathered everyone and broke the tragic news to his family. Now his only concern was Matthew and how he would deal with it.
They drove to the hospital in silence. She could tell the events were affecting him greatly. She reached across the seat for his hand.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” he said, squeezing her hand. “I just don’t know… Michael’s death keeps hitting me in the face. How am I going to tell Matthew about his parents?”
“Alejandro, that’s why I’m here… I want to be here for you. Help all that I can.” She looked at him while she spoke and watched his jaw clench. She said a prayer silently.
Alejandro pulled into his parking spot and quickly exited the car. He came around to the passenger side of the car, opened the door, and reached for her hand, helping her from the car as he flung his stethoscope around his neck.
Alejandro sought out Robert. He found him in the doctor’s lounge reviewing a patient’s file. He introduced Angelina to him. Angelina shook his hand, then turned all of her attention to her husband.
“What does Matthew know?” Alejandro asked.
“Only that his parents aren’t here with him. We’ve been stalling all day, not knowing where they were. One of the nurses heard about the accident and put two and two together. Duane had convinced Jane to go home last night. He spent the night with Matthew and left early this morning to pick her up. They were headed back to the hospital when the accident happened.”
Alejandro picked up Matthew’s chart. “I’m going to go see him now.”
Angelina followed him. Even though Alejandro was Matthew’s his doctor, he wasn’t acting as a doctor. He was there as his friend and Angelina was there to support her husband. She reached for his hand and clasped it tightly. As they neared Matthew’s hospital room, she stopped walking. Alejandro’s mind was elsewhere and her stopping caused him to misstep. He caught himself, saying, “What’s wrong?”
“Have you thought through what you’re going to say to him?”
“No.”
“Shouldn’t you?”
Looking down at the floor, he said, “I’m better talking extemporaneously. It’ll be easier for me. If I think too much, I’ll get too emotional. I have to be focused—I’m his doctor.”
“I realize that, but—”
“Angelina, I know what I’m doing, okay?”
She nodded. “I think I’ll stand out here while you tell him. I don’t want to interfere.”
“Interfere? Where did you get that? I need you, need you by my side. This is hard enough with Michael and…”
Angelina didn’t say anymore. She followed him into Matthew’s room to support him.
When they entered Matthew’s room, she was taken aback by how small he looked lying in his hospital bed. She glanced sideways at her husband. She could see the fear in his eyes and the panicked look on his face.
Matthew was clueless as to what Alejandro was experiencing. He was just glad to see him. “Hey, Doc. What are you doing here? I thought you were off.”
“I am, but something came up, and I needed to drop by the hospital to take care of it. My wife, Angelina, decided to come with me.”
“Hi, I’m Matthew.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Matthew.”
“Dr. Alvarez, do you know where my parents are? My Dad went to pick up Mom early this morning, and I haven’t seen them all day long.”
Angelina glanced between the doctor and his patient. Alejandro moved closer to Matthew. He sat on the edge of the bed while Angelina stood by his side. “Well buddy, that’s why I am here.”
“Something’s wrong?”
“Yes, Matthew. I want you to know that I‘m going to be completely honest with you.”
“You always are.”
Angelina placed her hand on Alejandro’s shoulder, hoping to give her husband the strength he needed to share this horrendous news with the little boy.
“Matthew, your parents were on their way back to the hospital this morning when something terrible happened.”
Matthew looked at him blankly.
“Your parents were involved in a car accident. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but they were killed.”
Angelina could tell that Matthew didn’t understand what he’d just been told.
“You mean they’ll be here later tonight.”
Angelina knew her husband was having a hard time explaining himself, so she took over. “Matthew, I’m sorry but your parents won’t be coming to see you again. They were badly hurt and died.”
“No, that can’t be.” He seemed to finally register what they were telling him and he started crying.
Thankfully, Alejandro had grabbed a sedative before entering his room. He stood and removed it from his pocket. “Matthew, I’m not going anywhere, but I’m going to give you something to calm you down.” As Matthew’s tears and upset increased, Alejandro injected him with the calming drug. Shortly thereafter, he fell asleep with both Alejandro and Angelina by his side.
“He’ll sleep for a while. Let’s go for a few minutes. I have to check on a few things.”
“How about I stay here?”
“Sweetheart, he’s going to be out for some time. Please, I need you.” He reached for her and pulled her into an embrace. They left Matthew’s room arm-in-arm and headed for Alejandro’s office. There he could think and decide what his next move would be.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Alejandro didn’t want Matthew to attend the funeral, but he insisted on attending. Several of Duane and Jane’s friends attended the services, along with some of the doctors and nurses that they’d gotten to know because of Matthew’s numerous hospital stays. Both of Duane and Jane’s employers were supportive and had established trust funds in Matthew’s name to collect money to help with hospital expenses and Matthew’s education.
&
nbsp; According to their attorney, there were no living relatives. They’d been in the process of setting up care for Matthew in the event that something happened to them, but never had the opportunity to finalize their plans because they were so focused on Matthew’s health.
After they’d told Matthew about his parents, Angelina spent almost every waking moment of the day with him. She didn’t want anything to happen to him, and he started to become very important to her.
From her first encounter with Matthew, Angelina had an overwhelming sense to protect him. Matthew, for all he’d been through, had a sense of humor, loved to play games, and was an avid reader. He loved the time he spent with Angelina and was disappointed when she’d miss a day of visiting him.
Angeline didn’t want Matthew to feel like he’d been abandoned or forgotten. She made a point to let him know how important he was to her. Often, she’d stayed until late in the afternoon playing games with him. Many times she was kicked out by the nursing staff so that Matthew could rest. She looked forward to their visits and often would return to the hospital late at night to check on him. These were the evenings that Alejandro was busy either working late or out of town. Alejandro had no idea that she’d grown as close to Matthew as she had. Matthew was just as important to her as her students were— in fact, maybe even more important. She didn’t want to see anything happen to him.
Alejandro had notified the appropriate authorities regarding Matthew’s parents. The state would oversee him until he left the hospital, then he’d enter foster care since he had no living relatives.
Angelina didn’t know what she’d do without Matthew in their lives. Alejandro shared that if Matthew’s condition continued to worsen, he would need a transplant if he ever expected to leave the hospital. One evening, as they sat on the couch, she turned to him.
“I want to adopt Matthew.”
Alejandro hadn’t been paying too close of attention to her and he wasn’t sure if he’d heard her correctly, “What’d you say?”
