The Dark Side of the Rainbow

by Rita Hogan

  His father had the opposite reaction. William Gray patted Landon on the back. “That’s my son.” He’d been especially proud of how well Landon had handled the whole situation from the start and congratulated him on being an astute person with fine character.

  The following afternoon, the day of their union, there was no controlling the emotions that filled Landon to overflowing when he saw Olivia walking down the aisle on her uncle’s arm. Her simple white silk gown was a reminder of her modest nature, the perfect design to showcase her beauty.

  There wasn’t a person left untouched by the vows they exchanged. Words of their history and the forgiveness they were both desperate to have moved the hearts of everyone who heard them. When they were done making their promises, Landon added, “Somehow, I must have known that we would someday be together.” He placed her hand to his heart. “For we are two halves of the same soul, you and I.” Not caring that the minister hadn’t yet pronounced them man and wife, Landon kissed Olivia. The crowd erupted in applause.

  After the meal was over, tango performers took to the dance floor to begin the night’s celebration.

  “I can’t watch,” Landon said as he nuzzled his wife’s neck.

  She looked at him. “Watch, sweetheart, and imagine the two of us dancing as they are. Soon,” she whispered.

  Hours later when Landon and Olivia made their way to the waiting limo, the crowd cheered from the deck of The Absolution, wishing them well. Wanting to be completely alone, Landon had found a cabin in Villa La Angostura for them to spend their first week as husband and wife.

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered when he opened the door to the small, cozy, one-room log cabin. A fire was burning in the stone hearth, filling the space with warmth and taking the chill off the cool Patagonia summer night. Lit candles and flowers lined the mantle. There was a four-poster bed angled in the far corner of the room.

  Landon’s hand shook as he led her to the bed. Reaching for her waist, he lifted her onto the soft down comforter and began to remove the pins from her hair. When her red curls were free from their bonds, only then did he speak.

  “I can’t believe I’m here with you. Like the ghosts in your mind, I must have had my own, telling me over the years to not give up on us. I couldn’t bring myself to love anyone else. I’m happy that I can stand before you and tell you that you are the only woman who has ever had my heart.”

  Olivia reached for his tuxedo jacket and slid it off of his shoulders, allowing it to fall to the floor. Next, she removed the bow tie from around his neck, then the vest he wore over his white shirt. Carefully, she removed the emerald cufflinks, her wedding gift to him. Landon placed them on the nightstand, then turned back to her. She unbuttoned the cuffs at his wrist. The scars that she fingered still brought her sorrow, but she accepted them. Lifting one hand at a time she kissed the fine white lines, feeling the strong rapid pulse beating below the surface of his skin.

  As she unbuttoned his shirt, Olivia said, “My aunt told me I never had a boyfriend. After Jacob died, I didn’t let anyone but my family close to me. I suspect my grander plans,” her brows still furrowed in shame every time she thought of her plans for revenge, “kept me from making too many connections.” She looked at her husband. “She affirmed what the ghosts in my mind had already spoken to me. I’ve never loved anyone but you.”

  Softly, she kissed the base of his neck, her hands sifting through the soft curls of hair on his chest. Slowly, she rained a trail of kisses to his lips. When she opened her eyes to look at Landon, she said, “Dance with me.”

  * * *

  They chose to spend their honeymoon in Villa La Angostura because it was the place where everything first began to change. Landon took her to the Arrayanes National Park and gave Olivia her wish. She didn’t remember her desire to return to the falls and to see the spectacular wonder of nature from the cave below the tumbling water. But she was able to recall the Robert Frost Poem, The Road Not Taken and recited it to him in the shelter of the large rock where Landon later made love to her.

  The following day when he took her to the church they had visited, she told him about the dream she had of him in the cemetery. He could see she was visibly shaken by the recollection. Landon would never tell his wife how glad he was she had dreamt it, for it had been the nudge she needed to come back to him. Later, that afternoon he drove away the remnants of her dark thoughts with his desire for her.

  Most of their time that week had been spent within the four walls of their cozy cabin, touching, tasting, talking. She was telling him about her life before him, using the wealth of information she had gained while in Portland.

  Lying in bed with only the sheets wrapped around their warm satiated bodies, Olivia thought of her friend Shannon. “Did you see the way Tomas was looking at her?” she asked while caressing her husband’s chest.

  “I did.”

  “They danced together quite a lot.” Olivia paused for a moment in thought. “If Tomas has been cautious, why has he been so unlucky in love?”

  “Like myself, Tomas’ family is very wealthy—old Argentinian money. Unlike me, he had no desire to work the family’s export business. After graduating from Harvard with his business degree, Natasha hired him on as director of operations. He worked hard and proved himself.

  “Almost a year after I took over, the current vice president, Eduardo, became ill. While he was recovering Tomas stepped up and pretty much worked two full-time jobs for three months. After his recovery, Eduardo decided to retire. I gave Tomas the job and haven’t regretted a day since making that decision. The other unfortunate thing is that women seem to only want his money.”

  “That’s why he’s so cautious,” Olivia surmised. “I know he wouldn’t have to worry about that with Shannon. If there is a spark there, perhaps he will trust enough to give her a chance.”

  “Oh, there is definitely a spark. I’ve been around Tomas enough to know the difference between polite aloof cordiality and ‘come dance with me for the sixth time this evening because I can’t keep my hands off of you’, genuine interest.”

  Olivia lifted her head from Landon’s chest to look at him. “By the way, I haven’t thanked you for what you did for my father: the house, my education, and the trust you set up for me. Do you want to know what the only good thing was about my plot to ruin your life?”

  Landon turned, placing her on her pillow, in order see her more fully. “What’s that?”

  “At least you know I wasn’t interested in your money.”

  He smiled at her but didn’t say anything.

  “I am such a fickle creature,” she sighed, while holding his gaze. “When I first awoke and assumed from the lack of contacts in my phone that I had no one, I knew my life must have been full of pain and tragedy; I didn’t want to remember. Then when I discovered my plans to ruin you, I was desperate to recall everything. Now I want to forget how close I had come to hurting you.”

  Landon kissed the bridge of her nose. “I’ve forgotten, sweetheart.”

  Her eyes were full of doubt. “How is that possible?”

  “Because of this—us, lying here in your arms—none of it matters. It’s all gone. Let it go, Olivia.”

  She closed her eyes, trying to obey. “I wish we could stay here forever.”

  “I don’t.” His words caused her eyes to open. “I’ve dreamt too long of building a life with you. I want to see you pregnant with our children, your feet so swollen you can’t fit into any of your shoes. Nothing would make me happier than being by your side the first time you receive an award for your stunning photography. I’ve even pictured you angry and hurling plates past my head.”

  “Hey,” she interrupted, “I’m not a plate throwing kind of person.”

  “I’m sure at some point I will make you mad enough you’ll toss something at me. I’ve dreamt of you with grey hair and no teeth . . .”

  “So far this life you have built for us isn’t sounding very Norman Rockwellesque. Why
is it that I have to have the swollen feet and no teeth? How about dreaming of you with grey hair and no longer being able to uhh, you know, get . . .”

  Landon silenced her with a kiss. When he looked at her, gone was his mirth; in its place was sincerity. “I will remember fondly this week we’ve had together; it will be one of the highlights of my life, but it’s too perfect. I don’t want a Norman Rockwell life. I want a real life with you, bumps in the road and all.”

  Eyes glistening from her husband’s words, Olivia replied, “That’s what I want too.”

  “I’m glad, and besides if we stay here forever, I won’t be able to give you your surprise.”

  Her eyes brightened in pleasure at the idea. “You would have to do that to me now, wouldn’t you? Do I at least get a clue?”

  Landon shook his head. “No clues, but at least I waited until the last day of our honeymoon to tell you. Let’s have one more night of perfection and tomorrow we’ll begin our real life, surprises and all. How does that sound?”

  “It sounds very Norman Rockwellesque.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Landon had arranged for a driver to pick them up from the airport. To distract her from the surprise, he engaged his wife in a make-out session.

  “What if the driver can see us?” she asked

  “He can’t; I promise. Kiss me.”

  Olivia obeyed.

  A short while later when Landon felt the car slowing down, he pulled away from his wife. “Close your eyes,” he said kissing her one last time, trying to catch his breath. “We’re almost here. No peeking.”

  As soon as the car stopped, Landon could barely contain his excitement as he carefully helped Olivia out of the Town Car.

  Positioning her in front of the house, he said, “Open them, sweetheart.”

  When she saw the off-white stucco, dark slated roof home, she gasped.

  It was the most wonderful thing she had ever seen. The front porch was complete with a colonnade; the dark polished wood of the six-panel double doors contrasted brilliantly against the off-white stucco. Olivia was glad to see the size of the home was comfortable, but not excessively large.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said turning to Landon. “When did you buy it?”

  “The week you left.” Smiling at her softly, he added, “I had faith that you would return. Are you ready to see the inside of our new home?”

  Olivia nodded her head.

  The entrance was stunning with vaulted ceilings and a mahogany staircase. There was an arched entrance way that led to the rest of the house.

  “Oh my!” Olivia exclaimed when she saw the southwest wall with floor-to-ceiling windows. “Words can’t begin to describe this view.” Turning to take in every detail, she paused when she spotted the picture above the mantle. She walked toward the large stone hearth, looking up at the photo she had taken of Beaverhead Rock. “It’s perfect there.”

  “They day I left for Portland, I received it in the mail. It made me doubt that you were ever coming back. I thought it was a ‘goodbye forever, always remember me’ gift.”

  Reaching for his hand, she continued to gaze at the picture. “You didn’t see the note. I was worried it might be missed. I taped it on the back of the canvas.”

  “What did it say?”

  “I’ll be home soon. I’m glad you didn’t find it. I’ll never forget standing on the causeway and hearing your voice. The dream had terrified me. I had been desperate to get back to you.”

  Pulling her into his arms, Landon rested his cheek against the top of her soft curls. “I had been desperate for you.” After a few moments, he added, “Let me show you the rest of the house.”

  He turned her toward the kitchen.

  “Wow! It’s very gourmet, but neither of us cook!”

  “It’s for Gaston when he comes over to visit.”

  Olivia laughed. “Natasha will teach me how to make at least a few dishes.”

  Landon showed her the upstairs bedrooms, saving the best for last.

  “Here is the master suite. It too is on the southwest side. Can you imagine waking up to this view every morning?”

  “I can imagine enjoying this view while doing a number of things.”

  “Temptress,” he teased.

  Reaching for her hand, he led her through the door that connected their bedroom with her studio.

  “This room is for you, Olivia. I thought we could buy a large draft table for you to spread out your pictures while you work. The closet is big enough to convert into a darkroom. You’ll always have the view to inspire you. Do you think this will be a good workspace?”

  Olivia nodded. “Thank you, Landon. I love everything about our new home. I thought you didn’t want Norman Rockwell?”

  “I don’t. I only want you.”

  * * *

  Over the course of the next few months their life settled into a normal routine. After kissing her husband goodbye each morning as he headed off to work, Olivia spent her days poring over magazines for ideas on how to decorate the house. In between designing, and cooking lessons with Natasha, she continued her work on the photos of Patagonia she would submit to various publishers.

  The first dish she made as a wife was lasagna. This time when she served Landon a piece, it was a perfectly layered mass of goodness instead of the soupy gloppy mess of her first attempt.

  “You can make lasagna for me any time, baby. This is really good.”

  Proud of herself, she smiled, then asked him about his day.

  After the kitchen had been cleaned, they sat together on their temporary couch while she showed him her ideas for furnishing the great room.

  “Do you like it?”

  “Yeah, I think it all looks great.”

  Olivia was close to finalizing the plans for the whole house and was a little concerned that Landon had agreed with her on virtually everything.

  When he noticed her furrowed brows, he asked, “What’s the matter?”

  “You would never say things simply to appease me, would you?”

  “Where is that coming from?”

  “You haven’t disagreed with any of my ideas about the house. If I told you I wanted a hot pink sofa, I have a feeling you wouldn’t tell me no.”

  “I like your ideas. I think you’re a good designer; it’s that artistic side of you that helps you know how to put things together. When have I ever said anything to you that I didn’t really mean?”

  Olivia gave a slight huff before growing silent.

  “What is really the matter?” Landon asked, feeling slightly irritated.

  “We haven’t had a fight, ever.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “I’m worried that things are a little too perfect. Where are the moments when I should be flinging plates at your head?” she asked a little sharply, right as she made a move to stand up from the couch.

  Catching her wrists, Landon pulled her back down and said, “Oh no. You don’t get to say things like that and then walk away. If it’s conflict you want, I’ll give you something to argue over.

  “There are only a few more places here in this area for you to photograph. Soon, you will be off on your next project, which will take you to who knows where. I can’t stand the thought of you leaving for days at a time without me. I want you here every day when I get home with the smell of fresh-baked cookies filling up the house.”

  “That’s pretty selfish and chauvinistic of you,” she said.

  “Are you trying to provoke me?”

  “Maybe I am.” Olivia knew she sounded like a two-year-old, but she couldn’t help herself. “Natasha said it was healthy to have a good argument every now and then.”

  Landon ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation when he realized that his sister had been giving marital advice to his wife.

  “Olivia, Natasha and Gaston have a great marriage. They are madly in love with each other, but they are also very different than we are. You know the story of how they f
ell in love. We are not them. There will be plenty of things for us to argue about in the future.

  “There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about the possibility of you remembering your past. Chances are you will, but it could be years from now. I want you to have your memories back, to feel how much you loved Jacob and your father, but it worries me to think about how you will react when you also remember how you felt about me. Let’s not borrow trouble, all right?”

  “I’m sorry,” she said a little forlornly. “And about me staying home, I’ve been thinking a lot about that too. I want to look into becoming an editor or possibly even an agent. Those are things I can do from home.”

  He was surprised and pleased by her words. “What about your art? You’re too talented to let that go by the wayside.”

  “I’ll be NLG’s official photographer for all the properties’ print materials. When you have to travel, I’ll go with you. I’ll plan in advance the things in nature I’d like to photograph. South America is a big continent. When you have to travel to Europe, even better. Until we have children, we can do weekend excursions, and we’ll have our vacations.”

  “It sounds perfect,” he said with a grin.

  Olivia laughed, “Oh, and there’s one more thing. I want you to hire me as an accounting consultant. I miss working with numbers. When you have something that looks off, or you need help crunching some data, I’m your person.”

  “How much is that going to cost me?”

  The look in her eyes softened. She kissed her husband sweetly on the lips. “For you, I only work for love.”

  Tucking a stray strand of red hair behind Olivia’s ear, he said, “Now that is a price I can afford to pay in spades.”

  * * *

  Six months after Landon and Olivia’s marriage, Tomas and Shannon announced their engagement. Olivia was beside herself. Her friend had arrived a few days ago to Patagonia for vacation, not once suspecting that Tomas would propose to her. After Landon and Olivia’s wedding, Shannon had remained in Bariloche for three additional days. She and Tomas had been inseparable.