Fighting Destiny

by Annalisa Simon

  Darius signalled to the butler the arrival of the guests of honour who rang a bell to get everyone’s attention. As the chatter stopped, Darius stepped into the centre of the foyer and spoke loudly,

  “Good evening to you all and welcome to this wonderful estate. I am pleased to present to you our guests of honour tonight, my wonderful mother Marianne and her handsome fiancé Francis!” he said gesturing with a smile.

  The people gathered in the grand ballroom applauded and many came forward at that time to hug and congratulate the couple.

  Darius was so happy in this moment that he thought he could burst because not only was his mother happy but he had Candasee finally away where he could talk to her privately! She was already mingling with some of the guests who were old friends of the family and many exclaimed in delight to see that she was there, followed by a quizzical expression in his direction.

  “That’s right! Get re-acquainted with your life here and with our friends!” he said to himself quietly.

  A waiter came to him with a tray and he took off two flutes of champagne and approached her slowly.

  “Darius, you didn’t tell us that you and your wife were back together!” laughed Dalton Byrnes, one of his neighbours in Willercrest Heights. “But then you’ve made yourself so scarce lately!” he said. “This is good news!”

  “Actually Mr. Byrne’s we’re not...” began Candasee trying to get in a word edgewise.

  “Yes, she’s back home, isn’t that great!” cut in Darius placing the glass of champagne into Candasee’s hand.

  Mr. Byrnes was always one of her favourite neighbours and she’d often stopped by his house to play with his dog whenever she took a walk through their neighbourhood. Sometimes they would sit and talk and laugh for a while before she returned home. He would regale her with his old war stories and it was always hard to stop him once he got going. She did not mind it though because he was a charming man.

  “Well, wait till I tell my wife, she will be thrilled. We always knew you guys were perfect for each other and seeing how miserable Darius looked after the divorce, oh it nearly broke our hearts. Where is that woman?” he asked panning the room for his missing wife.

  Candasee speared Darius a brief withering glance before smiling and returning her attention to Mr. Byrnes again. Candasee didn’t have the heart to disappoint him and several others after that who just assumed because she was there that she and Darius had reconciled. She didn’t count on how excited the people were to see her and on these repeated stories about how Darius was never the same after she’d left! Well she would be gone in a few days and Darius would be the one to break the news to everyone about his pretence. That would teach him! So why did the thought of leaving again fill her with so much dread?

  “Hi, you must be Candasee, I’ve heard so much about you,” said the beautiful woman who just approached her. She had short hair and the most beautiful golden brown doe-like eyes.”

  “I’m sorry but have we met before?” Candasee asked.

  “No we haven’t but I feel as though I know you already. My husband Ramon and Darius have become quite close so your name came up on several occasions as well as pictures of you. I’m sorry I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Courtney!”

  “Courtney?” asked Candasee sounding puzzled.

  “Courtney Belham actually and here’s my husband now,” she said with a smile.

  Candasee turned around to see a handsome man with his arm slung casually around Darius’ shoulders and the two of them were sharing some kind of joke. Wow, when was the last time that she saw Darius really laugh, Candasee asked herself.

  “Hi Candasee, I see you’ve already met Courtney, I’m Ramon. I’m glad to have finally met you. Darius cannot shut up about you, so I feel as though we’ve been introduced hundreds of times. But at least this time it is official.”

  She was stunned! What was she to say to all of that? Darius had been talking about her to these people? She arched her eyebrow as her mind filled with questions. He never even called her but yet he was speaking of her in glowing terms. She didn’t understand him at all!

  “It’s nice to meet you too Ramon,” Candasee replied holding out her hand. Ramon ignored it and gave her a brief hug instead.

  “Candasee, Ramon is an events planner and he is responsible for planning this party tonight and Courtney is our photographer. She will be taking pictures to capture the moments tonight as well as the photos at the show tomorrow night at the hotel.”

  “I think Darius is forgetting the most important point though,” Ramon prodded with a smile.

  “Yeah these two crazy people here have become my closest friends and I don’t know where I would be now if I didn’t know them, seriously.”

  “Aww,” said Ramon slugging him in the arm good naturedly.

  Candasee liked Ramon and Courtney immediately.

  “I hope we can get together sometime before you leave Candasee, I would love to have lunch with you perhaps?” Courtney asked.

  “That sounds great!” Candasee said sincerely. There weren’t that many people who could get Darius to laugh and to open up and for that reason this couple intrigued her.

  “Come with me, I want to get a photograph of the two of you first before things get more hectic later Courtney said, walking away from them and expecting them to follow her to the staging area.

  “After you!” said Darius with a smile.

  What could it hurt to play along? Candasee thought to herself. When they got to the area Courtney asked them to stand side by side and to pose for the shot.

  “Surely, it hasn’t been that long that you don’t know how to take a picture with me,” Darius said taking her hand and drawing her close to him so that he could slip his arm around her waist.

  Candasee stiffened at the intimate contact with his body. Why was he looking at her like that? She was sure that Courtney could get a shot of them together without his arms wrapped around her like this.

  “Okay, you guys smile!” said Courtney, but when the flash went off they were still staring into each other’s eyes oblivious to the instructions being given to them.

  A little later on Candasee needed some fresh air to clear her thoughts from overwhelm, and she made a beeline for one of the side doors and found herself standing on a wide wraparound porch with several golden lights hanging from the ceiling. The area was illuminated by a soft warm glow.

  The butler had just called everyone in to be seated for dinner and it would be at least five minutes before most people found their seats and got settled. So this was the perfect opportunity to slip away for a moment alone.

  She placed her hands on the intricate white banister and leaned forward slightly to get a better look at the house and its finely landscaped grounds. This was a spectacular property! Suddenly she felt a warm hand touch her exposed back and Candasee whirled around sharply in surprise.

  “Oh Mom, you really scared me there!” she said acknowledging Marianne’s presence.

  “Are you okay? I saw you slip outside and I thought I would come out here and check on you.”

  “Yes, I’m fine, just a bit overwhelmed at all these people assuming that Darius and I are back together. They are all really excited about it too!”

  “Is that such a bad thought? You know, working things out with Darius?” she asked.

  “It’s a thought too late, I don’t think I told you but I’m engaged too!” she replied holding up her hand to show Marianne the diamond on her finger. “Up till three days ago I had almost convinced myself that I was over Darius and that I was ready to move forward with Nathan. But now here I am, a literal emotional roller coaster!” she said blowing out an exasperated breath.

  “I know you think I’m biased because Darius is my son, but I love you as my own daughter and I wouldn’t lie to you! Darius still loves you very much and I can see that you still love him. You may think that you don’t but all the signs are still there. I met your fiancé Nathan yesterday and he seems to be
a fine choice for you too, but I think you owe it to both of them to make sure your heart is clear on what it really wants before you move forward. At least hear what Darius has to say, and if you still choose Nathan we will all have to accept it! I will be happy for you once you are happy, but let us stay in touch this time. Darius tries to be strong and he’s gotten a lot of that from me but he hasn’t been the same since your divorce. It is as though you were that balancing piece in his life. You see that he practically lives out of his office now!”

  “Yes I did notice that he always seems to be at the hotel,” she replied quietly.

  “It’s been almost two years and he hasn’t had another girlfriend or anyone serious in his life. He still has your pictures on his desk at work and he calls you his wife still. I am asking you for his sake and for yours to just hear him out. You know how much he hides his feelings sometimes but inside he is really broken. A mother knows!”

  “What about me Marianne? He really hurt me back then too!” protested Candasee. “I thought I had the dream life and the dream husband and it broke my heart to know that he did not want the real me! I have a relationship with someone who does now and I don’t want to make the mistake of giving that up before I’ve even had a chance to see where it could all lead!”

  “Candasee, he does want the real you, but I will let him explain that to you! Inevitably, someone is going to get hurt in this situation but it is time for it to be resolved. I want you to know that I will love you and accept you no matter what you decide!” said Marianne opening her arms and hugging Candasee.

  Darius stepped out onto the porch and observed the two women holding each other under the glow of the lights. Was it so bad to want his family together again? He thought as he watched them. No, it wasn’t bad at all, in fact, it was the right thing to do even if he had to take drastic measures to do so.

  “Mom, Candasee, we are ready to serve the first course and you know the staff have been instructed to serve the guests of honour first!” he said, reluctantly interrupting their moment.

  Marianne and Candasee exchanged knowing looks before linking arms and returning inside with Darius following closely behind.

  “That sounds like you Mom,’ said Candasee giving Marianne one final squeeze before holding her hand.

  “I’m so glad you are here tonight Candasee, this is the best wedding gift I could have possibly gotten right now. I missed you so much,” she said sincerely.

  “I wouldn’t have missed tonight for anything either!”

  They walked in together and after being seated dinner was served. It was absolutely delicious with a menu of wine soaked poultry, vegetables, candied potatoes, salads and more.

  Candasee was sure that this time her metabolism would shut down! Desserts consisted of various cream pies and rum soaked fruit cakes and the sense of festiveness was high. Many of the guests had moved out to the dance floor, some were taking pictures with Courtney and Marianne and Francis were already there dancing and smiling among everyone else having a great time.

  “May I have this dance?”

  Candasee recognized Darius’ scent first and then his voice as she looked over her shoulder and up into his eyes as he loomed above her. Darius wasn’t really the type to dance to music of this quick soca genre so she regarded him with a puzzled look.

  “Seriously, I want to dance with you tonight! Hey, we can’t let Mom and Francis have all the fun when we are half their ages!” said Darius, gesturing to where his mother and Francis were really having a grand time on the dance floor.

  “No I guess we can’t! I must say that Francis knows how to move his hips though!” said Candasee with a chuckle as she admired his moves. “But you on the other hand always avoided the dance floor when this kind of music was playing, what gives?” she asked now turning slightly in her chair.

  “Maybe, I’m seeing life a lot differently these days!” he replied. “So will you dance with me or will my hand continue to hang here in the air unaccepted?”

  Candasee thought about what he said again and looked out at the dance floor at the fun those two were having together. Usually that would be her, but somehow tonight she was the one on the sidelines with a mind filled with thoughts and questions and the mood to dance was not really there. But Darius had a point, they were young and full of life and if Marianne and Francis could celebrate, why shouldn’t she? Those two did not look at all like they were in their sixties.

  “Okay, I will dance one number with you!” she agreed with her thoughts moving fleetingly to Nathan and what he would think if he witnessed this scene. Marianne was right, she was a bundle of emotions and confusion and she needed to know for sure that she was over Darius before she moved on with Nathan. They walked over to the dance floor and they both began to move to the music.

  “Hey not bad Mr. Brogan, so you have been hiding all this rhythm from me all along?” asked Candasee with a laugh as she noted Darius’ fluid movements.

  He took her by the hand and with a flourish spun her around and brought her back full against the length of his body as the song climaxed to its end suddenly.

  “No, I’ve danced to songs like this before, just not very often,” he said leaning down and whispering softly in her ear. “That wasn’t the song I wanted to dance with you to by the way, but it’s this next one I requested especially for you!”

  At that moment the DJ announced that they were slowing down the tempo and going a little old school and that everyone should hold the person they loved. Couples all over the floor drew near to each other as the first strains of the song began to play, “I’d Die Without You” by PM Dawn.

  He’d tricked her into dancing with him! She was immediately stunned by the intimate memories the song evoked. It was this song which played the night Darius asked her to marry him and on the many nights he treated her to candlelight dinner followed by lovemaking that she felt then had branded her as his for life! It was also this song that she’d listened to almost every night in tears that first year they were apart.

  Candasee tried to pull away but Darius held her firmly against him and threaded his arms around her waist while holding her hands in his.

  “Darius, everyone is going to notice that we are dancing in the wrong direction!” protested Candasee still trying to free herself without causing a scene.

  “I don’t really care what they think Candasee, just listen to the words!” he whispered again.

  “I already know the words, let me go, you tricked me!”

  “Candee, I’m not going to let you go.”

  His warm breath tickled the tendrils of hair which were cascading around her ears and neck and the low timbre of his voice was warm, inviting and familiar. She relaxed a little allowing her body to mould to his more. As they swayed to the music the words filled her mind with a message that was long overdue.

  ...Is it my turn to hold you by your hands, and tell you I love you and you hear me, Is it my turn to totally understand, to watch you walk out of my life and not do a damn thing... If I have to give away the feeling that I feel...If I have to sacrifice whatever baby, whatever baby...If I have to take apart all that I am...baby there’s nothing I wouldn’t do..Since I’d die without you! Oh I apologize for all the things I’ve done, and now I’m underwater and I’m drowning...Take every little piece of my heart....Take every little piece of my soul...

  The fresh scent of Candasee’s hair was intoxicating and Darius closed his eyes and allowed himself to become reacquainted with her warmth and the feel of her body against his. This was where he wanted to be again. Literal shockwaves were pulsating between their bodies as they swayed together to this song.

  “Do you feel that Candee? The connection between us is still there!” he stated.

  Candasee closed her eyes and bit down on her lips still unwilling to admit that she was so powerfully affected not just by the song but by the sizzling electricity that was filling her from head to toe being this close to Darius again. It had always been like this f
or them! This earth shattering, all consuming passion and desire for each other was something she’d grown to cherish because she could see when she looked at other couples that theirs was an extraordinary union.

  Darius noted her silence and turned her around slowly to face him disconnecting their bodies for a few seconds as he drew her arms up and around his neck to continue their dance.

  The unwelcome feeling of separation that surged through Candasee then and the feeling of connectedness that returned once her arms were around Darius’ neck told her immediately that she was treading a thin line with trouble.

  “I wanted to see your eyes, because even though you might not want to respond to me your eyes always tell me the truth you try so desperately to hide,” said Darius softly as he looked intently at her.

  Immediately Candasee tried to look down and away, knowing that besides the startling colour of her eyes, they were also very expressive and she could never hide her feelings on anything she felt strongly about.

  “Darius, why are you doing this to me? I’m not yours anymore,” she whispered with her voice shaking. She felt the hot prick of tears begin to form behind her eyelids as she said so. How could she tell him that with this one song she remembered it all, the good times and the bad times and that they’d had more good than bad? That her heart still burned as she thought of him, touched him, inhaled his manly scent and heard his voice. That her eyes had followed him around the room as he greeted the guests and that she admired the way he spoke to everyone with such respect and affection. That she loved the way he treated his mother, that she’d felt like a queen in his life and she’d loved how he treated her, until those dark days began!

  “Candasee, I just want you to see what I see, feel and know. We still love each other, nothing has changed there! So give me a chance, hear what I have to say.”

  Candasee tried to conceal the sob that began rising in her throat and her body began to tremble as hot tears flowed out of her eyes. Darius tightened his arms around her waist protectively. Tonight they would talk and he would tell her everything and he hoped that she would understand and forgive him.