“This whole divorce mess and now my own confusion about how I really feel about Marcus are really affecting me. I thought I had resolved all of this before but more and more I think I made a mistake,” said Natasha as her voice became low and her thoughts drifted back to how she felt stealing small glances at her husband as he drove her back to the Hilton yesterday evening.
“Are you sure that confusion is the word you want to use. You have always been very clear on how you feel about things. It’s your stubbornness that gets in the way,” replied Ashley.
“You are right; I’m not confused at all. I fooled myself into thinking it was over while I was here but I was so wrong about that. We didn’t even discuss the divorce yesterday. It is as though he never even got the papers. We plan to meet to talk about everything sometime today.”
Natasha had to pull the phone away from her ear as Ashley squealed with excitement.
“The next time you do that could you at least give me a little warning first,” said Natasha dryly.
“You don’t know how happy that makes me. You and Marcus might have a chance of getting back together!”
“I did not say that Ashley, I said we would talk!” said Natasha defensively.
“Talk, schmalk! Listen, I think you should have an open mind and heart and hear what he has to say. At least give him that before you ask him put the final stroke on those papers.”
“Final stroke huh? I have not signed mine either,” Natasha confessed. So it wouldn’t actually be the final stroke. I left mine back in my apartment in Atlanta.
“Natasha, can’t you see? You are not ready to end your marriage either. This really confirms what I am saying to you.”
“I know and it is not really a decision that’s in my hands anymore. My contract requires that my divorce is finalized before my first album launch next month,” said Natasha cringing at the explosion she knew would follow her admission.
“You what? How could you do something so ridiculous Natasha? Surely you couldn’t want this career that much?” blurted Ashley angrily.”Sometimes I feel that I could strangle you!” she shouted into the receiver in disbelief at what she was hearing.
“I thought I did at the time. I let myself get so jealous of Marcus and I just wanted something that would make me stand out for once!” said Natasha now filled with regret. “Marcus seems so different now, so calm, considerate and assured. I thought he would be so angry and resentful toward me. But all I see in him is love for me and I can’t understand it at all!” said Natasha with a hoarse whisper as tears began to prick behind her eyelids.
“Maybe you are the one who is different now that you are finally seeing what a great guy you had all along!” replied Ashley.
“Hey, are you trying to become my personal marriage counsellor?” asked Natasha swiping her hand at her eyes to remove the tears that just escaped her eyes.
“No. I am just being your best friend. I want to see you happy, that’s all, and you know that right? It might not be too late for you guys to work this out.”
“You are a great friend, Ashley Green!” replied Natasha with a sniff. “So when am I going to see you?”
“We can meet up tomorrow probably, once Marcus does not have plans for you. I don’t want to get in the way of you guys making the most of this time. By the way, how long are you going to be staying?”
“I have to be back in Georgia in three days to begin preparation for a major concert I am opening at Madison Square Garden. I am sure the team is going crazy with me being gone at a time like this,” said Natasha wondering if there would be a career waiting for her once she and Marcus were done talking. She still had the problem of the divorce to think about and the fact that she didn’t want it anymore.
I am thinking about going for a swim in about an hour or so,” proposed Natasha.
“I think that is a fabulous idea, you will be able to think more clearly when you are relaxed,” said Ashley encouragingly.
After Natasha hung up, Ashley’s mind was already racing with her next plan to save her friends marriage. Natasha had two more days on the island, three really if you counted today. There was certainly nothing wrong with giving her another slight push in the right direction. She immediately dialled Marcus’ number to give him a heads up on Natasha’s beach plans.
The hotel was a tropical paradise! On her way down to the beach, she’d noticed some stores and kiosks selling local souvenirs. At one shop in particular, a lovely turquoise beach wrap literally called out to her fashions sensibilities. So she decided to pass some of the time exploring the hotel shops to see what else she could take with her. After asking the saleslady at the first store to hold the wrap for her until she came back, she kept walking and soon found a jewellery store with many unique pieces. She saw one that reminded her a lot of the shark’s tooth pendant that Marcus used to wear when she first met him. He’d lost it years ago and she’d missed seeing him with it. Maybe she should get it for him, she thought.
“What is the price of this necklace?” asked Natasha the saleslady
“This one is six hundred US dollars. It is made from onyx and twenty-four carat gold,” replied the sales clerk holding it up to the light.
“Oh it is so beautiful, I want it, but I don’t want to take it with me now, what time do you close?” asked Natasha thinking about when she would be able to get her money. She’d left all her valuables and cards in the hotel safe in her room.
“We close after six thirty this evening so you have a lot of time to buy it still after your swim,” replied to the sales clerk noting Natasha’s attire.
“Natasha, you are hard to find! I must say that this hotel has kept your presence here a closely guarded secret! I tried calling you but I guess you shut off your phone?”
Natasha whirled around to face the familiar voice and smiled.
“Lucas, what are you doing here?” she asked in surprise. She had completely forgotten that he was here.
“I’m visiting you of course! How are you and how is your father?”
Natasha bid goodbye to the sales clerk and promised to return later as she left the store to speak with Lucas more privately. They walked outside and Natasha sat on the edge of a large, elaborate waterfall near to the front lobby area.
“My father seemed to be recovering miraculously. It’s a real blessing for all of us. I plan on visiting him again later this afternoon.”
“I am glad to hear that, you look great by the way,” said Lucas with admiration shining in his eyes. Even in a simple bathing suit and shorts she looked ‘front-cover of a magazine’ amazing!
“Thanks, I had a long rest last night!” replied Natasha.
“So, what are your plans for the morning and can a friend squeeze in some time with you?” asked Lucas hopefully.
“I am going swimming here at the beach shortly. It’s been a while since I enjoyed a good sea bath. You are welcome to come along if you want although you don’t exactly seem to be dressed for it,” replied Natasha noting the crisp white shirt and dark blue slacks he wore. She felt relieved that he wouldn’t be able to join her, it wasn’t a good time!
Noting her critical visual sweep of his attire he said, “Hmm, I don’t seem to be dressed for that. Can I convince you to come to lunch with me instead and then I can take you to the hospital,” he offered.
“No, that won’t be necessary. Besides I would have to go upstairs to change to do that. I just want to relax and enjoy the sea this morning.”
“Okay, what if I run back to my hotel and change into something more beach-friendly? I found a room at a hotel not too far from here,” he said.
So the subtle approach was not working, thought Natasha. “Listen Lucas, I need to talk to you about something,” she said suddenly looking quite sombre.
“What is it?” he said with raised eyebrows at the sudden shift in her tone.
“I want to thank you for coming here with me but I am afraid that you might be feeling a little out of place right now.
You don’t have to stay, I’m fine now,” said Natasha fidgeting with her hands slightly.
Lucas could see that Natasha was trying to let him down the easy way and it hurt. He would admit that!
“Is it Marcus? Is that why you are pushing me away all of a sudden?” asked Lucas getting straight to the point.
“You are right, it is Marcus. I felt so awful yesterday watching you walk away at the airport. I had no idea Ashley had arranged for him to meet us and I don’t think you deserved the embarrassment. The truth is that I treasure your friendship but my marriage is not over yet and until those papers have been signed I don’t want to cloud the issues,” she explained.
“Cloud the issues? Natasha you have known how I felt about you for months now. You know how much I love you and I told you I would wait, but the more I see the more I think I may be waiting in vain! Have you forgotten what your contract says?” asked Lucas bitterly.
“You don’t need to remind me about that darned contract. I am hoping that I can use my recent successes as a bit of leverage to renegotiate some of the terms.”
“Natasha that is not how things work, your contract is a binding document and you will lose all that you have worked for up till now if you don’t fulfil the requirements. The music you produced belongs to the label whether you are there or not!” he said gravely hoping that she would snap out of this fantasy world she was refusing to let go of.
“Look Lucas, I am aware of the risks but I have to try something. I never wanted to lead you on. I thought I made it clear that we would keep this as a friendship!”
“Friendship?” he exclaimed loudly. “There’s that word again! I cannot tell you how much I have grown to hate it now!” said Lucas getting frustrated. It was bad enough that he had to find a hotel away from Natasha but now she was asking him to leave politely.
“Your reaction is exactly why I think it is best that you leave. I have to talk with Marcus while I am here and we need to decide what we are going to do about our marriage. Having you here waiting in the wings is not fair to anyone, most of all you! I haven’t made you any promises,” explained Natasha hating that she had to defend her actions to Lucas.
This was all going so wrong, thought Lucas. Having Marcus show up yesterday had been unexpected and he kicked himself all night for not trying to finalize their hotel bookings elsewhere before arriving on Derrien. But Natasha was right, she was still very much a married woman and he was the one who was trespassing illegally. But he was way past caring now that he was pushed to his limits. He had bent over backwards to make sure she got the career she wanted, called in favours, and now he was being tossed aside like someone useless?
“I can’t accept that Natasha. You need me and you always have because I know how to help you through that world out there. You need someone who understands how that world works and is prepared to love you and stand by you through all of what will come your way. Marcus doesn’t have a clue how to do that for you. All he has ever done is to hold you back but those days are over. You just need to see that!”
“Lucas, I am the only one here who is qualified to say that my marriage is over! You have no right!”
“I don’t have any right?” echoed Lucas incredulously. “I am not going sit back and watch you make the biggest mistake of your life by going back to Marcus. You may not know it but we can be great together and I think that it’s time that I showed you just how much,” he said with a determined glint in his eye.
As he finished speaking he reached out and grasped the nape of Natasha’s neck and brought his mouth down to hers for a crushing kiss. He hoped that she would not push him away and that she would feel something. He hoped that the kiss would ignite any dormant feelings she might have for him, but the firm pressure of her hands against his chest as she pushed him away and the unyielding nature of her lips told him everything he needed to know. He’d already lost. He leaned back and allowed his hand to fall away slowly.
Natasha could see the very pained expression in Lucas’ eyes and knew that she was breaking his heart in this very instance but she had to honour her marriage, even if she was not sure how things would eventually turn out. Just the uncertainty of that should have filled her with fear but instead she felt a peace radiating within her and she knew that she was making the right decision concerning Lucas. He was her friend and nothing more and she had always made that clear to him!
“Lucas, I’m sorry, I just can’t! I don’t love you in that way.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry too!” he said closing his eyes and exhaling forcefully. “I’m not giving up you know! You will come to your senses before this trip is over. Talk to your soon to be ex-husband and see again why you left him in the first place. If you choose to stay here with him I will back off and I will back out of your life completely. But if your divorce is finalized, I want you to know that I am going to do everything in my power to win your heart!” said Lucas with a very determined expression on his face.
Marcus was standing the other side of the large potted palms that shielded him from the view of the couple seated on the waterfall. When he saw Lucas kiss his wife so possessively he was livid. He almost interrupted them but thought the better of it when he noticed his hands folded into fists which he was not afraid to use. Making such a scene in this hotel would not be a wise decision. When Ashley called him again that morning to tell him of Natasha’s plans to go swimming he was going to let her have the time to herself. But, then he remembered a place he wanted to take her for their anniversary and he decided that maybe if he was lucky she would be willing to shift her swimming location.
Now it was taking every ounce of strength in his body to remain where he was and listen to this man pouring out his heart to his wife a second time. He was using every tactic he could to try to convince Natasha to leave him again.
As Lucas got up and made his way back toward the lobby, Marcus followed him out and making sure that Natasha was not following as well, he called out to Lucas just as he was about to hail a taxi in front of the hotel.
“Lucas!” he shouted.
Lucas looked up and seeing Marcus he dropped his head and shook it while laughing.
“What’s so funny?” asked Marcus tersely finally reaching his side.
“You know, you have a great woman in there and I don’t think you even know it!” replied Lucas.
“Don’t you dare talk to me about Natasha as though you have the right! I stopped you because I want you to know that you just came within an inch of leaving here with two black eyes and a busted lip. Natasha is still my wife and if I ever see you touch her or kiss her again while Nicholls is still her last name I won’t be so accommodating!”
Lucas observed the narrowed eyes of the man who stood before him clenching and unclenching his fists.
“Well if we are getting our feelings off our chests, let me tell you something as well. This is your last chance to save your marriage, and I think you know that better than anyone else and when you fail I will be there for Natasha,” replied Lucas.
“You have a lot of nerve man coming here like this!” warned Marcus sensing the earlier rage intensifying once again.
“I have done nothing but what you should have been doing all along, and you know what, Natasha appreciates that, and that is the basis of our friendship and I have no regrets about it. Maybe you should check yourself rather than running out here to deal with me!” said Lucas taunted. “Maybe if you spent less time feeling offended and more time listening to your wife you would actually have a marriage right now,” said Lucas boldly.
Lucas words hit Marcus like a boulder, because it was exactly what he had discovered personally, but he did not need it handed to him by the likes of Lucas Johnson.
“Lucas, you know what, you are right!” said Marcus humbly noting the shock register on Lucas face at his agreement. “But, the important thing is that I realized it and I have changed. But you need to let Natasha have the breathing space to make up her own mind. We are still m
arried, and that means that you are messing with my wife and I have a right to say something about that. Now, this is my first and last warning to you! Stand aside and let us work this out alone!” said Marcus.
Without another word Lucas smirked lazily and opened the door of the taxi he was standing beside, got in and drove away.
As Marcus turned to walk back inside the hotel he saw Natasha standing a few feet away. He stopped in surprise not knowing she had followed them outside and wondered exactly how much she had heard.
“Tell me, Ashley again right?” said Natasha with a knowing expression on her face and her arms folded across her body.
“Yes, you could say that, but I would have called you to make plans for today anyway,” replied Marcus now walking slowly toward her.
“I see that you and Lucas were getting acquainted,” she continued, nodding her head in the direction the taxi left in.
“In a matter of speaking, we were,” replied Marcus cautiously hoping she heard as little of what just transpired as possible.
“Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to have that talk, don’t you think?” asked Natasha.
Now that she was standing, Marcus could see why Lucas was having a hard time letting go and certainly why he wasn’t prepared to either. Natasha looked gorgeous in anything that she wore but today dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and an emerald green bathing suit that plunged in a V just below her cleavage, she looked like a goddess. Her hair was pulled back and pinned with a tortoiseshell comb so that her high cheekbones seemed that much more prominent and her green eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
“What about your swim? Have you changed your mind about that?” asked Marcus.
“No. I still want to do that! Seeing the beach this morning after living in the city these past few months has made me appreciate why I love coming home here.”
Yes, coming home was even better than she’d imagined. The circumstances weren’t the best but still just waking up to warm fresh tropical breezes instead of city air made a huge difference in her mood and energy levels already. Besides that, coming home meant seeing Marcus again and he looked so handsome. He was dressed in a blue and white board shorts with a white tee shirt and it suddenly reminded her of the day they met for the first time. She was so mesmerized by her immediate attraction to him then that she almost forgot she was injured.
Forgotten Love (Derrien Island Trilogy) Page 19
