Unforgettable Embrace

by Clancy, Joanne

  "I love you so much," Batt replied, kissing her tenderly.

  "I love you," she said, looking deep into his eyes, knowing that she truly meant the words.

  Chapter 36

  "Looks like we'll have another wedding to plan before long," Liz said, smiling indulgently at Rachel, who'd been texting non-stop for the past twenty minutes.

  "Get outta here," Rachel flung a cushion at her friend.

  The girls were sprawled out on the sofa beds in Jen's house, watching old films and trying to recover from the merriment of the previous night. Batt had had to leave early to get back to the farm. His neighbour was keeping an eye on the animals in his absence, but he didn't want to be away too long. Vic was in Galway to do the photography for a wedding, so the girls were happily relaxing and gossiping together.

  "Speaking of weddings, have you and Vic thought about where you might like to have the reception?" Rachel asked.

  "We'll have to book it a.s.a.p." Jen groaned, holding her head. "I can't think straight at the moment, Rach, I'm trying to concentrate on not puking again," she said, "as much as I love champagne, I always have the mother of all hangovers the next morning."

  "It was a good night," Liz laughed, "I haven't danced like that in a long time."

  "We'll have to get together for a boogie more often," Rachel agreed.

  "Just with a lot less alcohol," Jen sighed.

  "I won't nag you too much today, Jen, cos you're suffering, so I'll just nag Liz instead. How are you getting on with your wedding plans?"

  "I've finished my sketches for the hairstyles and makeup. I need to show them to you and Jen for approval. I've been scouring the internet for our bridesmaid dresses, and I found some really pretty dresses on the internet with blush pink detail, so they would match Jen's shoes and also the pink roses in Jen's bouquet. I'm almost done with my side."

  "Wow, good work," Rachel said, "you've done more than me. I've had a look through some bridal magazines for inspiration and I need to make a few phone calls for the photographer and cars. Hopefully, I'll have them booked by next week. I have a few ideas on the honeymoon, just need to run them by Jen when she's feeling up to it."

  "Thanks so much for all your help, girls," Jen said, "I'd be in a right panic without you two. Vic's mother said she'll bake the cake for us, so that's one more thing to cross off the list." "Excellent," Rachel said, making some adjustments on her notebook. It's all coming along nice and steady."

  "Tell us about your honeymoon ideas, Rach," Jen said, "I think that'd help me feel better." "Well, I was thinking the Caribbean. Sherrington has resorts in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua and the Bahamas."

  "Oh my God, the Bahamas!" Liz shrieked, "I've always wanted to go there. A woman at work got married in the Bahamas last year and she said it was like paradise. She showed us the photos and the place looks like a dream."

  "The brochures are amazing," Rachel agreed, "lots of photos of palm-shaded beaches and dream-like surroundings. Sherrington's resort in the Bahamas offers a choice of five wedding themed rooms with romantic touches such as butterflies, seashells and bamboo."

  "I do love seashells," Jen mused.

  "Or," Rachel paused for dramatic effect, "how would Hawaii suit you?"

  "HAWAII!!" Jen screamed, completely forgetting about her headache. "Yes please and thank you very much!" Liz and Rachel laughed at her reaction. "I didn't know Sherrington had a resort in Hawaii," Jen said, when she'd calmed down a little.

  "They only acquired the property recently, and it's located in Waikiki, Honolulu. It's called the Sherrington Kahala Resort and Spa, and I have to say it looks breathtaking."

  "I want to go there," Jen said. "I don't even need to see the brochures, but won't it cost an absolute fortune?"

  "Well, I've got a lot of points accumulated so I can cover the accommodation side of it, but you and Vic would have to cover the flights."

  "I'd say we can stretch to that," Jen pondered, "I'll have to have a word with Vic and check our finances but I'm sure we'll be able to work something out."

  "How long is the flight?" Liz asked.

  "It's about fourteen hours," Rachel said, "but I think you can stop over in Los Angeles for a few days to break up the journey."

  "Sounds good to me," Jen said. "There's a fabulous hotel in Beverly Hills, called The Beverly Wilshire, which is famous because "Pretty Woman" was filmed there. It's supposed to be absolutely outstanding and very luxurious. It's marketed as mixing twenty first century quality with a retro Hollywood ambience. It's located in the centre of Beverly Hills, very close to the renowned Rodeo Drive shops. It's a landmark, historic hotel that buzzes with vitality and blends tradition and chic."

  "I'm completely sold," Jen said, "you sound like a sales agent for the hotel."

  "It's always been my dream to stay at that hotel," Rachel explained, "ever since I saw "Pretty Woman", which everyone know is my favourite film of all time. The suites are beyond stunning, with spectacular views over Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood Hills and the Los Angeles skyline from your balcony."

  "Is there a spa?" Liz asked.

  Liz was going through a spa obsession at the moment. She'd been to six in the past six months. "They have a state-of-the art spa," Rachel continued, "it is total indulgence and the therapists use Christopher Drummond's animal and eco-friendly cosmetics."

  "It all sounds too good to be true," Jen sighed.

  "Oh, it's very true and very real," Rachel said, "I'd be happy to organise the whole trip for you and Vic."

  "You're too good, Rach," Jen said, getting up suddenly to give her friend a big bear hug.

  "Me too," Liz said, holding out her arms.

  "I'll make us all some hot chocolate and you can tell us more about Hawaii," Jen said.

  "Well, the 'plane from Los Angeles to Honolulu takes about six hours," Rachel continued. “You know how when we are coming into land over Ireland how below us Ireland looks so green?"

  "Yeah, that's my sign that I'm almost home," Jen smiled.

  "Apparently, the descent into Hawaii is like a blue tropical paradise."

  "My colleague at work said it reminded her of the Bounty chocolate bar ads from the nineties," Liz said.

  "The sun shines all year round, with temperatures averaging between twenty eight and thirty degrees Celsius," Rachel sighed.

  "We could do with a few months of guaranteed sunshine here in rainy old Ireland," Jen said, "there's only so much rain a soul can endure. Sometimes it feels like all our seasons merge into one long, dreary rainy season."

  "Hawaii is definitely the place for you then, girl," Rachel said, "perfect weather, majestic mountains, awesome forests, thunderous waterfalls and miles and miles of sandy beaches." "Sounds like heaven on earth," Jen sighed dreamily.

  "There's lots of activities to try as well, just in case you get bored of sunbathing, which I doubt very much you will. You can try golfing, whale-watching and surfing. Hawaii gets some of the best waves in the world. I tried surfing when I was in Sligo and I loved it. I didn't think I would but it was such a laugh," Rachel chuckled at the memory of her practice session on the surf board.

  "I'll be more than happy just lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun," Jen said, "Vic will probably get bored of sunbathing fairly quickly so I'm glad there's some activities for him too."

  "I can bore you with some geographical details if you're interested," Liz offered.

  She'd studied geography at university and she'd always been fascinated by Hawaii.

  "Go on then," Jen and Rachel groaned in unison.

  "Ok, great, I'll try not to make it sound like too much of a geography lesson," Liz laughed. "Well, Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean and consists of an archipelago which stretches from east to west. The islands, each of which varies in age and size, were created from volcanic eruptions which were eroded by the wind and sea. The four main islands are Oahu, Kauai, Maui and The Big Island, which all have their own unique character.

  The islands aboun
d with natural wonders found nowhere else on earth. Kilauea is an active volcano which is located on The Big Island and it has to be seen to be believed. Hawaii has about seven hundred miles of shoreline and the beaches with their clear, warm water make it an ideal spot for most outdoor pursuits. The Belt Road on The Big Island and the Hana Highway in Maui are two of the world's greatest scenic routes, according to National Geographic Traveller magazine."

  "Gosh, that was very interesting," Jen said, "usually I hate geography."

  "I've always wanted to go there," Liz explained, "so I'm constantly reading brochures and checking on the internet, plus it's where I would have my honeymoon, without a doubt, so I researched the location for my wedding album."

  "I heard the food is supposed to be divine in Hawaii," Rachel said, "surprisingly diverse, with lots of fresh local produce and seafood."

  "Who knows, you might even spot a few celebrities when you stay," Liz said, "Oprah has a home on Maui and the likes of Gwyneth Palthrow, Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Anistion, Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt are known to holiday regularly there."

  "The Sherrington Kahala Resort and Spa is part of Sherrington's luxury collection," Rachel continued, "it even has a private lagoon with its own resident dolphins and they allow guests to swim with the dolphins too!"

  "Oh my God!" Jen exclaimed, "I adore dolphins. Supposedly they have the intelligence of a three year old child." "The hotel caters especially for romantic and private stays, so it will be ideal for you two honeymooners," Rachel smiled, "they even have six different restaurants. The restaurants have beautiful, beach side settings with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. They have an open kitchen featuring fiery hot woks, a kiawe wood grill and tandoori and wood-burning ovens. Guests even have the option of dining in a private gazebo for total peace and luxury."

  "The spa at the resort is supposed to be out of this world," Liz interjected, "and they have a state-of-the art fitness centre. The treatments in the spa sound amazing. They offer a massage called the "Lomi Lomi" where the therapists use their forearms and arms to iron out all those tension knots and kinks. They also have gentler treatments like the "Healing Nectar-Noni Body Wrap" which naturally tightens the skin. Their "Ocean Radiance" facial is supposed to be unbelievable. It uses protein, rich caviar and powerful antioxidants to visibly renew the skin and smooth fine lines. The Ola Hawaii coconut and lemongrass body polish is made from fresh, organic and locally produced ingredients to gently but effectively exfoliate your skin leaving it soft and smelling absolutely divine."

  "There's plenty of sight-seeing within a short distance of the hotel," Rachel said, "you can visit Iolani Palace, which is America's only royal palace. You can check out Shangri-la, the five-acre Black Point residence of heiress Doris Duke, which is sumptuously decorated with artworks from Iran, Syria, Morocco, Turkey and India. Most of the sights are just a short walk from Waikiki Beach, which is renowned as being a perfect spot for people-watching. If you and Vic get bored of all the sunbathing then you could try surfing or riding in an outrigger canoe. Also worth exploring is the Cafe Ciao deli where you can create your own picnic baskets, sip specialty coffee and devour home-made sandwiches and salads. If you want to explore further then Kapalua is located in Maui and is well worth a visit."

  "What does "Kapalua" mean anyway?" Jen asked curiously.

  "It means "arms embracing the sea" and refers to the area's dramatic lava peninsulas," Rachel explained, "five bays and three white sandy beaches create the area's unique shoreline. A few metres inland lush rainforests, a protected marine life conservation district, an ancient Hawaiian burial ground and golf courses that double as wildlife sanctuaries add to the mystique of the area. Kapalua has an abundance of flowers and trees, such as lychee, flowering ginger and ti leaf plants which were planted by ancestral Polynesians and Hawaiians."

  "My friend at work said the highlight of her time in Hawaii was the helicopter ride they took over the islands," Liz said, "she saw cascading waterfalls, active volcanoes, breathtaking coastlines and awesome mountains. She said it was so relaxing to see nature from the comfort of the helicopter and that she felt truly humbled to see such beauty."

  "Girls, I am well and truly sold," Jen beamed at her friends. “It's worth getting married just for the honeymoon to Hawaii alone."

  "Jen!" Liz said. "I'm joking," Jen grinned cheekily, "I love Vic with all my heart and even if we ended up staying in a cheap hotel somewhere in Ireland I wouldn't mind as long as I was with Vic."

  "Aww," Rachel said, "true love."

  "It sure is," Jen smiled, "he's the love of my life. I know it sounds corny but I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him. I'm so looking forward to us living together, shopping together, eating together every day and having lots of babies together."

  "Lots of babies?" Rachel and Liz asked.

  "Yep," Jen said, "I never thought I'd say it but I can't wait to have our first baby and I hope it's a boy and looks exactly like Vic."

  "So cute," Liz sighed. "I'll tell you who else is cute together, Batt and Rach," Jen grinned.

  "Yeah, looks like you've changed your tune regarding Batt," Liz said.

  "I couldn't believe it myself," Rachel smiled, "when I saw him again I felt like everything just fell into place. I was so nervous about having to tell him that I just wanted us to be friends but I realised within minutes of seeing him again that I definitely wanted us to be a lot more than just friends."

  "I'm really happy for you," Jen beamed, "you totally deserve it."

  "Is it a lot different to how you felt about Tony?" Liz asked.

  "Yes, it is very different," Rachel admitted, "I know it's very early days with Batt and me, but I never remember feeling anything like this with Tony. I think Tony and I just fell into our relationship. We were friends growing up and our relationship seemed to evolve naturally. We were so young when we started dating. We're very different people now. A part of me will always love Tony, but I'm glad I was brave enough to end it with him."

  Chapter 37

  "I have something to tell you and I'm not sure if you're going to like it, Holly."

  Rachel was having dinner with her sister, niece and nephew.

  "What now?" Holly groaned. “Tell me quickly."

  "You know how I've always dreamed of living by the sea?" Rachel continued.

  "Yes."

  "Well, I've found my ideal house. I'll be renting it at first, but I'll have an option to buy later if I'm interested."

  "Well, that's brilliant news!" Holly exclaimed. “Why wouldn't I like that news?"

  "The house is in Belmullet in County Mayo," Rachel dropped the bombshell.

  "What?!" Holly did not look amused, "that's in the back of beyonds!"

  "It's not really," Rachel protested, "you can get the bus up to visit me and I'll come down to see you all the time anyway."

  "It's nine hours on the bus," Holly continued her rant, "how do you propose I amuse two small children for nine hours on a bus and deal with a buggy and luggage too. Mia needs her own big suitcase whenever we travel anywhere. She needs so many nappies and bottles, for someone so small she takes up a lot of room. Anyway, they'd go ballistic on the bus for that length of time."

  The rest of their dinner continued in silence, only interrupted by the chattering of Mia and Simon. They sat and watched some television for a while when Holly broke the silence.

  "I'm sorry," she apologised to her sister, "we're just really going to miss having you around. I shouldn't have gotten so annoyed with you, after all you're entitled to live wherever you want." "Don't worry about it," Rachel said, "I'll miss you guys too, but we'll still see each other. I'll drive down and collect you and the kids and we can drive back to Mayo together. I'm sure between the two of us we'll be able to amuse the smallies."

  "I suppose so," Holly agreed, a little despondently.

  "It'll be fun, mom," Simon piped up, "we can sleep in auntie's campervan."

  "That's actually a brilliant idea," Rachel ag
reed with her nephew, "if I drive down in the campervan then we can take our time heading back to Mayo and stop for breaks. It'll make it easier on the children rather than driving all that distance in one go."

  "Yes, it is a good idea," Holly conceded, "so tell me about this new house, girl."

  "It's in a small housing estate just a few minutes’ walk from the town of Belmullet. I think there are fifteen houses in the estate, but there's lots of space between them. The house I'll be renting is overlooking the sea. I can look outside my windows and see the sea. I can actually hear the waves if the windows are open and the sea is less than a five minute walk from the house. It's a really cute house. It has two bedrooms, so you guys will have a bedroom whenever you want to come and stay with me. There's a kitchen cum dining room, a cosy sitting room, separate utility room and a garden front and back."

  "It sounds idyllic," Holly said, "but I still think you could have chosen somewhere to live that was closer to Cork. There are lots of stunning coastal views all along the south west of Ireland." "I've just fallen in love with County Mayo," Rachel said, "it has such an interesting history and gorgeous landscape, plus I really like the fact that it's a Gaeltacht area."

  "Since when were you interested in the Irish language?" Holly asked disparagingly.

  "When I was travelling for those few months in my campervan I came across lots of Irish place names and I was trying to figure out their meanings. I think that's what's ignited my passion for the Irish language. It is such a rich and beautiful language after all. Batt gave me a book on the history of Mayo and it's so interesting. I couldn't put it down."