Unfailing Love

by Kelsey MacBride

  Paul reached one arm under her legs and slid another around her waist as she wrapped her slender arms around his neck. The smell of coconut suntan oil filled her nostrils, and she felt her skin flood with goosebumps. She let her body go slack as he lifted her from the chair and carried her over to the lounger.

  He tried to keep his attention on the task at hand, but having her in his arms, with her warm skin and soft hair against his body was almost too much. His heart swelled with emotion and love for this woman in his arms.

  “Okay,” he said, trying to distract himself from his overwhelming feelings. “Here we go.” He set her down gently on the chair.

  Tracy groaned slightly as she let her body rest on the thick cushion of the lounger.

  “Are you alright?” Paul asked, all of his attention on her physical health. “Does it hurt?”

  Tracy closed her eyes and smiled. “No, I’m fine. This just feels so good.”

  Paul breathed a sigh of relief. He walked over to the wheelchair and pushed it into the corner of the cabana where it would be out of the heat of the sun. Then he sat down on the lounger next to Tracy. The chair was positioned perfectly so that the bottom half was in the sun and the upper half in the shade. That meant they could feel the warmth of the island air without being blinded by the sun.

  “This really is paradise,” Tracy said, opening her eyes lazily and looking around the resort. Paul nodded as he reached over and wrapped his hand around hers. He knew she was talking about the island, but he felt his own paradise was sitting right there next to him.

  “Yeah,” he said, agreeing with her. Paul picked up the bowl of fresh fruit from the tray and offered Tracy a bite. “It is really beautiful here.”

  They sat quietly enjoying the scenery as they nibbled on the snacks. Tracy took in the view of the pool goers, the people on the beach and tourists walking hand in hand along the pathway. She thought of Courtney and Kenneth and how they had picked such a beautiful place for their wedding. Then she remembered the photo.

  “Don’t you think?” Paul asked.

  “What?” Tracy said, distracted by her thoughts of her sister.

  “Don’t you think it’s beautiful here? I mean, we have great stuff in California. But this is like another world. It’s breathtaking.”

  “It really is,” Tracy said.

  “And the view is perfect,” Paul said, snuggling up closer to Tracy.

  She smiled at his joke. She knew exactly what he was talking about and agreed a hundred percent. “You’re right. It is a perfect view.” She felt her heart fill with gratitude. “And I hope it never changes.”

  Paul smiled. “Me too.”

  “And,” Paul continued, “it’s the perfect place for a wedding.”

  “Yeah, I’m glad that Courtney and Kenneth decided to get married here,” Tracy said, watching the boats on the water.

  “I could see myself getting married in a place like this,” said Paul, testing his idea before plunging forward. He wanted to gauge how serious Tracy was and figured this was a good way to open up the conversation.

  “Yeah,” Tracy said, almost absentmindedly. “Me too.”

  Paul tightened his embrace and pulled Tracy closer. “Well, maybe someday you will.” He smiled into her hair and kissed her on the head.

  ***

  They spend several hours by the pool before Paul wheeled Tracy back into her room later that afternoon so she had time to rest before the rehearsal dinner. She was almost asleep when Courtney came storming in.

  “I can’t believe this!” she said, fuming.

  “Tra? Are you here?” Courtney’s loud voice drew nearer and met Tracy at the edge of the bed. “I can’t believe this is happening!”

  “What? What’s going on?” Tracy said, pulling herself up on the pillows and rubbing the tiredness out of her eyes.

  Courtney flopped down on the bed next to her little sister, careful to avoid the cast on her broken leg.

  “I asked Kenneth to make sure that we had a reggae band for the wedding. A reggae band, Tra. I mean, c’mon. We’re on a tropical island. We should have a reggae band, right?”

  Tracy just nodded, knowing better than to interrupt Courtney when she was like this.

  “And I specifically said that I wanted a violinist to play the wedding march. A violinist! You know the march I’m talking about? Not the traditional wedding march, that old-fashioned one ...” Courtney threw her hands up by her head. “I wanted the pretty one, the more modern, yet traditional one. I can’t remember what it’s called ...”

  “Canon in D,” Tracy said. She had helped Courtney select the song. It was one of Tracy’s favorite’s too. When they were little, the two girls watched Father of the Bride over and over again and dreamed of their own wedding day. That song stuck with them, and they swore they would play it at their own weddings. When Tracy was going to marry Paul, it had been the last song they shared together.

  “Yeah,” Courtney said, slapping her hands together. “That’s it. Anyhow,” she stood up and began pacing again. “I told Kenneth I wanted a violinist. That’s a violin song, not a reggae song.” She exhaled deeply and kept walking.

  “And he didn’t get the violinist!” Courtney turned and stopped in front of Tracy. “Now, what am I supposed to do? I mean, here I am, on an island in the middle of ...” Courtney turned and spun in a circle.

  “What ocean are we in?” she asked Tracy, not waiting for an answer. “Never mind. I’m in the middle of an ocean on an island, and I’m supposed to find a violinist by tomorrow!”

  Tracy watched her sister and recognized the symptoms of the impending panic attack. Courtney had suffered with anxiety most of her life but had found ways to cope. At first, when she was young, she would act out to reduce her inner anxiety. When she became a teenager, she used socializing and partying as a way to self-medicate. But as she had matured, she had turned to healthier strategies like yoga and meditation.

  “Court,” Tracy said slowly, trying to bring her sister down from her state of near hysteria. Tracy knew that Courtney’s reaction wasn’t just about the violinist. It was about the whole trip, starting with the accident. Then there was the odd behavior from Kenneth, followed by the suspicious picture. Now this. And, of course, Tracy thought, seeing Mother couldn’t have helped the situation either.

  “Court,” Tracy said again as her sister began to breathe in and out in shallow breaths. Tracy reached her hand out to get Courtney’s attention.

  “Hey girl, just breathe slowly. Focus on your breath and relax.”

  Courtney looked at Tracy and nodded as she took a long, ragged breath in and then let it out slowly. She did this several times as she held Tracy’s hand in hers. When she was calm again, she sat down on the bed with Tracy.

  “Okay,” Tracy said, rubbing her sister’s back. “That’s better. Now, tell me what’s really going on.”

  Courtney looked at Tracy with tears in her eyes. “I don’t know if it’s everything, the wedding or what ...” Courtney stopped herself and took another few deep, slow breaths before continuing in a measured tone. “I’m just not sure if Kenneth wants to get married.”

  “Did you ask him about the picture?” Tracy asked quietly, not wanting to set her sister off again but knowing that the matter had to be brought up.

  Courtney nodded quickly. “Yeah, he said it was just a client.”

  Tracy watched her sister fiddle with the edge of the bedspread. “I didn’t say anything about the box.”

  “Well,” Tracy said, “maybe he’s trying to keep the jewelry a surprise.” Tracy wasn’t sure the jewelry box in the picture was a gift for Courtney or not. In fact, she wasn’t sure of much when it came to Kenneth. All she knew was that up until now, he had made her sister a happy, calm woman. And Courtney loved him to death.

  “Yeah,” Courtney said reluctantly. “I guess it’s just nerves. I mean, I should trust him, right? Because tomorrow he’s going to be my husband.”

  Tracy nodded throu
gh a tight smile and watched as her sister convinced herself that everything was okay. After a few moments, Courtney’s demeanor changed, and she sprang to her feet.

  “Oh my goodness!” she said as she looked at the clock on the nightstand table. “Look at the time! We’ve got to get ready for the rehearsal dinner!”

  Tracy looked over and realized that it was too late to even think about getting a nap in now. “Okay,” she said. “Well, you better get me up. We’ve got a rehearsal dinner to get to!”

  Chapter 16

  Jules and the other bridesmaids met Courtney and Tracy in the lobby of the building. They had called for a shuttle and stepped outside into the balmy evening air to wait for it to arrive. As they passed the fountain, Tracy smiled slyly and remembered her first evening talking to Paul by this very fountain. A flutter of excitement rose up in her, and she smoothed her hands over her dress, anxious to see him at the dinner.

  The handicapped shuttle arrived moments later and the driver wheeled Tracy into the side as the other women found their seats.

  “Ooooh, we get the special van!” Jules said as she laughed. She winked at Tracy as she smiled coyly at the handsome driver. “And the special driver!”

  Tracy rolled her eyes at Jules. Always the flirt. She hoped that Jules would find what she was looking for someday. She pretended to be happy with Charles, but Tracy knew otherwise. She was so grateful to have found a new start with Paul and hoped Jules could find that type of love someday, too.

  “What?” Jules said as she hit Tracy lightly on the arm. “He’s cute!”

  “Ouch,” Tracy joked.

  “Oh, my gosh! I’m so sorry!” Jules bent down and fluttered her hands over Tracy’s arm. “I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you!”

  Tracy loved teasing Jules, and she got her good this time. The smirk on Tracy’s face told Jules that she was just fine.

  “You!” Jules smiled back at her, blew her a kiss and made her way to her seat. The handsome driver closed the door and slid into the driver’s seat. He drove the van slowly through the beautiful resort while the girls rode in silence, taking in the breathtaking grounds as the late afternoon sun cast long shadows on the pristine lawns.

  Within minutes, the van arrived at the main hotel lobby. The girls piled out one by one and began to make their way to the restaurant. Courtney waited while the driver lowered the ramp and wheeled Tracy out.

  Paul appeared on the steps of the lobby just as Tracy emerged from the van. He began to walk toward her but stopped in his tracks. The sight of her in her pale yellow dress, her golden hair and the setting sun hitting every angle of her face just perfectly, took his breath away. He felt his heart skip a beat as he broke out in a wide smile.

  Tracy looked up to see him and smiled back. Then she looked up at her sister. Courtney’s face was fixed on Paul’s. She had seen his reaction to Tracy and felt a pang of envy hit her. Courtney couldn’t remember the last time Kenneth had looked at her like that. She pretended to shrug it off and wrapped her hands around the wheelchair.

  “Oh no,” Paul said as he made his way down the steps taking them two at a time. “Let me, please.”

  Courtney nodded politely. “Sure, thanks.” She turned and looked at Tracy. “I’ll see you in there, sis. And by the way,” she leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, “you look beautiful.”

  Tracy smiled back up at her. “So do you.”

  Courtney waved and climbed up the stairs and into the lobby as Paul placed his hands on the handles of the wheelchair. Once Courtney was gone, he bent down and whispered in Tracy’s ear. “She’s right. You are beautiful.”

  The heat of Paul’s breath on Tracy’s skin caused all of her limbs to tingle. She smiled and reached over her shoulder to squeeze his hand. “You look pretty good, too.”

  And she wasn’t just saying that. Paul was wearing a light green shirt and white linen slacks that hung perfectly from his strong, athletic frame. The tan he had gotten from their afternoon at the pool brought out his smile and bright blue eyes. When she looked at him standing in the early evening light, she felt the same way she had the first night they had met and talked outside of the emergency room.

  Paul wheeled the chair toward the patio. The stairs led up to the lobby and the indoor entrance to the restaurant. But the rehearsal dinner was being held outside on the veranda, and he remembered seeing a ramp leading to the restaurant from the patio when they had been lounging at the pool earlier in the day.

  The path led them through the blooming hibiscus, filling their noses with the scent of the island flowers. The chair rolled along the paved walkway gently, and Paul pushed Tracy up the final incline onto the veranda where the rest of the wedding party was waiting.

  “Tracy!” Randall ran over to his daughter and bent down to hug her lightly, careful not to squeeze her too hard. “You look radiant!”

  Tracy smiled at her father. “Thanks, Dad.”

  “No, I’m not just saying that. For someone that has been through what you have, you look absolutely amazing!”

  Margo and Howard Myers were right behind Randall and joined in on the compliments. Paul stood behind Tracy smiling. He was so proud of Tracy, at how well she had handled the whole ordeal, at the strength she had to get through this, at how well she was doing now despite the fact that she was still in pain and exhausted. Paul rubbed her bare shoulders with his fingers as the parents doted on her.

  Courtney stood across the room, basking in the attention of the other guests, most of whom did not know Tracy. Courtney’s college roommates, her neighbors, friends from her yoga studio and co-workers that had flown in for the ceremony were surrounding her, peppering her with questions about the big day.

  But when Tracy looked across and smiled at her sister, the smile that was returned was forced. Tracy knew instantly that despite the fact that Kenneth stood next to Courtney with his hand on her back, looking like the happy groom, there was anything but happiness between the two of them. Tracy’s heart ached a little for her sister. But she knew now was not the time or the place to talk about Courtney’s reservations.

  “Well, let’s get this party started. Shall we?” Margo said, slipping in behind Paul and taking over on the wheelchair. “I’ve got her. Your brother is waiting for you. Now go.” She shooed Paul off and waited until he and the other men were out of earshot before leaning in to speak softly to Tracy.

  Margo placed a hand on Tracy’s shoulder, and Tracy flinched at the gentle touch. She still worried about the hurt she had caused Margo and Howard in the past and wasn’t sure what to expect from the woman now. Tracy took a slight breath in and steeled herself for what Margo might say now that it was obvious that Paul and Tracy still had feelings for each other.

  “Tracy, dear,” Margo started, softly. “I just want you to know that I have never seen Paul happier than he is now.” Margo brought her stout body around the back of the chair until she was standing directly in front of Tracy. She reached out and took her hand in hers.

  “Even on the day of the wedding, he was happy, but there was something missing. And whatever that something was,” she smiled as tears welled up in her eyes, “it seems he found it in that cave with you.”

  Tracy let her own tears spill over and wiped them away with her free hand. The ones that got free dropped to her lap and left damp splatter marks on her pale yellow dress.

  “So, whatever happens from this point on,” Margo went on, trying to be firm. “I just want you to know that you have our blessing. Paul is a grown man, and he can make his own decisions. We just want him to be happy. And right now, he’s the happiest he’s ever been.”

  Tracy squeezed Margo’s hand and then reached out to hug the little woman. Margo smiled broadly and threw herself against Tracy’s slender chest, feeling her jump as she did.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry dear!” Margo had completely forgotten about the broken ribs. “Did I hurt you?”

  Tracy laughed and waved her off. “No, it’s okay, really.” She smiled up
at Margo again. “Thank you so much. That means the world to me.”

  “Well, you mean the world to Paul. So now we’re even.” Margo chuckled, patted Tracy’s hand and made her way to the back of the chair again. “Well, off we go now,” she said as she wheeled Tracy over to the rest of the group.

  Randall and Howard stood together chatting with the boys, and Paul left them when Margo appeared with Tracy. Paul looked at his mother suspiciously.

  “None of your business,” said Margo, in her best motherly tone. “Here you go,” she handed Tracy off to Paul. “I’m done with her. For now,” she chuckled again and went to her husband’s side.

  Paul bent in over Tracy’s ear. “What was that all about?” he asked.

  “Like she said, none of your business.” Tracy’s face filled with a warm smile. She was overwhelmed with gratitude for the compassion and acceptance Margo and Howard were showing her. She was grateful to know that Margo was okay with Paul dating her again if that’s what they were going to do.

  Tracy thought about her conversation with Joseph the night before. And then she wondered. Was that what Paul and her were going to do? Were they going to date? They had talked about their feelings and that they didn’t want to go their separate ways. But they were also stranded on a tropical island after a near-death experience. People said some strange things under those circumstances. What would happen when they returned to Newport Beach and the back to the real world of their everyday lives?

  “I think she wants you right here,” Paul said as he pushed Tracy into her spot at the table. The servers had removed the chair so that Tracy’s wheelchair could be accommodated. The table was long and elegant, decorated with a white linen tablecloth and fresh flowers of every color. With splashes of silver utensils and glimpses of crystal glasses, the whole thing looked like a very expensive abstract painting.

  “Wow,” Tracy said, looking around at the ornateness of it all. “This is really ...”

  “Yeah,” Paul said, sliding in next to her. “Really something.” He looked at her and the two smiled.