By Rita

The plane gracefully touched down on the island of Hawaii. Rita sat in her seat anxiously waiting to disembark from the plane. This would be her second trip to the island. The first time had been many years ago with her family. Rita believed that the next time she would visit the island would be for her honeymoon for her mother had always promised her that as wedding present for her honeymoon. So surprisingly this trip was not for pleasure. It was in fact a business trip for the firm she worked oat. The firm that she worked for had received a request for her services on the island.

The partners tried to change the client's mind by saying that she had yet the achieved the amount of experience that a partner had and another choice would be better for the client. The client was not to be deterred in the decision. So here she was. Hoping there would be time to explore the island. The client had extensive properties that were in a matrimonial dispute with the client's primary residence in New Jersey therefore that state law applied but he kept his records in Hawaii and it is this that necessitated the voyage. It would take a couple of days to sort through the clients property and holding s and see what assets would need to be protected.

As she walked towards the luggage area all those thoughts raced through her head. She sighed this trip would probably allow no time for fun. Her walk continued when she saw a uniformed chauffeur hold up a sign with her name on it. Approaching the driver hesitantly because she expected to take a cab to the hotel she inquired as to whom he was waiting for. The driver confirmed her suspicions and proceeded to walk to the baggage claim with her. The driver whose name was Ted, carried her luggage out to the limo.

After she settled into the limousine she began revising what she had been told about the client. Rich and eccentric was what her boss told her Rita mentally added thoughtful to the list. The drive was taking longer than she expected and she fell asleep in the car. The jet lag of the flight was catching up to her. At least there was room enough to nap. Drifting off to dreamland he entered her mind through the door of sleep.

The one named wonder that had invaded her life at the oddest more unexpected moments. He who claimed he was her husband. Standing there in his black attire holding out his hand to her. He was saying something yet she could not understand what he was saying. She stepped closer to him hopefully to hear what he was trying to convey. Those soft kissable lips were close enough to touch. His scent permeated the air around its heady perfume making her dizzy. So she leaned in and kissed him. The dream state began to feel real to her and she opened her eyes in surprise. Thrust from dream state into waking state she was understandably taken aback.

For there he was kissing her. Pausing for a millisecond she returned the kiss with equal fervor. Putting her arms around his neck and tugging him closer. It was sheer bliss and the last thing she expected at the end of her journey. Then again she could still be sleeping. His hands began to make patterns in her hair. A noise escaped from her throat of pleasure she did not wish to wake if it was a dream.

He finally pulled away but remaining in the circle of his arms. His eyes looked at her, studying her it seemed to see if any changes had occurred.

"You know you have the skill to fall asleep anywhere?"

"Is that a compliant?" she asked as she raised her eyebrow in query.

"No, I find it charmingly refreshing and innocent." He said. Then it appeared that his thoughts were reflecting on the unpleasant. He drifted off to some corner of his mind reliving the loss of his own innocence when slumber no longer came as easily as it once did.

She pulled him back to the present. "Michael, what are you doing here? "

"Visiting my wife of course. Unless you would prefer not to see me..." A color of hesitation Rita heard in his voice.

"Of course I want to see you!" Rita burst out laughing. "But you never just drop by for a visit there is always something extra."

"Not this time. I have what could be a termed as a vacation." His green eyes were laughing with her.

"An actual vacation?" Rita's voice took on a tone of disbelief and amusement. "Well isn't that ironic. I have work to do here." Then her mind began to think how did he know precisely where to find her. "How did you find me?" He sat up and pulled her to his side. Her head rested on his shoulder as she gently traced with her fingers his palm.

"You don't think I have been keeping an eye on you young lady."

"You have not!" Rita was shocked that was not the answer she expected. Her mind could not exactly wrap around that notion.

He looked at her assessing and wondering how much she could actually take. Then his conveyed some impish glee when he began to speak. "Shall we talk about your last speeding ticket? Just a few more meters and the cop would not have had you."

"I'll have you know…" She began indignantly. Then just as suddenly she stopped and simply gazed at him. Searching his face she found there was tightness around the eyes that was not there before. There were dark shadows reflected in his eyes. And weariness that was coming off in waves from him, what had happened to him. It had always appeared to her that he was invincible but now there was a palpable air of pain around him.

While he looked at her with amusement and affection in his eyes. She must be thinking how I knew that about her he thought. Little did she know that she was pretty much constantly under surveillance. Michael always protected what was his.

"Are you all right? Somehow I think that in your line of work vacations are not handed out frequently." Concern and happiness warred inside her.

He pulled away from her and stepped out of the car, in one of the few uncomfortable moments that had occurred between them. She had never asked a question like that before. Perhaps she knew him better than he thought. He found that line of reasoning disturbing yet it was a relief that someone could see past the mask. Holding out his hand to Rita to assist her in getting out of the car.

Slipping on her sunglasses she realized that Michael did not wish to discuss what was troubling him. At least not yet. In some place deep within herself she knew that decision had been made a long time ago to accept him as he was the man who could appear at will in her life and disappear just as quickly. He made her happy and there was always a price to be paid for happiness.

Taking his hand she stepped out into the bright sunshine. Michael pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear. "I don't want that to come between us. I just want to live with you in this moment with no thought of responsibilities and my life."

Rita could feel the gentle caress of flower perfumed breeze surround them. Nodded her assent. He kissed her gently in gratitude. She pulled away and looked beyond Michael's shoulder to see the large plantation house that she had been brought to. It had a large wrap around porch with rocking chairs strategically placed. The deck was painted a dark green as were the other accents trimming the house. The house itself was painted white and would have been blinding had it not been for the sunglasses she was wearing.

Breaking from the embrace she turned around and noted that it was a pineapple plantation. She saw the source of the scented air orchids, lilies and roses were growing in profusion throughout the grounds as well as a couple of flowers she could not identify. The cerulean sky above stretched across seemingly endless yet imminently touchable. She felt she could almost touch it if she could just get a few feet higher.

Gazing at this paradise in wonder, she suddenly came back down to earth. She had responsibilities of her own to accomplish during this time. A deep sigh expelled from her body as she began to think aloud hoping to find a solution to her dilemma. "It is unfortunate that I have work to do. But we will still have the nights together. Maybe, maybe I can call in for some vacation time after the job is done. Or I can just take some sick days hmmm..." She was rambling through ideas hoping to find a way to spend more time with him.

He looked at her and wondered if she would get angry. Well there was only one way to find out. "Rita, let me introduce you to your client, Mr. Michael Samuelle." As he pointed to himself.

************

Shock a flicker of anger and laughter all vied to take over her emotional state. "Well that explains why the client was so bound and determined to have me represent them." She said carefully letting her mind process this information.

"No other would do." He said in all sincerity with caution for he had no idea what she was thinking.

She seemed to have made a decision in her head. Michael saw this reflected in her eyes and he braced himself. Rita opened her arms wide and jumped into his arms where he caught her and his arms clasped around her tightly. "No one has ever gone through so much just to be with me. Thank you."

He kissed her and she responded in kind. This went on for awhile when the sound of someone's voice caused them to pull apart.

"I think that you guys will have plenty of time to do that later." North commented from the porch.

"Yeah I think so too. Although I wouldn't mind that very much." Aly agreed.

"Oh my God what are you guys doing here?" As she broke away from Michael and raced up the steps to hug her friends. She had not seen them in such a long time.

"Well we received an invitation from that gorgeous man of yours." Aly replied.

"How could we ignore his generous invitation to come to Hawaii." North added in.

Rita turned around and looked at Michael with a questioning gaze, which he chose to overlook.

"Ah, ladies I see you arrived safely and the others?" he said as he walked up towards the emerald porch and climbed the steps. He kissed both of the girls on the cheek.

"Some of them are inside and I am sure the others will trickle in soon." North informed Michael.

"Are you comfortably settled in?" The attentive host inquired as he walked to where Rita stood and put his arm around and drew her in close. He began making her walk into the house. They were in the hallway where a large curving staircase led upstairs. The hall was painted a light blue color.

"Oh yes, the room I have has a beautiful view. Although I am sure we won't be spending much time there." Aly said.

"This house is gorgeous." North was still looking around in amazement.

Rita had had enough she thought this whole conversation was not helping her determine why her friends were there. It wasn't that she didn't love her friends she would just prefer to spend some quality time with Michael. "Michael I want..."

She wasn't allowed to even finish that statement. For out of the room to the left came running Dragonlady whom grabbed her in a quick embrace. "Its about time you got here! What took you so long? Its like I have been waiting a month or something. You would think it was the premiere of a show I was waiting for."

"Hey how are you doing?" Then she noticed other people coming out Dominique, Patricia, Claire, Cheryl, Anna, Trace and Sly.

After all the greetings Rita was feeling the jet lag again. She thought she could take a nap and get the information out of Michael all at the same time. Although she had a feeling that was easier said then done. She made her excuses and looked expectantly at Michael. He led her upstairs to a beautiful room with a large four poster bed mad out of mahogany with pure white sheets on the mattress and a fluffy white comforter. The bed looked so inviting to her tired body. She slipped off her shoes and collapsed on the bed. Michael sat beside her brushing the hair away from her face. Her eyes began to close.

"Michael, why are all my friends here or on their way?" She murmured sleepily.

"It's a surprise." He whispered softly in her ear.

"Why do I think you don't even like surprises?"

"But you do." He knowingly said.

Struggling past the feeling of her heavy sleepiness to inform him. "Yeah well this one has a lot of explaining to go with it. I thought my surprise was you."

"That is only part of it." He alluded to.

Rita began to think what that devious, sweet Frenchman had in store for her as he continued to gently trace her face. She fell asleep under the care of his gentle ministrations.

*****

High above at 37,000 feet a plane was a plane on the way to Hawaii. Yet the flight had already been delayed. There was a passenger sitting 11c who was none too thrilled with how this day was turning out. Yet there was still time for her to arrive on time for the ceremony barring any further complications. So she attempted to fall asleep in order to store some energy for later.

****

Rita awoke alone in the room. She wondered if when she opened her eyes it would all be a dream and she would be back in her bedroom in New Jersey. Then she heard a familiar laugh coming from down the hall and she knew it was not a dream.

She got up and went to the bathroom. Splashed water on her face and freshened up. Someone had unpacked her things. Must have been Michael she deduced. Then she went in search of the laughter.

There down the hall in one of the bedrooms she could hear people talking in excited voices. She could barely make out the conversations. Yet when she stepped into the room the occupants suddenly ceased their conversation. "So girls what are we so excited about?" Then she saw someone she had not seen before. "Curlly when did you get here? By the way where is Sherry?"

************

"Golly Rita I just got on the plane and here I am. This island is wonderful." She was holding two formal dresses in her hand.

"She's on her way as far as I know. I spoke to her before I left." North answered from her position on the bed next to one of Curlly's bag.

"Oh good. So how many suitcases did you bring?" Rita inquired of Curlly.

"How did you guess that is what held me up. One of my bags was almost lost but thankful some kind and rather cute customer service rep tracked it down for me."

"Were you sufficiently grateful." Rita said impishly as she looked at the other girls.

"But of course."

Rita believed it was time for her friends to at least confess. "Well that still does not answer my question."

"What question?" Trace said innocently.

Then from the doorway a masculine voice said. "Ladies lunch is being served downstairs."

"Thanks Michael, I am so hungry. Hey do they have cheesecake down there?" Curlly asked hopefully. As DragonLady got up and dragged Curlly through the door leaving her question unanswered.

All the other girls murmured their thanks and bolted for the door as quickly as possible.

Rita looked at Michael and burst out laughing. "You sure know how to clear a room."

"Well, it was the considerate thing to do."

"Sure it was the manipulative and tricky thing to do. Confess already. Those girls can't quit for long one of them is going to unintentionally slip. They aren't as good as keeping secrets as you."

Michael took on a thoughtful look. "Come this way."

He led her to the upstairs veranda, which was desolate. The view of endless lush vegetation went on for miles and in the distance a mountain rose. It could have been a dormant volcano once. It was a spectacular view. While she was gazing at a far off point. Michael looked at her.

"I believe it is time we made things official."

Rita turned and looked at him. "What?"

He went down on one knee and grasped her hand. "We may not have done things in the traditional order a declaration of marriage, a honeymoon and now if you will an engagement. Will you consent to becoming my wife for that is the one thing I truly desire from you."

She immediately responded, "Yes."

He had to be sure she knew what it was she was getting into. "You realize we will never have a normal life?"

Yet she already knew. "You are not getting out of this it is still yes." He immediately stood up and kissed her.

"Thank you." He said simply.

"Any day Michael, any time, any place." She said emphatically and blissfully happy.

"Well I have invited your friends here to our wedding."

"But they already think we are married."

"I invited them under the pretext of renewing our vows since we allegedly eloped before."

All the pieces started falling into place for her. "That was a great idea! I love it." He had thought of everything. It was a sweeping maneuver on his part. It was true she loved surprises but this one beat them all.

****

On the plane she was on, it was still no where near it's destination and now the weather was making them late. She felt like walking to the cockpit and yelling at the captain although it was not his fault. Being on time for this wedding was important to her. All her friends would be there. It seemed fate was taking over.

When suddenly a man from first class was walking down the aisle. She sat up and took notice of the tall dark haired man with soft brown eyes. His gaze fell upon her. "I see you are as bored as I am with this flight?" He remarked.

Never one to let an opportunity pass. "Why don't you sit and we can try to cure our boredom?"

The man smiled in delight. "Thank you. My name is Jarrod." He stuck out his hand to reach for hers.

"Nice to meet you Jarrod. I am Sherry."

****

The ceremony took place in the garden of the plantation under the stars. Tiki torches lit the paths and Chinese lanterns lit the area. It was a private and intimate ceremony that caused more than one eye to well up. Rita was surprisingly calm throughout the event. It was a beautiful moment. And Michael looked so gorgeous she could not take her eyes off him throughout the ceremony.

Sherry arrived late with a handsome man in tow, that she had yet to meet.

Her wedding band was a imbedded with opals all around it matched the previous gifts he had given her. All these thoughts passed through her head as she got ready to dance the first dance with him. He had selected a French song that was being played.

He escorted her out to the floor. He held her close and translated the song in her ear. It was hauntingly beautiful. She would never forget this moment. Then the next song began to play.

"Excuse me, can I cut in?" It was North who looked lovely in a red dress.

That is when Rita noticed there was a line to dance with the groom. She started to laugh. "I guess I have no choice. I want him back in time for the honeymoon!" She called down the line. They all laughed at that pronouncement.

It was a perfect moment in time.

...The End

This story ©copyright Rita/Tasamin, 2000