27. Masaccio
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Masaccio
W e sit on the beach for ages. I don’t want to let her go. I can’t believe it took me this long to see the truth of it all. How beautiful her soul is - how perfect she is for me.
When the music from way down the other side of the beach goes quiet, I know the beach bar has closed. It’s late.
“Let’s go back to the villa and cuddle.” I say, standing up and lifting her in my arms. I carry her, cradled against my chest, across the sand. She snuggles her face into my neck.
“You smell so good.” She mumbles.
I look down at her, then kiss the top of her head.
Back in the villa I undress her, just enjoying how beautiful she is.
Then I lift her into the bed and wrap the blankets around her before I climb in next to her.
She lets out a deep yawn. I am also exhausted. The emotional toil of confusion - her tears - the relief of finding out the truth afterwards - it’s enough to send me into a deep sleep.
I pull her back against my chest, her body curved perfectly against mine.
She wiggles against me, and I grin.
She really does feel amazing.
Letting out a soft sigh she closes her eyes, so do I, and we both drift off to a very peaceful sleep with the sound of the ocean singing to us in our dreams.
In the morning, I wake up wondering if I dreamt everything. But in my arms, sleeping peacefully, is the most beautiful girl in the world.
I smile as I pull her close to me, her head resting on my chest.
She stirs and mumbles in her sleep.
Then opens her eyes and sits up in shock.
“Hey. It’s ok. It was just a dream—” I say, pulling her back down.
“No - actually - for a second, I was worried that it was just a dream. But it wasn’t.” She says.
She smiles as she closes her eyes again and runs her hand over my chest.
“I’m so cozy.” She whispers.
Brushing my fingers through her hair my heart feels warm and full of love.
“Leo - can I take you out on a date? Our first official date.”
She looks up at me with sleepy eyes. “I would love that.”
“Good. I’ll make the arrangements for tonight. You can go shopping today to buy something special to wear if you’d like?”
“I suppose if it is our very first date, I want to impress you.” Her laughter drifts in the air and makes my heart even warmer.
“Everything about you impresses me.” I whisper.
While Leora is out shopping, I want to plan something beautiful. Something she will never forget. Because tonight is where our relationship restarts. We get to start again and do it right this time. I am going to make up for every stupid thing I did or said - and from tonight - she will be the happiest girl in the world because I will make sure of it.
By five that evening I have arranged the most magnificent first date for her. One that will hopefully make her forget our rocky start.
Leora arrives back from shopping and walks into the little villa she booked for herself.
“Hello.” She grins and steps close to me to wrap her arms around my waist.
“Hi beautiful. You can go get ready now. Then we can go.”
“Oh - where are we going? Did you book us a restaurant?”
“Something like that. Just wear flat shoes - I mean this is a beach holiday.” I grin.
“Is that the only hint you are going to give me?” she laughs as she carries her shopping bag towards the bathroom.
I am waiting for her out on the front deck of the villa. Admiring the drifting white clouds. When she steps out into the late afternoon sunshine my jaw drops open. She is wearing a fitted baby blue dress which hugs her curves in the most enticing ways.
She has gold strapped sandals on, and her toes are painted the same color as her dress.
“Baby girl - wow.” I say, standing up and immediately dragging her against my body. She smells like wild vanilla and ocean salt. The perfect combination.
“Are you ready?” I ask, still holding her.
“I’m excited.” She laughs.
Picking up the bag I have packed in preparation I sling it over my shoulder, hold out my hand to her and then lead her straight out onto the beach in front of the villa.
There is a small boat waiting for us.
I toss the bag into it, then lift her into it as well. She is grinning. “This seems like a little adventure - not a date.”
“It’s going to be an adventure.” I smirk.
The little powerboat speeds through the water, sending a fine spray of ocean water into the air around us as it heads towards the yacht.
We park against the stern, and I lift her onto the swimming platform.
The sun will set in about an hour - and the chef has already laid out our dinner table on the top deck.
“Masaccio - this is incredible.” She says, walking towards the dinner table.
“Mm. Not so fast. That’s for later.” I take her hand and pull her along behind me - to where the dive master is waiting for us.
“Hello, hello.” He grins.
“Tony?” Leora says in surprise.
She glances towards me with a sharp look of hope shining in her eyes. “Are you going to dive with me?” she asks.
“Not just any dive - we are going on a night dive.”
Her jaw drops open, and she jumps up in excitement.
Tony hands her some diving gear. “Sorry, your hair looks great, but it’s about to get wet and salty.” He laughs.
We dive into the water just as the sun sinks into the horizon, casting long beams of light across the surface of the water.
Tony has given us each an underwater light and we spend over an hour exploring the coral reef and the bright, beautiful sea life along it.
Our adventurous dive includes three different species of sharks which Leora is so eager about that she grabs my hand under the water so tightly it hurts.
But now, nearing the end of our dive, is the moment that I’ve been really nervous about this entire time. Swimming with sharks is nothing compared to the intense anxiety right now.
Leora is swimming at my side. I take her hand. “Come and look what I found in the coral.” I tell her.
“Ok.” She grins, pulling her goggles back down over her face.
We dive down following my beam of light - then I stop and point it at a small treasure chest I’ve left on the red coral. It’s tiny.
Leora goes to pick it up. She glances back at me curious, confused.
Then she opens the lid and inside she finds a ring. She closes the lid again and swims back up to the surface.
“What is this?” She blurts out pulling her goggles off again.
“It’s my great grandmother’s ring. A family heirloom. I have kept it for years, waiting, wishing, but never believing that I would find the girl of my dreams.”
“But - why is it—”
“Leora, little kitten, will you marry me?”
She screams with excitement and throws her arms around my neck, dragging me under the water while we both laugh.
“Yes, yes I’ll marry you - again - um - I’ll marry you.” She shouts.
We swim back to the yacht and stand on the deck, water dripping off our bodies. I take the ring out of the tiny treasure chest and slip it onto her finger.
“Our first wedding was not something that we chose for ourselves. It wasn’t even about us. But this time - it is going to be about only us and nothing else.”
She stares down at the red rubies and diamond forming the shape of a rose on the gold band sitting on her engagement finger. “It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s very old. And unique.” I say, pulling her up against my body, lifting her face with my hand wrapped about her jaw. Then pressing my lips against hers.