Chapter 35
The Widow
Blue silk slides over my head and streams down my body, as cool as ocean water against my skin. Nathan will love it.
The glow from dozens of candles lights a path from the living room, through the hallway, to the bedroom and bath.
Their tiny flames flicker as I pass, casting shifting shadows that make the hallway feel as if it’s breathing.
The floor is covered in rose petals, the thickest layer leading to the bed.
On top of the dresser, chilled fruit and champagne wait among bouquets of every color.
I’ve displayed the best photos of us across the room—big smiles and sun-kissed skin.
Belize. I smell it. I feel it.
Everything is just how Nathan arranged our bungalow on our first night.
On our Honeymoon.
I’m trying to relax, but anticipation has my stomach in tight knots.
At least I know he made it through the first thermal dive in his spacesuit.
I giggle. He called me from the ship. His voice was a little…
off. But it sounds like everything went as they expected for the first dive, and they made it all the way to a new chamber where they found The Towers.
How many of these dives is it going to take to find answers?
But for now he’s safe, and he’s coming home.
Any minute now, he’ll walk through the door.
I check the time again.
Smiling, I drift toward the kitchen.
Nathan’s car lights stream through the windows. I look around, unsure where to stand, how to pose. I want to amaze him when he walks in. But I’m too impatient to wait, so I decide to meet him at the door. As soon as I hear his footsteps, I swing it open.
And there he is.
He’s wearing crisp, light linen and looks like the archaeologist he is. My handsome genius.
I reach for his hand to pull him closer and feel something cold and hard on his finger. His wedding band. He found it.
When I meet his gaze, he’s staring at me. “You’re beautiful, Mrs. Carter.”
Still holding my hand, he walks in and surveys the room, inspecting my handiwork. “Wow. I feel like I’m there.” I tag along with him as he tours the entire house.
When we reach the bedroom, he pulls me into his arms and kisses me. The kiss is… different. More assertive, more… Nathan?
“Love you,” he whispers into my ear, his chin resting on my shoulder. Then he pulls away and starts to blow out the candles.
Confused, I try to stop him. “Is something wrong?”
He smiles. “No, everything’s perfect. I just don’t want to burn down the house.” He pauses and turns to me. I’m looking at him, dumbfounded. He knows I just spent hours getting this ready. What’s he up to?
“I hope it’s okay,” he says, continuing. “On the drive here, I got this wild idea.” He’s breathless now, eyes bright.
I’m completely lost, but he looks so happy. I’ll go along with it.
“There’s an order you need to follow with these kinds of things. Before we take our honeymoon… I’ve got a surprise for you.”
What’s he talking about? I can feel the frustration welling up inside. I have no patience. “What is it, Nathan?”
“Ssh… I’ll tell you soon.”
I don’t hide my frown. “I don’t like to wait.”
“Don’t I know it. Trust me?”
Ugh. Okay.
I nod.
He spins me around, and I feel something silky covering my eyes. A mask. My skin tingles, and I can feel my heart beating even faster. I really want to know what he’s about to do to me.
Then I’m airless. He cradles me in his arms and carries me outside, and I can feel the cool night air tickling my skin.
“Where are we going, Nathan? Tell me.” Softly pounding my fists on his chest and giggling, I beg. “Please.”
“Patience, you harpy.”
What did he just say? I hear the breath catch in my throat and suddenly feel dizzy.
He puts me in the car and buckles me up. “Don’t dare take it off.” His voice is low and dark.
Despite my best efforts to sit still and wait, I can’t help but wiggle in my seat and ask him where we’re going over and over.
Maddeningly, he says nothing else on the drive. He just hums and chuckles when I ask him something.
Finally, the car stops.
“We’re here.”
“Can I take this off now?” I tug on the mask.
He covers my hands. “Not just yet.” He gives me a quick kiss and carries me again. It feels like gravel, then wood. I can hear the water. Are we at the marina? He shuffles me around for a moment, then jumps. Is the floor moving?
Are we on a boat? More walking. Then I feel the softness of a bed.
“Stay still. I’ll be right back.”
Not knowing what he’s up to is killing me. We’re definitely on a boat. I can feel the launch, the low rumble of engines, and then the telltale sway of the waves.
What are you up to, Nathan?
Now there’s a sense of lightness. Like that morning on Sunset Strand. The day he told me he loved me for the first time.
I hear him walk back into the room.
“Okay. So, any guesses where we are?”
“The Adeline?”
He laughs. “No. Guess again?”
“I don’t like games, Nathan. Just tell me.”
“No more guesses? I know you can do better than that.”
When I answer him with a huff and a scowl, he laughs.
“All right, I’ll put you out of your misery.” He kisses me deeply then, pulling off the mask while my eyes are still closed. When we break the kiss, I open them, and when they focus, I recognize our bedroom.
On the Natalie Dawn.
“Nathan?”
“I can’t create a storm on demand. But everything else…”
What? This can’t be possible.
Then he smiles. That lopsided grin that’s so unique to him. The one I haven’t seen in almost seven years.
“But we haven’t looked at that photo yet,” I mutter, too afraid to believe what I’m seeing.
“It’s all right here.” He taps his temple.
“Nathan?”
“I’m back.” He crawls into the bed with me and pulls me on top. Gazing up into my eyes, he runs his fingers through my hair and gently pulls my face down to his.
Without breathing, I wait for him to tell me.
“I remember everything.”