Bonus Epilogue
Extended Honeymoon Bonus Scene:
Steam curls around me as I step out of the shower.
I’d always heard horror stories about the long flight to Hawaii, and they’re true.
It’s a long flight, and it feels good to shower.
I take a moment to twist my hair up into a towel.
I’ve never been one of those women who can make this look appear effortless, and as soon as the towel is wrapped, it starts to hang to one side, making me feel off balance.
Our hotel bathroom smells more like a spa with the high-end soaps blending into the ocean scents wafting in through the cracked window.
I can’t believe this is real.
I’m on a honeymoon with my new husband.
Our honeymoon.
And I got married again. Something I swore I’d never do, but fate had other plans, and I’m so grateful for every blessing these last couple of years have brought.
I reach for the silk dress hanging from the back of the door and smile, as I’m already picturing Bill’s expression when he sees it.
First night in Hawaii, and we have reservations at one of the best restaurants.
My stomach actually rumbles as I shimmy into the dress and pull the straps over my shoulders, making sure everything is in place.
Out of habit, I reach for the counter where I left my ring, because I never like to leave it off, but—
It’s gone.
I freeze. Blink. Then frantically scan the counter to see if maybe I moved it. Nope. It’s definitely not here, and my heart does a swan dive straight into my stomach.
“Okay, okay, don’t panic,” I whisper, as I lift my makeup bag and still don’t see it.
My wedding ring is gone!
I drop to my knees and run my palms over the tile floor, crawling like a lunatic to look behind the toilet…and still nothing. I push the bath mat aside, even stick my hand in the trash can, but it’s completely empty.
This can’t be happening!
A knock rattles the bathroom door. “Babe?” Bill's voice is muffled. “Is everything okay in there? Should I push dinner back a little?”
I stare at the door. “No!” My voice cracks. I clear my throat and try again. “I mean, I’m just trying to look extra special for tonight. You know, it can’t be rushed. Everything is going according to plan.”
This isn’t the plan!
Time is ticking.
I stand back up, grab my powder and brush, slap on makeup with one hand while the other hand ransacks the counter again.
I peek in the shower drain. I shake out my towel.
Nothing, but I’m out of time. If we want to keep our table, we need to leave now.
I don’t want to alarm Bill. It has to be here somewhere.
“Dinner,” I whisper to myself. “Go to dinner, and I’m sure as soon as you get back, it will stick out. You’re just flustered right now.”
That’s what I tell myself anyway.
By the time I'm on the patio of the most beautiful beachside restaurant, my smile feels like it’s cracking.
Sure, the sunset is golden, the waves lap the shore, tiki torches flicker, and it’s all we’ve been dreaming about for months.
I can hardly admire any of it, because I’m all too aware of the gaping hole on my left hand.
Bill sits beside me in the booth, sliding in so close, his arm brushes mine.
“You look beautiful,” he murmurs into my ear, and on any other occasion, the look he’s giving me would send spirals through my whole body, but I'm numb as I stiffly shove my left hand into my lap and pick up my glass with my right. “Thank you.”
He reaches for my hand under the table, of course he does, because he’s the sweetest, most affectionate man alive. I panic, pretend to have a back spasm, where I wince and lean forward, jerking my hand behind me.
“You okay?” His brows lift with concern.
“Mm-hmm. Just stiff from the plane.” I wince again for good measure as I proceed to rub my lower back.
“I could take care of that for you.” He slides his hand behind me, lightly pressing in small circles, and I slide my hand back to my lap, relieved he’s forgotten to hold it.
Our waiter brings out food, and although it looks lovely, it presents another set of problems. I ordered steak without thinking, and now I need to cut my steak with one hand.
One thing about being on a honeymoon though, Bill doesn’t seem to notice my steak cutting, because he keeps sneaking kisses to my temple, whispering things that should make me swoon, but all I can do is mentally scream Don’t look at my hand! Don’t look at my hand!
When we finally finish eating, he leans close, lips brushing my ear. “Can we take a walk on the beach?”
I’ve dreamed of this exact moment for months. Walking barefoot in the sand, hand in hand. This is every woman’s fantasy, but the thought of strolling ringless under the moonlight makes me physically ill.
“I…” My stomach knots a hundred times, sending waves of nausea through me. “I don’t feel so well. I’m sorry to be a bother, but do you think we can stop at the room first?”
His eyes soften as his brows lower in concern. “Well, of course we can. Anything you need, honey.”
Back in the suite, Bill flops on the love seat and flips on hockey highlights. Only my husband would watch the playoffs on our honeymoon, but I don’t mind one bit, because it’s the distraction I need to slip into the bathroom.
I frantically shake out every towel again. I get down on my hands and knees with my phone flashlight. Nothing.
The only option left: take apart the sink.
I tug at the pipes with my bare hands, which is a great way to both break a manicure and prove I’m insane. But I don’t have tools, and I don’t think I’m going to be able to walk out of here and get a wrench from the front desk without Bill asking me about it.
“What on earth are you doing?” Bill’s voice startles me from where he’s standing in the doorway.
I whirl around, caught red-faced with one hand still on the pipe. Tears spill over before I can stop them and I blurt out, “I lost my wedding ring! It was right here when I went into the shower, and now it’s gone. I’ve looked everywhere but inside this pipe, and it has to be there.”
He stares at me and then shakes his head, lips twitching like he’s holding back a smile. Slowly, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring. “You didn’t lose it,” he says gently. “I stole it.”
I blink as my eyes adjust and readjust to what he’s holding.
It is my ring! Bill has it. He takes a knee in front of me, presenting the ring.
Still in disbelief, I squint as something is off.
The band glitters with an extra row of diamonds that wasn’t there before.
“I asked the jeweler to add the band, but I wanted everything to be a secret. He picked it up while you were in the shower. I thought he’d return it before we left, but it took longer.
That’s why I offered to push back dinner.
I wanted you to have the ring, but you didn’t seem to notice it was gone, so I just went with it.
” His smile is sheepish and tender. “The jeweler dropped it off while we were having dinner with the waiter. You didn’t even know when he slid it with our ticket, and I was going to give it back to you on the beach tonight.
I thought it would be romantic, but you got sick, so I was waiting—”
The sob-laugh hybrid bursts out of me as I absorb what he just said. My hands fly to my waist, my chin jutting. “You stole my ring? Do you have any idea how close I came to dying from panic? I was about to rip this sink apart with my bare hands.”
He grins, slipping the ring back onto my finger where it belongs. “Guess it’s a good thing you’re better at being my wife than a handyman.”
I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him, salty tears mixing with laughter. He kisses me back, slow and sweet, thumb brushing my cheek.
“Next time,” I mumble against his lips, “you tell me first that you are taking my ring.”
“Next time,” he promises, pulling me close, “you trust me a little more.”
And just like that, my panic melts away.
I glance at the ring glinting in the light and then back at him, smiling at me like I’m the only thing that matters, and I kiss him, knowing I do trust him more than anyone I’ve ever known.
When I pull away, I wipe away my tears and smile back at him.
“If it’s not too late, I’d still like to take that walk on the beach. ”
Warm sand penetrates my bare feet, and we stroll in silence, letting the rhythmic crash of waves do all the talking for us.
The horizon glows in streaks of pink and gold as the sun begins its slow descent, and we don’t talk about it but find ourselves stalling at the water’s edge.
The hem of my dress flutters in the breeze.
I hug my arms around myself, feeling like this whole moment is cut straight from a movie scene. It’s breathtaking.
With Bill, there’s always an invisible current, like gravity, pulling us into each other’s arms, and his hand lifts, cupping my face tenderly.
His eyes search mine, flickering with something unshakable before he lowers his face and presses his lips to mine.
The kiss is soft, like he’s savoring the moment.
I melt instantly, sliding my arms around his neck, tugging him closer, needing the solidness of him.
My heart pounds so wildly it almost hurts, but it’s the sweetest ache I’ve ever known.
The waves crash around our ankles, spraying water drops up our calves, but I barely notice.
When he finally lets me breathe, he doesn’t let me go.
He holds on to my hips and speaks softly, “You realize this is it, right? Not just rings and paperwork.” His lips graze the corner of my mouth, making me shiver. “It’s you and me forever.”
The words slam into me, my heart pounding so hard I swear the whole ocean can hear it. I whisper, my voice breaking in the best way, “It’s perfect.”
He draws back just enough to gaze at me, and there’s something unguarded in his expression, something raw. His eyes shine in the fading light, a storm and a promise all at once. His grip on me tightens like he’s afraid I might slip away. “I love you more than anything in this world.”
I press a hand to his chest, right over his heart. It pounds beneath my palm, steady and strong. “I love you too.”
He kisses me again, deeper this time. I respond by pouring every ounce of love I have into him, into us, until my knees wobble and my heart swells, pumping right up against my rib cage.
When we finally pull apart, both of us are breathless. He grins against my lips as his arms wrap fully around me, lifting me off my feet as another wave crashes against us.
I squeal, half from the cold and half from joy. He laughs as he spins me once before setting me down in the wet sand. My dress clings to my legs, my hair whips around my face, but I don’t care. Not when his eyes are locked on mine, like I’m the only thing that matters.