Chapter 36-Final Moments in Paradise

I stared over the rim of a crystal goblet at Joseph. The light of the candles between us cast soft glows on his smooth skin. He laughed softly at something witty I managed to say, and I could see every tiny movement of the joyful expression. He brought a piece of crab up to his soft lips as he finished chuckling. Every gesture and motion flowed together like a graceful dance he was performing just for me. I couldn't believe what I was thinking. I

had really fallen hard for him and I loved it.

"I finally got you alone," he whispered and gave me a crabby kiss over the table.

I laughed and returned the kiss. "Not quite," I said. We both glanced across the room of the restaurant and through a gap in the architecture that was shaped like a graceful fish. On the other side, all of our friends in the Caribbean, old and new, were laughing and eating on a huge table. It was actually multiple tables that we begged the restaurant to set up for us. Joseph and I sat apart at a small table for now. We had promised that we would

join them the moment we finished eating. Occasionally someone from the group would look through the fish and giggle at us. We just smiled and waved to them and they eventually left us alone again.

"The crab's running low," said Joseph with a sigh. "I'll have to share you soon. When we get home, I'll take you out on a real date. You and your mother."

"My mother.." I murmured and my smile vanished for a moment. We had been in Grenada for a week getting everything straightened out so that we could actually return home. The first thing that I had done when we reached an island with a phone was called my mother to let her know I was okay. We had barely been able to talk because the two of us just sobbed over the phone-line. After a few minutes we had settled down and managed to talk. I explained

everything to her. I had now told the same story many times-to our friends, to the police, to the customs officials, and then to my mother. I would no doubt have to tell it many times. It hurt my heart to talk about it but each time I noticed that it grew more like a story.

When I spoke of this trip, it seemed more and more as though I were recalling a book or a movie. In a way, I found this comforting because it helped ease the pain. I would never wish ignorance for bliss though, so I also clung to the memories to keep them strong. The tighter I held on to the events in my mind, the more they seemed to slip away. Perhaps soon I would completely think of it as something fabricated. Kyle, Madeline, the Modab, and perhaps

even friends I would never see again would become players in a drama that kept perpetuating in my mind-nothing more and nothing less. Life is like that though. Moments from our past become immortalized in our mind though they seem like something someone else did. It just takes something like this to realize it.

I left out a sigh and found myself falling out of my thoughts and back into the moment. Joseph was looking at my curiously. "Anything wrong hun?" he asked.

I smiled and him and shook my head. "Just thinking," I said.

"About what?" he asked with an arch of a dark eyebrow.

"How good that crab on your lips tasted," I said, leaning over to give him a smooch. "Perhaps I should have gotten that instead." I gave the fish on my plate a dubious glance.

He laughed and asked, "You don't like it?"

"Oh no, its great," I said with a grin. "I think the taste of your lips just made your crab better."

He smiled and me and we polished off the rest of our food. I soon found myself scraping the china plate with a silver spoon and sent one of my eyes up to look at Joseph. He had long since finished his crab and was arranging the shell pieces in intricate designs. His eyes were set intently on the work and I sat silent for a moment, staring at him. Then, he glanced up and turned slightly red when he noticed me staring at me. "It's really quite

interesting," he said.

"Indeed," I replied. "It's also time for us to fulfill a promise."

He sighed deeply but smiled and stood. We had explained the situation to our waiter and they simply nodded as we moved to the other table. There, I sat down next to Mitch, who had Lindsay on his other side. Then Joseph sat beside me on the right hand of John. The Lockharts and Heinmans were supposed to have left the islands days ago but they swore to stay here until we left with them. That time would be early tomorrow morning and this was our final

day in paradise.

"I bet you're all glad to be going home," said Kios from across the table.

"I never thought I would reply in the affirmative to that question while leaving here," said Mitch with a grin. "But yes."

"The invitation is very welcome for you to come visit us Kios," said Kat. "To everyone of course."

"I am certainly coming!" said Ted with a big grin.

"Yeah you get to experience Washington weather first hand tomorrow," replied Mitch.

"Lucky you," added Joseph.

"Yes I am so very lucky," said Ted bouncing from side to side. He obviously missed the sarcasm.

Three waiters suddenly emerged from the kitchen carrying platters of desserts. The first held a huge variety of fruit carved into intricate shapes and designs. The second was home to delicate pastries topped in tantalizing chocolates and dainty creams. The final platter held an enormous cake that was decorated with tiny swirls of rich frosting and the words, "Safe Travels."

 

"Safe travels," I said softly and beside me Joseph squeezed my hand.

"Yes," he said. "Safe travels and friendship to everyone, ever more." Then he raised his glass for a toast and everyone held his or hers aloft in reply.

"Safe travels," we intoned and clicked our glasses for the final time. Thus ending our travels on the back roads of paradise.