“A few reasons on that too. I didn’t want you to judge me or think I was a bad mother…that I couldn’t keep my baby safe.
“I was also waiting to see if we panned out, so to speak. I didn’t want to tell you something that I normally keep very private if we were just going to get together a few times and then call it quits, you know? It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you with the information, I just didn’t trust that we would be together long enough for me to want to share it,” she said.
“I can understand that too. I was wrong to go into your spare bedroom. I should have respected your privacy. And I was wrong for jumping to conclusions and not just asking you about it after I did. I’m sorry, Annie.”
“I’m sorry too. I feel like we’re talking in circles. Maybe we started this too fast and are now reaping what we never really sowed.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You know what I mean. We jumped into this so fast that we didn’t give ourselves enough time to sow trust, and now we’re reaping the consequences of not trusting one another.”
“Why don’t we table this discussion for now. We can just enjoy the evening and maybe talk again on the way home.”
“That’s a great idea. I’ve rehashed it too many times in my mind already. Wanna play a game? I found a cupboard full on our last trip,” she said as she wandered over to the cabinet that held them. Matthew’s kids had taken over a compartment and stocked it with games and DVDs.
Hours later, after they’d played several games of backgammon, watched two movies, and finished the rest of the food, she was starting to lose patience.
“Sam, we’ve been in the air for hours. What’s going on?” She looked outside, but everything was dark.
“We’ll be landing soon. Just a minute longer, I promise. I think you’ll be glad you made the trip.” Just as he said it, the pilot announced their descent and told them to buckle up. “Don’t suppose you’ll let me blindfold you once we get off the plane?” he asked. The look she shot him told him that wasn’t happening.
“Sam, if we’re in a different country, we have a problem. I don’t have my passport! They’re not going to let me in.”
He gave her a shy, embarrassed smile and pulled her passport out of his bag. “I ran across it when I was packing up your clothes. It’s part of what gave me this idea.”
They deplaned and were immediately assailed with a warm breeze laced with the scent of salt-water.
“Are we in the Caribbean?” she asked, incredulously.
“Close.” He smiled.
“Unbelievable,” she said, shaking her head.
He leaned down and whispered, “Let’s just have a good time tonight, okay?”
“Sounds good to me.” She put her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a quick kiss. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her deeply. He tried to pour all the feelings he’d been tamping down into the kiss and hoped she would feel it.
They got into a waiting limo and took a short ride to the resort. It was dark, so she couldn’t see how beautiful the island was now, but if all went as planned, they’d still be here in the morning, and she could see it then.
Craning her neck to see whatever she could, she almost came out of her skin when they passed under the overhead welcome sign.
“Do you know who owns this resort?” she screamed in his ear. “This is Brody Robinson’s resort,” she said, answering her own question.
“Oh really,” he said. “That’s interesting.”
Bouncing up and down like a gleeful child, she couldn’t contain her excitement. “Oh my God. What if he’s here, Sam? What if we see him?”
“That would be cool.”
They pulled into the circular drive and were dropped at the lobby of the resort. Upon entering, her head turned into a swivel. She was taking in as much as she could as fast as she could, oohing and aahing over everything.
“It’s so beautiful. I’ve read about this place and heard Brody talk about it—on CDs, of course—but none of that did it justice. I wish we could see it during daylight.”
They were escorted to a private, outdoor table. It faced the azure water and was surrounded on three sides by palm trees. The moon hung high in the sky and reflected majestically off the water. The waiter pulled out her chair while Sam seated himself.
It didn’t take long before a delicious-smelling grilled shrimp appetizer was served with a dry, sweet white wine.
“Sam, this is the most romantic place I’ve ever seen. Do you think we could take a walk on the beach after dinner? In the moonlight?”
“I think that could be arranged,” said a deep voice from behind her.
Her fork clamored to her plate, and her back went ramrod straight. Without turning around and with eyes bugging out of her head, she mouthed wordlessly to Sam, “It’s. Him!”
Sam nodded and smiled. “Surprise.”
Ever so slowly, she turned around and then, without warning, jumped out of her chair and flung herself into Brody Robinson’s arms, clinging to him. He caught her effortlessly and hugged her back. Tears were streaming down her face, as she thanked him over and over, and asked if he knew how much he’d changed her life.
“You get that a lot?” Sam asked Brody over Annie’s head.
“You’d be surprised.” Brody laughed, taking it all in stride. “Hey, Annie,” he said to the top of her head, pulling back a little. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Annie wiped her eyes and nose and tried to get hold of herself. “Mr. Robinson, you have no idea how awesome it is to meet you.”
“Please, call me Brody.”
“Oh my.” She waved her hand in front of her face as if she were about to faint. “Okay, sure. Brody, you have changed my life in so many ways.”
“I may have given you some tools and knowledge you didn’t have
