The afternoon passed like a long moment with the two of them wrapped in each other’s arms beneath the red satin bedspread.
Showered by Todd’s unconditional love, Olivia felt a new part of herself emerging. It was a part filled with acceptance and ease. She couldn’t help but realize that the two of them were incredibly similar. Just like Todd, Olivia drove herself relentlessly, both at work and in her personal life. Like him, she always had to measure up. Despite her beautiful face and figure, despite always having been popular, done well, and even gotten her dream job in publicity, a strange cloud always hung over her. It was a cloud she’d never been able to shake. Perhaps it was her odd relationship with her twin sister, Mauve? Or with her distant, beautiful mother who demanded that both Mauve and Olivia meet her grand expectations?
Whatever it was, one thing was certain: Olivia felt different now with Todd. Finally, she didn’t have to struggle to earn the love she so deeply craved.
As evening began to gently fall, Olivia watched the light fade with the setting sun.
“We’re not going to the sunset ceremony on the pier tonight,” Todd whispered as Olivia gazed out at the golden pink sky. “We’ll go to it tomorrow. Tonight I have reservations at the Piers Grand, the restaurant in the hotel. It’s world famous, perched out on a deck over the water.”
It didn’t really matter to Olivia where they went. She felt so content just being with him. But it was beautiful to see how he’d planned every detail, was so intent upon making her happy.
Todd cared so much about the impression he made, and Olivia liked that, but it could be too much. Always put together impeccably, he often looked like a model stepping off the cover of a men’s magazine. A shock of dark hair hung down over Todd’s forehead too, and made him that much more striking. It was an odd wild streak breaking through, and it made Olivia smile.
Todd’s appearance would please her mother, Olivia thought. Her mother was formal, well dressed, overly aware of how others viewed her as well.
“Let’s get dressed,” Todd finally said. “Reservations are in half an hour.”
Todd got up to shower and dress for the evening. Olivia had brought all kinds of outfits with her. She rolled out of bed, tossed her long, blonde hair back over her shoulders, and stretched.
After a quick shower in her own bathroom, she chose a beautiful, well-fitting lime green sequined dress with tiny spaghetti straps on her bare shoulders. The color made her huge, almond hazel eyes even more electric. Then she slipped on high open sandals, which made her almost as tall as Todd. Olivia wanted him to be completely mesmerized by her, as she was by him. She wanted the weekend to be perfect, for them to go home completely bonded.
Olivia never wanted to be alone again.
*
The Piers Grand restaurant fully lived up to its reputation. Stretched out over the water on a long wooden deck, it was lined with huge potted plants with tiny lights lit all around them. The restaurant glittered under the evening sky. Live jazz was being played in the corner, adding to the mellow mood.
Naturally, Todd had made a reservation for the best table, right over the water, under a hand-painted silk canopy. All eyes turned to Olivia and Todd as the maître d’ led them through the slim aisle between the tables to the one reserved for them.
Olivia noticed several other women, seated with their dates, take extra time to look them over. Olivia particularly noticed one woman, with long auburn hair, staring at both her and Todd, as if somehow she knew them.
“You have a glow around you,” he whispered to her. “Everyone sees it.”
The maître d’ nodded as they arrived at their table. He pulled out Olivia’s chair and paused a moment to look her over.
“A beautiful companion,” he remarked to Todd. “We haven’t met her before, have we?”
“You haven’t met her before, but you will certainly see her again,” Todd said, throwing his head back and for a swift moment looking out to sea.
“The champagne you’ve ordered will be here in a moment,” the maître d’ added, stepping away.
She was surprised.
“You’ve come to this hotel many times,” Olivia remarked. “Everyone here knows you.”
He smiled, clearly proud.
Todd took her hands and held them tightly.
“I wanted to surprise you. After, we’ll take a walk along the shore.”
The food came quickly, Olivia’s fish and Todd’s steak. But when it arrived, as exquisite as it looked, Olivia felt a craving for steak. She noticed Todd looking at her fish, and they both met each other’s eyes and laughed at the same time.
“Should we swap?” she suggested.
They laughed again as they traded meals.
Olivia enjoyed her meal and so did Todd. But, a bit restless, they both finished quickly.
“I don’t want to sit here surrounded by people looking at us.” Todd rose hastily. “Let’s go walk under the trees near the edge of the water. This is our time together. It doesn’t belong to anyone else.”
Olivia stood as well. “Yes, let’s go.”
She felt strongly that Todd had something to tell her and wanted to hear what was on his mind.
*
A huge moon rose slowly in the sky as they walked down near the water, holding hands, savoring each step. Other than the moon, the place was empty, with only the sound of lapping waves along the rocky coast.
Todd stopped walking suddenly and stared into Olivia’s eyes.
“Olivia,” he started, “I love you. Even though we haven’t been together for that long, you must realize by now that it would be impossible for me to ever be without you.”
Olivia’s eyes misted. She felt the same way, as if she’d found a treasure meant just for her.
“I love you too,” she whispered. “I felt that way the moment I met you.”
The moment Olivia had met Todd, she’d been finally freed of her pain over the loss of Paul. She’d never mentioned Paul to Todd, though. And she’d never questioned Todd about his losses either. She desperately wanted this to be brand new.
“It was instantaneous,” Todd continued. “Our relationship changed me, woke me up.”
In the flash of a moment Todd fell to his knee and took a small package from his pocket.
“Marry me, Olivia,” he uttered. Then he opened the box, flashing a huge, hand-carved diamond ring.
“Oh my God!” Olivia could not breathe for a moment.
“I know it’s quick. I know it’s early. But I can’t wait any longer.”
Olivia had been hoping and praying for this moment to come. She didn’t want to ever be parted from him, either. For a quick moment a flash of fear surrounded her. It was so soon and they actually knew very little about each other. What if Todd found out things about her that he didn’t like or couldn’t live with? What if she found out strange things about him?
“Will you marry me? Will you?” Todd’s voice grew louder.
Olivia felt as though she were standing on the edge of a steep, slippery precipice with no way down.
“Yes, yes,” her voice rang out suddenly, as a rush of courage flushed through her veins.
Todd breathed and got off his knee quickly.
Olivia flew over and wound herself around him. “I will marry you, Todd, I will,” she kept saying, as waves from the water lapped up over the silent rocks.
Todd slid the magnificent, shining ring onto Olivia’s trembling finger.
“Let’s call our family right away,” she breathed in awe, waves of joy circling around her. “Let’s share the news!”
“We will.” Todd was grinning from ear to ear. “But not right now. Not tonight. We have plenty of time, our whole lives. We’ll call the family tomorrow. This night is ours. I want to keep it just for us.”
Without another word Olivia and Todd quickly returned to their suite and, ecstatic, fell into bed in each other’s arms.
*
In the middle of the night, the sound of gasping awoke Olivia from a deep sleep. Was it a nightmare? she wondered. She often had nightmares, but the bad dreams usually passed easily enough if she closed her eyes and went back to sleep. Olivia listened to the gasping for a short while and tried to close her eyes again.
But this time, she couldn’t. Something wouldn’t let her.
She rolled over then and looked at the clock. It was barely three in the morning. She opened her eyes wider as the sound of gasping grew harsher and more frequent. Olivia shuddered as the sense of anguish intensified. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. And it was happening right here.
Bolting up suddenly, Olivia turned and was stunned to see Todd curled into a ball, writhing beside her.
“Todd, what’s wrong?” Olivia called out in alarm.
A long moan was her only answer.
“Todd, Todd, are you all right?” Olivia tried to pull him closer to her.
Todd tried to lift his arms up to stop her, but couldn’t quite make it. His arms fell to his side and clutched back at his stomach. He gasped and moaned again as another wave of pain tossed over him.
“You’re in pain? Your stomach?” Olivia didn’t know what to make of it.
She jumped out of bed and turned on a small light. To her horror, Todd’s face was twisted into a mask of agony.
“Todd, what happened? What’s wrong?” Olivia was beside herself.
Todd tried to roll his legs up to his chest tighter, but was now too weak to do it.
Shaken to the core, Olivia grabbed the phone at their bedside and quickly called down to the hotel lobby.
“Get an ambulance here immediately.” She could barely talk.
“What room is this?” the clerk answered calmly.
“Something’s wrong, very wrong.” Olivia’s voice became higher, more strident.
“What room is this?” the clerk repeated, rattled.
“Room 217, Olivia Wells,” she screamed. “Get an ambulance here right away!”
“What happened?” The clerk was shaken now as well.
“Don’t ask me any more questions. Get the ambulance now! Now!” Olivia yelled fiercely over the phone. “My fiancé is sick, in agony. It looks dangerous. Hurry! We may not have time.”
“Right away, right away.” The clerk’s words spilled over one another as Todd’s moaning grew more persistent and intense.