“You are leaving me?”
“Not for long.”
He did not waste time. He rushed toward the bathroom as if there was an issue, and Nino, Dr. Musa, and Oscar stayed with me. A few soldiers loitered around on the edges of the pavilion aswell. Dr. Musa started a conversation with me, but it was hard to focus. I had a feeling Mariano was…up to something. Or perhaps something was off.
It was the first time since we arrived that time became reality again.
He was longer than usual in the bathroom, and when I saw him, I stood abruptly. “Where have you been?” I asked, my tone accusing.
He rubbed his stomach, as if he had trouble with it, but said nothing as he set his hand on my lower back, ushering me toward the waiting boat.
“I do not understand what is happening,” I said to him.
He lifted the handkerchief.
I was not sure why, but it felt as if he was holding up a flag, but it was not the one for surrender.
Three days later, I stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, getting ready for our last date on the island. After the concert, Mariano said we were leaving in four days’ time. I did not understand the sudden rush, but…I knew it had to do with something he noticed about the sand.
I went over that night with a fine-tooth comb, and it was the only explanation I could come up with. I could have asked him, but I knew he was only going to skirt around the issue, perhaps not to worry me.
What could be so worrisome on this island?
Perhaps he had noticed tracks in the sand? What else could there have been?
I dropped my lipstick in my makeup bag harder than intended.
Sighing, I looked myself in the eye. I fixed a couple of spots on my face that had smeared from the humidity. It was hard to get my makeup to stay when it felt as if I was just stepping out of the shower without drying off. My hair was unruly as well. I had slicked it back in a bun on purpose. I wanted my husband to go wild and take it down.
After applying the tropical-scented cream to my arms, I stepped into my long, silk dress. I had been wearing colors that matched my husband’s eyes, and the dress I had decided to wear for our farewell dinner on the island reflected that. A slinky, halter-top dress with a cut showing some side breast. Since our date was being held on our private beach, which Mariano went to check all was in order with, I was going sans shoes.
The gown moved like cool water against my skin when I moved.
I applied the residual cream on my palms to my legs, using the sunken in bathtub to help me keep my balance. The dress also had a split, and it easily moved to the side. I stood, finishing up, sighing. I turned and jumped.
When my heart rate returned to normal, I said, “You are too quiet!”
My husband’s eyes were serious on mine. His body moved toward me, and my hands came up, pressing against his chest. He had dressed as well in a thin shirt that was somewhat relaxed but still showed off his physique. A pair of soft pants were rolled at his ankles. The most stunning feature on him, besides his natural given ones?
The wedding band on his left hand. He wore it proudly.
He stared into my eyes.
I swallowed hard.
My breathing picked up.
As a magician would, he produced two gold earrings in the shape of suns, the rays almost reminding me of fire. Each onehad tiny diamonds set inside of them. I looked down, touching them.
Before I could take one, he closed his palm, turning me toward the mirror, and put them in my ears. Then he slipped two chunky matching bracelets on my left wrist. His fingertips glided along my arms, to the sides of the dress, where my skin was exposed, close to my breasts. He made circle patterns, getting close, but not close enough.
A breath trembled out of my mouth.
“This dress stays here,” he said, his voice rough.
“Unless Guerriero the water horse gets it first,” I whispered.
“Yeah, he fucking might.” He looked at me again. “Fuck might.” He took my hand and led me out of the bathroom, through thebure, and outside.
