HONEYMOON — PART II

They say the Bahamas are paradise on earth, and I couldn’t find a better word to describe this place. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life.
As soon as we arrived at Nassau airport, a car was waiting for us. The weather is really nice here, even though it’s winter. Although I like snow, it’s nice to feel the warm weather enveloping my skin... I wish the girls were here… the cold makes them so sensitive.
Thinking about them makes me feel a bit down. My heart squeezes, and I try to think that it’s only for two days and that soon they’ll be in my arms again, but still, I miss them. It’s an almost unbearable feeling. I wonder how they’re doing, if they miss us, and if they’re crying right now...
But I know that Julian and I need this. It’s the opportunity to enjoy a real honeymoon, which we haven’t had before. Some would think that it’s a shame to celebrate it after so long, with the first year of marriage, but so much has happened. I didn’t feel ready to leave them for a minute. But now, even though my chest still aches, I feel relaxed. They’re with my father. Cathy and Tyler said they’d stop by, too, and Andy-
“You’re thinking too much again.” Julian pulls my cheek, catching my surprised eyes. “Don’t keep things to yourself. If something is bothering you, just say it, babe.”
“I’m just missing the girls,” I say with a sad smile. “It’s only two days, I know, but...”
“I miss them too,” Julian says, taking my hand and giving it a comforting squeeze. “But they’re with Mike, right? He loves those girls as if they were his own. We’re going back home, and he’ll ask for more days, I’m sure. “
I give a small giggle, “He’ll spoil them, won’t he? They love Grandpa too much… they always cry when he has to leave.”
“Hasn’t he been going to our house too much?” Julian says, almost with a pout. “He doesn’t even try to make excuses anymore… he doesn’t even try to disguise the fact that he’s there because of the girls.”
“What about your parents? Don’t they go there often?” I raise an eyebrow, and Julian gives me a mischievous smile. “What can we do if the girls have such doting grandparents?”
Julian looks at me worriedly for a moment, and I know why. He probably thinks this hurts, but I don’t resent the O’Neils anymore.
My father told me about the deal with his father and how I’d become Dominic’s heir in what may be the near future, but fortune couldn’t buy my forgiveness. Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be the case; he’s not worried about getting close, and I’m not open. I may not hold any grudges, but I will never forget everything they did.
Mrs. O’Neil, my grandmother, has not crossed my path to this day. She has never given me a single glance, a single word, or a phone call. And I know it will be like that for the rest of our lives.
“I’m glad our daughters are surrounded by people who love them,” I say, my gaze softening. “Your family, my father, Cathy, and Tyler... They have so many people, I’m really happy.”
Julian clasps our fingers, and I look out of the window again as the car drives through the quiet streets of the city.
“I’m thinking… Do you think your father likes Amelie?” He asks thoughtfully, and a smile appears on my lips.
“I think so… Well, whatever the case, I hope he finds someone.” I stroke his hand with my thumb. “My father was a lonely person for a long time, just like me, in his own way. Loss and sadness always surrounded his life... He sacrificed a lot of himself. So, I really want him to find someone who will make him happy... I want him to have someone like I have you.”
“I hope he finds that person. He really deserves it.”
I peek at his face, and Julian’s eyes meet mine. The glint of green irises hides many words and feelings, and I open my lips to ask him, but he’s quicker to say, looking past my shoulders out of the window, “We’re here.”
The driver drives through the gates, and the stunning landscape immediately captures my eyes. The estate is huge, with a large colonial-style mansion in the middle of palm trees. The road leading up to the house encircles an ornamental pond so big and beautiful that it reflects sunlight on its crystal-clear waters.
I am speechless. This place is absolutely breathtaking, more than Adams’ mansion in New York and more than the home he built for our family.
The driver opens the back door for me, and I need to force my legs to go out. Julian goes out next, holding my lower back, not looking very impressed. But for me… I’m really speechless. Even the refreshing breeze from the nearby sea struggles to fully inflate my lungs.
“What is this place?” I say with widened eyes, trying to capture all the beauty with just one glance, but it’s impossible. There are so many details that my mind is almost in knots.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Julian says, looking around. “The main residence has fourteen bedrooms, plus the annex. There’s a private beach on the property and a deck for the canal with a yacht. We’re going for a ride later.”
“A *yacht?”* I stop looking at the scenery to rest my eyes on Julian. “Have you booked a special hotel just for the two of us or something?”
Julian’s smile widens, and he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into his warmth. I rest my hands on his chest, feeling his heart pulsing with rhythmic, serene beats.
“Did you like it?” He asks cautiously, looking me straight in the eye.
Once again, I look around at how magnificent this place is. The sky is as blue as the sea crashing in the fine sand. The palm trees, the architecture, the fountain outside...
“Of course I like it... This place looks like a dream!” My words bring a wide, bright smile to Julian’s lips. He knows I’m being honest; my eyes don’t let me lie.
He leans in a little, bringing his lips close to my face, so close that he’s almost rubbing his mouth against my cheek.
“That’s a relief. I was worried that this place wouldn’t live up to its reputation. It would be a problem if it weren’t amazing like this.” Julian brings his lips close to my ear and adds, “After all, I bought it.”
My eyes widen, and I push him in the chest, adding just enough distance to see his mischievous, cocky grin that’s amused by my reaction.
“You *bought it?”* I look at the huge mansion, the fountain, and the beach at the back of the property. “You bought *this place?”*
“Yes, I did.” He smiles, then turns me around slowly, making my back bump lightly against his firm chest, pressing me against his body.
Julian holds my hand, stretching my arm and my index finger to the horizon.
“From here to... here,” Julian traces a very wide distance. “From the gates to where the waves of the sea touch and break... All of this is ours.”
My parted lips don’t utter a single sound.
Julian kisses me on the cheek and lets go of my hand.
“Did you really buy this house?” Calling this place a *house* seems almost offensive, but I can’t find a reason right now. *A property like this must cost tens of million dollars!* It’s huge and luxurious, and for God’s sake, there’s a private beach in Nassau!
“Yes, I did.” He hugs me from behind with both arms, holding me tightly and possessively while resting his cheek on the top of my head. “Since we finally got some time off to celebrate our honeymoon *and our first year of marriage,* I thought we could do something special.”
“So you bought a beach house in the Bahamas,” I say, fighting the silly smile that dares to appear on my lips.
Julian stays silent for a long moment, and I feel his heart racing in my back.
“Do you think it’s too much?” He asks fearfully, and I quickly pull out of the embrace to turn my body.
I face him, throwing my arms around his neck and standing on my tiptoes so that I can look him properly in the eye.
There’s a certain fragility in his countenance, and that warms my chest; Julian has never been one to flaunt his money, and sometimes, I even forget the real extent of his wealth. Building a dream house in New York, with a big artificial lake and a park for the children, or buying a beach house with a yacht in one of the paradises on earth — none of this is a problem for my husband.
“It’s not too much… it’s perfect,” I say at last and give him a light, quick kiss, just brushing our lips.
Julian smiles when my mouth moves away, his eyes closed and relief all over his face.
“Thank you, this place is amazing. I really love it.”
“Wait until you get inside... There’s a jacuzzi in our room.”
“Have you chosen our room yet?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Of course, I plan to stay in it most of the time.” Julian runs his hands down my hips, grabbing my ass and squeezing it slightly over my dress.
I look around, somewhat startled, searching for prying eyes, but there’s no one around. It’s just the two of us.
“Don’t worry, the staff are in the annex.”
“When did you have time to prepare all this?”
“Hmm, I did a lot of things, but the staff came with the house. It’s a special place. The same staff have been looking after the property for decades, almost like a family legacy. One of the contract requirements is always to keep them.”
“So they can be trusted,” I say thoughtfully, looking around. Well, for a place to be so stunning without any residents, I imagine they do a great job.
“Yes, they are. They’ll keep everything in place while we’re not here.” Julian runs his hands up my back, over my shoulders, finally holding my face between his warm palms. “But I’ve had enough of talking about other people... What do you say we go for a ride? There are lots of surprises waiting for you today.”
“Oh really?” I give a mischievous smile. “And what would they be?”
“I told you… it wouldn’t be a surprise if I spoiled it for you.” Julian laughs low, looking at my lips. “Don’t be impatient, wifey... Just enjoy our honeymoon.”