Warning: blood and violence
-Dakota-
I dragged two big boxes of baby clothes from the attic and put them on the kitchen island. Emmalee was coming over and I couldn’t wait to go through them with her.
“Hey mom, what do you have there?”
“Hi honey. I know it’s a little early, but I couldn’t resist. It’s yours and Emmett’s baby clothes. You can use whatever you want. I’m assuming your brother is not going to need any of it since he’s…you know…dating a man.”
“Mom, I’m two months along, you’re being crazy.”
“Don’t underestimate it, sweetie. Seven months is not a long time and the baby will be here.”
“Can we go through it some other time? I’m really tired. Is it normal?”
“Oh yea. I was falling asleep standing up in the first trimester with both of my pregnancies. Go sit down in the living room, I’ll make you a tea, you can relax. Put your feet up.”
I prepared tea for both of us so we can chat.
“So other than the tiredness you feel good?”
“Yea.” She smiled. “I’m so happy mom.”
“I’m happy for you.” I squeezed her hand lovingly.
“Caleb wants to go for a vacation. Apparently you’re supposed to take a trip when you expect, it’s called babymoon.” She chuckled. “He wants to go to the Bahamas.”
“The Bahamas? Should you be flying in your condition?”
“Yea, it’s fine. I asked my doctor. Most women don’t even know they’re pregnant at this point.”
“Ok, but promise you’ll be careful. When do you go?”
“In two weeks. I can’t wait. It will be nice to spend some time together. Caleb works long hours in the car dealership and I’ve been so tired lately that I’m usually in bed by the time he gets home.”
-Caleb-
I couldn’t wait to land in Bahamas. I was so excited for this trip because I was finally going to ask Emmalee to marry me. I wanted it to be special, so I booked this trip so there are no distractions.
We boarded the plane and as soon as we were in the air, my girlfriend was fast asleep. The pregnancy was draining her so she needs this relaxing vacation more than ever.
As we were landing, the view of the beautiful island was absolutely stunning. I had to wake Emmalee up, so she wouldn’t miss it. The endless beach lined with palm trees, beautiful white sand, gorgeous blue water…simply a paradise.
I rented a small houseboat on the water so we have our privacy. Since I started working, I was able to save a good chunk of money so I decided to go all out for this trip. It is going to be our last one before the baby comes so why not enjoy it.
The weather was great during our stay, except for one day when it rained all day long. So we just stayed on the deck under the roof, drank virgin piña coladas and listened to the rain drops hitting the ocean. Such a calming sound..
Third day of our vacation, I was ready to finally ask the big question. I had some help setting everything up from the houseboat owner who offered romantic packages. I chose sunset dinner on the beach and I chose right. It was, again, breathtaking.
I lead Emmalee to the table, covering her eyes.
When I finally took my hands off, she gasped. “This is beautiful, Caleb.”
Even I was amazed by the romance that was breathing at me from the setting. It was perfect.
“I can’t take all the credit, they made it for us.” I said honestly. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving.” She nodded and I helped her sit down, pushing the chair closer to the table.
It was the perfect atmosphere for the type of conversation I wanted to have. We ate delicious lobster, drank non-alcoholic champagne, had a great laugh together, fed each other fruit like every cheesy couple in love you’ll see in romantic movies.
“Look at the beautiful sunset.” Emmalee was looking across the ocean at the big orange ball sinking into the water. When she looked back, I wasn’t sitting on the other side of the table anymore. I was on my knee, right next to her, holding an open box with a diamond ring.
“What are you doing?” She asked in shock.
“Em.” I swallowed nervously. “I wanted to bring you here and have this amazing date, because I need to ask you a question.”
She already knew the question, of course. Her eyes were filling up with tears and she let me continue.
“Since the day I met you at the beach party, when we were only sixteen, I couldn’t get you out of my head. We had a bit of a rough start, but I’m so, so happy we got through it and now, hopefully, we can make our relationship official before our little bundle of joy arrives. Will you marry me?”
“Of course I will marry you.” She nodded her head vehemently and stretched out her hand, allowing me to put the ring on her finger.
I put my head on her belly, pulling Emmalee close to me. There was no baby bump yet, but I knew our little peanut is in there.
“She said yes, little one.”
After eating most of the food and drinking all the champagne, we just sat on the beach for hours and hours, watching the stars and planning our future.
“This is the best night of my life.” My fiancée confessed looking up at the sky.
“Mine too.” I smiled.
-Emmalee-
I was living in a fairytale for the rest of the vacation. I kept admiring the ring Caleb got me. It was beautiful!
Caleb tried scuba diving for the first time and loved it. I didn’t go with him, of course, but I love the underwater pictures. I will definitely try it in the future.
We spent most of the remaining days on the beach or relaxing in our houseboat since I was too tired to explore the island.
We did, however, go to one hike and it was a hundred percent worth it. The view of the waterfalls took my breath away for a while. You could also see the endless ocean in the distance. I just kept staring at the beauty that mother nature has created.
We had a little piknik and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery for quite a while. Just me an my fiancé. These are the moments I will never forget. Not even when I’m eighty years old.
But every fairytale has to end and we had to return home after amazing seven days spent in paradise.
We were driving from the airport, late at night, when I got an uncontrollable craving for a pistachio ice cream.
“Stop here, baby.” I begged my fiancé when we were passing a dirty looking convenience store. There was a broken bench and beer bottles scattered around the trash, but I didn’t care, it was probably the only place that was open.
Caleb was hesitant, but he knew me too well and was well aware he wouldn’t hear the end of it if I didn’t get my ice cream.
We were browsing the freezers with surprisingly rich selection of the frozen heaven when we heard a noise coming from the register.
“I said give me everything.” The young man, possibly still a teenager, wearing a hood was yelling at the cashier.
I tried to pull Caleb down into hiding, but he went over there, trying to smooth things out.
“Caleb, come back.” I whispered, scared to death.
“Hey buddy.” He started to talk to the robber. “Is everything ok?”
It was then, when he noticed there are customers and pulled out a gun and pointed it at Caleb, who immediately put his arms up.
There was anger and hate in this man’s eyes.
I don’t know how long they were standing there like this. It could have been a second or ten minutes. I hid my face in my hands as I couldn’t bear to watch. All I remember is the loud, deafening ‘bang‘.
When I looked up, the man was gone. My fiancé was lying on the dirty tiles in a puddle of his own blood.
“Caleb.” I screamed and crawled closer to him, taking his head into my hands slowly. Sobbing.
“I’ll call 911.” The man from behind the register said.
“Hurry.” I cried and turned back to Caleb. “Hang on, honey. They’re coming.”
He said nothing, just stared at me and growled.
“Don’t try to talk, baby. It’s gonna be ok.”
-Caleb-
I was looking at Emmalee’s beautiful face, knowing that this is going to be the last time I see it. The floor under my body was freezing cold and I couldn’t feel my legs.
“Hey.” I whispered. “I…I’m not gonna make it but…that’s ok. In my short life I’ve met the love of my life-you. And I wish I could be here for our baby but I know you are going to be the best mom this little one could ever wish for.”
“Don’t say that, Caleb.” She sobbed. “Don’t you dare leave us, do you understand?!”
“Feisty.” I chuckled painfully. “I’ve always loved that about you.”
She didn’t say anything. Tears were rolling down her face.
“Don’t be sad.” I wheezed, looking into her beautiful eyes. “We will see each other again, I promise….I love you, Em.”
“I…love…you…too.” She said in between sobs.
My vision was getting blurry and I couldn’t hear a thing anymore. There was no pain either…
A/N: Man, this one was hard to write... Sorry about the explosion of photos, they’re just too pretty to not post them lol. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Life goes on... 