Chapter 31: "The Honeymoon Twist"

It was just any other day on their honeymoon ; the sun was up and its rays were brightening the calm surface of the sea off the Amalfi coast. Taylor woke up first; the soothing rhythm of the waves hitting the beach was so soothing that it made her get out of bed. Maria woke up to the comfort of the bed in their villa—a bed that had the ability to make one lazy and spend the entire morning in it—but not today. Maria was too excited. She looked at Alex and found that he was still asleep; his breathing was deep and regular. He was sleeping so soundly and so happy, and for some time Taylor only gazed at him, feeling her love for the boy grow even more. She still finds it hard to believe that they are married and that they have eventually sealed the deal after years of being friends. It sounded unbelievable, yet they were in it, completely enmeshed in the best honeymoon any couple could wish for. Taylor smiled to herself; she felt a warm sensation all over her body. She quietly got out of bed not to disturb him, then went to the terrace. There was an amazing view—the steep rocks covered with greenery—and a strip of the azure sea that seemed to touch the sky. It was one that she had already imprinted deep in her mind—a sight that she was sure she would never be able to forget. When she was there, standing and admiring the beauty of the morning, Taylor was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling. It was not just a honeymoon; it was the starting point of their new phase of life, which she was looking forward to writing about with Alex. But the excitement that she felt because of the new opportunity was somehow replaced by a small fear. The situation has shifted now that they are married, so what could have been acceptable before may not be acceptable now. What if instead of smoothly turning from friends to lovers, they realized that it may not be as easy as they thought? Standing there, admiring the beauty of the morning, Taylor felt a lump in her throat. This was not just a honeymoon; it was the start of a new phase in her life that she was ready to pen down with Alex. But with that came the excitement, and there was also a hint of fear. In what ways did things alter as soon as they were married? What if the transition from friends to lovers was not as smooth as the two of them had expected it to be? Dismissing those thoughts, Taylor thought of the best way to spend time with Alex and, hence, prepared to surprise him with breakfast. She immediately knew what to do—there was a small, cozy café they saw the day before, located in the village that was not far from there. It was just a few doors down, and she could surely come back with something nice. She wrote a note and placed it on his pillow, put on a light dress and sandals, and went outside to enjoy the dawn. It was still early morning, and the local shops were opening up while there was a sweet smell of baking in the air. Taylor located the café without any problem; she was impressed by the European design of the place. She had pastries, fresh fruits sliced neatly, and two cups of strong Italian coffee. The barista greeted her warmly and even complimented her on her wedding ring. As Taylor returned to the villa, balancing the breakfast tray, she couldn’t help but have a flutter of excitement. She could picture the look on Alex’s face when he woke up to the surprise—how he would open his arms to embrace her and then kiss her. The idea brought a feeling of desire to her chest, and she started walking faster; she couldn’t wait to get back to him. However, as she got close to the villa, something on the ground grabbed her attention. There was a woman standing close to the entrance, and she had her back to Taylor. She was approximately my height, with black hair to her waist, and there was something familiar about her. Taylor began to feel a familiar chill as she said to herself, ‘I think it’s time to get back to work.’ Who was she? And why is she here? The woman who was bending over just straightened up when Taylor got to the front entrance, and the look on her face when she saw him was electrifying, to say the least. Having listened to this song many times, it is easy to recognize the voice behind the words—it was Emily, who used to be in a relationship. with Alex. The one he had never quite gotten over until Taylor had come into his life. Just seeing her standing there on their honeymoon seemed to make a cold terror seize Taylor’s heart. “Taylor,” Emily said, her voice perfectly calm, but there was something in her tone that Taylor couldn’t quite put his finger on. “I didn’t think that I would find you here so soon.” “What are you doing here?” Taylor’s voice came out more steady than she felt. Emily half smiled; it was almost a sad look on her face. For the first time in the play, the audience witnesses Mary’s determination to see Alex and to tell him something important. Taylor’s mind raced. This was their honeymoon, their moments of love, and there was the one person who could ruin everything. But she did not back down, her eyes giving a bit of a glare. “Alex is still asleep,” Taylor said, her voice cold. “If you must speak to him, then it can wait.” Emily paused, and for a second, Taylor believed that she might simply walk away. But then Emily looked at her, looked her straight in the eye, and there was a desperate quality in her gaze. “Taylor, please, can I speak to you for five minutes? Honestly, I’ll go after that.” Despite this, Taylor nodded, aware of a sinking feeling in her stomach. She opened the door and let Emily in before putting the breakfast tray on the table. It was now 2.30 AM. She did not want to wake up Alex, but at the same time, she could not allow Emily to spend a night with him alone. “I will wake him,” Taylor stated, and her tone was not questioning, not even begging; it was authoritative, as if she were reminding him of her right to be present in his life and in his home. To this end, Emily only remained silent, her face showing no emotion. Taylor got up and headed to the bedroom, her heart racing. She rolled to the side of Alex, and using her hand, she shook him up gently. “Alex,” she said in a soft and almost inaudible whisper. “Wake up, you.” Alex shifted, and he opened his eyes groggily. “Taylor? What’s going on?” “Somebody is here to see you,” said the lady softly, noting the bewildered look on the man’s face. “It’s. . . Emily.” What is more, the mere utterance of the name appeared to bring him fully awake. He sat up, and anger replaced the confusion that was evident on his face a few moments ago. “This Emily? What is she doing here?” “She told me she wanted to speak with you; I introduced her... I didn’t know what to do.” Alex frowned, as if deep in thought, which made it quite clear that he was lost in a blank thought process. He stared straight at Taylor, and she could discern the concern in his facial expression. But she also saw something else, and that was determination. “Sit down here,” he said softly, but as the voice of command. “Wait a minute; I’ll go talk to her. . ” Taylor wanted to argue and tell him that she also wanted to go there. But she bobbed her head in agreement, believing in him despite the way her instincts were telling her that this could be a mistake. She watched as Alex got up from bed, put on some clothes, and disappeared out of the room. With that, the door closed gently and clicked shut, and Taylor was left to contemplate on her own. She collapsed on the edge of the bed and tried to come to terms with what she had just experienced. What could Emily possibly need? And why now of all times? It seemed like hours and minutes stood still as Taylor squatted, waiting, the silence overwhelming her. She could still hear the low buzz of conversation from the other room, but nothing distinguishable. The fact that she did not have clear answers that would explain the situation made her feel uncomfortable, and she struggled not to open the door and yell at him. At last, the door opened, and it seemed that Alex had spent an eternity outside before he came back in. On his face, she saw relief and concern, and something else she couldn’t quite decipher. “Taylor,” he started slowly, “I want to explain to you the situation as I see it.” “Emily... she wanted to say sorry. I think she wanted to resolve something, and I think she wanted me to get closure as well.” Taylor only opened her eyes wider in disbelief as she tried to decipher what he was saying. ‘Yes,’ he said softly, moving closer to her and taking her in his hands. “She’s getting married. She wanted to ensure that there were no feelings towards each other and no words to be said between us. She didn’t want anything to come between ‘us’ and ‘you’ and'me'."” Taylor could almost hear the sound of her own racing heartbeat, overcome with relief. “No, Taylor. ” Alex looked into her eyes, ensuring her that he was being very genuine. “I never did, not after I knew how I felt about you. ” He shook his head, dismissing her. “Emily is just a memory. You, here with me now, are my future. Taylor was moved, and she cried, putting her arms around him to embrace him. “I was so scared, Alex,” she whispered. “I was so scared that she might…”He shook his head, his expression resolute, and said, “No.” “You are the one I love, Taylor. You are the one I have loved over the years. And nothing will ever alter that fact. ”They stood like that for a long time; the fear and all that was uncertain were washed away by the strength of their embrace. Taylor realized then that if there was anything that their love could not overcome, nothing was strong enough to break them apart. They had decided to love each other, and that love would sustain them regardless of what they would be facing in the future. The sun rose higher and higher and the room filled with warm light, each day was a new day full of hope. And as he began to pull away to look into the eyes of the one he loved, Taylor knew that this was only the start of forever.