As Liam and I celebrated our anniversary on the beach, laughing and enjoying the sun, a woman in a swimsuit rushed up to us out of nowhere. She knelt down in front of him and murmured his name softly. My heart stopped. Who was she? And why was she looking at my husband like that? I had no notion that moment would lead to a terrible truth that I never saw coming.
The dream felt too real.
“Liam… no, please don’t leave…” “Liam!” I sat up upright in bed and gasped, my heart beating in my chest. I reached for him without thinking, but the sheets next to me were cold.
I heard him talk after that.
“Hey, Ava? Are you okay?
Liam stood in the doorway with a cup of hot coffee in one hand and a worried look on his face.
I felt a rush of relief. It had just been a nightmare, and it was a very real and awful one.
“I’ll be fine,” I said, my breath shaking. “Only a dream.” A bad one.
He walked across the room and kissed me on the forehead. “You were saying my name.” You scared me a little.
I smiled weakly at him. “You left me in it.” On an island.
He chuckled softly. “That’s not going to happen.” He then replied, “Oh, and happy anniversary,” as if he had just recalled something.
My eyes got bigger. “Oh my God… our tenth?”
He smiled and shook his head. “Yes.” Today, ten years ago.
I jumped into his arms. “How could I forget?” “Happy anniversary, Liam.”
He said, “I’ve got something for you.” “Close your eyes.”
I did, and a second later, something thin and smooth slid into my hands. I looked.
“Plane tickets?” I gasped. “Punta Cana?”
Liam grinned. “We’re leaving in three hours.” You have twenty minutes to get ready!
I couldn’t believe it, but I screamed with happiness and got to work.
It had been a long time since we had time for just the two of us. Liam had a lot of work to do, and I had to deal with the chaos of everyday life and my freelance employment. This was the break we needed.
The flight was very exciting. When we landed, the warm, humid air of the Caribbean wrapped about us like a warm blanket.
When we stepped off the plane, I said, “Wow.” Everything seemed like a painting with the beautiful sky and palm plants.
“Just wait until you see the resort,” Liam said softly as he held my hand.
We observed a black SUV with a smooth design waiting for us. I couldn’t take my eyes off the water as we drove along the shore.
“This is nuts,” I said. “How did you do this without telling me?”
Liam grinned. “Let’s just say I had to pretend to work late more than once.”
I felt horrible. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy.” I know that your job has been hard.
He didn’t care. “That’s why we’re here.” There are no time constraints. No phones. “Just us.”
When we came to the resort, I gasped out loud. It looked like a postcard with its lovely sand, coral rooftops, and hammocks that swayed in the wind.
The foyer was open and had marble floors. The bellhop took our bags.
I added gently, “Liam, this place must have cost a lot of money.”
He bent down and kissed me on the forehead. “Only the best for you.”
There were floor-to-ceiling windows and a private patio in our suite, which was located on the beach. I was outside with the wind in my hair when Liam threw his arms around my waist.
“Was it worth the wait?” he asked.
I turned to face him. “More than worth it.”
For the next two days, we floated in luxury, relaxing by the pool, dancing under the stars, and having long meals on the beach. We laughed more than we had in a long time. We were back to being ourselves.
On the third night, we laid on beach chairs with our arms around each other and watched the waves roll in as the sun set in a blaze of pink and gold.
“Why didn’t we do this sooner?” I asked, my voice sounding dreamy.
Liam remarked, “I wanted it to be perfect.”
I smiled and put my hands on my stomach. I had a secret that was growing inside me, and I hadn’t told anyone yet. I had only learned that I was pregnant a few days before the trip. I had a little present package from home that I was waiting for the right occasion to send.
“Why are you smiling?” Liam asked me, looking at me.
“Just happy thoughts,” I said.
He got up and stretched his body. “Would you like to go for a walk before dinner?”
I nodded. “Yes. Don’t let the sunset go to waste.
We strolled barefoot on the beach, and the tide felt warm and good on our ankles. I could feel the little package in my pocket, ready to go.
“Liam, I—”
A man suddenly raced toward us in the darkening light. A woman in a white swimsuit ran across the sand. The wind messed up her hair and turned it loose. She halted square in front of Liam and dropped to her knees.
She yelled, “Hey, Liam!” “You are the one I love!” Stop acting and come be with me. “Get married to me!”
The world came to a stop.
I blinked.
I glanced at Liam. Then at her.
I held the gift box tightly in my pocket, and I couldn’t breathe.
It looked like someone had hit Liam with a baseball bat. He opened and closed his mouth. Then—
He laughed.
I couldn’t believe it when he bent over and laughed so hard he wheezed. Then he made things worse by hugging the woman.
I stepped back.
Was this a joke?
Is that a joke?
Was this a bad reunion with an ex?
“Hey, Liam?” My voice shook. “Who… who is she?”
He looked at me and realized how I looked right away. His face got serious. “I’m really sorry, Ava.” This is Julia.
Julia smiled shyly and put out her hand. “Hey! Sorry for the trouble.
I didn’t take it.
“Liam, please tell me what you mean.” “Now.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. We went to school together, Julia and I. She was at the theater. I once played a joke on her during a show that made her feel incredibly horrible. One day, she promised to get back at him.
Julia nodded with joy. “And when I saw him on the beach, I couldn’t stop myself!” It took me twenty minutes to get the nerve to do it.
My knees almost gave way.
Was all of this a joke?
A college friend made a joke?
I said, “You scared the hell out of me,” and my voice shook.
Liam stepped forward, and his eyes were full of remorse. “I had no idea she was here. I promise. I didn’t plan any of this.
I breathed out shakily, half laughing and half crying. “You’re an idiot.”
He smiled and pulled me close. “Sorry.” I really am. But she got me too. That caught me off guard.
Julia laughed. “I think I can relax now.” I have finished getting back at you.
She winked at him. “By the way, good job.” You both look incredibly lovely.
I shook my head and swallowed the lump in my throat. “You almost made my heart stop.”
I remembered what I wanted to say to Liam before things went wrong after that. Maybe the timing wasn’t ruined after all.
“I had a surprise too,” I said softly as I moved away from him.
“Oh?” he said, raising an eyebrow.
I took the small package out and handed it to him.
He took his time opening it. There was a lovely silver necklace with a little locket that looked like baby feet within.
Liam looked right at me.
“Ava… Are you saying…
I nodded, and my eyes filled with tears. “I’m going to have a baby.”
He grabbed me up off the ground and whirled me around, and his eyes filled with tears of joy.
“You’re going to have a child!” “We’re going to have kids!” He roared, even though he was sobbing and laughing.
Julia put her hands together and clapped. “Wow, that’s so cool!” That’s much better than the small joke I told.
She took her phone out. “You two need a picture.” This moment needs it.
We stood in front of the ocean with my hand on my stomach and my arms around each other. The sun, which was now a big orange ball, framed us wonderfully while Julia snapped some pictures.
She smiled and handed the phone back. “Good work, you two. I promise there won’t be any more trouble now that I’m leaving you alone.
Liam offered her a hug. “You really did win the prank war.”
After that, she waved goodbye and disappeared into the darkness.
As the last light of day faded, Liam turned to me.
“So… we’re going to have a kid?”
I agreed and rested my head on his chest.
I inquired, “Are you happy?”
He kissed me softly and deeply. “I’ve never been so happy in my whole life.” I love you, Ava.
I responded softly, “I love you more.”
We held hands and walked back along the shore, leaving our shadows behind on the sand.
The ocean whispered next to us, and the sky was suddenly a deep purple full with stars.
It had started as a party for our anniversary getaway, but it had transformed into the start of something much more.
A new portion. A new beginning.
And this time, there were no bad dreams. Just love, laughter, and the little heart pounding inside me.
