A band was playing and a smaller choir was singing an array of happy, love-inspired songs as the meal and speeches came to an end.
Roy was at the microphone, addressing the small group of wedding guests. “Honestly, this day would not have been as special without all of you here. So thank you.”
The guests clapped and cheered.
“Now, I don’t know if you all know the story about how Richelle and I got together,” Roy went on, and at the center of the wedding table Richelle playfully groaned.
“I don’t know why he keeps harping on about that,” Richelle said.
But Melanie smiled as she prepared to hear the story for the umpteenth time.
The guests began to laugh.
“You never know when Cupid’s arrow is going to hit you.” Someone cheered. “When I saw that fire in her, even as she gave me a piece of her mind, I was hooked. I knew that I had to get to know her. And thankfully, she allowed me the chance. Because that was it for me. And here we are in Fiji, and I’ve made this incredible woman my wife,” Roy concluded.
There was exuberant applause to Roy’s closing statement. The applause only got louder when he went back to the table, where Richelle rose to meet him, and the two shared a long, passionate kiss.
Richelle and Roy’s love was a testament to the fact that people could find their happy ending. As the wedding party moved to the sand to dance under the stars, Melanie beamed with happiness for her friend.
Just like Richelle had said that morning, the day had been perfect. The skies remained clear and the weather not too hot. But even a torrential downpour would not have soured the mood for Richelle and Roy.
A DJ began to play American love songs, and Richelle and Roy started their first dance to “I Found Love” by BeBe Winans. As they gazed into each other’s eyes under the moonlight, Melanie felt that familiar pang. She had four more days here. Four more days when she certainly couldn’t be the third wheel with Richelle and Roy. Now legally husband and wife, they were going to begin their honeymoon. Melanie knew she wouldn’t see much of them, if any, before she left Fiji.
Another slow song began, and the guests made their way onto the sand dance floor.
“May I have this dance?”
Melanie turned around to see Edward standing there. All day she had been busy with her duties as maid of honor, and had been able to avoid him for the most part. But now, there was no putting him off.
He was a nice guy. There was no real reason to avoid him. “Sure.”
They danced, and he held her close, and on a night like this, Melanie was all too aware that these were not the arms she wanted to be in.
She wanted to be in Lawrence’s arms.
“Thank you, Edward,” Melanie said after that dance. “Will you excuse me?”
Edward seemed surprised, but he didn’t object. “Sure. I’ll be here.”
Melanie first went to the restroom, where she checked out her reflection and touched up her makeup. Here she was, looking beautiful with her hair and makeup done, and in a dress that flattered her figure. This was the day she wanted Lawrence to see her.
With Lawrence on her mind, she exited the restroom and headed toward the beach away from where the wedding celebration was taking place. She wanted some time alone. She began to walk along the water’s edge, pausing to dig her toes into the sand. Behind her, a lively tune was now playing.
Melanie strolled, holding her dress up so the hem wouldn’t get wet. She was doing what Richelle had done that morning before her wedding. Taking time to simply enjoy the environment around her.
Melanie had only been walking alone for a couple minutes when she heard a male voice call out, “Hey.”
That voice... Her pulse began to race. She turned, her eyes searching the stretch of beach. And in the distance, she saw him.
It was Lawrence.
Her heart began to pitter-patter in her chest as he walked toward her.
She stood rooted to the spot. Waited until he caught up to her. And when he did, she looked at him, felt that familiar jolt of white-hot heat when her eyes could fully take in his face.
How did you let this man go? she couldn’t help asking herself.
“Hey,” he said again when he reached her.
“Lawrence.”
“What are you doing out here by yourself?”
“I went for a walk.” She paused. “What are you doing here?”
“I...” he began, and then paused. “I knew it was the day of the wedding. I came by to see you.”
“Oh.” Melanie was excited, though she tried not to show it.
His eyes swept over her. “You look...you look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” But as nice as it was to hear Lawrence say that, Melanie felt a rush of doubt. “I haven’t seen you for a couple days. I guess you’ve been keeping busy with your new friends....”
“My friends?” Lawrence asked, but a moment later, his eyes registered understanding. “Wow, I came out here to see you, and that’s what you have to say to me?”
“One minute I saw you with them at the beach, the next minute, you’d disappeared.”
“And you think...”
Melanie’s shoulders drooped. This wasn’t what she had planned to talk about the next time she saw him. What was she doing?
“Forget what I just said,” Melanie told him. “Obviously I gave up any rights to you a long time ago.”
Something flashed in his eyes. Hurt? “What you saw was me and Shemar being friendly with two women. No big deal.” He paused. Held her gaze. “The truth is, I wish I could get involved with someone else. Shemar keeps telling me that I need to start dating again. But damn it, all I keep thinking about is you.”
Butterflies began to flutter in Melanie’s stomach, but she said nothing.
“Do you know I came here to try to forget you once and for all?” He laughed without mirth. “Instead, I get here and you’re at this resort. Of all places. Talk about a kink in my plan.”
“If I had known...”
“If you had known, what? You would have avoided coming here? That’s how uneasy you are at the idea of seeing me?”
Melanie said nothing. Because every time she opened her mouth, she was saying the wrong thing.
“I always believed that you loved me, Mel. But I guess I was wrong.”
“Of course I did!” she said immediately.
“Then prove
