"I texted Juana to set up dinner plans. We're meeting them for the luau on the beach at 7."
"It's going to be alright, Daddy. I promise." Elgin moved closer on the bed.
We'd been hanging out in the room since we'd woken up from our nap. I had checked emails about work and the house while he called his mom to check on her.
"How's Kiara?"
"She's great. She loves staying at the house and keeping an eye on the construction projects. I guess she and Melissa are getting to be good friends. They have coffee every morning."
"I'm so glad. Do you want to go for a walk or something before dinner?" I held him close, pulling him tightly against my body.
"Yeah, let's go to the gift shops. I want to find something for Mom."
"Okay, let's go."
At the gift shop, Elgin looked at the sundresses and locally made jewelry. He looked unsatisfied with the selection.
"Can't find the right thing? We have four days on the island to find her something perfect."
"Okay, that sounds good." He didn't sound good, though.
As we strolled along the lush, tropical pathways that wound all around the resort he was still really quiet.
"What's wrong, love?"
"What? Oh, nothing. I'm fine."
"Wow. Nothing? I'm fine? Elgin, baby, talk to me. Something's on your mind. Is it your mom?" I stopped and turned to face him.
"No, it's not my mom. I was just thinking about stuff." He sounded so unsure of himself, which was out of character.
I pulled him off the path and onto a bench. "Please talk to me." I felt worried and I sounded worried even though I hadn't meant to.
His big, beautiful eyes came up to meet mine and he looked scared. I felt my heart lurch in my chest. I wanted to fix whatever was wrong immediately.
"Are you going to get tired of taking care of me? I don't have anything of my own. I don't have any of my own money. It feels unfair."
"Elgin. I love you. I'll take care of you for the rest of our lives, without ever even thinking about getting tired of it. And you will have your own things and your own money, soon enough."
"I know I'll have a real job and a salary through the foundation when it finally gets up and running after we get home. But I still feel like I'm always taking and never giving anything back."
"I know it might seem like that, to the casual observer, but you give me more than I give you, if you ask me." I paused and looked into those incredible eyes.
"Before I met you, I had a good life, a great job, a fancy house and two nice cars. But I didn't have what I really wanted. All I ever wanted was love and a family of my own. I honestly thought I'd never have that.
Then I met you, Elgin. It didn't seem possible that you could be my everything, but you proved me wrong. You are the most amazing man I've ever known. You're kind and smart and loving beyond my wildest dreams. You give me everything I ever wanted and needed. Absolutely everything.
Right now, it seems uneven since I'm older and successful already. I have money and assets aplenty. So it seems like I'm the provider. But you give me love and affection and hope. You know me and keep me calm. You give me life. All the money and success I had meant nothing to me.
You are my true love, my best friend, my partner, my lover, my mate. I can't live without you by my side. You give me everything, baby. I never want you to think otherwise." My tears spilled onto my cheeks.
"I love you, Al." He was crying now too.
"Come here." I pulled him close and held him tight. "Can I do anything to make it better?" I just wanted to make him smile again.
"No. I'm sorry I worried you." He let out a huge cleansing breath. He yawned a huge yawn and leaned on my shoulder.
"I think we're both tired. It's been a crazy month with the auction, the construction, traveling, getting engaged....." I kissed his soft hair.
"Yeah, there's been so many changes. They've all been good, but it's like a tidal wave of good fortune. It's all great, but it's still a lot, you know."
"I do know. When we get home we're going to need a vacation from our vacation." I smiled at him as he sat up and looked into my eyes.
"I love you, Al. I'm so lucky that I found you. I needed you as much as you needed me. I'm ready to take on the world with you." His gorgeous smile was back and I felt relieved.
"Juana and dinner first, then the world." I held his hand as we got up and continued our walk through the gardens.
When it was time to get ready for dinner, we headed back to the suite to change. I was starting to get nervous again as I pulled on a Hawaiian shirt. I button up the buttons, leaving the top two open.
Elgin came out of the bathroom and walked right up to me. He reached for my buttons and undid one more. He turned and went back to the closet and put on a pair of sandals. I just smiled at the comfortable rapport between us.
"Do you want me to leave the ring here?" He stood by the dresser twisting his ring on his finger. I knew he offered since I was so nervous.
"No way. Leave it on. My nerves are ridiculous, but we're not hiding anything. I love you and I'm going to marry you and I want everyone to know."
"Okay, Daddy. How are you going to tell them?" He smiled at me, calming me.
"I still don't know. I guess I'll just figure it out as I go." I took his hand and led him out of the room.
I saw Ursula and Juana at a table near the front, where the stage was set for the luau show. We moved across the sand to join them.
"Uncle Al! Alaska was awesome, but Hawaii is EVERYTHING!" Ursula screamed as soon as we got to the table. She jumped up and hugged me. She hugged Elgin next, surprising me and Juana, and maybe Elgin, too. God, I loved that girl. She was amazing.
We all sat down and listened to Ursula regale us with her stories of Alaska and their first day in Hawaii. She bounced in her chair while Juana smiled genuinely at her daughter's pure joy.
When Ursula finally wound down, I sat forward in my chair and tried to figure out what to say. I just wanted to rip the band-aid off and get it out there. I felt overwhelmed.
"Al asked me to marry him in Paris. Look at my incredible ring." Elgin addressed both of the ladies with a massive smile on his face. He pushed his hand towards Ursula.
Juana and I both sat frozen as Ursula grabbed at Elgin's hand to examine the ring. I finally looked at Juana and was totally surprised to find her smiling at Elgin. Her eyes shifted to mine and I could see real happiness there. She was happy for me, for real.
I stood just as she did too. I hugged her tight to my chest. I felt my eyes fill with tears again. Before I could get it together, Ursula was pulling me away from my sister to hug me herself.
I saw Juana step up to Elgin and pull him into a big hug. My eyes were so blurry with tears by then that I couldn't see anything else. This was my family. It felt perfect.
With all the hugs and congratulations out of the way, we sat down and answered all their questions about our trip and our engagement.
I watched my sister the whole time and I never saw anything other than genuineness and happiness. My mind reeled at it all, but I felt so relieved. All I wanted was these three people to be close to each other. It looked promising.
After dinner I asked Juana to take a walk with me. Elgin kissed me and whispered that he'd keep Ursula entertained. I escorted my baby sister onto a quiet section of the darkened waterfront.
"Thank you for being cool with everything today, Juana."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. You've been skeptical since I told you about him. I was worried you'd freak out about the engagement."
"You're right, I probably would have, but things change. I'm happy for you. I know you've always wanted to settle down and get married and I'm so glad you've found your true love."
"Just like that? You woke up and decided to accept it?" I was still disbelieving.
"No, not exactly. On the flight to Alaska, Ursula told me I was wrong about everything. She told me I was pushing you away over Elgin and that she wouldn't forgive me if I did that. She told me I'd never forgive myself. She was right. About all of it."
We walked for a while in silence as I processed that. Ursula was the smartest person in my family and thank goodness we had her.
"I was still bitter about my divorce. I was overprotective and jealous. I was sure he was after your money. I was ignoring your words and your emotions because I knew best. I was wrong. I'm sorry. I didn't know best, I was just being stubborn."
My mouth fell open. Juana admitted to being wrong! Never, in all the years she'd been on Earth had she ever admitted being wrong. I literally could not speak.
"Stop looking at me like that! I can change. Don't be an ass." And she was back.
I stopped walking and bent over with laughter. I don't know what I'd expected, but it wasn't any of this. Juana stood and stared at me like I was insane, which only made me laugh harder.
I finally caught my breath.
"What is so funny? Just because I said I was wrong?" She snapped at me and looked mad.
"No, but that is hilarious. I was laughing about the fact that the sixteen year old and the twenty year old are wiser than either of us. Elgin took over telling you about the engagement because I couldn't and Ursula had already laid the groundwork for the whole situation."
"I guess age doesn't mean anything, huh?" She shrugged, finally seeing it my way. It made me really happy.
"No. The smartest people I know are really young. And I love both of them like crazy. I love you, Juana. I'm so happy that you're really happy for me. That's all I needed."