Back In His Arms Read Free

despite the power of the immense sea of which they were a part.   Islands dotted the distance and the orange sun eased up and out of the horizon before her eyes.
    She could not remember a time she had been as purely content as in that moment.   Brian seemed a lifetime away.
    “Carla?”   Atreus called from behind her.
    She turned to see him sitting up in bed and rushed to him.
    “It’s so beautiful here, my love.”
    “It is,” he agreed.   “And it’s even more beautiful where I’m going to take you and Dios today.”   He cradled her head on his chest.   “I don’t come here often enough.”
    “I think I could live here forever,” she sighed.
    “Wouldn’t you miss the city?” he asked.   “It’s not very exciting here.”
    “I wouldn’t miss anything living here.   All I need is you and Dios to make me happy.”
    He gazed at her, adoration in his eyes, and traced the curve of her high cheekbone with his finger.   Now was the perfect moment to tell him about the new baby.
    “I have something to tell you,” he announced.
    “That’s funny,” she smiled.   “I was just going to say the same thing to you.”
    “You first, then” he said.
    “No, you go.”
    “Okay,” he acquiesced.   “Well, I really hate to say this and I wish it weren’t the case but…” he trailed off and picked nervously at the white mesh of the mosquito net.
    “What?   What is it?”   Carla asked, concerned.
    Atreus sighed deeply, gathering his courage.
    “I hope you can forgive me, but the island… the island we are to go to today…”
    “Yes?”
    “It’s called Serene,” he said.   “It won’t be called that for long, of course, because I own the island and I can pick the name.   I just haven’t gotten around to it.   The truth is, I haven’t been here for so long because Serene and I were engaged here.   Our marriage had become so toxic that I did not even want to set foot on these islands again.”
    “Then why did you choose here for us to come?” Carla asked, aware that Atreus owned many other properties.
    “It’s the most remote,” he said. “Without a private plane you’d have to fly into Nassau.   That’s three boats away from here.”
    “So Brian wouldn’t find us,” Carla interpreted.   “And then I led him right to us.”
    “Don’t worry, my love,” Atreus said.   “The Bahamian police won’t let him come back in and I’m sure he can’t afford a private plane.”
    “No, that’s true,” said Carla.
    “Anyway, the island is not Serene to me anymore, but when the staff call it that I hope you can excuse them.   And forgive me.”
    “Of course,” said Carla.   “So what will its new name be?”
    “Initially, I was thinking Carla,” he said, “But then I thought it dreadfully unromantic for you, like it was a secondhand island.   So I thought, why not something to symbolize how you’ve changed my life?”
    Carla held his hand.
    “I hope you don’t mind me saying so,” he continued, “but you’ve saved my life.   My heart was almost dead before you came and revived it.   So I was thinking – and feel free to tell me if you do not like it – Redemption Island.”
    He held his breath while awaiting her response.
    “I love it!”   Carla gushed, kissing Atreus all over his face.   “I absolutely love it!”
    “Oh, darling, I’m so glad,” Atreus exhaled as someone knocked on the door.   He kissed Carla and then called out.   “Come in!”
    One of the staff entered to let them know that breakfast was served.   They ate on the second floor verandah with the whole family.   Dios crawled up and down while the rest enjoyed ackee, saltfish, fried dumplings and freshly made mango juice.   The pregnancy played on Carla’s mind but she needed to get Atreus alone again before informing him.
    “I don’t know why we don’t do this more often,” Andria pondered.   She wore a wide brimmed hat, aviators and a sundress, and looked quite at home