Fighting Destiny (35 page)

“I’ve miss
ed you too, and this has been really hard on me as well. I want you to know that I really value you and all that you mean to my life.” Candasee began.

“If I am that important to you, then give me a chance to love you!

“It’s not that simple Nathan,
nothing is simple, not anymore. I’m sorry.”

“Candasee, if you’re breaking off this engagement with me then tell me already and stop stretching this out! There is only so much I can take!” said Nathan through gritted teeth.

“I know Nathan! I’
m so sorry that this happened to you of all people. I think you are such an amazing man and I never wanted to hurt you, not for a second!” she said as tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Candasee I am going to ask you something that I want your honest answer to. I don’t know if I can take it but I have to know
right now! Tomorrow we will be free to explore this island with the other instructors and I was really hoping to spend the day with you!” he said brokenly. “When you close your eyes and look into your ideal future, the one where you have your dreams fulfilled and you are happy and in love, who do you see with you? Do you see yourself with Darius or do you see me?”

She had to tell him the truth that
that the only face she ever saw from the beginning was Darius’. It never made sense but it that was how she felt. She was back at home and Darius was right the first night he’d sent her the card and flowers. It had just taken her much longer to realize it!

“Nathan please don’t ask me to answer you right now, this is a night you should be celebrating and you should be
ending on a high!” she said.

“Candasee, I
could host many other big events in the future but there is just one you. Tell me the truth, who do you see?” he pressed.

“I see Darius
. I always have!” she said quietly. “I’ve tried to purge him from my heart and I never could. I hoped that starting over with you would eventually be enough for me and for a while it was,” she wept.

Nathan folded his lips in a thin line as he tried to absorb all he was hearing. He just couldn’t, even though she was standing right here telling him this, he just couldn’t accept it. He found himself looking at her and shaking his head.

“No Candasee, don’t do this,” he said finally holding her shoulders firmly.

“Nathan, I never meant to hurt you, and I thought that if I tried
to be with you I could forget Darius but I couldn’t. I never have. I’m sorry. I wanted to make this work between us, I really did!”

Nathan allowed his hands to fall to his sides as he
absorbed Candasee’s words. All of his hopes were now shattered and empty. It was over. He couldn’t believe it.

She slipped off her ring and pressed it into the palm of his hand.

“Someday you will find the woman who is deserving of this honour, but it can’t be me.” 

“Hey you two!” shouted Dave, unless you plan to miss the final toasting come on! You have more than enough time for all that ‘
lovey dovey’
stuff later!”

“We’ll be there soon
”, shouted Nathan keeping his back toward Dave not wanting him to see the pain he was sure now clouded his features. There wasn’t any more time. Their time was up and accepting that finality was the hardest thing of all.

“
Our lives are moving in different directions Nathan and soon you will be a huge, famous, television producer. I don’t want that kind of limelight. I already have a dream to open my own dance school and I want to pursue that instead.”

“So it’s true when they say love isn’t enough?”
Nathan asked in a low voice.

“You’ll find love again Nathan
, and who knows it might be with someone you never expected to love.”

“
You will always be the face I see Candasee. Anyone else will just be second best for me,” he answered in an agonized tone before walking away from her quickly and rejoining the festivities.

The rest of the evening
seemed to drag on and on and Candasee felt the weight of her confession, and the loss of Nathan’s friendship and his trust. She wouldn’t be returning home with the others. Tomorrow she would try to get a flight back to Barbados and she would mail the Academy her resignation letter immediately. She’d wanted to say goodbye properly but Nathan was right, there was no perfect way to ever say goodbye to someone you loved. Staying another day would’ve only deepened the wound she’d created. They both needed time to heal.

During the toast as
Nathan raised his glass to the health and to the happiness of the group, their eyes met and the brief shift from his forced smile to hurt was clearly evident.  She prayed in that moment that he would find someone to love him and who could be for him all that he needed. He did deserve to be happy, but it just couldn’t be with her!

She’d
given her heart to Darius years before and now there was a chance to work things out. It was all she’d ever wanted deep inside, to be back home with him here on this island. That was what her heart wanted and trying to do the opposite would only mean she would be living a lie just to please Nathan. He deserved so much more and she felt confident that someone would see that.

Even as she had that thought Solange came to stand beside her at the doorway.
She was dressed in a gorgeous sea-blue sheath which emphasized her petite form.

“Hi, I don’t think we’ve officially met, but I’m Solange
Hassell,” she said somewhat nervously. Candasee turned to see the woman at her side extending a hand to her. She shook it and returned the friendly smile that was being offered to her.

“Hi, I’m Candasee
Maxwell,”

“So this is it for the intensive
huh, did it surpass your expectations?”  Solange asked.

“Act
ually it did! I’m so glad that we had it here. The academy is going to get really excellent exposure and I’m sure it will help Nathan and his family extend their business further around the world,” replied Candasee sincerely. At least he got something wonderful out of this experience even if it wasn’t a life with her.

“I also think that this whole week was so unusual, almost
fated, the way things happened,” Solange agreed.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, the way everything seemed to go wrong, from the storm, to my hotel losing the intensive, to me losing, well, the last one doesn’t really matter anymore,” she said with a sad smile. “But as you said, look at all the good that came of it.”

“So did you come to see Darius?” asked Candasee now wondering why Solange was there.

“Oh no, I heard about his injury and I know he’s in the hospital right now. Besides, I know when a man is deeply in love with someone else and I know when to back off. I know you two were married before and it’s clear to me that there’s still something there between you two. Besides, he was never interested in me like that! I actually came to say goodbye to Nathan. We’re really old friends from back in college days.”

“I see! I’m sure that he will be glad to see you!”
Candasee replied.

“Oh he’s waving me over now, it was nice to
finally meet you Candasee!” she said before crossing the floor and giving Nathan a hug. Who knew what the future could hold for those two, thought Candasee as she observed the pair.

“Now that you’ve spent your morning buying up half the city, I know the perfect place to take you for lunch,” said Courtney with a mischievous smile.

It’
d been a month since the intensive finished, and Candasee had returned to Derrien Island two days ago after going home to see her father and tell him of her decision to leave Barbados. He’d been disappointed but he’d come to accept her decision and offered her his love and support. She’d resigned from her post at the Academy as well. She’d only seen Nathan once during that time and he’d avoided her but she couldn’t blame him. A clean break was best considering all that happened between them. The last she’d heard was that he’d left for the United States. She too needed time to let go of Nathan and all their relationship meant and to be sure that she wasn’t rushing back into a relationship with Darius still clouded.

She’d contacted Courtney immediately when she arrived to get news about Darius and she was told that he was out of the hospital and he was almost one hundred percent again.
Did he still want her back?

Courtney suggested that they spend the day together and she thought it
was an excellent idea. She didn’t leave much room in her life recently for girlfriends and it was a refreshing change of pace.

“I haven’t had this much fun shopping in a long time Courtney and yes I am starving!”

“Good, I know somewhere you can enjoy a wonderful view and a delicious meal with just the right company,” she teased.

“Now you’ve got my attention piqued!” Candasee laughed.

They stowed away their bags in the trunk of Courtney’s car before she took the wheel and began driving them away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

“I know you didn’t say why you came back but I suspect it’s because of Darius,” Courtney stated.

“You’re right! I broke off my engagement with Nathan and I’ve spent the last month really thinking about what I really want in life. It’s the same as it always was ever since I met him. Meeting Darius six years ago changed everything for me and there’s nothing I could say or do to make that any less true,”

“I can say the same about myself and Ramon. I resisted him for years because I didn’t want to get my heart broken. It only made things worse,”

“You too seem to have come through it all really well, I hope I have the same story.”

“Well you can and I have a sneaky feeling that you will. By the way we are here.
”

Candasee looked around slightly puzzled by her surroundings. This did not look like a restaurant at all.

“Where are we?”

“Ramon and I thought you and Darius needed a little pus
h in the right direction so we’re making sure that you guys don’t mess this up this time around. I’ll let Darius tell you where we are.”

“Darius is here?”

“Yes, since he came home from the hospital he’s been spending most of his afternoons at the back of this building alone. He doesn’t want to admit it but letting you go is killing him and it’s time for you two to really talk.”

“
I don’t understand. But I must say that this building looks really familiar, like I’ve been here before.”

Courtney just smiled but said nothing and offered Candasee the crook of her arm as they went around the side of the building. Around the corner
, Candasee saw a beautiful garden with benches and many tropical flowers under shady trees.

“Wow it’s so
beautiful here Courtney.”

“It sure is,” said Ramon stepping out from behind one of the trees holding a basket in his hand.

“You are in on this too?”

“What can I say, I’m addicted to planning events especially for two people who need a little push in the right direction,” he said with a wink.

Wow, Darius was lucky to have found such wonderful friends in Ramon and Courtney, Candasee thought.

“So here is where our journey with you ends today,” said Courtney.
“I will hold onto your shopping for you till later.”

“Where are you going?” asked Candasee in confusion.

“Just follow the path out to the end and you’ll find who you are looking for.” Ramon then handed Candasee the picnic basket he held in his hand.

“Good luck and we are looking forward to having you guys over for dinner soon to celebrate
something special.”

With those words
and chuckle Ramon took his wife’s hand and they walked away quickly without giving Candasee time to respond.

She
was so nervous all of a sudden. This felt like she was on a first date and she didn’t know what Darius would think or if he’d changed his mind. She walked along the path slowly admiring the flowers and soon she came to a gazebo set against a breathtaking ocean view. But she only saw it for a few seconds because at that moment Darius who was leaning against the post suddenly looked over his shoulder and all her breath left her body. She would never forget how the tortured look in his eyes slowly dissolved as he seemed to draw in every aspect of her appearance.

“
Candasee? Am I dreaming?” he asked slowly.

“
No, it’s me you aren’t dreaming!”

“But I though
t you left. Nathan...”

“I want to come home again Darius,” she interjected as tears began to flow out of her eyes. A weight began to lift off her chest now that she’d given herself the permission to be honest about how she felt. She climbed the stairs and rested the basket on the floor and for a moment it seemed as though neither moved and there was only the sound of the wind in the trees.

“
Is your offer still open?” she asked tearfully.

Darius crossed the floor in three strides and captured her mouth in the fiercest kiss she’d ever experienced in her life. She opened her mouth to grant him access and he tasted every part of her mouth with a possessiveness that made all her senses reel. It was a kiss that was meant to meld them
into one living, breathing whole. Taking a ragged breath he said,

“Is that enough of an answer for you?
”

“No,
it isn’t,” Candasee said reconnecting their lips. Now that she’d allowed herself to truly feel what she wanted with Darius again she didn’t want to stop.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here. I thought you would be married by now,” Darius confessed raggedly as his
warm breath caressed her lips.

“I couldn’t marry Nathan if you still have my heart silly, I thought yo
u knew that already,” she joked through her own tears.

“And you will always have mine Candasee, I love you!”

“And I love you too! I always have!” Candasee confessed.

With a loud whoop Darius picked her up and spun her around and together they fell to the floor in a heap laughing.

“If anyone told me this morning that this was how my day would turn out, I wouldn’t have believed them. This is the best gift I can remember in a long time,” he said before he grew suddenly serious. “How did you know to look for me here?”

“I had a bit of help from Ramon and Courtney. They actually masterminded this whole meeting. They said we both needed a push in the right direction.”

Darius looked at her oddly before pulling her up to stand with him.

“Come I want to show you something
.”

He took her hand and led her back around to the front of the building.

“Does this building look at all familiar to you Candasee?”

“Yes, it does, I told Courtney that it looked familiar when we arrived.”

“You asked me while we were on Krispin why I never told you that I was sorry. I’ve wanted to tell you how sorry I was about us for a long time now but I preferred to show you rather than to just tell you. Mere words or an apology would never have been enough to make up for what I did. So, I went ahead and I got copies of the plans you’d made for your dance school and I had it constructed. This is what you designed! Surprise!” he said smiling broadly.

Candasee s
tood in stunned silence as she struggled to comprehend what Darius was saying to her. “How long ago did you start this?”

“The building
and landscaping has been finished now for about four months but I started working on the construction about eleven months ago now. I wanted to show you rather than tell you how much I’d changed and that I wanted you back and I would give you the world if I you’d only let me back into your heart!”

“But
, but, but you knew I was angry with you and you had no idea I’d even talk to you, so why did you do this?” stammered Candasee still reeling from the shock and the implication of Darius’ admission to her.

“That’s simple, I love
d you and I wanted you to know it beyond the shadow of a doubt!” he replied simply before looking across at her and the love in his expression nearly floored her. “It is crazy, but there is nothing rational about how I feel about you Candee.”

“Darius, I don’t know what to say!
” Candasee felt as though she would burst as she turned toward Darius and wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into the warmth and strength of his chest as she cried. He’d loved her all along too, and across the distance separating them he was working at rebuilding their relationship even when hope no longer seemed to exist.

“Come, I
want to show you inside the building”.

The building was
a beautifully designed two story structure which featured a blend of smooth cement walls and dark-stained hard wood panelling on the outside with a quaint cobbled pathway lined by short palms and other colourful botanicals. It was perfect! He took her inside and showed her the six individual dance studios with full mirrors and polished floors, the built in sound recording studio, and even a small performance amphitheatre with a stage for rehearsals and small concerts. There was spacious office space for herself and her staff, and the garden area in the back with the gazebo boasted a breathtaking view overlooking the sea. It was like walking through her actual drawings. He didn’t change a thing and everything was done just as she’d always envisioned it to be.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this when you saw me last month?”

“I was going to at first but then I decided not to use this to try to influence your decision. I’m done with trying to manipulate you. I just want your love.”

Candasee was utterly speechless at what she was seeing
and hearing. This was her dream literally standing before her eyes.

They were finally back at the gazebo and
Darius leaned against the rail of the gazebo while Candasee wordlessly looked back at him with wonder in her eyes. It was that look that he wanted her to have for the rest of her life. He would give her whatever support she wanted, and he would be her biggest fan.

Just when she thought she understood this man, he always went and rewrote the script. All within the last year while she was busy thinking he just didn’t care he was actually re-crafting an entrance into her life that
would obliterate all that gone wrong before. It wasn’t even the fact that this facility was wildly expensive because she could have built her own if she wanted to as well, but it showed her that he’d really changed.  It was a statement that he wanted to be the one who supported her like no one else could.

“Thank you for doing this for me! I don’t even know where to start with how much this means to me! I don’t deserve this after how I treated you,” she whispered as her voice became thick with emotion.

“
Don’t be ridiculous Candasee, of course you deserve it, and you always did. It just took me a while to realize what a fool I’d been! Your being here with me and loving it, is thanks enough. You won’t regret giving me a second chance, I promise you!” he said taking her hands in his, his slate grey eyes focused upon hers without wavering. “I want all of whom and what you are and I couldn’t be more proud of what you are doing with your life. I watched you those few days with the delegates and how much they just loved you and your approach to teaching them and I knew that you were meant to impact lives in this way. I am with you one hundred percent,” he said.

They sat and ate and enjoyed the view and being with each other until the sun was setting.

“Candasee, I am so glad that you are here again and I don’t want us to waste another minute apart,” he confessed consumed with a desire to have all of her once again.

Falling slowly to one knee before her, Darius reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box and opened it. Inside was a glittering diamond solitaire ring. Candasee gasped in surprise! How long had he been carrying that around?

“I know, it might seem too soon for this but I don’t believe in wasting any more time. We’ve been apart long enough and I need to know that you are mine again in every sense of the word. Will you honour me by marrying me again?”

“Yes Darius, I will,” breathed Candasee with elation as Darius slipped the ring onto her finger. He stood again and captured her mouth in a kiss that made her tremble with need.

“Is this week too soon for us to get married?” he asked between kisses to her lips and along her neck.