The Brothers....Their Story Continues

Chapter Twenty One

They had spent more time there then Kadir had expected, as a couple of weeks had passed, and Efe still hadn't mentioned shoving off from Alghero. They were long over due for their departure from Sardinia and the next island of Sicily. Efe had spent everyday with Carolina, happy and content with whatever she wanted to do. His brother had never seen him like this before, he was even hard to recognize, with that sincere smile tattooed across his face. His brother was happy.... or was he in love. Kadir knew it would happen one day, someone would come along and jar his brothers senses, and render him an absolute and total mess. There were no all night romps in his room, there wasn't any of that take it or leave it attitude that his brother usually had when it came to women. He was completely devoted to her, and she to him. Her and her friends had gotten the job at the resort spa, so they were together every minute she wasn't working, and when she was working, he would wait patiently for her there in the bar. He watched over her, as if someone may snatch her away from him if he wasn't careful. 

Kadir finally got up the nerve to ask him when they were leaving, " Abi, we have been here for awhile now, don't you think it's time to continue on our way to Sicily." He asked hesitantly, not wanting to flare up his temper. "I know you are infatuated with Carolina, but are you ready to throw an anchor down here in Alghero." Efe was still trying to find his heart, trying to understand the feeling he was having, so the answer to Kadir's question was harder to come by than he thought. "I'm not sure Kadir, how do you know these feeling if you've never had them before." Kadir confused at the words of his brother, " So are we staying here, or are we going on. What does your heart tell you." He asked, eyeing Efe. " Ok, let's prepare to leave, you go stock up our supplies and I'll take care of the boat. Then I want you to get lost  while I spend the last evening with her on the boat, deal." Efe pleaded with Kadir, and of course he agreed. 

He waited for her as she finished her shift, not taking his eyes off of her. She was such a sight to behold, it scared him at the feelings he had. " Hello my love, sorry you had to wait, but my replacement girl was running late." She moved close to him giving him a kiss on the lips. He tensed at the warmth he felt with her lips on his, the tingling sensation that made him shiver. She smiled, " You ok, it seem like that scared you. We have kissed before you know." Then she looked deeper into his eyes, " What Efe, what's going on,....and don't say nothing, because I can see it in your eyes." Her voice demanding an answer. He swallowed hard, but smiled at her, trying to camouflage the aching in his gut that had come from their decision. " Why would there be something, I'm just glad to see you, and I have a surprise for you." Her eyes opened wide, " A surprise, I'm not sure about surprises, sometimes their not always good." She replied, still trying to get a feel for that look in his eyes. " No.....this is good, I promise. I have the boat ready for a special evening with just us, alone. Dinner, a little music, some wine and the stars, what do you say." She knew exactly what to say, " Ok, that all sounds great, but there's more....I can tell." 

Kadir had put the last minute touches on the table and put the wine in to chill, just as his brother instructed. He had made plans with Nick and Michelle to take in a concert on the beach, and then stay his last night in the hotel room, giving his brother and Carolina all the time they needed alone. He knew this decision to leave Sardinia was a hard one for Efe, but they needed to continue on with their plans, but he didn't think his brothers heart was in it. They had planned to meet at the bar on the beach to have a drink, and then go on to the concert from there. As they arrived, he told them about their decision to leave the next day, to continue on the trip to their next stop. Her friends knew Carolina would be devastated when she found out, they had seen such a change in her over the last week. She had returned to her old self again, able to laugh and be happy, they hoped she didn't fall back into that dark hole she was In before. " You don't have to go, do you, is their some reason you have to leave. This is going to hurt Carolina so much." Michelle pleaded with Kadir. " Can you all wait a little longer, we thought Efe had feeling for her." Her voice full of hurt for her friend. Kadir shock his head, " If Efe doesn't want to go then we won't go, it's all up to him, and I think he has feeling for her, that why it's been so hard for him to leave."

He helped her onto the deck of the boat, making sure she didn't fall. Kadir had done a great job on the table and he even strung up some twinkling light around the top canopy. She sucked in her breath slightly at the sight of it all, " Did you do this for me, Efe you're so sweet." She threw her arms  around his neck, he couldn't  refuse the gesture and wanted more, as the feel of her body entwined with his brought out an excitement he had never felt before. These were things that he was used to, things that he had done before, like hugging women, kissing, it was all nothing new to him,....but with her it created a fury inside him that he didn't recognize. He smiled at her, " Yes, this is all just for you, and for me too." He reached for the wine, popping the cork, he poured them both a glass, as she walked around the boat, " You know this really is a beautiful boat, and it looks comfortable too. So what time are you and Kadir leaving in the morning." The statement shocked him, he spun around to look at her, " How did you know, I wanted to tell you myself." His eyes met hers that were full of hurt. " Carolina, I'm sorry. Kadir wants to move on, keep up with our plans. This has been hard for me, I  want you to know, but we will be leaving in the morning." 

She smiled, " I knew this would happen, I knew you were going to move on, carry on with your trip. I just hoped in my heart you wouldn't." She looked away, out across the water, her heart twisting and turning, " Do you have to go, I mean,...do you have somewhere to be at a certain time,....how can you just leave Efe, I thought we cared for each other." Her eyes opened wide, there was no anger in her eyes, just a look of questions.  Then she laughed, that stung him more than the slap across the face he had received from Paola, " I see, was this part of your adventure, to see how many women you could conquer and get to fall for you.....was I the first, or has there been others before me. Just tell me I wasn't the first idiot. Efe stood there frozen in a state of shock, as the words of hurt came tumbling out of her mouth. " Carolina, it is nothing like that, I do have feelings for you,...if you only knew, but we need to finish our journey." His body was literally shaking, as he tried to explain something he didn't even understand himself. 

She moved closer to him, her presence made him weak, as she gently touch his face, searching his eyes for comfort. " Efe, I know you have feelings for me, and I for you. You will be back, I know in my heart you will be back,.. and I'm going to be right here,...waiting." She turned and quickly stepped over the railing of the boat and ran down the pier, as if she was running from the truth..Efe blinked hard, holding back the tears that were forming in his eyes, that lump in his throat was growing bigger and bigger as he watched her disappear in the dark.

" What did you just do,...you did nothing...you said nothing...you just let her go, you fool." He yelled out loud.

What made him think he deserved any one like that, he thought as he slumped down on the deck bench, she was way to good for him. 

He tried to convince himself...

But his heart was already aching for her.......