Secluded Affair

chapter 17.

"Hey, Jon sorry it took longer than I expected it too, you wanna have that chat now?" I nod to Lizzie, confirming now was a good time.

I stand up, lean over give Cori a kiss and make my way out of the room following Lizzie to the small family room just down the corridor. Lizzie put the do not disturb sign on the door and closed it over, flicking the catch. so no one could walk in.

"What's up, Jon. Come on, speak to me."

"Lizzie, I don't know where to start!"

"Slowly, from the beginning, Jon. How did the two of you meet?"

"We met last Monday, you see I have a villa on the island I rent it out through a leasing agent. Cori had booked it out for herself for her 30th. She needed a break and well I checked with Ava, and she told me these two weeks was free, but she had looked at the wrong month. Cori had arrived first and had been out shopping, she came back and I was sat at the table on the patio. I told her she was underdressed for being part of the maid service, and boy let me tell you did I pay for that quip. At that moment I knew I liked her, she was different. Yes, she knew who I was and was a fan of the band, but something about her called to me. When I got up close and looked into her eyes I knew I was a goner."

"We spent time together getting to know each other and exploring the island, and we called it "A Once in A Lifetime Holiday". So, we did silly dares, things we would never normally do and just had fun. Before I came here, my plan was just to get drunk and wallow in self-pity. I had become numb to life, smiled when I needed to, played up to the rock star image and made it look like I was having fun. Then this crazy Scottish girl blew into my life like a hurricane, flipped everything upside down, made me feel again, wanted to do things for fun, and showed me how to live again and feel love. "

"How did you know she was the one?"

"Honestly I didn't, but once I got to know her, I knew I couldn't ever let her go, the thought of losing her. Cori, not being in my life, is not and will never be an option. I know she struggles sometimes that someone like me could ever love her, but the thought of not loving her or someone else loving her kills me. "

"How did you propose?"

"She had been acting funny all day, waiting to be on her own, not wanting me around. So eventually by late afternoon, I could no longer stand it, I made her come to the music room on the rouse of learning how to play an instrument, just to get her out of her room. It worked and we ended up not learning. I made us some food and we chatted over our meal, nothing exciting just mundane crap. She tried to escape back to her room again, but she compromised and we ended up in the hot tub. I couldn't take the weird atmosphere any longer and all our feelings came out while it turned out she was hiding from me cuz she had fallen in love with me and didn't know how to tell me and was scared I would run and laugh at her when I was in exactly the same position. "

"The day before, I had gone out to run errands and happened upon this little jewellery shop, and I saw the perfect ring for her. A while later, I came home with the ring. Anyway, I digress, not thinking I got up out of the hot tub and walked away, didn't say a word was gone for a while. When I came back, she was sobbing her heart out in the hot tub; she thought I'd left her. So  I got her out the hot tub, wrapped her in a towel, walked her through to the music room, and sat her down on the piano seat."

"I got down on one knee, gave her a massive speech, and asked her to marry me."

"Aww you little romantic you, that's so sweet. I'm guessing this isn't why you wanted to talk?"

"No, it's not, but besides Cori, you're the only other person who knows; neither of us has talked to our friends or families. Lizzie, I honestly feel like I'm losing it, I don't know how to deal with all of this."

"No one does, Jon; hell, if it was me in your shoes, even with my medical training, I would still be at loss on how to deal with it. There is no right or wrong way Jon, you do what you feel is right in your heart."

"The day I found her, nearly killed me, Lizzie. When I saw her lying on the bed, the blood on my hands felt like my heart was being pulled out of my chest. The day she died, and you told me I felt the world shatter around me. Watching her every day not waking up, I know she needs to rest but damn it, it's ripping me apart. " tears forming joining the ones already falling down my face.

"Jon, tell me how or what does it make you feel?"

"I'm angry! So fucking angry. I'm angry at the bastards that did this, I'm angry at Cori for trying to leave when she died and I know it's not her fault but she promised me she wouldn't leave me. I'm angry at myself for not being there, not protecting her, not being able to do anything but fucking sit on a chair next to her and beg and plead with her to open her eyes. I'm sad, I'm confused as hell. I'm numb but I feel everything."

"Jon, everything you feel is normal in this type of situation. There is no right and wrong emotion to feel, every hour is gonna kick up a new or different emotion, don't be hard on yourself"

"Lizzie, do you think she will wake up? honestly"

"Jon, I know deep in my heart that she will, I've been doing this job long enough, that I got a six sense about these things."

"Do you think I did the right thing proposing to her? Do you think I should have waited?"

"Who would you be waiting for Jon? When society deems that a decent amount of time has passed, or your family approves. Fuck it all Jon, live for you and your love, enjoy life and don't get bogged down with other peoples opinions, all that matters is the two of you. If you wanted to run off and get married, again that's up to you both no one else."
"One thing my mum told me, opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one. You decide "
"Thanks, Lizzie, it's been nice to talk to someone and unload all of this. Ohh, do you know of a little church run by a woman named Nancy?"

"Yeah, her little chapel is on the coast road heading north from here. Why?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Cori met her one day, on a drive she went on; I was going to see about her marrying us before our holiday is over. I just never knew where she was and then this all happened."

"Leave it with me, Jon, I know her and her family."

"Thanks, Lizzie, you really are an angel. Thank you for listening to me moan"

"No worries Jon, it's not just the patients were here for ok; and mums the word on the secret."