Paradise Bound

Chapter 30

As I reach the sand I slip my shoes off and slowly make my way down to Isaac.

My heart is hammering in my chest right now.

When I reach him I don't say anything I just sit down alongside him on the warm sand.

He turns his head towards me but I keep looking straight out ahead of me.

"Tessa?"

His voice sounds strained and broken. I finally give in and turn to face him.

"Isaac? Is everything okay?"

He let's out a long exaggerated sigh and turns his attention back to the calm water.

"I'm sorry about that outburst, it was immature and out of line. If you want to flirt with Will, it's not my place to interfere."

"Excuse me? I was not flirting with Will, I think you have that the wrong way around!"

"Yes, sorry, that's what I meant."

"Right, well that doesn't really explain why you acted like that?"

"I know I should be over the moon for Mia right now, and don't get me wrong I am delighted for them both. They make a wonderful couple.... It's just..."

"It reminds you of what you didn't get the chance to have?"

"Yes.... I know it's stupid because obviously marrying Diane would have been the biggest mistake of my life. It still doesn't make things any easier knowing that."

"It's not stupid Isaac, it's bound to still cause you pain every now and then. Trust me I understand. I had the marriage, I thought that was it. We were talking about starting a family together, my life was complete.....or at least I thought it was."

"I'm sorry Tessa, I wasn't even thinking of the pain you must have went through."

"It's fine, honestly. I mean I'm glad I found out what a lying, cheating dirtbag he really was, before we threw some children into the mix. Things would have gotten extremely messy."

"So you would have liked to have started a family?"

"Oh God yes. I have always wanted kids...... but some things don't work out the way you want."

I swallow the lump that has formed in the back of my throat as I stare out onto the peaceful sea, it's incredibly calm and relaxing even though I'm a ball of nerves deep inside.

"I'm pretty sure you have plenty of time to still have all that..... You're not exactly past it!"

"Mmmm, I suppose."

There is a sudden silence between us before I finally start the conversation again.

"So Isaac, earlier you said there was something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Ah, yes. I felt I owed you an explanation for the whole Diane incident last night."

"Oh.... I mean you don't owe me anything but.... I am a little bit curious as to why you were even giving her the time of day?"

"Yeah, firstly I want to say there is nothing going on with Diane and I, nor will there ever be again. The proposal, it's purely a business one."

"Oh?"

"Well the truth is the hotel isn't making as much as it needs to be and if it continues like this I honestly don't know how we'll even pay the staff. Diane's father happens to be an extremely wealthy businessman who wants to invest in the hotel."

"Ah, I see. Are you going to go ahead with that?"

"Well, like you said with your ex, I'm pretty sure Diane has an ulterior motive behind wanting to help me. I'm pretty sure it wasn't her father's idea and I really don't want to owe her or her father any favours."