2 The Beach in Sicily

Calm waves.  They bring so much peace and tranquility. The sun blazes through the bright blue sky and it is shining.

It is shining on Cathy Miller and her husband, Nathan.

Surely there wasn't much they could ask for on their honeymoon.

Cathy looks towards Nathan and blushes, feeling so in love and grateful for him in his life. The last three years haven't been easy and God knows that. Now, being in this magical paradise, it feels so breathtaking. So breathtaking to feel the fullness of love and its abundance. So breathtaking to feel the glow of the sun soak into her skin as she watches the waves of the ocean sweep to and fro.

It feels good. To finally be able to breathe without heavy burdens that broke her back years before. It feels good. 

Beside her, Nathan appears to be deep in the comfort of his beach chair, watching the waves while tanning. Cathy smiles sheepishly as a mischievous thought weaves into her mind - It's the perfect time to play some tricks on him. To surprise him. He won't see it coming.  "Oh no Nathan, a lizard just crawled into your pants," she points out ecstatically, being up to her usual antics to poke fun at Nathan.

Nathan shrieks and paces around as if struck by a bolt of lightning. "Where babe where? Oh no, I can feel it moving up my trousers" He takes off his sky blue shorts in panic and like a maniac possessed by fear, runs towards the glistening ocean water only to fall face-first on the shore.

Cathy lets free her high-pitched laugh and Nathan joyfully runs after her and catches her. She wraps her legs around Nathan's muscled body.

"Only you Cath can make a professional swimmer look like a bag of potatoes thrown into the ocean"

Cathy tugs her hair to the side and bites her lower lip "Well I try" she teases and kisses his lips.

"You think you're funny huh? At least I'm not the only one that's wet," says Nathan a sly grin on his face

"Wha.." asks a puzzled Cathy "Oh, no! Nayth don't you dare" Cathy says full of laughter. With Cathy strapped on his back, Nathan runs deep into the ocean. Cathy tries to flee but his grasp is just too tight on her thighs. She is full of such an abundance of laughter which numbs her body. Escaping his tight and warm grasp would be futile at this point. Nathan spins her around, slowly sliding her body of him and trying to lower her into the water "Oh my gosh, what are you doing?" she asks, seeing the sly grin on his face as she feels his grasp loosen. "No, my hair, I've just styled it, don't, don't, Nathan, I will- " She says while flapping her hands trying to get a grasp on Nathan. He lets loose and dumps her into the ocean.

Bouts of laughter erupt from his belly.

She rises above the surface and brings herself to her feet "Oh my gosh, you're such an asshole" she laughs and splashes water at him.

Nathan moves closer to her "I'll always be an asshole, but for you, a beautiful one and more" he says locking eyes with her and cupping her cheek

Cathy gives a gleeful smile as a tear shows in her eye "Beautiful asshole, that's all I ever want" she says whilst engaged in Nathan's blue eyes

Their lips collide and at the moment, only the sweet sensation of love overcomes them as they are engulfed in one another. Nathan breaks away and pauses for a second. He looks into her eyes again "ti amo" he vows.

"I love you too" affirms Cathy

They lock lips again, and for Cathy, It feels like an eternity, like life would only be perfect from now and forever.

They lean towards each other, making their way towards their deck chairs with the sun reflecting over the sky blue beach.

***

"This is quite the perfect honeymoon Nayth, the view is breath-taking," remarks Cathy

"I thought it was a bit boring for you."

"How could you think it was boring, babe? Look around you, it's all I could and ever dreamt of"

"And that's why I love surprising you" grins Nathan looking deeply into Cathy's emerald eyes and tucking her loose hair behind her ears

"How can you surprise me more than this? Is it even possible?"

"I've arranged for us to have a bonfire on the beach with the hotel, I just have to go talk to them to set it up"

"Aww Nathan... But babe, we just got here - don't leave now. There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow. Stay"

"Tomorrow is another adventure on its own - It's you, me, and Sicily. I promise babe, I won't be gone for long. I want to make this honeymoon special for you babe. I want it to be heaven on earth for you. To mean the world for you. And to give you the world." He says as he cups the face of a teared-up Cathy, sharing one last kiss before he leaves. He holds her hand and looks into her eyes "I'll be back in fifteen Cathy."

Slowly, Nathan vanishes out of sight. Away from the sandy beach and away from the grasp and vision of Cathy who decides to tan while eagerly awaiting his surprise.

A couple of minutes pass and she looks at her watch. "Five pm" it reads. "Surely fifteen minutes have passed," she thinks to herself but decides she would rather wait because punctuality is not her husband's best trait.

The sun starts to fade as the watch on her wrist reads "six pm".

It doesn't take long before the sky blue beach around her darkens in color, reflecting only the dark moon. Day turns into night and peaceful waves come crashing.

Her heart starts pounding. She scans the beach area for Nathan. All her widened eyes can see is couples, young Italian families gathering up with their children covered with sand; slim skateboarders departing with their skateboards in hand; groups of teenagers with their youthful fun broken up by the coming of night.

There is no sight of Nathan nor the sight of him emerging. Her heart pounds more. Every joint in her body stiffens. In her mind, many thoughts come poking in from all directions but the most important and recurring being,- Where is Nathan