The Leap

There was a cool breeze that blew in off the water, and I actually got goose bumps as a trickle of sweat ran down my back. Although it wasn’t exactly bright the sun had been directly in my eyes, but the music began to play and so I removed my sunglasses and slid them into my jacket pocket. I realized now that quite a few strangers were laying witness to this event, and I smiled sheepishly.

The day had started off wonderfully. When we had gone to bed the night before we left the doors to the balcony open so we could hear the crashing of the waves against the beach, but before the sun was up I had to close the doors, the room had become too humid. We had been exhausted from more than 13 hours of travel so our first night was a short one.

When we woke up we showered and threw on our swimming suits and headed to the breakfast buffet. The morning was beautiful, a bit less humid there was a nice breeze in the air. When we were done with breakfast we grabbed towels and set up near the pool.

People watching is a favorite pastime of mine and so we gawked poolside for a while. We noted the varying ranges of age of the people at the resort, and commented on mismatched couples, and pointed out the couples that were obviously on honeymoons. They were lost in the whirlwind of a Saturday wedding and a honeymoon that started on Sunday. In a fantasy land of delight their jobs, their families and the loads of packages were hundreds if not thousands of miles away from them.

Jennifer checked her watch, “It’s almost time for my appointment, I’ll see you in a bit?” Although it came across as a question, she had no doubts she was going to see me again in a few hours. As she wondered off I pulled out my book and buried my nose. The time flew by and before I knew it, it was time for me to go find Izzy.

I was in the next room buttoning my shirt, “It doesn’t bother you if I call you Izzy does it?” He laughed in return and when he spoke his accent was barely noticeable, “No, man, you can call me Izzy…” Stepping into the larger room Izzy smiled and said simply, “You look great, ya mon!”

Back on the beach I was barely cognizant of the water lapping against the beach behind me. I was standing between two practical strangers facing a group of strangers, and another stranger in a summery dress with a broad smile was walking towards me. But soon none of it mattered because my eyes met with Jennifer’s.

She looked beautiful in the white dress, and suddenly it was only the two of us on that beach. There were no hotel staff members acting as witnesses, there were no strangers, there was only the two of us. I admired her again and smirked as I recalled telling her how well the dress accentuated her curves and increased her bust line. She returned the smirk as if she could read my mind.

As quick as it all started it was over, rings were on our fingers, vowed were exchanged and quite a few strangers (gawkers really) were applauding us as we kissed. We went about and had our pictures taken, getting congratulated from various strangers sunning themselves.

I glanced at my watch, “Well I guess most everyone probably knows by now eh?” I noted. We had sent out invitations to our “reception” which would take place after we got home. Aside from a few family members our wedding was a complete surprise for everyone. Although our mothers were happy for us they were in agreement in the displeasure that we weren’t getting married in a church.

To satisfy them both (and their need for a Catholic wedding) we had a small ceremony in front of a priest before we left so that we were OK with God (thank God for Annulments!). But we still wanted a wedding on the beach.

Afterwards we did was newlyweds are supposed to do. We went back to our hotel room, stripped and spent the afternoon naked in bed. And then we enjoyed the rest of our vacation at the resort.

We came back home on Sunday to too many e-mails and voicemails to count. So many surprised but happy people. But judging from her message no one was more surprised than my ex-wife…