was lost.
“What is it, Rafe? Why do you
suddenly look so sad?”
“When I took this vacation,
it was only to gather my thoughts. Just to relax. But now when I think about
it, I think I knew deep down inside that I did not to want to marry Sarafina,
that maybe there was someone out there to make feel the way Papá feels
about you. I know that I promised you, but I do not love her, Mamá. When
I saw Dahlia for the first time on that beach, it was as if nothing in the
world mattered. Every moment I spent with her made me want to be with her
more.” His voice lowered the pain in him more visible than before.
“Do you love her, Rafe?”
“Is it possible to love
someone after only a few days? I do not know if what I feel is love, but I know
she is all I think about. I know that the idea of not having her in my life is
almost unbearable. Is that love, Mom? Is that how you felt about Papá at
first?” His questioning eyes roamed his mother’s soft features, hoping for some
answer to all his questions.
Lauralyn listened to Rafe as
he spoke about Dahlia, a hand over her mouth, fighting the tears back. She had
never heard her son speak of any woman in this way. It was there in his eyes,
his voice, and his expression; this love that he felt for this mysterious girl.
She wondered if Dahlia knew how lucky she was to have Rafe love her.
“Oh, my son…you have never
loved a woman before. That is the only reason these feelings are so strange to
you. That is how I still feel about your father. Even when my father thought I
was crazy to love a man with nothing, I knew what I felt was right and I held
on to that. I fought like crazy to keep him, and in the end I did. Son, if you
love this girl– as I think you do– go to her.”
“It is not that simple, Mamá.”
“What prevents you from going
back to her? Does she not feel the same way about you?” Lauralyn felt a burst
of anger at the thought that this girl did not return Rafe’s love. Did she
think she was too good for her Rafe?
“Even if she did love me, it
is too late now. Before I even figured out that I felt something for Dahlia, I
decided to break things off with Sarafina. Then, after I kissed her for the
first time I knew I had to do it soon. I was going to fly back here, call off
the engagement and then go back to Trinidad. Then I would be a free man. I
would be able to court her properly.” He paused, his eyes distant, a strained
smile flashed across his face, as if conjuring up the memories. “I guess fate
planned differently. She went away for a couple of days, her aunt had died. I
didn’t know where she was. I thought I would go mad from not seeing her. But
then she came back. She came to the hotel that night and I was so happy to see
her. I knew then that I didn’t want to be without her. Then she kissed me.” A
faint smile touched his lips.
“Things happened, things I
didn’t plan on happening. I wanted to tell her about Sarafina first, but I was
so happy to see her again…” His voice was husky now, his words almost
whispered, and the memories painful. “I was in the shower the next morning when
my phone rang—she answered it. It was Sarafina. She was so hurt; I could see it
in her eyes. When she asked if I was engaged I could not lie. And when she
cried, I felt as if someone was pulling my heart apart. Knowing that I am the
reason she is hurting is too much. She thinks that I lied to her and she wants
nothing to do with me.”
They both sat silently,
Lauralyn observing her son. She was happy that he told her this. Now she
understood his sadness. He was in love with this Dahlia but believed that there
was no hope for them. Her hand covered his in an effort to provide comfort.
“Why don’t you go back to her,
Son? Try to see her again; explain to her. She probably just needs some time.”
She suggested.
“No, Mom, it doesn’t matter
anymore. It is over between us. Maybe I do love her and that is why I will not
go back. She deserves
“What is it, Rafe? Why do you
suddenly look so sad?”
“When I took this vacation,
it was only to gather my thoughts. Just to relax. But now when I think about
it, I think I knew deep down inside that I did not to want to marry Sarafina,
that maybe there was someone out there to make feel the way Papá feels
about you. I know that I promised you, but I do not love her, Mamá. When
I saw Dahlia for the first time on that beach, it was as if nothing in the
world mattered. Every moment I spent with her made me want to be with her
more.” His voice lowered the pain in him more visible than before.
“Do you love her, Rafe?”
“Is it possible to love
someone after only a few days? I do not know if what I feel is love, but I know
she is all I think about. I know that the idea of not having her in my life is
almost unbearable. Is that love, Mom? Is that how you felt about Papá at
first?” His questioning eyes roamed his mother’s soft features, hoping for some
answer to all his questions.
Lauralyn listened to Rafe as
he spoke about Dahlia, a hand over her mouth, fighting the tears back. She had
never heard her son speak of any woman in this way. It was there in his eyes,
his voice, and his expression; this love that he felt for this mysterious girl.
She wondered if Dahlia knew how lucky she was to have Rafe love her.
“Oh, my son…you have never
loved a woman before. That is the only reason these feelings are so strange to
you. That is how I still feel about your father. Even when my father thought I
was crazy to love a man with nothing, I knew what I felt was right and I held
on to that. I fought like crazy to keep him, and in the end I did. Son, if you
love this girl– as I think you do– go to her.”
“It is not that simple, Mamá.”
“What prevents you from going
back to her? Does she not feel the same way about you?” Lauralyn felt a burst
of anger at the thought that this girl did not return Rafe’s love. Did she
think she was too good for her Rafe?
“Even if she did love me, it
is too late now. Before I even figured out that I felt something for Dahlia, I
decided to break things off with Sarafina. Then, after I kissed her for the
first time I knew I had to do it soon. I was going to fly back here, call off
the engagement and then go back to Trinidad. Then I would be a free man. I
would be able to court her properly.” He paused, his eyes distant, a strained
smile flashed across his face, as if conjuring up the memories. “I guess fate
planned differently. She went away for a couple of days, her aunt had died. I
didn’t know where she was. I thought I would go mad from not seeing her. But
then she came back. She came to the hotel that night and I was so happy to see
her. I knew then that I didn’t want to be without her. Then she kissed me.” A
faint smile touched his lips.
“Things happened, things I
didn’t plan on happening. I wanted to tell her about Sarafina first, but I was
so happy to see her again…” His voice was husky now, his words almost
whispered, and the memories painful. “I was in the shower the next morning when
my phone rang—she answered it. It was Sarafina. She was so hurt; I could see it
in her eyes. When she asked if I was engaged I could not lie. And when she
cried, I felt as if someone was pulling my heart apart. Knowing that I am the
reason she is hurting is too much. She thinks that I lied to her and she wants
nothing to do with me.”
They both sat silently,
Lauralyn observing her son. She was happy that he told her this. Now she
understood his sadness. He was in love with this Dahlia but believed that there
was no hope for them. Her hand covered his in an effort to provide comfort.
“Why don’t you go back to her,
Son? Try to see her again; explain to her. She probably just needs some time.”
She suggested.
“No, Mom, it doesn’t matter
anymore. It is over between us. Maybe I do love her and that is why I will not
go back. She deserves
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