As I sat quietly on the oceanfront balcony of our suite, the golden hues of the morning sun reflecting off the turquoise waters below, I couldn’t help but reflect on how perfect our anniversary had been so far.
Everything just fell into place – John was amazing and this tropical paradise was the perfect escape. But just when I was beginning to believe that this would be the kind of vacation that would erase the stress of the past few months, an unexpected turn of events shattered the illusion. Little did I know that the next day would test not only my heart but my trust in the one person I thought I knew better than anyone else.
It all started with an innocent moment on the beach. John and I enjoyed a leisurely walk along the shore, hand in hand, the sound of the waves gently lapping at our feet. Then, without warning, a woman approached him—strangely familiar, yet completely unknown. The words she spoke made my heart stop, her sudden appearance sending a wave of confusion and panic. Thousands of questions raced through my head: Who was she? Why did she know him? And what was her presence really about? I couldn’t have prepared myself for the emotional roller coaster that was about to unfold.
John and I were on the beach enjoying our anniversary when a woman in a bathing suit walked up to him, leaned over, and called his name. My heart stopped beating. What did she want from my husband and who was he? I had no idea that she would make me cry that day.
“Please don’t leave me, John.
“John!” She woke up in an empty bed and screamed. I realized I was having a nightmare and my heart started racing. I’m Rosa and I had the most horrible dream. My husband John left me in a tropical paradise with turquoise water and swaying palm trees. It was hard to shake the bad feeling as the morning sun peeked through the curtains.
“You mean Rosa? Are you okay?” John’s voice came from down the hall. His face was worried as he appeared in the doorway.
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, it was just a nightmare. “What time is it?”
He smiled and said, “I made coffee. It’s almost nine.” “Oh, and happy anniversary, sweetie.
My eyes widened. How could I forget? We celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary! I got up from the bed and hugged him.
“John, happy anniversary! I can’t believe it’s been ten years already.”
John’s eyes glittered with excitement. “I’ll give you a surprise. Put your hands away and close your eyes.”
I felt something light in my hands as I followed his instructions. When I opened my eyes, I noticed two leaves.
“No way,” I exclaimed as I read the location.
“What about the Dominican Republic?” “Are you serious?”
John smiled. “Pack your things, honey. We’re leaving in three hours.”
I kissed his cheek and cried out in joy. “John, that’s amazing! I can’t believe you did that!”
“You better hurry,” he laughed. “You have 20 minutes to pack before we have to hit the road.
But I couldn’t help feeling ashamed as I stuffed my clothes into my suitcase. I haven’t seen John much lately because he’s been so busy at work. This trip was just what we needed to reconnect.
“Are you ready for our journey?” John leaned against the doorframe and asked.
I smiled as I closed the trunk. “With you?
Always.
The flight to the Dominican Republic was full of excitement and anticipation. Warm tropical air greeted us as soon as we stepped off the plane.
“Oh my God, John, this is beautiful!” Enjoying the vivid colors and rich foliage that surrounded the airport, I shouted.
John grabbed my hand. “Just wait until you see where we live.
We were ready to be driven to our resort in a sleek black car. As we drove along the coast, I couldn’t take my eyes off the dazzling turquoise water.
“It’s unbelievable you kept it a secret,” I said looking at John. “How long have you been planning this?”
He gave me a sly smile. “Let’s just say it wasn’t easy with all the late nights at the office.
I felt guilty when I realized how far apart we had been lately. I apologize for being so focused on my personal problems. I realize how challenging your new project was.
John’s face softened. Hey, that’s why we’re here. No work and no distractions.
“Just us.”
The car stopped at a beautiful beach resort. I could hear the soft lapping of the waves on the shore as the palm trees swayed in the wind.
“Welcome to Paradise!” flashed the smile of our driver.
As we checked in, I couldn’t take my eyes off the stunning lobby. Whisper, “John, this must have cost a fortune.”
He just winked at me. “Nothing but the best for my girl.
Our huge suite with a private terrace overlooking the ocean was even more amazing. I breathed in the salty air and went out onto the balcony.
John put his arms around my waist and stood up from behind.
• “What do you think?”
Was the wait worth it?
I looked into his warm brown eyes as I squirmed in his arms. “It’s perfect. “You’re perfect.
For a moment all my fears disappeared as he leaned in to kiss me. John’s stomach rumbled loudly as we left and we both burst out laughing.
“I guess that’s our cue to find some food,” I smiled. “What do you say we hit the beach and get some snacks?”
John smiled. “Race with you to the water!”
I couldn’t shake the feeling that this vacation was going to change everything as we walked hand in hand to the glistening water.
The following days were full of sunshine, beaches, and pure joy. We enjoyed delicious fish and delicious coconut drinks while lounging on the beach. We moved our bodies in perfect unison as we danced bachata under the stars in the evening.
On the third evening, we watched the sunset turn the sky into brilliant shades of pink and orange while lounging on the lounger. John’s heart beat steadily as I rested my head on his chest.
“Why didn’t we do this sooner?” He traced languid circles on his arm and asked.
A deep laugh rumbled in John’s chest. “Our anniversary is the best time I could think of. I also wanted it to be unexpected.
I looked at him with my head raised. “Well, consider me totally surprised and totally spoiled.
As we lay there I considered the little surprise I had prepared for John. My fingers unconsciously traveled to the stomach where our little secret was growing. I found out I was pregnant shortly before the trip and waited for the right time to tell him.
“What’s on your mind?” John asked, watching my serious gaze.
I gave a strange smile. Oh, nothing. “I just think about how lucky I am.
My head was kissed by him. “I’m the lucky one.”
John suddenly sat up as the last of the sunlight lit the sky pink and orange. “Hey, would you like to take a walk on the shore? The sunsets here are always breathtaking.”
I nodded heartily, already thinking about how to deliver the message. “That sounds perfect.
Warm waves lapped at our feet as we walked hand in hand along the shore. Everything looked beautiful as the last of the sun cast a golden glow on the coast.
I took a deep breath before feeling the small gift box I brought from New York in my pocket.
“John, I want to tell you something-“
In the fading light, a figure appeared out of nowhere and ran in our direction. Before I could comprehend what was happening, the woman in the white bathing suit collapsed to her knees in front of John.
“John!” she exclaimed. “You are the love of my life. Time to tell her everything and stop pretending. Will you marry me i want you to be my one and only.
Still holding the surprise package in my pocket, I froze. The world seemed to wobble on its axis as I turned my gaze from the woman to John. I waited for his explanation of the situation.
John’s mouth opened and closed silently and his face was colorless. I was shocked when he suddenly started laughing.
John’s laughter echoed down the beach and my heart pounded in my chest. Was it some kind of cruel prank?
I was horrified to see him lean down and pull the woman into a tight hug and help her up.
“You couldn’t have picked a better time, could you?” John laughed and held the guy at arm’s length.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I found my voice.
“What on earth is going on? Who is she, John? My earlier happiness dissipated like mist in the sun when I cleared my throat.”
I suddenly remembered the nightmare I had on the morning of our anniversary. John leaves me in a tropical paradise… Was this a twisted realization of that dream?
When John saw the tears on my face, he turned to me and his eyes widened. “Rosa, darling, I’m so sorry,” he said quickly as he walked over to me. “This is Julia. We were in college together.”
Julia held out her hand with a giggle. “Nice to meet you, Rosa. I hope I didn’t scare you too much.
I didn’t understand what was going on so I just stared at her hand. John continued: “Everyone laughed when I made fun of her during the game. She said she’d get revenge on her one day, so I guess this will be it.”
Julia nodded emphatically. “You’re right! Twenty minutes after I spotted him in the distance I was trying to figure out if it was him.”
Once I was sure, I couldn’t help but pull a little joke.”
The tension in my body gradually began to relax as their words took hold. It was just a joke. Stupid, ill-timed joke.
“You… you won’t leave me, will you?” I asked John shakily.
His expression softened as he pulled me into his arms. “Never, Rosa. I’m sorry if we scared you. I didn’t know Julia was there or that she would do that.”
I gently tapped my hand on his chest and giggled weakly. “I almost had a mini heart attack you fool.
I was thinking about the gift box in my pocket when a wave of relief washed over me. Maybe it was the best moment after all.
I whispered: “Honey,” I pulled away and looked at John. “I’m sorry, but I will not kneel. “I wanted to tell you something a few minutes ago.
I took the box out of my pocket and opened it to find a small pair of baby shoes inside. John accepted them and his eyes widened.
“Rosa…” he whispered despondently.
I smiled through my tears. “We’re going to be parents.”
John pulled me into his tightest hug yet, his shoulders heaving with tears and laughter.
“Of all the surprises, this is the most pleasant. I love you so much, Rosa.”
Julia clapped her hands excitedly.
“What a wonderful anniversary surprise!” “Congratulations to you both!”
I knew that no matter how many tricks life threw at us, John and I would always end up back together as we stood on the beach surrounded by the sound of the waves and the last rays of the sunset. Because I knew John would never leave me, just like the joke. He was my best friend, my rock, and the father of our child.
And I was more convinced than ever that we were meant to be as we walked hand in hand back to the resort.
As we walked back to the resort, the evening sky full of stars, I felt a deep sense of gratitude and love. The unexpected prank, shock, and uncertainty melted away, replaced by the warmth of John’s embrace and the joy of our growing family. Life had a funny way of throwing curveballs, but in that moment I realized that these moments—both surprising and delightful—were what made our journey together so special. We’ve built something strong and lasting, and now, with a baby on the way, our bond will only deepen. Hand in hand, we walked into the future knowing that no matter what challenges we faced, we would face them together – forever.