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Reunion

Despite having set the alarm for seven, Serena decided to start the day at six in the morning. She awoke at three and managed to get back into a restless sleep after that. Finally, at six, she decided to stop trying to sleep again and just get up. The sun was beginning to light the gorgeous island and it was time for her to acquaint herself with it.

After showering and brushing her teeth she changed into a pink body-hugging dress with thin straps with a ruffled tier at the end of the skirt, giving the illusion that the dress reached just above her knees. She paired the dress with brown peep-toe heels that showed off her French-tip pedicure. Serena brushed the tangles out of her newly washed hair and rolled it into a bun setting it in place with old plastic hair chopsticks she had found on Amazon years ago.

She applied a layer of sunblock, a dab of lipstick, and a little eyeliner and she was good to go.

After leaving a tip for housekeeping on the nightstand along with a note expressing her gratitude, she vacated the room strolling down the long corridor to the elevator.

She knew paradise was going to be lucky for her when she beckoned the elevator and the large double doors opened immediately. What's more, she had it all to herself. When the elevator stopped on the first floor and opened its doors, she stepped out immediately looking for signs leading to the open-air restaurant where she had planned to have breakfast. As soon as she found it, she gave her name and room number to the hostess at the front of the venue and was seated immediately at a table overlooking waterfalls.

A young male server with black hair and a puka shell necklace showed up immediately asking if she had been there before. When she said she hadn't, he quickly explained to her it was a buffet breakfast and pointed to the food that was being brought out at the back of the restaurant where many shiny chafing dishes had already been laid out.

Being famished, Serena wasted no time in making a beeline to where she saw people lining up to grab trays and empty plates.

As she looked around the food options, she decided to start with Eggs Benedict and a side of fresh pineapple chunks and coffee. She was going to be here a few more mornings, so she figured she had time to try the other mouth-watering options down the line. She carried the tray back to the table and began to eat, noticing the restaurant had doubled in patrons already, confirming it was a good decision to come down when she did.

She was halfway through her meal when her cell phone pinged.

Her best friend, Iris Worthington texted her to see if she had awakened.

In response, Serena aimed her phone camera at the waterfall sitting in the middle of a sea of green grass across from her table when she snapped a picture. She included, "You made a HUGE mistake staying at home to plan your wedding instead of coming to this tropical paradise with me."

She sent the message, following up with an emoji sending her a kiss. For good measure, she sent her a few pictures she'd snapped yesterday as well to make her seethe with jealousy.

Laughing inwardly, Serena looked at the text one more time, admiring the artistic beauty in the picture she had taken of the waterfall before her. She considered sending the picture to her mother as well but promptly changed her mind. When she left Apple Bay, her mother was reproaching her going on vacation without a man to protect her and had lectured her for the fiftieth time on breaking up with a hardworking young man who preferred working instead of slacking off.

The truth about the one-time Connie Ellison was that she was old-fashioned and picked up her cues from generations of long, long ago. Connie was a smart businessperson, but she felt women needed men. Connie's parents had taught her women needed to portray themselves as feeble and weak to make themselves more desirable to men.

She also tried to instill virginity was important but Serena never subscribed to these antiquated values. Besides, if Connie had wanted her daughter to remain pure until marriage, she never should have allowed her to go to college away from Apple Bay.

Serena smiled naughtily as she zoomed in on the waterfall picture on her cell phone. Her skin tingled at the memory of the passionate nights she spent in Venice thanks to Roberto during Carnevale a few years back.

Giving one last appreciative look at her photograph, she gently placed her phone facedown against the table.

With Roberto's muscular body so prevalent in the foreground of her mind, it took her thoughts a moment to connect with what she saw.

Serena grabbed the phone quickly facing it towards her. After unlocking it, she went back to the waterfall picture focusing to the right of the waterfall.

She looked up, gasping as she stared at the guy who was sitting to the right of the waterfall. His gaze was on the tabletop the whole time. He lifted his eyes slightly every time he brought the coffee cup to his lips but he never looked her way.

Serena pinched the photograph on her phone screen enlarging the man sitting by himself at the table.

She felt robbed of all oxygen, but happy nonetheless.

"Paul!" She whispered to herself with tears in her eyes as her head snapped back to the lone man at the table by the waterfall.

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