Second Honeymoon

Chapter 82

“I’VE NEVER SEEN anything so beautiful,” said Melissa Cosmer, approaching the top of Makahiku Falls in Maui’s Haleakalā National Park.

“Me, neither,” said her husband, Charlie Cosmer.

Only he wasn’t looking at the majestic two-hundred-foot waterfall. He was admiring his new bride of barely a week. He’d never felt so lucky, and in love, in his entire life. Melissa was his sun, moon, and stars all in one.

A gift from the heavens, he called her when they were interviewed for the Vows column in the Times.

Charlie’s only regret was that his parents, who had died in a plane crash five years earlier, never got to meet her. A real keeper, his dad would’ve called her. Charlie was sure of it.

“C’mon,” said Melissa, smiling like a devil. “Let’s see how close we can get to the edge.”

She took Charlie’s hand, and the two wove through the thick banyan trees and high grass drenched with mist. Maui’s weather was always spectacular, but on this day nature had really outdone herself. The sky appeared to be an almost neon blue.

Their tour group, and the official path to the waterfall—which they’d taken a slight detour from—was maybe a hundred yards away. It wasn’t a bad tour, the newlyweds thought; it was just a little crowded. Too many fanny-pack tourists. All they wanted was a little alone time amid so much beauty.

“Careful,” said Charlie as the ground began to slope downward toward the edge.

But they were so close to the roar of the water now that they couldn’t hear each other.

“What?” asked Melissa, craning her neck toward him.

Never mind, he thought. He’d just hold on tight to her hand. Better yet, he’d hold on tight to all of her.

With a playful tug, Charlie pulled Melissa into his arms, gazing deep into her eyes for a second before kissing her soft lips. As she kissed him back, the thought seemed to hit them both at the same time.

What a spectacular place to make love.

Slowly, the two made their way down to the grass, never once letting go of each other. So in love, so full of passion.

So caught up in the moment that they didn’t see the man standing behind them.