Merry Christmas, Paige Read Online Free PDF Page A

cliffside was the same place she and Nathan had fallen in love. A natural stone path led to the white sandy beach below. From where she stood she could hear the breaks crashing against the shore.
    Then again, not everything was the same. Five years ago they’d carved a heart and their initials into a large koa tree that stood out front of the bungalow. The tree was gone now, just like their love.
    “Is something wrong, Dr. Weston?”
    Her stomach churned, twisting into knots. “There’s been a mistake.”
    “No. The message I received specified this address.” He dug in his pocket and retrieved a piece of paper with something scribbled upon it. “Yes. This is it. The key should be beneath the mat. Would you like me to carry your bag?”
    “Bag?” She had nearly forgotten the only thing she had with her. Suddenly, a weighted breath pushed from her lungs. She truly had not a thing to her name. “I don’t know how to say this, but it appears that everything I brought with me is in Fiji. That includes money. I can’t pay you for the ride.”
    As he reached into the car and retrieved her bag, he chuckled. “No worries. The good doctor took care of that too.”
    Of course, the good doctor.
    How ungrateful would she be to ask Dr. Waters for different arrangements?
    There was nothing she could do but say, “Thank you,” as she accepted her bag. No money. No credit cards. Her stomach growled. No food. Tomorrow she would spend the day locating someplace to wire her money. That is, if she could get someone to give her a ride into town.
    This sucked. Tired and emotional, she didn’t know how much more she could take.
    “Would you like me to escort you to the door?” Feleti asked.
    “No thank you.” She knew the way, but couldn’t quite get her feet to move. When he didn’t immediately drive off, she realized he was waiting for her to go inside. So, with as much courage as she could muster, she walked to the door and bent down. Sure enough, there was a key beneath the mat. Her hands shook as she held the doorknob, inserted the key and twisted. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
    Paige covered her mouth with a palm. Emotion rose to a crescendo that threatened to release the tears welling in her eyes. Everything was exactly how she remembered. The spacious living room designed in island décor with bamboo trim on the couch, chair, coffee table and matching wall unit that housed the television. Even the open kitchen hadn’t changed, down to the single naupaka flower adorning the glass tabletop. White with purplish streaks, the petals formed only half a flower. Like a moth to a flame, she was drawn to the blossom. Her hand trembled as she picked it up and pressed it to her chest. She closed her eyes, unable to face what the flower represented. Loneliness.
    As if it were only yesterday, she heard Nathan’s sensual voice caress her ears as he told her the story. “The legend says the naupaka flower represents lovers who were tragically separated by the gods.”
    A tear rolled down her cheek with the thought of how their lives paralleled that of the legend. Fatefully divided—never to be together.
    Why hadn’t she stayed on that airplane? Why couldn’t she forget and move forward?
    Instead Nathan’s words continued to haunt her. “One lover banished to the mountains, the other to the ocean’s sandy beaches to live eternity alone.”
    The pain in her chest squeezed, the anguish almost too difficult to bear. Night after night, she went to bed alone, hoping that one day he would come and get her, but he never did.
    “Please stop.” The cry came out a whimper. Still holding the flower, she cupped her hands over her ears. She willed the thought of him to vanish, but his cruel words continued, slicing through her like a knife opening wound after wound.
    “Only when we unite as lovers will the halves be whole again and joined forever.”
    Paige couldn’t take any more. A river of tears