Cindy and Mattheus’ plane left for the States without them on it. No one would let them leave. Along with the shock and grief caused by the suicide, there was great relief that the killer had been found. Cindy and Mattheus were thanked, honored, congratulated, not only by the police, but the Senator, his family and even Petrovich joined in. They had done incredible work, all agreed. A dinner on the Senator’s yacht was planned to officially honor them.
Before the dinner, the Senator pulled Mattheus to the side.
“Before you go home,” he insisted, “you and Cindy have to take a few days as my guest, anywhere you like on the island. You need to time to relax, rest up, enjoy.”
Mattheus had accepted the invitation immediately, and the Senator had arranged for an adjoining suite for them at a luxurious, private villa-hotel, on a secluded beach.
“We can use a few days to unwind,” Mattheus said to Cindy, when we told her about the invitation.
Cindy agreed. She certainly needed to relax and process everything that had gone on. The sight of Tad jumping and then laying there dead on the ground would never leave her mind. She thought about it over and over. Was there anyway she could have prevented him from jumping? What could she learn from this? Would any of it ever make sense?
During the dinner on the yacht, the Senator, his family, and Petrovich made little speeches, offering thanks.
At the end, Mattheus stood up to talk.
“All of our success was only due to Cindy’s amazing bravery,” Mattheus said.
Public acclaim as last thing Cindy wanted at the moment. Not only was she exhausted, she was heartsick at how it had all come to an end. There were no winners, here, Cindy felt. There was only the satisfaction of knowing she’d prevented another killing from taking place. Someone else’s life had been spared.
After the dinner was over, the Senator arranged for a car to take Mattheus and Cindy from the yacht to their new hotel.
Once in the car, Mattheus put his arm around Cindy.
“I don’t know what I would have done if anything happened to you,” he said.
Cindy put her head back on his shoulder. It felt wonderful resting there. His shoulder was strong and comforting.
“You’re the most important woman in the world to me,” Mattheus whispered into her ear.
Deeply touched, Cindy lifted her face and looked into his eyes. They were warm, open and filled with a depth of caring she’d never seen before. She moved closer to him then, turned her face upwards, and suddenly, their lips met. The world spun around and Cindy melted into a moment more beautiful and fulfilling than anything she’d ever expected or hoped for.
“We belong together forever,” Mattheus breathed as they drew apart.
Cindy looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears.
“What does forever mean?” she whispered.
“Forever starts right where we are,” Mattheus smiled, “and means we walk together through all the years.”
Cindy smiled. She loved the way he had of putting things.
He smiled with her, looking boyish and playful, filled with anticipation.
“Can’t wait to get to the hotel,” he murmured.
Neither could Cindy.
“Let’s forget about the adjoining rooms,” she whispered, as they drew together in a passionate embrace, one that both of them had been waiting for, longer than they’d realized.