Chapter 36: Necessary Hugs
As our plane made its final approach into St. Thomas, I felt another sharp tug at my heart. I gave into it and let myself relive one last memory from our reception night. Maybe the most important one, one I’ll hold onto forever. The parting moment I shared with my mother.
Before she could leave for the night and return to her hotel room, I pulled her into a hug in the way all good sons always strive to hug their moms - like I would never let her go again. Like I would always be there at her side whenever she needed me, protecting her - no matter what. “I love you, Mom. You being here for our big day with Jordan at your side made our whole wedding more special than I could have ever imagined or wished for.”
My next words caught in my throat as something heavier forced its way up from my long-term memories. I stammered, finally understanding that I needed to confess a perceived wrongdoing that had been weighing on my heart for far too long a time. “Mom, I’ve talked through this with Corey, and I think I need to say it to you. Um, and I really need to do it now, before I lose my nerve and let you just leave for Michigan in the morning.”
I took a deep breath to steady myself. “Mom, I love you so much - I always have - but I feel… well…” I paused, unsure of how to continue. “I honestly don’t know how to explain exactly how I feel. Except that, for my whole life, whenever we were both around Richard, I always knew there was something ‘wrong’ about how I thought I needed to act toward you.”
I looked into her eyes and saw my own reflected there, and I couldn’t stop it. I broke down, tears falling freely. “Mom, I feel like I never gave you the love and attention you deserved because I was always too focused on giving Richard the love and attention he demanded, but never really earned. Please forgive me. I swear I didn’t understand what I was doing at the time.”
Mom’s cheeks quickly mirrored mine, glistening with streaks from her own flowing tears. “Oh, Ollie… please don’t apologize for that - ever again. There was so much happening to you and it was all completely beyond your control. You were just trying to give Richard everything he demanded from you. And worse than that, you were only doing what you thought you were supposed to do.”
Her face brightened, “Yet somehow, you became so much wiser, kinder, and stronger than he ever was… than he ever understood. Ollie, beyond all my deepest hopes, you never let his wrongness change your rightness.
“My beautiful, amazing son… your spirit survived through it all. You defeated him and escaped from his twisted manipulation. And you found the family you were always meant to have.” She stepped back, now beaming at me through her tears.
“And look at you. Your happiness tonight is more than I ever could have hoped for you. So please… just let yourself feel it. Let yourself be happy with everything that’s happening right now, in this moment, on this magical night. It all came from your strength, your heart, your determination - and you deserve every minute of it.”
Mom reached up and gently brushed my tears away.
The only way to end our conversation suddenly came to me. “Mom… could I maybe be your best man when you and Jordan decide to tie the knot? There’s really nothing that would make me happier - nothing that would make me feel more redeemed for maybe overlooking you because of Richard.”
I let a wet chuckle escape. “I mean, if I could be a part of your happiness like you were just a part of mine… well, I can’t imagine anything I’d love to do for you more.”
Susan’s gentle smile was filled with love and pride. “Oh, Ollie. Yes! There’s no question. Baby boy, we have a whole new life ahead of us - one we somehow now get to explore together. This is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given too. Just… understand, this is all new to me. So, for now, go enjoy your time with mom and dad.” She caught her little slip and chuckled softly, “… Your grandparents. Have the week in paradise that you all deserve. Then, we’ll figure everything else out together, one step at a time.”
She gave me one last look I knew I would cherish forever. “Ollie, always remember that I never stopped loving you - not even for a minute. I was only confused by Richard for a little while…” Mom sighed, “Still a whole lot longer than I ever should have been. And that’s on me. It’s a mistake I will never make again.”
We joined together once more, wrapped in a mother-son bond that at last, felt unbreakable.
****
That was it. The final wedding memory I chose to carry with me from our weekend into the start of my new life: my mom’s arms wrapped around me as I stepped off the plane and into paradise. And just like she had done then, the island seemed to welcome me with another much-needed hug, now.
The St. Thomas airport doesn’t have jet bridges; you just walked straight off the plane into the island’s warm, inviting breeze and down a set of airstairs. The cheerful sun, the thick humidity - and dang, a scent that just had to be sea air - it hit me all at once, wrapping itself around me. I didn’t find it hard to breathe; I found that I couldn’t breathe it in fast enough.
It all blended into something incredible. Intoxicating. The excitement of arriving. The invitation of the tropical, forested hills surrounding the airport. The promise of more adventures waiting for us before we even reached our villa.
I couldn’t stop myself from grabbing Corey’s hand as soon as we both stepped onto solid ground. “Corey! We’re finally here! We’re on a frakking Caribbean island! I still can’t believe how much your love means to me, my Corey Allen!” I found myself literally bouncing across the tarmac with a barely controlled gleeful anticipation of the journey ahead.
Corey couldn’t curtail the delight in his voice either, “Your love - and all your infectious enthusiasm - means everything to me too, my Oliver Aaron. But maybe calm down just a little. We still have a long way to go.” Lurd! He once again booped my nose, much to my embarrassment.
Instead of scolding him for making me feel like a child again, I decided to remind him of the power he had over me. “You’re not about to give me another buzz-kill ‘travel-sucks’ speech, are you?” I asked, punctuating it with fake sad eyes betrayed by a sweet smirk.
His smile was yet another much-needed hug. “Never again, my love. It’s just that, well now… the real fun finally begins.”
Chapter 37: Paradise Bound
Turns out, Corey had kinda unintentionally lied to me. Just… not about giving me another grim travel speech.
The morning after our wedding, he told me we’d have to take a “bus” from the airport to a place called the Red Hook Ferry Dock. Seriously… in my head, I was fully expecting some beat-up old city bus to show up - like a prop straight out of a bad movie, complete with broken AC and a driver who hated tourists and kicked stray pups. I really should have known that Chris would never allow something so tragic and mundane to tarnish our trip to paradise.
Instead, after we collected our suitcases from the open-air baggage carousel, we were greeted by a smartly dressed driver holding a sign that enticingly beckoned, “The Rainer Party - Follow Me to Paradise.”
The “bus” turned out to be more like a small luxury tour van, complete with plenty of storage, huge windows for us tourists to gawk out of - and, of course, a tray of champagne flutes waiting to greet us.
Chris happily took over the role of stoking my continued amazement. “So, everyone, I swear this isn’t a chartered limo. It’s just that there are eight of us, and I realized we could request our own private shuttle since we have enough people - and luggage - to fill the whole van. So relax and have a little celebration drink. There are no extra stops, no picking up or dropping off other travelers. Just a direct trip, straight to Red Hook.”
We all gratefully paid homage to our alpha master planner, and after tipping our porter for expertly stacking our luggage in the back, we made our way to our plush seats for our ride across the island.
I had no idea what I should have been expecting, but once we got into Charlotte Amalie proper, what I saw… wasn’t it. It was almost all too surreal to feel like “paradise.” We passed schoolyards full of happy, laughing, children all playing about, dressed in their school uniforms. All just joyfully living their lives in a place I wasn’t sure I was even qualified to call real yet.
We drove through the city center, with sprawling resorts perched in the hills above it and giant cruise ships flooding the harbor shops with excited tourists. The city’s quaint, cobblestone colonial streets were packed with happy couples and groups, all making their own journeys through paradise.
After we finally made it past the main tourist areas and began our steep climb to the higher elevations, I remembered what Corey had warned me about: the roads on St. Thomas only had two directions - straight up and straight down. And no matter which way you were going, you somehow had to share the same narrow lanes. I decided not to close my eyes… but I definitely squeezed Corey’s knee during the more harrowing moments.
We miraculously reached the top of the ridge overlooking the city, unscathed. From a thousand feet up, I once again couldn’t believe my eyes. Charlotte Amalie stretched out far below us, with three massive cruise ships docked on the far side of the harbor, while the people who actually lived here simply went about their daily lives. The impossible blues of the protected harbor shimmered up at us all, freely offering their beauty to residents and tourists alike.
After an intense twenty-minute rollercoaster ride I’d never forget, we suddenly found ourselves at the very unassuming - and, as I was told, perpetually under construction - Red Hook Ferry Dock. As soon as we stepped out of the van, Corey gently grabbed my shoulders and turned me eastward. “Pup! See those forested peaks of that island just across the strait? That’s it Ollie - that’s our paradise destination. That’s St. John.”
Even though I had no real reason to, I found myself once again fighting back tears. I mean, St. Thomas - while maybe being a bit more crowded and busy than I expected - was already the most amazing place I’d ever been. Still, seeing our island waiting for us in the distance was more than my emotions could handle in that moment.
“It’s beautiful, Corey. This is beyond anything I ever dreamed.” We hugged as the world buzzed on around us, our friends and family kindly gathering our luggage from the van and discreetly taking care of the driver for us.
Corey broke our spell and immediately called out, “Sorry, Dad! My bad - I’ll go grab the ferry tickets.” Everyone just smiled at us, sharing in our happiness.
****
It was just a typical ferry - well, at least I think it was. It’s not like I’d actually been on anything like it before in my life. So, at least to me, it felt absolutely magical. We all instinctively made our way up the stairs to the open-air top deck. And yes - we also helped each other apply sunscreen to our faces, necks, and arms. Living with the Texas sun had taught us well… but the Caribbean sun was on a whole other level.
As our brief sea voyage began, I couldn’t stop myself. I stood up and made my way to the front rail. The cerulean water, the deep blue sky, the scent of the sea in the air - all of it went straight to my soul. I had never experienced anything close to this before. I leaned into the rail and threw my arms wide. And yes… I did my part of our family’s howl in celebration.
Corey took that as his cue and rushed up behind me, wrapping me in his arms. “I got you, pup. And I while I can’t easily tell you how happy your happiness is making me.” I caught his class-clown smirk only a moment too late…
“I can do this…”
He released his hold on me and placed his foot on the lowest rung of the railing, climbing up until both feet were a few inches above the deck. He steadied himself by pulling me close once again before shouting, “Ollie! Open your eyes! It’s like we’re flying! You’re the king of my world!” And just like that, we both dissolved into a fit of giggles.
I didn’t have much time to respond before a commanding voice suddenly boomed out over the ship’s PA system. “Attention! Would the two lovebirds on the top deck please stop their ‘Titanic’ reenactment. Unless you want to be thrown overboard if this ferry accidently hits an iceberg, kindly return to your seats.”
Two deckhands stood nearby, chuckling while doing their best to maintain stern expressions as they directed us back to our seats.
We immediately complied. As soon as we were safely seated between our still-chuckling family, Corey leaned in and quietly repeated his summit declaration to me. I beamed back at him and, without hesitation, recited my sincere answer once more.
****
My excitement only grew as we got closer to Cruz Bay - St. John’s main port town. Our island looked like a gentler, greener, even more impossibly beautiful version of the one we had just left behind. We maneuvered around a small protective cay as we entered the harbor proper, and I was met with the most picturesque seaside village I could have ever imagined.
Aside from the very official-looking ferry dock, a string of open-air restaurants and inviting bars lined the sheltered shore, separated from the calm sea by a row of shady palms and a strip of soft, light-yellow sand. The hillsides surrounding the harbor were dotted with beautiful villas and condo buildings painted in every color imaginable.
We had arrived in Paradise.
Being so far away from our pup for the first time had created a Riley-shaped hole in my heart. So, when my puppy-starved eyes caught something special as we stepped off the dock and rolled our luggage into town, my wounded heart immediately latched on to it.
Two cute, carefree, playful mutts stood - like, actually stood - in the gently lapping ripples. Their chests and front paws floated in the crystal-clear water while their hind legs barely touched the sand below. Their attention was completely locked in, laser-focused on the fish darting past them, lunging at any fin or tail that dared to get a little too close. I could only imagine this was the island-dog version of chasing squirrels back home
The pups probably never expected to catch a sushi snack, and the little fish seemed just as confident in that fact - content to play their part in keeping their favorite canine friends entertained. And in that moment, I realized something so simple and kind of amazing… no matter where a pup grows up, they can always make playful connections with any species - both on the land or in the sea.
It also hit me how much Riley should be here with us - right now - happily wagging his tail as he confidently walked between his alphas like he always did. The only thing that eased my ache was knowing he was safe, and hopefully happy, back home in his den with two packmates he knew and loved.
As we walked the short distance to our rental car company, passing low-key yet high-dollar shops lining the streets, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect welcome to our first moments in paradise.
Okay, fine - maybe car rentals were pretty ordinary anywhere you go - but we were greeted with sincere smiles and happy wishes before efficiently being handed the keys to our two all-wheel-drive Jeep Cherokees.
In what was likely yet another suspiciously well-coordinated plan - courtesy of Chris. It seemed that we somehow needed a pair of rugged off-road vehicles just to make it up to our posh villa. Uh huh… At least our Jeep - Corey, Kevin, Anna, and me - was in our family-standard bright blue. Chris, Ted, Joe, and Laura’s - was a very appropriate-for-the-island forest green.
****
Here I thought the most thrilling part of the final leg of our journey to the villa was the unexpected roundabout as we climbed up and out of Cruz Bay. In addition to driving on the wrong side of the road, we had to navigate an actual traffic circle - complete with five intersecting streets, school kids rushing home for the afternoon and all the other drivers who somehow expected us to instantly understand “wrong-sided roundabout” etiquette. I had never been more impressed with my wolf’s driving skills, calmness, and patience. I once again realized that I’d married well.
As we continued the climb up the hillside and into the truly untouched countryside, we crossed the boundary into Virgin Islands National Park - a vast preserve covering more than three quarters of the island, with our villa tucked somewhere up a mountain side in the middle of it.
Anyway, back to the excitement. While the traffic circle had been an unexpected jolt of adrenaline, it was the fabled “Highway 206,” which we’d just turned onto a few yards past the Catherineburg Ruins historical marker, that delivered the biggest thrill of the day - at least for three of us.
As it led us away from the intersection with Centerline Road, the “highway” was, at least at first, relatively level and almost reassuring. Sure, it was mostly just well-packed gravel over well-traveled dirt - but it carried itself with enough confidence that you could easily make it across its purview without needing the four-wheel-drive vehicles we had just rented.
Then we found ourselves entering the heart of its darkness. Even under the bright mid-afternoon sun, the density of the - erm - jungle? gave us all pause as we ventured deeper into the road’s foreboding gloom. My wolf, boldly driving the lead vehicle of our little caravan, even began to show a hint of trepidation.
Still, everything seemed to be fine - right up until the unexpected trap was sprung. While we were all completely mesmerized by, and reverently staring at the ancient stone colonial ruins we were passing… Suddenly, in the deepest, darkest stretch of our jungle-canopied path, we were confronted by the largest spider web any of us had ever seen. None of us were entirely convinced we were safe from instant fanged arachnid death… even inside our Jeep.
Corey and Kevin immediately bellowed out a duet of very loud, yet still very manly, screams. I may have… at least stifled a surprised gasp. Anna, though, was as cool as the proverbial cucumber - as she always seemed to be. She simply let a very controlled and impressed “Cool” slip from her lips.
Things escalated quickly from there as Corey suddenly found himself face-to-face with all eight eyes of the ginormous spider that had crafted the webbed masterpiece - currently stranded on our windshield after we barged into her perfectly ordered and peaceful domain.
We could only watch in our amazement as she quickly scampered up the windshield and onto our Jeep’s roof. My wolf may have, er… “howled” again before we started moving forward - much slower this time. I had to choke down a laugh when I finally glanced into the back seat, where my brave Officer Kevin looked just as terrified, while Anna was absolutely smirking right along with me.
A few more brightly lit turns later, we eventually pulled into the much more civilized driveway of our villa, Hakuna Matata. There was a car already waiting for us in the small parking area. Before I could even begin to take in the villa’s imposing, vine-covered, nearly windowless walls, Corey suddenly snapped into command mode.
“Okay, everyone - listen. That spider is probably still up there - lurking around on our roof, just waiting to exact its revenge. So… I say, on three, we all jump out and try to get clear. I mean, it can’t possibly get all four of us.”
I glanced over and saw that my brave wolf was stone cold serious about his plan. As was Anna’s big, strong patrolman. I shared a bemused look with my situational soulmate as we both found ourselves wondering exactly which member of our party they were suddenly so willing to sacrifice.
Corey braced himself with a few deep breaths before he started his count. “One… Two… THREE!”
He and Kevin launched out of our web-covered Jeep and made it maybe three feet… before losing their nerve and erupting into what could only be described as a masterful performance of the “GET IT OFF ME” dance.
I’ll admit it - I got caught up in their manic enthusiasm and maybe jumped out to add a shiver or two of my own to their coordinated moves. While I don’t exactly fear spiders - in fact, I kind of like them - I definitely didn’t want one sneaking up on me either. We were instinctively bracing against any unexpected eight-legged ambush from behind.
As the three of us very manly men were finally finishing up our impassioned performance, the second Jeep in our convoy cautiously pulled up beside us. Ted was the first to roll down his window and speak, though the gentle judgment in all their eyes was impossible to ignore. “Boys… y’all okay?”
Kevin was the first to respond. “Ted! Did you not see that monster spider web we just drove through on the way here?”
Ted simply chuckled as he took in Anna’s calm demeanor. “Oh, you mean that poor little spider’s web that y’all just ruthlessly plowed through? Without giving any thought to the momma spider’s needs?”
Anna sweetly - yet coldly - took over, addressing her three shaken male companions directly. “It’s okay, guys. I’m pretty sure it was just a member of the Lesser Caribbean Masculinity-Melting Tree Widow species. Their bite only emasculates large, hairy male mammals for maybe six to eight hours.”
Kevin instantly threw his hands to his face. “Corey! I can’t feel my mustache!”
Anna could no longer keep her amused sarcasm under control. “Kev… you don’t even have a mustache.”
In a panicked voice, Kevin belted out, “But I was planning on growing one this week!”
Our villa rental manager stepped out of his car and immediately joined in the fun. “Actually, I’m very familiar with that species of spider. It doesn’t even need to bite its prey. Its most effective weapon is making big, burly men think it might still be crawling across their shoulders.”
His smile shifted from playful mischief to a well-practiced professionalism as he offered his hand to Corey. “Hi! I’m Justin Dale.”
Corey’s expression paled right before he immediately and completely ignored Justin’s offered professionalism. “Justin! Why did you look at me when you said that?” He quickly presented his back to his new found arachnophobe compatriot. “Do you see anything on me, Kev?”
Kevin quickly jumped back, “Hey?! Stay away from me! Ask Anna.”
Justin chuckled as he lowered his hand, clearly enjoying himself as he tried to end our suffering. “Don’t worry, gentlemen. There’s a very effective antivenom - a shot of Cruzan Rum - and there’s a complimentary bottle of it waiting for all of you at the bar, if you’ll follow me.”
Chapter 38: The View From Above
I had heard the name repeated so many times that it had nearly lost its intended meaning: Hakuna Matata - the fabled mountainside villa where Chris, Ted, Corey, and their friends had stayed at fifteen years ago. And now that I was finally confronted by its imposing, two-story walls of leafy, vine-covered sandy beige stucco - in person - I realized that I wasn’t feeling quite as welcomed as I’d expected. Sure, there were beautiful tropical plants and palms softening the façade, but the nearly windowless walls made it feel more like a fortress than a place meant to welcome excited guests to paradise.
At least that was my initial impression… right up until our Magical Mister Dale quietly unlocked and opened the ten-foot-tall double wooden doors without any unneeded fanfare.
Hakuna Matata had been coyly saving its best side for an enchanting grand reveal - one guaranteed to leave its guests stunned. The heavy doors didn’t open into the house itself. They opened into an open-air courtyard. I quickly realized the villa was more like two separate buildings - a right and left wing divided by the courtyard, with an arch-supported covered walkway bridging the second stories together, connecting the divided house back into a whole. The stairs to the upper walkway were on the left, and the entrance to what had to be the villa’s common areas were to the right.
But the true stunner was the breathtaking view framed by those archways. In that moment, I finally understood why we had chosen to stay on the side of a mountain instead of down by the beach. All I could do was stand there, my jaw practically making itself at home on the Saltillo-tiled floor, trying - and failing - not to let a few more tears escape from my blue eyes. Eyes that were effortlessly outmatched by the crystal blues of the ocean stretching out below us in the distance.
This just simply couldn’t be real - I mean, it had to be CGI. Like something straight out of yet another Pirates of the Caribbean sequel. It was too impossibly perfect. I stood there, gazing out over bright yellow flowered vines and green treetops, just barely catching a glimpse of a white-gold beach far below. I noticed several moored yachts to the far right in what looked like another protected harbor… and then my brain simply refused to process anything more.
Corey quickly recognized my deer-in-the-headlights stare and instantly came to my rescue. He gently stepped up behind me, wrapped me in his arms, anchoring me back to reality before softly guiding me forward across the courtyard until we were standing at the far railing under the central arch. A place where he was ready to launch into his enthusiastic explanation of everything we were seeing.
He tightened his hug even more as he placed his chin on my shoulder and began pointing out the most prominent landmarks within our view. He started by gesturing down. “That’s Cinnamon Bay and beach. That really small island just off the shore is Cinnamon Cay. All of that is our destination for tomorrow. Today, we unpack, settle in, and relax with maybe a few Cruzan and Cokes, as promised by our spider-whisperer, Mr. Dale.”
My sage old husband continued on. “That bigger island a little farther out is called Whistling Cay. The green hills to the right of it are a part of St. John known as Mary’s Point. We can’t see them from here, but there are two sweet calm beaches at the end of the bay that are named Francis and Maho - we’ll probably get to visit Francis one day while we’re here.”
He grew noticeably more excited as he pointed farther out over the blue sea. “That much larger island across the strait is Jost Van Dyke. Unfortunately, it’s part of the British Virgin Islands, so we can’t go there until you get a passport that matches your new name.”
He grinned slightly, almost wistfully. “There’s a popular bar there called The Soggy Dollar - it’s famous for a very strong signature drink called a Painkiller. Trust me, you don’t need to be in pain to enjoy one.”
It started to sound like Corey was just a little too familiar with the place. I instinctively spun around in his arms to look him in the eyes. “Wait… weren’t you, like, fifteen the last time you were here?”
Corey tried his best to shrug off the unexpected accusation, looking away as he offered a rather unconvincing, “Ollie, you know me. I always do my research when I’m planning a vacation.”
I wasn’t even close to buying his all too smooth and way too easy explanation and decided to press on. “So… why is the bar called the Soggy Dollar?”
I had to suppress a snicker as his expression made it painfully clear that he wished he had never brought it up. Corey sheepishly replied, “Well - um - there’s no dock there. So, all the patrons have to jump overboard from their boats and swim in to the beach… which means they end up paying with, well… soggy dollars.”
With my smirk carefully dialed down to its most gentle setting, I continued sweetly. “You seem to know an awful lot about a bar there’s no way we could ever go to on this trip.” I glanced over Corey’s shoulder, shooting Ted and Chris an inquisitive look.
“Dads… did y’all let my Corey have a Painkiller when he was only fifteen?”
Chris raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Wow… he actually told you that story?”
Ha! My man was busted...
Corey’s face immediately began to redden as I clarified our conversation to the dads, “No… but what he did just tell me, only sounded like it was half the truth.”
Ted’s face lit up with his biggest, most mischievous fatherly grin before he gleefully took over. “Well, Sport, when we were there fifteen years ago, Corey kept begging us to let him try the drink everyone was raving about. In Corey's defense, it does look like a tasty milkshake. We finally gave in and let him have a sip of ours.”
He paused, clearly enjoying himself. “Turns out, he really loved it… and while we were busy mingling with some friendly fellow travelers, we weren’t watching our sweet son nearly as closely as we should have been. The little troublemaker somehow managed to drain more than half of both our drinks before we even realized what he was up to.”
Ted let out a small chuckle before continuing. “We didn’t figure any of it out until someone nearby started laughing and pointing at an obviously drunk, blond teenage boy stumbling up to the bar, trying to order another round.”
Chris rolled his eyes and stepped in to finish the story. “We immediately rushed over and apologized to the bar staff before we corralled his very underaged, very drunk - little butt. After we finally got him back on the boat, we still had to spend the first part of the sail home trying to stop him from dancing around the deck naked, belting out a mash-up of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance and Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream - to his friend, David. Luckily, David - the good kid - was totally sober and enjoying the show.
“Corey finally passed out after about thirty minutes. Only to wake up back at the Cruz Bay dock - embarrassed and dealing with his very first hangover.”
Corey tried to salvage what little dignity he had left. “Hey! David was cool and it’s not like our speedos are all that different from being naked anyway. And it taught me my first - very important - lesson about day drinking. I didn’t touch alcohol again until after my twenty-first birthday.”
He dramatically crossed his heart and mouthed a sweet, yet completely unconvincing “I swear.”
Both dads rolled their eyes.
I just smiled.
****
With an all new embarrassing Corey Story freshly under my belt - safely tucked away for future blackmail purposes - we graciously allowed our villa manager to finally begin his orientation. Justin’s enthusiasm remained completely undeterred, even after Chris and Ted admitted they had stayed here before.
He started by leading us to the villa’s common areas. As we stepped through the double doors of the right wing, we were greeted by colonial-style, richly wood-trimmed living room furniture. Efficiently arranged to offer plenty of seating choices to view the giant flatscreen TV mounted above a huge fireplace.
All I could think was… why would anyone want to spend time watching TV in a place like this? Instantly followed by… wait. Do we really need a giant fireplace in the tropics?
Next up was the open dining room, anchored by a grand dark wooden table, with the promised bar located just off to the side - and a bottle of Cruzan rum already waiting on the countertop. We each took a brave little shot and offered our best “strong drink” grimaces. I found myself quietly pleased that I could enjoy something so simple with my family - without any worry or guilt.
The tour through the recently renovated kitchen was efficient and brief, but I caught Grandma Laura’s eyes twinkling. We were definitely going to have fun cooking together in this gourmet-level culinary paradise.
We stepped out onto the covered deck just beyond the kitchen door, where a table surrounded by comfortable chairs sat waiting - perfect for breakfast al fresco. I couldn’t wait to see what Grandma and I could create to help wake everyone up to another day in paradise.
Justin ushered us back across the entry courtyard to the stairs leading up to the second level. Our first stop was the bedroom crowning the left wing of the house. It was impressive, with its own private balcony overlooking the view. In fact, I had no idea how this wasn’t considered the home’s primary suite. Kevin and Anna were assigned to this room, because Grandma and Grandpa had already laid claim to the bedroom directly beneath it on the main floor - something about not wanting to deal with stairs all day long.
Leaving Kevin and Anna’s room, we made our way across the covered bridge walkway to what had already been designated as our official honeymoon suite. I was once again stunned beyond words. The main room was easily the size of all the living areas below it combined - with multiple sitting areas and windows out to the incredible view. The vaulted ceiling, supported by exposed massive wooden trusses, stretched across the entire room before transitioning into the ceiling of the primary bathroom - positioned above the kitchen.
Our suite also featured a grand private balcony, complete with a cleverly concealed outdoor shower that managed to offer the same breathtaking view while shielding its bathers from the rest of the villa. Grandpa couldn’t hold back any more than Ted could. “Hey, you two - you might be able to enjoy your outdoor shower without giving us all a show, but absolutely no howling. Understood? It’s not nearly as well soundproofed as it is hidden.”
We followed Justin back down the stairs for a brief stop in Grandma and Grandpa’s suite. Because of the steps leading down to the pool level, this was the only bedroom with an outdoor shower off the side wall instead of facing the view of Cinnamon Bay. In fact, it seemed like Kevin and Anna might be able to catch a glimpse of Joe in his natural state if they really tried.
Before we could dwell on that particular inequity for too long, Grandpa Joe piped up again. “Now Anna, you’ve got your big, burly patrol officer to admire. There’s no need to go spying on this old man.”
We barely had time to chuckle - and watch Grandma Laura join in the fray with a well-placed punch to her beloved’s shoulder - before Kevin delivered his surprise retort. “Maybe it’s not Anna you need to worry about.” His smirk was getting dangerously close to ours after a year of bonding.
He took in our shocked reactions before adding, “Hey, I’m trying to make detective soon. I’ve got to pay attention to all the details, right? I mean, Ollie’s ability to fill out his speedos so impressively had to come from somewhere.”
Following Grandma’s lead, I punched my secondary protector’s shoulder while everyone laughed before making our way back out to the courtyard and down the curved stone staircase to the pool level below.
And what a level it was.
Instead of the sandy beige stucco of the upper house, the walls here were built from a bluish, slate-like stone accented with bright coral and shell insets. The grand staircase ended beside a massive hot tub, surrounded by palms and ferns, with a gentle waterfall spilling down from above. And if that wasn’t enough to leave us all stunned, the infinity pool - seemingly suspended out over the treetops by magic - absolutely did.
There was no question - the dads weren’t simply settling for the suite on the lowest level. They were reveling in having their own secluded space in paradise. Their view may have been slightly obstructed by the lush growth of the jungle, but it also gave them the most privacy, complete with their own quiet morning coffee courtyard, a table for two, and a pair of hammocks gently swaying in the breeze.
Corey, somehow deciding he still hadn’t been embarrassed enough for one villa tour, casually added that this had been his and David’s room when they’d stayed here all those years ago.
Chris immediately seized the opportunity to take over Ted’s traditional role. “Yeah… we put you two down here for a reason.” His smirk widened. “We figured it was better to keep certain… adolescent boy activities as far away from the rest of the house as possible.”
The group’s laughter hit fast, but Ted wasn’t about to let it go that easily. “Let’s just say,” he added, grinning, “you boys made very enthusiastic use of your privacy. Repeatedly.”
Corey’s face turned a deeper shade of red, but he refused to back down. “Okay, that’s it. We’ve got the top-most shower this time,” he shot back. “And you will definitely be hearing our howls.”
****
Our marginally dazed villa manager left with a smile on his face. I honestly couldn’t tell if he was more shocked or more charmed by our pack’s antics - but he was clearly entertained either way. Before leaving, he casually added, “Don’t forget, the road officially ends just below the next villa. Always take Centerline back into town to get to the beaches.” I caught Chris giving the biggest eye-roll I’d ever seen.
Everyone drifted off to their respective rooms, unpacking and freshening up for dinner back in town. Corey, however, had other priorities. The moment our large wooden door was shut, his shirt was off and his shorts quickly followed. I didn’t even get the chance to pick which chest of drawers was mine before I was tackled onto our massive canopy bed. It seemed that I had just been victoriously claimed and lovingly blanketed by a very excited wolf.
I couldn’t help it - I giggled… dang it. Then I recovered and did my best to help Corey free me from my travel clothes. It really had been a long day. Our pits were both right on the edge of “okay, yeah, we definitely need a shower” … but beneath that, something more foundational still lingered. Familiar. Comforting. Our shared, primal scent - now touched by the salt air of paradise - quietly pulled us closer.
After several intense moments of simply making out like teenagers and caressing each other on our bed, Corey finally bolted up with the enthusiasm of his fifteen-year-old self and pulled me with him into our extravagant en suite. Our erections leading the way, with maybe a drop or two of pent-up precum escaping down to the tiled floor.
I’ll admit, my excitement may have ebbed for just a moment as we stepped out into the open. Our family and friends were literally only a few feet away - in practically every direction. Corey noticed my hesitation and gave me a gentle smile. “Pup, it’s okay. Go take a look. We’re very well protected.”
I moved forward carefully, making my way to the railing. Corey was right - unless someone was in the far end of the pool or somehow looking up from the distant beach below with a pair of binoculars, our very exposed shower space was somehow both completely open and completely private. I retreated from the stone railing, keeping just out of the shower’s spray, watching my own, very private, Norse god adjust the temperature to something we’d both enjoy. My erection quickly returned.
The gentle breeze was something I’d ever experienced while taking a shower, and I found that it only added to the thrill of standing there naked with my stunning husband beneath the wide Caribbean sky - all while gazing out over dozens of little green island mounts, bursting up through the endless blue sea.
After we’d gleefully soaped each other up and managed to tame our jungle-level pits, Corey gave me his first gentle but urgent command of the evening. “Okay pup, I need you to put your elbows on that stone rail and spread your feet wide - all while you simply enjoy the view.”
At least I didn’t giggle again as I quickly complied. The railing was far enough away from the spray of the shower that Corey’s lips and tongue were the only warm and wet sensation that my quivering hole was currently enjoying. Dayam! I was suddenly presented with a whole new level of paradise to enjoy.
Let’s face it - I understood that we were still young, still new lovers in so many ways. But we had been together for an entire year now, and that’s more than enough time for some couples to start falling into romantic, okay “daddy time,” routines… and even growing a little bored with them.
Thankfully, that had never happened to us. Not even close. And I couldn’t have been more grateful. Our year together had only proven what I had already known deep down from the start - we were just as connected physically as we were emotionally, and just as comfortable together during the excitement as we were in the quiet, everyday moments in between.
I know it sounds cliché, but I truly had found my perfect partner, my lifelong mate… and my best friend, all wrapped up in one big, hairy, blond package.
And I suddenly felt his very large package knocking at my door, urgently asking to come inside. We hadn’t even unpacked our lube yet - well, or really anything else either. I looked over my shoulder pensively as I saw my mate squirt some conditioner into his palm and then on to his eager eight inches. I grimaced with memories I’d rather forget as I smirked, “Okay Corey, but no licking anywhere down there after you make your deposit. Deal?”
Corey couldn’t contain his laughter, “I promise, pup. We’ll only ever do that when we use a nice fruity-flavored lube.” His chuckles were quickly replaced by my moans and whimpers as his long, thick fingers performed their dual duty of teasing my prostate and coating my hole with the villa’s best hair care products.
An embarrassingly short time later, I was begging my wolf to replace his fingers with the real thing. He had no problem making my wishes come true.
The sky seemed to brighten as the sea’s blue hues deepened before my eyes. Then all new shades of blues, greens, yellows, and reds came to life all around me, exploding into something almost unreal. I was impaled and bonded with my love under the open sky. Taking in a vista I still couldn’t quite believe was real. Corey’s movements were driven, full of energy, yet always caring - never losing that simple awareness of me, of us, of our shared pleasure.
I rose up slightly from the railing, keeping my back arched as I leaned into the warmth of his broad, furred chest behind me. His hand moved up to cradle my neck as his beard brushed softly against mine. Together, we looked out over the breathtaking view, our eyes sharing the same horizon as our spirits seemed to lift higher and higher, carried by the overwhelming joy of the moment.
Corey moved his left hand down to grip my leaking cock, but I instantly stopped him and directed it to rest on my furry lower abs instead - just at the top of my curly blond bush. I was already too close to my own very personal paradise to need any manual stimulation.
Honoring my request, he decided to raise his right hand from my neck to my bearded jaw, gently directing it to turn and meet his in a fevered kiss, moments before my breath caught and my cum erupted, hands free, over the tiled shower floor. Corey’s left hand pulled me in even closer as his cock thrust as deep as possible and unloaded into my still quaking body.
We stayed wrapped together, completely lost in the quiet afterglow of our shared bliss. Neither of us wanted to move, to break the magic we had found beneath our fantasy endless sky. Somehow, without even realizing we were doing it, we let out a soft, sweet, perfectly harmonized howl - our private intimate celebration of everything we had just experienced.
I remembered mom’s advice and allowed myself to drift along in the wonder of it all. At just twenty - so nearly twenty-one - I realized I had somehow miraculously met and married the man of my dreams - the man I wanted beside me for the rest of my life.
And more than that, I felt a quiet certainty about my new medically-oriented career path ahead of me. I was even more confident about the future we were building together. Because, here we were, standing together in a place that felt like an unimaginable paradise, once again deepening the bond that meant everything to me.
Now… if we could just figure out how to turn our metaphorical “having puppies” into something a little more real and human.
Chapter 39: Island Life
We finally managed to unpack our suitcases into the agreed upon drawers after our refreshing - and oh so very necessary - outdoor shower adventure. We even took the time to level up a bit; we each shaved the other’s scruffy throat before also sharpening the top line of our beards.
I knew we were perfectly capable of handling our own personal grooming, but there was something so tender - so quietly intimate - about taking care of each other that I couldn’t imagine ever going back to shaving alone unless I somehow - most-likely tragically - absolutely had to. A time when I was hopefully a very old man. In this perfect moment, I prayed beyond all hope that that eventuality would somehow never happen.
We made our way back across the arch-supported walkway and down the stairs, back through the courtyard (dang, this was a big villa), and finally into the living room… only to be greeted by six sets of very judgmental eyes.
By this point, we all knew Chris had seniority in these matters.
Without any pretense, he simply stated: “Good job keeping your howl at least a little subdued.”
His perfectly timed smirk broke the room, and our extended family immediately started piling their snarky comments on, giving us the hard time we had absolutely earned. I couldn’t have loved them all more in that moment.
Chris eventually wrestled control back as he shifted into his formidable planning mode. “So, it’s kind of a first-night-here tradition for us to head back into town and have dinner at Morgan’s Mango.” He caught my quizzical look and chuckled. “Hey, Son Two - just because it’s been fifteen years since Corey was last here doesn’t mean that Ted and I haven’t made a few return trips on our own.”
I glanced at Corey, who just shrugged. “Hey, dads need their private time too.”
Chris’s smirk deepened as he continued. “Alright, everyone - back to your assigned caravan seats. We’ve got rogue giant spiders to battle through and a seven o’clock reservation.”
He noticed Kevin and Corey’s sobered faces before adding, “And it’s about a twenty-minute drive to get to where we’re going.”
****
On our second island transit of the day, Corey filled us in on a few key details as we made our way back down into Cruz Bay. Morgan’s Mango was a moderately upscale, open-air dining spot, tucked into a row of restaurants adjacent to an equally charming outdoor shopping area called Mongoose Junction - just north of where our ferry had docked earlier that afternoon.
We quickly discovered just how fast the sun sets in the Caribbean. As we descended toward town, we were treated to a brief golden glow before the evening slipped almost instantly into night. Being on the western side of a mountainous island gave us a few extra moments of light - I imagined the eastern shore had already been swallowed by darkness, never even getting to see the beautiful sunset we were just leaving behind.
Still… dang.
Cruz Bay was somehow even more charming and magical at night.
The lights from the vendor stalls in the central park cast soft, colorful glows across the streets, giving the whole area a kind of wonderland, almost carnival-like energy. We found parking places and joined the steady flow of excited tourists walking along the sidewalks, making our way toward the restaurant as the island seemed to come alive all over again.
I was grateful to realize I wasn’t the only one feeling overwhelmed by it all. Grandma Laura let out an incredulous laugh before asking, “Chris, Ted… is it always like this? Every night feeling like we’re at some kind of special party or event? I can’t imagine living here and ever not being amazed that this was somehow my home.”
Chris smiled, and I found myself watching, grateful, as he pulled my grandmother into a warm, affectionate hug. “I know I always sound like I’ve researched everything to death,” he said gently, “but in this case… Ted and I really have.” He paused for just a moment. “Because we’ve seriously talked about moving here one day.”
I caught Corey’s surprised expression out of the corner of my eye.
Chris noticed it too, but instead of addressing it directly, he shifted his focus back to Ted and pulled him a tight hug before continuing. “St. John really is a paradise,” he said, his tone softening. “But like every paradise, it comes with a price. The people you see all around us - the ones making this place feel so magical - they’re working incredibly hard. Putting in long days and maybe even longer nights. Their whole livelihood depends on making sure visitors like us get to experience something unforgettable… so that we keep coming back.
“The U.S. Virgin Islands really are a wonderful place to live,” Chris continued, “but just like anywhere else, there are still plenty of people here who are just barely getting by. So… enjoy yourselves. Find some things you’ll treasure from this trip and spend your money on them. And remember to take good care of the people who are taking good care of us.”
He gave a small, knowing smile. “We’re getting to experience something special this week - a vacation of our dreams. A vacation like most of these residents will likely never get to experience for themselves.”
Like his son, Chris immediately realized that he might have dimmed the mood just a touch and gave a soft chuckle. “Okay… that may have come across a little heavier than I intended.” He glanced around at the lively streets before continuing. “From everything we’ve seen, people here really do love where they live. And as you’ll notice this week, some of them are doing very well.”
He shrugged lightly. “Maybe the better way to say it is - just remember that what feels like paradise to us… is someone else’s every day, 8 am to 8 pm job.”
I watched my Ted give his love an approving pat on his shoulder as we climbed the steps toward Morgan’s maître d's stand.
****
Morgan’s Mango defiantly, almost proudly, displayed just a bit of meaningful wear and growth from all of the turbulent tropical weather it had endured over the years. Yet it still managed to retain all of its island charm in spades. We had just barely settled in around our large table before our waiter stopped by to take our order for appetizers and drinks, and then we simply allowed the island evening to gently wrap around us.
I’ll admit, I was still a little surprised that no one had asked for my ID after my drink order - until Chris, our resident authority on all things serious, let me in on a small but very important detail.
He explained that it was pretty obvious that Corey and I were newly married - and it was just as obvious that Corey was well over twenty-one. In most places, that was enough. So, just like that, I found myself enjoying a pre-meal, pre-twenty-first-birthday margarita.
****
After we’d finished our amazing diner, I also had no idea that purchasing a round of Morgan’s Mango t-shirts was yet another mandatory St. John first night tradition. Upon hearing Chris’ excited rollcall, we’d each brightly called out our size and color preference.
Chris kept his control of the conversation - determined to keep our week in paradise on his carefully planned track. He cleared his throat. “So y’all… having a villa out in the boonies definitely has its charm - but it also comes with a few logistical challenges. We’ll need to plan our in-villa meals so we can make our trips to Starfish Market as efficient as possible.”
My sweet Dad Number Two’s earnest attempt at keeping us ultimately organized was met with seven completely glassed-over stares.
He adjusted his approach instantly.
“Okay sorry, all I’m really trying to say is - we’re already in town tonight, we’re really close to the island’s main grocery store, and this is our best opportunity to figure out which nights we want to eat in and which nights we want to go out.”
Kevin and Anna were the surprising first couple to jump in. Kevin led with. “Oh! Yeah - we probably should’ve said this sooner. But, um… on Friday, Anna and I may have made plans to give Corey and Ollie their big wedding present from us.”
Corey couldn’t stop himself. “Kevin, Anna - you know how much we love you and how much we appreciate your love, friendship and everything you’ve already done for us.”
I watched his smirk give his game away as he reached for my hand, clearly trying to get me on his side. “But come on, you two… you’re kinda making it three for three now for our closest friends and family giving us gifts we specifically said we didn’t need.”
I squeezed my wolf’s hand, but felt obligated to counter him - if only just a little. “Hey, don’t forget, Ethan and Daniel are back home, house-sitting and puppy-sitting for us all week. Remember? We looked into boarding Riley, and quickly found out that his furry ‘puppy vacation’ would’ve cost almost as much as ours.”
Corey nodded, conceding the point before continuing. “Okay, fair. And I apologize. K and A - thank you. Please continue… that is, if you still want to continue after my incredibly rude outburst.”
Everyone chuckled, then quieted as Anna continued. “Corey, Ollie… we’ve had so much fun at your pool - just being with you both - that we decided to give the four of us a private sailboat day cruise. We’ll head out from the old Caneel dock and sail to a special place called Waterlemon Cay.”
Kevin took over, barely containing his excitement. “It’s on a classic Hinckley Sou’wester 52 - just the four of us and a two-person crew. We’ll have a bright morning sail with lots of time to snorkel around the cay and have a big gourmet lunch with drinks before having a leisurely cruise back. So,” he added with a grin, “I think we’ve got Friday pretty well covered… except for dinner.”
Grandpa Joe rolled his eyes dramatically. “Fine! Y’all go have fun on your fancy boat ride. The rest of us will just be back at the villa, toiling away in our hovel while we faithfully prepare Friday night’s big meal for you guests of honor to enjoy.”
The table broke into laughter once more, glasses lifting in another easy, heartfelt toast to our happiness.
Chris jovially interjected, “Joe, you already know how consoling my epic margaritas are buddy. We got this. I swear we’ll struggle through the day.”
And as the moment concluded, I found myself wondering what other magic this unreal place still had in store for us all.
Would anyone believe me if I said I'd never been to the Virgin Islands? Didn't think so... But here's my confession: This is an amalgam of multiple trips to St. John. All before the islands were struck by two Category 5 hurricanes in 2017. A lot of permanent damage was done. Forests of old-growth trees were lost forever. Beaches and reefs were changed forever. I do know a lot of the wilderness has recovered and St. John is still a paradise, but some of my descriptions - especially in the next section - may no longer be accurate. One final thing: a group of 8 of us were staying at Hakuna Matata on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. That's something you never forget.
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