Post by meggielou on Jul 29, 2009 22:52:07 GMT -5
I'm starting off by saying this was written by VolleyErica3 in the fan forum and she asked me to post this for her So here ye all go!
It was July 26 2009, Keith Harkin had just married 21-year-old Jessica Cross, who was a student at VanderCook Music College in Chicago. The ceremony was held in a small church in the Chicago suburbs near where Jessica had lived with her parents. The guest list was bigger than the church its self, Jessica's pre-school friend Kaitlyn Bryer was the maid of honor and Keith chose Damian McGinty for the best man. Jessica and Keith didn't want many brides’ maids or groom's men but there were definitely enough guests. Jessica had a 3 of her other friends for her bride's maids and Keith had 3 of his friends for groom's men. Everyone that both Jessica and Keith new were at their wedding, the entire cast of Celtic Thunder was there, and all of the couples' family and friends. The entire Harkin family flew out to Chicago for this wedding from Derry, Ireland. It was a huge success and everyone knew Jessica and Keith were perfect for each other. Yet when the reception was over, Keith had to return back to Ireland the next day for another week of recording songs for the new Celtic Thunder CD before Jessica and him could go on their honeymoon.
August 1st, 2009
"What was that Keith?" I couldn't hear my new husband on the phone that well, I didn't know why though, "You're getting on the plane now?? But you're flight isn't supposed to leave for another couple hours... " I said nervous on why he would he would be coming home so soon, was something wrong?
"But I just wanted to spend more time with you, love." Keith answered with ease. "So a friend and I took an earlier flight, rehearsals ended a couple hours ago." I could tell he was smiling by the way he spoke something was up.
"Aww you're sweet. So when will you be home then?" I asked excitedly.
"In a couple hours, and every minute ill be thinking of you, and the great times were going to have when I get home."
"Alright see ya then! I love you!"
"Coolios love ya more!"
*Click*
I've been waiting for today to come for a week now, I was really getting excited. I had been packed for two days already, I didn't know what to expect because I'd never been on a plane and Keith promised that he would cuddle with me so I, "wouldn't get scared" during the 8 hour flight to Bali, Indonesia for our honeymoon tomorrow.
I heard my phone ringing, it was playing, "I Want to Know What Love is" Keith's version of course, so I knew it was him contacting me. He texted me:
Hey babe, were already flying over the Atlantic Ocean there r some wicked wavz! the ocean matches ur eyes love ya!
I loved how every time Keith would change locations, he contacted me. It was a six-hour flight from Derry to Chicago, and it had already been an hour, it felt like it had been three hours. I knew these were going to be a long couple days.
Another three hours passed by and it was lunch time and I was browsing the Internet eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I heard my phone again, and it was playing "I Want to Know What Love is" again.
Keith: hey, were gunna land in NY in bout an hour and then well get on another plane and come straight to Chicago
I decided I would text back, and I didn't remember him saying anything about anyone with him on his trip back home...
Me: what do u mean we'll?
Keith: i brought a friend but shhh! its a secret love!
Me: alright-y but u kno i don't like secrets!
Keith: u'll like this one just, r u talking to kaitlyn lately?
Me: yea? y come?
Keith: no reason...
Me: keith-y!!!
Keith: gotta go babe! see ya soon
Me: love ya!
Keith love u too darlin'
While Keith and I were dating my best friend Kaitlyn fell in love with Damian McGinty. Ever since then they had been seeing each other and when Keith and I got engaged, their love only depend and they have been dating ever since. I was getting bored of looking at swimsuits and dreams clothes on the Internet so I started to go and watch some TV. So I popped in the Celtic Thunder Take Me Home DVD and began watching. I was watching Raggle Taggle Gypsy when once again my phone started to play, "I Want to Know What Love is"
Keith: hey the flight landed like waaaay early
Me: that's great!
Keith: Kaitlyn is still home rite?
Me: yea why do u wanna know hun?
Keith: okey doke love
Me: wats going on?
Keith: its a secret darlin' i told u!
Keith: gotta go!! love u!
Me: u didn't tell me y! but i love u too!! biiz
It had been about a half an hour when once again the Phone was playing "I Want to Know What Love is"
Keith: hey pretty girl wats criacinn?
Me: u still can't spell that can u?
Keith: of course not babe
Me:where are ya?
Keith: by the Appalachian Mountains i think they're called
Me: yes that would be them
Keith: r u excited for tomorrow?
Me: y wouldn't' i be?
Keith: i have no idea lol
Me: i miss you life isnt the same with out u babe
Keith: i no darlin we'll be landed in a littl while ill ttyl i love you with all my heart
Me: of course! i love you more i'll be thinking of u!
I had been another 3 hours of laying around anxiously by my self for my husband's flight to land when I got one last text message that played "I Want to Know What Love is"
Keith: landing at o'hare in 10 min
Me: that's great hun! i'll see ya there!
Keith: wanna do something special later?
Me: like what?
Keith: o maybe dinner or something
Me: alright, maggianos sound good?
Keith: my favorite but u new that darlin
Me: of course! ever since ur parents first took u there u've loved it but kinda ironic itailian food in ireland lol
Keith: that my family gotta run! love ya!
Me: love ya bii!
I got into my red Prius and drove to the airport, luckily there wasn't much traffic, I got there quick enough to get to the terminal Keith would be coming from. I parked the car and went to the terminal and waited anxiously and then my phone started to play "I Want to Know What Love is"
Keith: we just landed love
Me: great im in ur terminal
I looked around for my tall surfing husband with his guitar case. I saw him in a full ear-to-ear smile walking straight toward me, and none other than Damian McGinty was the friend Keith brought along. I ran straight up to them and jumped into Keith's arms!
"Keithy!!!!!" I screamed.
"Jess! I missed you so much, Darlin’!" he replied catching me.
"I bet I missed you more!" I said as I kissed him
"How bout that dinner I'm starving!" he said placing my hand in his
"Alright-y! Lets go! I already made the reservations."
"You would, love"
"You know I'm on top of things!"
"You always are" Keith said laughing
"I brought my Prius, will all your stuff fit?" I asked jokingly as if his two suitcases and guitar won't fit in my trunk.
"I'm not sure..." he said playing along while putting his luggage in the trunk.
We drove to Kaitlyn's house so she could be with her boyfriend and not have to wait the extra days that the rest of Celtic Thunder was in Ireland for. When we got there, Kaitlyn was ecstatic.
"Damian!!!!" she cried, "I've missed you so much! How did you manage to come along with Keith?"
"I guess you could say I pulled a few strings, plus, why would I skip out on seeing my one and only girlfriend when my best friend gets to see his wife?"
Kaitlyn laughed a flirty laugh; I could tell she was happy to see her Damian again.
"We’re gonna leave you two love birds alone" laughed Keith, "Me and me wife have a dinner date to get to."
We left Kaitlyn's house and drove to Maggianos' and had a wonderful dinner, we stuffed our selves to the max. We only ordered one plate of food too! We paid the bill and decided we wanted to go back to our small apartment.
"That was one of the best dinners ever, love" Keith said as we started driving into the city.
"Only 'cause you were there." I said laughing.
"I was talking about you." he smiled
I blushed a deep red and decided we should listen to some music, I popped in Celtic Thunder's first CD and started singing along.
"Which one was you're favorite to record, babe?" I asked Keith as we were almost home
"It's a tie between Lauren and I and Castles in the Air." He said thoughtfully
"Ya, know if we ever have a daughter I would like to name her Lauren, Lauren Marie Harkin wouldn't you?"
"That would be real nice." Keith said turning up Lauren and I.
We got to our apartment around 10:30pm. Keith was getting real tired and I could tell. I put my keys and my purse on the kitchen table. The apartment wasn't big but it was perfect for Keith and I. It had two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, an office, and a living room. Keith and I had bought the apartment a couple weeks before we got married and we had already moved all of are stuff in, just only Keith lived there until the wedding. I went into our room and changed into my most comfy pajamas, Keith had already done the same, so we sat down together on the couch and popped in the Take Me Home DVD, it was one of our favorite things to watch.
"How are all the lads and all the new songs? Tell me all about it!" I asked enthusiastically.
"I've already told you everything each day when ever I got a break." Keith said with a chuckle.
"But it would still sound better if I got to hear it again" I pleaded.
"Alright just cause I love you. Everyone has two new solos to record. Damian and I are the only ones who finished because we wanted to come here.
Damian has these great songs! They're slower but they're still great for his knew voice ya know.
Me? I've already told you about mine song because you A. heard them and you B. picked 'em out.
George is singing one more upbeat song and another slower one, the slower song is "Can’t Help Falling in Love," ya know the Elvis one, its really a great craic hearing him sing it, he does a really great job with it."
"I bet it is, he should sing it for us one time it'd be nice." I said dreamingly.
"That can be arranged." Keith replied with a soft kiss on my lips.
"So what else is new with the lads?" I asked as if I didn't already know.
"Sharon decided that we're going to be singing the song "100 Years to Live," I love singing it because its got a great feel to it, and I think 'bout you each time the lads and I sing it its so warming."
"That's so sweet honey!"
"It's so sweet, it makes me wanna cry!" he added sarcastically.
"Stop that!" I joked as I hit him.
"I can't help it when I'm madly in love with my life partner, love." he said with a smile
I blushed and smiled back. "So what else is new with you lads?"
"That's pretty much it you knew everything already."
"Yea, I guess I did."
The clock in the hallway chimed meaning that it was already midnight. We’d been talking away the hours and we didn't even realize it. I hate it when I miss so much when Keith's away.
"Love, we should really get to bed." Keith said as he was yawning.
"But I don't want to! We're having too much fun!" I said playfully.
I looked at the TV screen, Take Me Home was still playing, but Caledonia had come on at last.
"'Tis the last song on the DVD, wanna dance then go to bed?" Keith asked holding out his hand.
"Of course I would! But I'm not to sure about going to bed though."
"You make me laugh Jess, I love it when you do that."
"Oh really?" I said in a flirty way raising an eyebrow.
We danced around our small living room and continued talking about what we're going to do during our honeymoon in Bali, What it is going to be like, what we're going to do all while we were still dancing on our small living room floor.
"Remind me again why you were so upset in the DVD?" I asked curiously.
"'Cause you couldn't make it."
"I know! I felt so bad! You can really see the defeat and sadness in your eyes. It worried me."
"I know, I didn't mean for it to be that way I was just upset I'll do better next time there's no need to worry."
"'Cause I'm coming next time!" I laughed
"Well duh." Keith laughed too
I snuggled up to my newly wed husband and asked, "You ready for tomorrow babe?"
"As ready as I'll ever be" He replied snuggling up with me.
"I packed your stuff the other day."
"I knew you would cau.."
"..se I'm always on top of things."
"That's rite and don't you forget it."
"I think I'm ready for bed now, love." I said
"I've been ready for hours!!" Keith said laughing.
I laughed too, "Oh hush you big baby."
"Lets go then." Keith said taking my hand.
"Honey, its time to wake up." I heard Keith's smooth voice call to me.
"Really, already? Didn't we just go to bed?" I asked with my eyes still closed
"I know, that's how I feel too, you slept right through the alarm!"
"I've never done that before! I'm always up on time!" I argued back
"You slept through my mental alarm" he laughed lightly
"Well sorry I'm not in your head then." I laughed back
"Would you like some breakfast, love?" Keith asked me
"That would be great thanks" I replied
"Great! My treat, I'll make scrambled eggs, just how we like 'em."
Keith went off to make the scrambled eggs while I decided to pick out some clothes for the day. I'd never been on a plane before so I wanted to wear something comfy, I decided on a sundress, and I picked out a kind of coordinated outfit for Keith to wear so we wouldn't completely clash. I called out to him,
"Keith how do you like these outfits?"
"Babe, I'm 23 years old I think I can dress my self" he answered with a laugh in his voice
"So I take it you like it?"
"That's fine"
I went back into our room and looked around to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything for the honeymoon. It was about an hour later when I realized that the eggs still weren't ready I called out to Keith from the bedroom, "Honey, are those eggs done yet?" I didn't get an answer, I tried again, "Keith? How are those eggs coming?"
I still didn't get an answer so I decided to make my way to the kitchen, when I got to the living room, I found Keith still in his pajamas sleeping on the couch. He didn't even start cooking. I laughed quietly as I decided to make the eggs for us, when they were done, I woke him up.
"Keith darlin' the eggs are ready."
"But I didn't even..." he replied still tired
"Its ok, I took care of it, I guess you pushed the snooze button on your mental alarm aye?" I teased
"Yupp, I guess so," he replied, "We should get crackin! We need to leave in about an hour to get to the airport! Were all packed right?"
"Of course dear"
We ate our breakfasts while talking about everything we could do in Bali, I was really excited to use the pink and green surfboard with KH+JH carved into it that Keith had gotten me for our wedding present, because while we were dating he has always wanted to take me surfing and I have always wanted to learn. We washed the dishes and called a cab so we could get to the airport in plenty of time. We got through luggage check just fine and were headed to the plane. We got our seats in first class and my stomach began to flip. I was extremely excited for this trip I couldn't believe I was flying half way around the world on a honeymoon with the man of my dreams. Keith of course was as calm as stilled water. But of course he was on a plane every other day so he was used to it.
"Keith?" I started,
"Yes, love?" he answered
"This is the best thing you have ever done for me thank you so much" I decided to finish with a kiss.
"Your very welcome, I know you'll love it, ever since I started surfing I always wanted to come here, and when I first did I had a blast!" he said. I could see the excitement in his eyes, he was traveling away from home, to one of his favorite places in the world! I felt so happy for him. Just then the Flight Attendant announced we will be taking off shortly and we needed to buckle up. I was literally jumping up and down in my seat, Keith had to hold me down,
"Some one's a little excited are we?" he said laughing
"Aren't you, hun? I mean were going on our honeymoon to Bali!" I practically yelled.
We landed in Bali around 3 in the afternoon, Bali time. We checked into our hotel and gave the Bell Hop our luggage. Keith swept me off my feet and carried me to our room. We both laughed and when we got out of the elevator, he practically dropped me when he tripped on a toy from one of the kids in another room. The room was small, but nice, it had two beds, not that we would need both, a beautiful bathroom with a full length mirror, the whole room was filled with colors of the ocean, both Keith and mine's favorite colors, the color of the sea. We had a balcony facing the beach, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I couldn't wait to go surfing, or even out to dinner. Keith took out his guitar and started playing Homes of Donegal, we sang along together and sang a few more of his songs, Lauren and I, Mountains of Mourne, and Chasing Dreams. When we finished we were ready for some dinner.
"How about we go down to the beach and have us a dinner there Jess?" Keith asked as he was putting his guitar away.
"Sounds great!" I said running to grab my flip-flops.
We got to the shack down by the beach and ordered some fish for dinner, I was always a big fan of fish, another reason why we decided to come to Bali. We got our food and took our beach towels to the shore and set up there. We watched the waves and ate our food. When we finished eating, we started watching the sunset. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The sky was pink and orange, with the yellow-orange sun right on the horizon. After seeing that, I decided I didn't want this honeymoon to end. Then I felt something cold and wet on my legs. Keith was splashing me! I got up and ran towards the water so I could get him back. We were laughing when he picked me up and threw me into the water. I was soaked! He then too, jumped right into the water and came to me.
"You are one crazy surfer, babe!" I said, looking into his eyes, they were full of excitement
"Why thank you Mrs. Harkin,” he said as he kissed me. "You've always been a wild musician."
"Why thank you Mr. Harkin" I said returning the favor. Keith has always been the most romantic man that I had ever dated. Everything about him shined, and we had so much in common. We then decided we wanted to go to the hotel and get some sleep it was late, and we were going surfing tomorrow!
Keith was up before me, as usual and he ordered room service for himself. I woke up to the smell of bacon and pancakes; oh boy did they smell good. He was sitting on the bed next to me watching the surf channel. I was amazed at how the people on that show did such a good job surfing, and I could be one of them, with the help of my husband of course.
"Good morning sleepy head" Keith said.
I just moaned, and pulled the covers over my head. I wasn't ready to get up yet.
"Would you like some breakfast?"
"Some pancakes would be nice."
"Here you can finish mine, I'll just order more."
He's so sweet. Keith went off to order so more pancakes and it was time to get up for the day.
"How are the waves today Keith?" I asked after I was dressed.
"They're pretty big, that's what we need."
"Perfect, when should we get going?"
"How about when you're done with your pancakes, I'll get the boards and stuff."
"Great."
I quick finished my pancakes, and went outside to look at the water for a brief moment. It was always so beautiful. When we got to the beach, it was starting to fill up so Keith hooked me up with everything and we paddled out to where some of the littler waves would be. I knew I was never going to be as good a surfer Keith was but I still wanted to try.
"So when we get close to the waves, you start to stand up like this," Keith demonstrated.
"I don't think I'm doing this right..." I said nervously, this was hard stuff!
We continued surfing for a couple more hours. The waves were slowly getting bigger and I was getting the hang of it. We wanted to go get some lunch. We found a hotdog stand and we ordered 2 for each of us and went to go sit by the shore, same as the night before. I saw that Keith still put ketchup on his hotdog, and I couldn't see how he does it. I, being from Chicago, was taught you never put ketchup on a hotdog.
We finished our hot dogs in peace and decided to go back out to the water, I was ready to take on the big ones.
"You sure you want to do the hun?" Keith asked
"Yes I know I can do this, I learned from the best." I smiled
"Ok, then lets go on over there," he pointed toward some waves.
I started out on a kind of big wave, and got through it fine, this was really starting to be really fun. I was so glad Keith had taught me. But of course, so I wouldn't hurt myself he was always right behind me.
Keith wanted to take on an even bigger wave and I wanted to try it too, so I followed him this time, we got through about half of it and I started to look around the wall of the wave, it looked so cool! I wasn't paying attention to how slow I was going, because I was looking at the wave and next thing I knew, I was knocked under the wave. I couldn't see anything but I knew I had to swim up, I couldn't see which way that was though, I was so confused. I started swimming in all different directions, I kept bumping into what I think were rocks but I couldn't tell. Then, I heard a sickening snap and I felt instant pain in my leg. I must've hit something really hard that time. I couldn't scream for help because I was still under the water, but my leg had never hurt like this. The only thing I could do was to try to find the surface, I felt the bottom of the ocean and pushed off the bottom with my good leg, I could scarcely move my left leg, every time I tried, it hurt too bad. I then noticed my arms were sore too. I finally broke the surface and starting yelling for help, but I couldn't see anyone. I felt alone. I starting calling out for Keith, he always hears his name no matter where he is. I was having difficulties still staying above the surface. I was about ready to go back under the water when I saw him swimming toward me on his board with a horrified look on his face, I must have been in really bad shape, my leg still hurt to the maximum amount of pain. I wanted to tell Keith I needed help. I wanted to get out of the water, I wanted to go home and be safe with Keith again. I felt Keith pull me up onto his surfboard but I don't remember anything past that.
The next thing I knew, I was in a hospital in Bali. I woke up hearing the heart monitor with my pulse. I looked around the small room and found that Keith was sleeping on the couch next to my bed. I saw my left leg elevated and in a pink cast, Keith had to have picked that out, he knew it was my favorite color. I also had bandages all over my body, my leg still hurt, and so did the rest of my body. I wondered how I had survived that terrible fall and what I had to do now. I decided that I would figure that out later, so I went back to sleep.
This time when I woke up, I didn't see Keith in the room, I wanted to know where he was, I wanted him by my side. Moments later a nurse came in to check on me
"Oh good you're awake Mrs. Harkin, you had quite the spill the other day."
"The other day? How long have a been asleep?" I asked, I didn't know I was out for so long, it worried me.
"You've be unconscious for about 34 hours ma'am." She said looking at some charts.
"Where's Keith?" I needed him more now than ever.
"I'm sorry?" the nurse obviously didn't know him.
"Keith Harkin, my husband?"
"Oh! Right, he's down in the cafeteria, I'll send someone to get him for you."
"Thank you." I felt better knowing Keith was still around.
A couple minutes later Keith came into the room with a smile on his face, I could tell he was extremely happy that I was awake, even I was happy to be awake.
"Jessica!" Keith cried! "You're alive!!" he came toward me and kissed my forehead.
I laughed and tried to sit up despite the cast on my leg.
"I was so worried about you! The doctors said you broke your shin and scraped and bruised the rest of your body real bad." he continued.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going, I didn't know what I was doing..."
"No, No, shhh, it was me, I should've never taken you to that big of a wave on ye first day surfing! This is all my fault" he said mad at himself.
"Dear, it's ok it's ok." I stroked his long blonde hair. He shouldn't feel guilty.
Just then there was a knock on the door, it was Damian and Kaitlyn, hand in hand.
"Hi guys," I perked up, "what crackin'?"
"Apparently your leg clumsy." Kaitlyn laughed
"How did you guys get here?" I asked.
"As soon as we heard what happened, you wanted to help as soon as we could." Damian said
"Plus we wouldn't let our two best friends stay alone in Bali while they're injured." Kaitlyn added.
"Thanks so much for coming you two" Keith and I said. Keith and Damian went out into the hallway to talk so Kaitlyn and I were alone.
"Guess what I got for you!" Kaitlyn squealed.
"You shouldn't have! I mean really, you didn't have to."
"Oh but I wanted too!" she said as she pulled out a small blue gift bag with yellow tissue paper. It was very nicely organized, so I started to open it. It was cucumber melon scented bath soaps. They smelled really good.
"Thank you so much Kaitlyn you honestly didn't have to do this."
Next thing I knew I heard more voices outside, I couldn't tell who it was though, I called to Keith,
"Hey babe? Who's out there with ya?"
"It's the rest of the lads honey! They came to see ya!"
Keith, and Damian came back in the room along with George, Ryan, and Paul. Paul had a huge Get Well Soon balloon and a couple assorted colored ones. He came over and tied them around the room.
"Gee thanks Paul, that's great!" I said laughing; he was always the funniest of the group. The rest of the guys each handed me a bouquet of flowers, they were all so beautiful.
"Thanks you guys, you honestly didn't have to do this for me." I said blushing.
"Of course we did, your one of the main lasses in the group now!" George said, I blushed even deeper.
"Thanks George, I honestly don't know what to say."
"Don't worry about it lass!" Paul said taking the soaps out of the bathroom.
"Paul, this isn't a hotel, and even then you're not supposed to take the soaps!" Keith said laughing.
"So how did this happen exactly?" Ryan asked
"I was surfing and I was looking around the inside of the wave and it knocked me under." I said feeling quite embarrassed that I would do something so stupid
Just then the nurse came back in and told everyone they had to leave so I could have some more tests done to make sure I could go home by tomorrow. I really didn't like hospitals so I shooed them out of the room faster than they walk. It was actually quite fun being rolled around the hospital with balloons tied to my bed while going for the tests. It made me feel special.
After about a half an hour later, I was back in my room and the nurse called Keith in the room so he could hear the news on how long I was staying in the hospital.
"All right Mr. and Mrs. Harkin it looks you guys can check out tomorrow morning," the nurse said with a smile on her face.
"That's wonderful!" Keith said with the biggest smile on his face. The two of us were extremely relieved.
After the nurse left, the room was filled again. My parents had also flown out here but were only staying till tomorrow along with the lads. Kaitlyn and Damian decided to vacation here for the rest of the week. But they promised to leave us alone. I doubted that it would happen though.
A couple hours went by and everyone had left so it was just Keith and I again. He ordered himself some dinner but I wasn't hungry. The nurse continued coming in everyone couple hours and checking on me. But in the meantime Keith and I would talk.
"You know Jess, you gave me the scare of my life." Keith started.
"I'm so sorry Keith I never meant for anything bad to happen."
He moved onto the bed next to me.
"I didn't see you come out of that wave, and I started looking for you, you must've been under the water for 5 minutes. When I heard you calling my name I was so terrified. I saw you barely above the surface and I swam to you with my board as fast as I could. You were just about to go under again when I pulled you up. I saw you're surfboard was in pieces all over the ocean. While I pulled you up, I noticed from your knee down your whole leg didn't look good at all. It was all twisted and gross, I tried asking you how bad you felt but you wouldn't wake up. You're arms were all scraped up and bleeding. I felt so bad. I never want you to get hurt like this again." He looked as if he were going to cry, I felt my cheeks, I was.
"But baby, I'm here now, and I'm alive. We're going to be alright." my voice was shaking.
"No. When you were unconscious, I didn't know what I would do if I ever lost you, I wouldn't be able to take it."
I began stoking his hair again and he started to calm down. He lay back on the bed and I lay my head on his chest, and we both fell asleep for the night.
The next morning I woke up still on Keith's chest. I turned on the TV and started watching the surf channel. Keith started getting me hooked on the channel. I continued watching the show and realized how they were professionals and I was just surfing for the fun of it. I could never be like one of them, and I wasn't sure I wanted to surf ever again. Keith woke up about a half an hour later and he still looked exhausted. He's had a rough couple days. I felt so bad for doing this to him.
"Good morning sleepy head" I said when he woke up.
"Good morning darlin'. Did you sleep ok? Do you need anything? I can go get the nurse if you want."
"I'm perfectly fine for my condition. I slept just fine, I don't need anything but you right now." I kissed him softly on his lips. Just then my nurse came into the room.
"Good morning Harkin family!" she cheered. "How's everyone doing this morning?"
"Tired." Keith said simply.
"I'm doing good, my leg is still in some pain but everything else for the most part is back to normal." I said
"Well you're leg is going to hurt for a couple more days, so you'll be needing a wheelchair for that time."
"Okey Doke, so are we all set then?" I asked with hope.
"Yes you are. You can have some breakfast here then head on out to the front desk."
"Thanks! You've been great the past couple days!"
"Oh, it was no problem. You two are just a lovely couple too!" The nurse said
"Thanks a lot lass, you've been a great help." Keith chimed in.
Keith and I ate breakfast in quiet; we were both still really tired. The plane would leave in two days to head back to Chicago. I wondered what we were going to do the rest of the time we were here. We decided to go check out of the hospital and go back to our hotel. We got to the parking lot and I started to look for our car.
"Keith, how did we get here?" It was a really stupid question but I didn't know.
"Oh an ambulance took ya hun."
"Okaaayy, so how are we going to get to the hotel?" I said with a laugh.
Keith quickly pulled out his cell phone and called Damian's cell phone. There was a reason they stayed here. Kaitlyn and Damian arrived shortly and Keith put me in the car. I sat next to him in the back on the way to the hotel. Of course, Damian had put in Act Two and 'I Want to Know What Love Is' came on and we all started singing along. We were at the hotel by the end of the song and Keith once again carried me to our room. Just this time I had a huge pink cast on my leg. Damian just so happened to have a Sharpie in his back pocket, so the three of them signed and drew on my cast.
"Make sure you leave enough room for Paul to sign!" joked Damian
"Oh we will!" Keith laughed back. The three of them made a big box just for Paul. All four of us were having a great time and it was as if nothing had ever happened.
The next two days went by in a whirl. Keith and I continued to eat down by the beach but not so close to the shore, after all the cast wasn't water proof. We mostly started just laying around and cuddling with each other because I couldn't do a lot with my cast on. We still had a great last two days. On our last night, Keith was an angel and backed up all of our stuff for me and searched the hotel to make sure we had everything. We made sure we also brought back the soap from the bathroom for Paul. Keith and I went to bed together and I feel asleep on his chest. And on that night, I dreamt for the first time on our honeymoon. I dreamt about the new Harkin family. What I thought our family would be like, how we were going to be, what our kids would look like, where we would live, if we would move, how are were going to see Keith's parents? But by the time I heard Keith's smooth voice in the morning everything worked out perfectly in my dream.
"Honey, its time to wake up." Keith's voice called to me.
"Really, already? Didn't we just go to bed?" I asked with my eyes still closed
"I know, that's how I feel too, you slept right through the alarm!"
"Again?" I laughed. "You should start putting out an actual alarm."
"Good idea, I'll get right on that when we get settled at home."
We got to the airport in plenty of time before the flight would take off. Everything went according to plan and Keith and I were having a good time. We were sitting on the plane when I noticed Keith had a little box in his hand. I decided to wait for him to present it to me instead of me asking what it was.
We were in the air for about and hour and we were all snuggled up together. I sat up and decided to look out the window, that when Keith started,
"Darlin' when you were in the hospital unconscious, I went down to a gift shop down the road and picked this out for you."
He handed me the small red box and I just stared at it, I didn't know what it was and I was so grateful that it was him I married. I started to cry.
"Oh honey there's no need to cry about this, I love you." he kissed my forehead. "So are ya going to open it?"
"Sure babe," I smiled best I could and opened the small red box. Inside was a small surfboard on a chain that looked just like mine, pink and green with the initials KH+JH
"I had it made just for you, love." He smiled, and I started crying again. This was one of the sweetest things he had ever done for me.
"Thank you so much! I love it! I'll keep it forever. But why did you get it?"
"This one can last longer than a real one." I lay on his shoulder and cuddled up next to him as he put the chain around my neck.
For the remainder of the plane ride, the two of us fell asleep cuddled up and we didn't wake up until the end of the plane ride. We got our luggage and hailed a cab so we could go back to our nice 2-bedroom apartment and start our lives together as one.
Epilogue:
Damian and Kaitlyn had already been home for a day when Jessica called Kaitlyn to see how their trip went. When Jessica called, Kaitlyn called, she had great news, Damian had proposed to her while they were out to eat in Bali. The rest of Damian and Kaitlyn's trip went beautifully and they had a great time. Jessica got her cast off 8 weeks after they got home and is doing fine, and her and Keith's marriage has gotten stronger.
Jessica: based off an older me
Kaitlyn: based off meggielou
I want to say thanks to all who read the story and a special thanks to meggielou, without her, this story wouldn't never happened
It was July 26 2009, Keith Harkin had just married 21-year-old Jessica Cross, who was a student at VanderCook Music College in Chicago. The ceremony was held in a small church in the Chicago suburbs near where Jessica had lived with her parents. The guest list was bigger than the church its self, Jessica's pre-school friend Kaitlyn Bryer was the maid of honor and Keith chose Damian McGinty for the best man. Jessica and Keith didn't want many brides’ maids or groom's men but there were definitely enough guests. Jessica had a 3 of her other friends for her bride's maids and Keith had 3 of his friends for groom's men. Everyone that both Jessica and Keith new were at their wedding, the entire cast of Celtic Thunder was there, and all of the couples' family and friends. The entire Harkin family flew out to Chicago for this wedding from Derry, Ireland. It was a huge success and everyone knew Jessica and Keith were perfect for each other. Yet when the reception was over, Keith had to return back to Ireland the next day for another week of recording songs for the new Celtic Thunder CD before Jessica and him could go on their honeymoon.
August 1st, 2009
"What was that Keith?" I couldn't hear my new husband on the phone that well, I didn't know why though, "You're getting on the plane now?? But you're flight isn't supposed to leave for another couple hours... " I said nervous on why he would he would be coming home so soon, was something wrong?
"But I just wanted to spend more time with you, love." Keith answered with ease. "So a friend and I took an earlier flight, rehearsals ended a couple hours ago." I could tell he was smiling by the way he spoke something was up.
"Aww you're sweet. So when will you be home then?" I asked excitedly.
"In a couple hours, and every minute ill be thinking of you, and the great times were going to have when I get home."
"Alright see ya then! I love you!"
"Coolios love ya more!"
*Click*
I've been waiting for today to come for a week now, I was really getting excited. I had been packed for two days already, I didn't know what to expect because I'd never been on a plane and Keith promised that he would cuddle with me so I, "wouldn't get scared" during the 8 hour flight to Bali, Indonesia for our honeymoon tomorrow.
I heard my phone ringing, it was playing, "I Want to Know What Love is" Keith's version of course, so I knew it was him contacting me. He texted me:
Hey babe, were already flying over the Atlantic Ocean there r some wicked wavz! the ocean matches ur eyes love ya!
I loved how every time Keith would change locations, he contacted me. It was a six-hour flight from Derry to Chicago, and it had already been an hour, it felt like it had been three hours. I knew these were going to be a long couple days.
Another three hours passed by and it was lunch time and I was browsing the Internet eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I heard my phone again, and it was playing "I Want to Know What Love is" again.
Keith: hey, were gunna land in NY in bout an hour and then well get on another plane and come straight to Chicago
I decided I would text back, and I didn't remember him saying anything about anyone with him on his trip back home...
Me: what do u mean we'll?
Keith: i brought a friend but shhh! its a secret love!
Me: alright-y but u kno i don't like secrets!
Keith: u'll like this one just, r u talking to kaitlyn lately?
Me: yea? y come?
Keith: no reason...
Me: keith-y!!!
Keith: gotta go babe! see ya soon
Me: love ya!
Keith love u too darlin'
While Keith and I were dating my best friend Kaitlyn fell in love with Damian McGinty. Ever since then they had been seeing each other and when Keith and I got engaged, their love only depend and they have been dating ever since. I was getting bored of looking at swimsuits and dreams clothes on the Internet so I started to go and watch some TV. So I popped in the Celtic Thunder Take Me Home DVD and began watching. I was watching Raggle Taggle Gypsy when once again my phone started to play, "I Want to Know What Love is"
Keith: hey the flight landed like waaaay early
Me: that's great!
Keith: Kaitlyn is still home rite?
Me: yea why do u wanna know hun?
Keith: okey doke love
Me: wats going on?
Keith: its a secret darlin' i told u!
Keith: gotta go!! love u!
Me: u didn't tell me y! but i love u too!! biiz
It had been about a half an hour when once again the Phone was playing "I Want to Know What Love is"
Keith: hey pretty girl wats criacinn?
Me: u still can't spell that can u?
Keith: of course not babe
Me:where are ya?
Keith: by the Appalachian Mountains i think they're called
Me: yes that would be them
Keith: r u excited for tomorrow?
Me: y wouldn't' i be?
Keith: i have no idea lol
Me: i miss you life isnt the same with out u babe
Keith: i no darlin we'll be landed in a littl while ill ttyl i love you with all my heart
Me: of course! i love you more i'll be thinking of u!
I had been another 3 hours of laying around anxiously by my self for my husband's flight to land when I got one last text message that played "I Want to Know What Love is"
Keith: landing at o'hare in 10 min
Me: that's great hun! i'll see ya there!
Keith: wanna do something special later?
Me: like what?
Keith: o maybe dinner or something
Me: alright, maggianos sound good?
Keith: my favorite but u new that darlin
Me: of course! ever since ur parents first took u there u've loved it but kinda ironic itailian food in ireland lol
Keith: that my family gotta run! love ya!
Me: love ya bii!
I got into my red Prius and drove to the airport, luckily there wasn't much traffic, I got there quick enough to get to the terminal Keith would be coming from. I parked the car and went to the terminal and waited anxiously and then my phone started to play "I Want to Know What Love is"
Keith: we just landed love
Me: great im in ur terminal
I looked around for my tall surfing husband with his guitar case. I saw him in a full ear-to-ear smile walking straight toward me, and none other than Damian McGinty was the friend Keith brought along. I ran straight up to them and jumped into Keith's arms!
"Keithy!!!!!" I screamed.
"Jess! I missed you so much, Darlin’!" he replied catching me.
"I bet I missed you more!" I said as I kissed him
"How bout that dinner I'm starving!" he said placing my hand in his
"Alright-y! Lets go! I already made the reservations."
"You would, love"
"You know I'm on top of things!"
"You always are" Keith said laughing
"I brought my Prius, will all your stuff fit?" I asked jokingly as if his two suitcases and guitar won't fit in my trunk.
"I'm not sure..." he said playing along while putting his luggage in the trunk.
We drove to Kaitlyn's house so she could be with her boyfriend and not have to wait the extra days that the rest of Celtic Thunder was in Ireland for. When we got there, Kaitlyn was ecstatic.
"Damian!!!!" she cried, "I've missed you so much! How did you manage to come along with Keith?"
"I guess you could say I pulled a few strings, plus, why would I skip out on seeing my one and only girlfriend when my best friend gets to see his wife?"
Kaitlyn laughed a flirty laugh; I could tell she was happy to see her Damian again.
"We’re gonna leave you two love birds alone" laughed Keith, "Me and me wife have a dinner date to get to."
We left Kaitlyn's house and drove to Maggianos' and had a wonderful dinner, we stuffed our selves to the max. We only ordered one plate of food too! We paid the bill and decided we wanted to go back to our small apartment.
"That was one of the best dinners ever, love" Keith said as we started driving into the city.
"Only 'cause you were there." I said laughing.
"I was talking about you." he smiled
I blushed a deep red and decided we should listen to some music, I popped in Celtic Thunder's first CD and started singing along.
"Which one was you're favorite to record, babe?" I asked Keith as we were almost home
"It's a tie between Lauren and I and Castles in the Air." He said thoughtfully
"Ya, know if we ever have a daughter I would like to name her Lauren, Lauren Marie Harkin wouldn't you?"
"That would be real nice." Keith said turning up Lauren and I.
We got to our apartment around 10:30pm. Keith was getting real tired and I could tell. I put my keys and my purse on the kitchen table. The apartment wasn't big but it was perfect for Keith and I. It had two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, an office, and a living room. Keith and I had bought the apartment a couple weeks before we got married and we had already moved all of are stuff in, just only Keith lived there until the wedding. I went into our room and changed into my most comfy pajamas, Keith had already done the same, so we sat down together on the couch and popped in the Take Me Home DVD, it was one of our favorite things to watch.
"How are all the lads and all the new songs? Tell me all about it!" I asked enthusiastically.
"I've already told you everything each day when ever I got a break." Keith said with a chuckle.
"But it would still sound better if I got to hear it again" I pleaded.
"Alright just cause I love you. Everyone has two new solos to record. Damian and I are the only ones who finished because we wanted to come here.
Damian has these great songs! They're slower but they're still great for his knew voice ya know.
Me? I've already told you about mine song because you A. heard them and you B. picked 'em out.
George is singing one more upbeat song and another slower one, the slower song is "Can’t Help Falling in Love," ya know the Elvis one, its really a great craic hearing him sing it, he does a really great job with it."
"I bet it is, he should sing it for us one time it'd be nice." I said dreamingly.
"That can be arranged." Keith replied with a soft kiss on my lips.
"So what else is new with the lads?" I asked as if I didn't already know.
"Sharon decided that we're going to be singing the song "100 Years to Live," I love singing it because its got a great feel to it, and I think 'bout you each time the lads and I sing it its so warming."
"That's so sweet honey!"
"It's so sweet, it makes me wanna cry!" he added sarcastically.
"Stop that!" I joked as I hit him.
"I can't help it when I'm madly in love with my life partner, love." he said with a smile
I blushed and smiled back. "So what else is new with you lads?"
"That's pretty much it you knew everything already."
"Yea, I guess I did."
The clock in the hallway chimed meaning that it was already midnight. We’d been talking away the hours and we didn't even realize it. I hate it when I miss so much when Keith's away.
"Love, we should really get to bed." Keith said as he was yawning.
"But I don't want to! We're having too much fun!" I said playfully.
I looked at the TV screen, Take Me Home was still playing, but Caledonia had come on at last.
"'Tis the last song on the DVD, wanna dance then go to bed?" Keith asked holding out his hand.
"Of course I would! But I'm not to sure about going to bed though."
"You make me laugh Jess, I love it when you do that."
"Oh really?" I said in a flirty way raising an eyebrow.
We danced around our small living room and continued talking about what we're going to do during our honeymoon in Bali, What it is going to be like, what we're going to do all while we were still dancing on our small living room floor.
"Remind me again why you were so upset in the DVD?" I asked curiously.
"'Cause you couldn't make it."
"I know! I felt so bad! You can really see the defeat and sadness in your eyes. It worried me."
"I know, I didn't mean for it to be that way I was just upset I'll do better next time there's no need to worry."
"'Cause I'm coming next time!" I laughed
"Well duh." Keith laughed too
I snuggled up to my newly wed husband and asked, "You ready for tomorrow babe?"
"As ready as I'll ever be" He replied snuggling up with me.
"I packed your stuff the other day."
"I knew you would cau.."
"..se I'm always on top of things."
"That's rite and don't you forget it."
"I think I'm ready for bed now, love." I said
"I've been ready for hours!!" Keith said laughing.
I laughed too, "Oh hush you big baby."
"Lets go then." Keith said taking my hand.
"Honey, its time to wake up." I heard Keith's smooth voice call to me.
"Really, already? Didn't we just go to bed?" I asked with my eyes still closed
"I know, that's how I feel too, you slept right through the alarm!"
"I've never done that before! I'm always up on time!" I argued back
"You slept through my mental alarm" he laughed lightly
"Well sorry I'm not in your head then." I laughed back
"Would you like some breakfast, love?" Keith asked me
"That would be great thanks" I replied
"Great! My treat, I'll make scrambled eggs, just how we like 'em."
Keith went off to make the scrambled eggs while I decided to pick out some clothes for the day. I'd never been on a plane before so I wanted to wear something comfy, I decided on a sundress, and I picked out a kind of coordinated outfit for Keith to wear so we wouldn't completely clash. I called out to him,
"Keith how do you like these outfits?"
"Babe, I'm 23 years old I think I can dress my self" he answered with a laugh in his voice
"So I take it you like it?"
"That's fine"
I went back into our room and looked around to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything for the honeymoon. It was about an hour later when I realized that the eggs still weren't ready I called out to Keith from the bedroom, "Honey, are those eggs done yet?" I didn't get an answer, I tried again, "Keith? How are those eggs coming?"
I still didn't get an answer so I decided to make my way to the kitchen, when I got to the living room, I found Keith still in his pajamas sleeping on the couch. He didn't even start cooking. I laughed quietly as I decided to make the eggs for us, when they were done, I woke him up.
"Keith darlin' the eggs are ready."
"But I didn't even..." he replied still tired
"Its ok, I took care of it, I guess you pushed the snooze button on your mental alarm aye?" I teased
"Yupp, I guess so," he replied, "We should get crackin! We need to leave in about an hour to get to the airport! Were all packed right?"
"Of course dear"
We ate our breakfasts while talking about everything we could do in Bali, I was really excited to use the pink and green surfboard with KH+JH carved into it that Keith had gotten me for our wedding present, because while we were dating he has always wanted to take me surfing and I have always wanted to learn. We washed the dishes and called a cab so we could get to the airport in plenty of time. We got through luggage check just fine and were headed to the plane. We got our seats in first class and my stomach began to flip. I was extremely excited for this trip I couldn't believe I was flying half way around the world on a honeymoon with the man of my dreams. Keith of course was as calm as stilled water. But of course he was on a plane every other day so he was used to it.
"Keith?" I started,
"Yes, love?" he answered
"This is the best thing you have ever done for me thank you so much" I decided to finish with a kiss.
"Your very welcome, I know you'll love it, ever since I started surfing I always wanted to come here, and when I first did I had a blast!" he said. I could see the excitement in his eyes, he was traveling away from home, to one of his favorite places in the world! I felt so happy for him. Just then the Flight Attendant announced we will be taking off shortly and we needed to buckle up. I was literally jumping up and down in my seat, Keith had to hold me down,
"Some one's a little excited are we?" he said laughing
"Aren't you, hun? I mean were going on our honeymoon to Bali!" I practically yelled.
We landed in Bali around 3 in the afternoon, Bali time. We checked into our hotel and gave the Bell Hop our luggage. Keith swept me off my feet and carried me to our room. We both laughed and when we got out of the elevator, he practically dropped me when he tripped on a toy from one of the kids in another room. The room was small, but nice, it had two beds, not that we would need both, a beautiful bathroom with a full length mirror, the whole room was filled with colors of the ocean, both Keith and mine's favorite colors, the color of the sea. We had a balcony facing the beach, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I couldn't wait to go surfing, or even out to dinner. Keith took out his guitar and started playing Homes of Donegal, we sang along together and sang a few more of his songs, Lauren and I, Mountains of Mourne, and Chasing Dreams. When we finished we were ready for some dinner.
"How about we go down to the beach and have us a dinner there Jess?" Keith asked as he was putting his guitar away.
"Sounds great!" I said running to grab my flip-flops.
We got to the shack down by the beach and ordered some fish for dinner, I was always a big fan of fish, another reason why we decided to come to Bali. We got our food and took our beach towels to the shore and set up there. We watched the waves and ate our food. When we finished eating, we started watching the sunset. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The sky was pink and orange, with the yellow-orange sun right on the horizon. After seeing that, I decided I didn't want this honeymoon to end. Then I felt something cold and wet on my legs. Keith was splashing me! I got up and ran towards the water so I could get him back. We were laughing when he picked me up and threw me into the water. I was soaked! He then too, jumped right into the water and came to me.
"You are one crazy surfer, babe!" I said, looking into his eyes, they were full of excitement
"Why thank you Mrs. Harkin,” he said as he kissed me. "You've always been a wild musician."
"Why thank you Mr. Harkin" I said returning the favor. Keith has always been the most romantic man that I had ever dated. Everything about him shined, and we had so much in common. We then decided we wanted to go to the hotel and get some sleep it was late, and we were going surfing tomorrow!
Keith was up before me, as usual and he ordered room service for himself. I woke up to the smell of bacon and pancakes; oh boy did they smell good. He was sitting on the bed next to me watching the surf channel. I was amazed at how the people on that show did such a good job surfing, and I could be one of them, with the help of my husband of course.
"Good morning sleepy head" Keith said.
I just moaned, and pulled the covers over my head. I wasn't ready to get up yet.
"Would you like some breakfast?"
"Some pancakes would be nice."
"Here you can finish mine, I'll just order more."
He's so sweet. Keith went off to order so more pancakes and it was time to get up for the day.
"How are the waves today Keith?" I asked after I was dressed.
"They're pretty big, that's what we need."
"Perfect, when should we get going?"
"How about when you're done with your pancakes, I'll get the boards and stuff."
"Great."
I quick finished my pancakes, and went outside to look at the water for a brief moment. It was always so beautiful. When we got to the beach, it was starting to fill up so Keith hooked me up with everything and we paddled out to where some of the littler waves would be. I knew I was never going to be as good a surfer Keith was but I still wanted to try.
"So when we get close to the waves, you start to stand up like this," Keith demonstrated.
"I don't think I'm doing this right..." I said nervously, this was hard stuff!
We continued surfing for a couple more hours. The waves were slowly getting bigger and I was getting the hang of it. We wanted to go get some lunch. We found a hotdog stand and we ordered 2 for each of us and went to go sit by the shore, same as the night before. I saw that Keith still put ketchup on his hotdog, and I couldn't see how he does it. I, being from Chicago, was taught you never put ketchup on a hotdog.
We finished our hot dogs in peace and decided to go back out to the water, I was ready to take on the big ones.
"You sure you want to do the hun?" Keith asked
"Yes I know I can do this, I learned from the best." I smiled
"Ok, then lets go on over there," he pointed toward some waves.
I started out on a kind of big wave, and got through it fine, this was really starting to be really fun. I was so glad Keith had taught me. But of course, so I wouldn't hurt myself he was always right behind me.
Keith wanted to take on an even bigger wave and I wanted to try it too, so I followed him this time, we got through about half of it and I started to look around the wall of the wave, it looked so cool! I wasn't paying attention to how slow I was going, because I was looking at the wave and next thing I knew, I was knocked under the wave. I couldn't see anything but I knew I had to swim up, I couldn't see which way that was though, I was so confused. I started swimming in all different directions, I kept bumping into what I think were rocks but I couldn't tell. Then, I heard a sickening snap and I felt instant pain in my leg. I must've hit something really hard that time. I couldn't scream for help because I was still under the water, but my leg had never hurt like this. The only thing I could do was to try to find the surface, I felt the bottom of the ocean and pushed off the bottom with my good leg, I could scarcely move my left leg, every time I tried, it hurt too bad. I then noticed my arms were sore too. I finally broke the surface and starting yelling for help, but I couldn't see anyone. I felt alone. I starting calling out for Keith, he always hears his name no matter where he is. I was having difficulties still staying above the surface. I was about ready to go back under the water when I saw him swimming toward me on his board with a horrified look on his face, I must have been in really bad shape, my leg still hurt to the maximum amount of pain. I wanted to tell Keith I needed help. I wanted to get out of the water, I wanted to go home and be safe with Keith again. I felt Keith pull me up onto his surfboard but I don't remember anything past that.
The next thing I knew, I was in a hospital in Bali. I woke up hearing the heart monitor with my pulse. I looked around the small room and found that Keith was sleeping on the couch next to my bed. I saw my left leg elevated and in a pink cast, Keith had to have picked that out, he knew it was my favorite color. I also had bandages all over my body, my leg still hurt, and so did the rest of my body. I wondered how I had survived that terrible fall and what I had to do now. I decided that I would figure that out later, so I went back to sleep.
This time when I woke up, I didn't see Keith in the room, I wanted to know where he was, I wanted him by my side. Moments later a nurse came in to check on me
"Oh good you're awake Mrs. Harkin, you had quite the spill the other day."
"The other day? How long have a been asleep?" I asked, I didn't know I was out for so long, it worried me.
"You've be unconscious for about 34 hours ma'am." She said looking at some charts.
"Where's Keith?" I needed him more now than ever.
"I'm sorry?" the nurse obviously didn't know him.
"Keith Harkin, my husband?"
"Oh! Right, he's down in the cafeteria, I'll send someone to get him for you."
"Thank you." I felt better knowing Keith was still around.
A couple minutes later Keith came into the room with a smile on his face, I could tell he was extremely happy that I was awake, even I was happy to be awake.
"Jessica!" Keith cried! "You're alive!!" he came toward me and kissed my forehead.
I laughed and tried to sit up despite the cast on my leg.
"I was so worried about you! The doctors said you broke your shin and scraped and bruised the rest of your body real bad." he continued.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going, I didn't know what I was doing..."
"No, No, shhh, it was me, I should've never taken you to that big of a wave on ye first day surfing! This is all my fault" he said mad at himself.
"Dear, it's ok it's ok." I stroked his long blonde hair. He shouldn't feel guilty.
Just then there was a knock on the door, it was Damian and Kaitlyn, hand in hand.
"Hi guys," I perked up, "what crackin'?"
"Apparently your leg clumsy." Kaitlyn laughed
"How did you guys get here?" I asked.
"As soon as we heard what happened, you wanted to help as soon as we could." Damian said
"Plus we wouldn't let our two best friends stay alone in Bali while they're injured." Kaitlyn added.
"Thanks so much for coming you two" Keith and I said. Keith and Damian went out into the hallway to talk so Kaitlyn and I were alone.
"Guess what I got for you!" Kaitlyn squealed.
"You shouldn't have! I mean really, you didn't have to."
"Oh but I wanted too!" she said as she pulled out a small blue gift bag with yellow tissue paper. It was very nicely organized, so I started to open it. It was cucumber melon scented bath soaps. They smelled really good.
"Thank you so much Kaitlyn you honestly didn't have to do this."
Next thing I knew I heard more voices outside, I couldn't tell who it was though, I called to Keith,
"Hey babe? Who's out there with ya?"
"It's the rest of the lads honey! They came to see ya!"
Keith, and Damian came back in the room along with George, Ryan, and Paul. Paul had a huge Get Well Soon balloon and a couple assorted colored ones. He came over and tied them around the room.
"Gee thanks Paul, that's great!" I said laughing; he was always the funniest of the group. The rest of the guys each handed me a bouquet of flowers, they were all so beautiful.
"Thanks you guys, you honestly didn't have to do this for me." I said blushing.
"Of course we did, your one of the main lasses in the group now!" George said, I blushed even deeper.
"Thanks George, I honestly don't know what to say."
"Don't worry about it lass!" Paul said taking the soaps out of the bathroom.
"Paul, this isn't a hotel, and even then you're not supposed to take the soaps!" Keith said laughing.
"So how did this happen exactly?" Ryan asked
"I was surfing and I was looking around the inside of the wave and it knocked me under." I said feeling quite embarrassed that I would do something so stupid
Just then the nurse came back in and told everyone they had to leave so I could have some more tests done to make sure I could go home by tomorrow. I really didn't like hospitals so I shooed them out of the room faster than they walk. It was actually quite fun being rolled around the hospital with balloons tied to my bed while going for the tests. It made me feel special.
After about a half an hour later, I was back in my room and the nurse called Keith in the room so he could hear the news on how long I was staying in the hospital.
"All right Mr. and Mrs. Harkin it looks you guys can check out tomorrow morning," the nurse said with a smile on her face.
"That's wonderful!" Keith said with the biggest smile on his face. The two of us were extremely relieved.
After the nurse left, the room was filled again. My parents had also flown out here but were only staying till tomorrow along with the lads. Kaitlyn and Damian decided to vacation here for the rest of the week. But they promised to leave us alone. I doubted that it would happen though.
A couple hours went by and everyone had left so it was just Keith and I again. He ordered himself some dinner but I wasn't hungry. The nurse continued coming in everyone couple hours and checking on me. But in the meantime Keith and I would talk.
"You know Jess, you gave me the scare of my life." Keith started.
"I'm so sorry Keith I never meant for anything bad to happen."
He moved onto the bed next to me.
"I didn't see you come out of that wave, and I started looking for you, you must've been under the water for 5 minutes. When I heard you calling my name I was so terrified. I saw you barely above the surface and I swam to you with my board as fast as I could. You were just about to go under again when I pulled you up. I saw you're surfboard was in pieces all over the ocean. While I pulled you up, I noticed from your knee down your whole leg didn't look good at all. It was all twisted and gross, I tried asking you how bad you felt but you wouldn't wake up. You're arms were all scraped up and bleeding. I felt so bad. I never want you to get hurt like this again." He looked as if he were going to cry, I felt my cheeks, I was.
"But baby, I'm here now, and I'm alive. We're going to be alright." my voice was shaking.
"No. When you were unconscious, I didn't know what I would do if I ever lost you, I wouldn't be able to take it."
I began stoking his hair again and he started to calm down. He lay back on the bed and I lay my head on his chest, and we both fell asleep for the night.
The next morning I woke up still on Keith's chest. I turned on the TV and started watching the surf channel. Keith started getting me hooked on the channel. I continued watching the show and realized how they were professionals and I was just surfing for the fun of it. I could never be like one of them, and I wasn't sure I wanted to surf ever again. Keith woke up about a half an hour later and he still looked exhausted. He's had a rough couple days. I felt so bad for doing this to him.
"Good morning sleepy head" I said when he woke up.
"Good morning darlin'. Did you sleep ok? Do you need anything? I can go get the nurse if you want."
"I'm perfectly fine for my condition. I slept just fine, I don't need anything but you right now." I kissed him softly on his lips. Just then my nurse came into the room.
"Good morning Harkin family!" she cheered. "How's everyone doing this morning?"
"Tired." Keith said simply.
"I'm doing good, my leg is still in some pain but everything else for the most part is back to normal." I said
"Well you're leg is going to hurt for a couple more days, so you'll be needing a wheelchair for that time."
"Okey Doke, so are we all set then?" I asked with hope.
"Yes you are. You can have some breakfast here then head on out to the front desk."
"Thanks! You've been great the past couple days!"
"Oh, it was no problem. You two are just a lovely couple too!" The nurse said
"Thanks a lot lass, you've been a great help." Keith chimed in.
Keith and I ate breakfast in quiet; we were both still really tired. The plane would leave in two days to head back to Chicago. I wondered what we were going to do the rest of the time we were here. We decided to go check out of the hospital and go back to our hotel. We got to the parking lot and I started to look for our car.
"Keith, how did we get here?" It was a really stupid question but I didn't know.
"Oh an ambulance took ya hun."
"Okaaayy, so how are we going to get to the hotel?" I said with a laugh.
Keith quickly pulled out his cell phone and called Damian's cell phone. There was a reason they stayed here. Kaitlyn and Damian arrived shortly and Keith put me in the car. I sat next to him in the back on the way to the hotel. Of course, Damian had put in Act Two and 'I Want to Know What Love Is' came on and we all started singing along. We were at the hotel by the end of the song and Keith once again carried me to our room. Just this time I had a huge pink cast on my leg. Damian just so happened to have a Sharpie in his back pocket, so the three of them signed and drew on my cast.
"Make sure you leave enough room for Paul to sign!" joked Damian
"Oh we will!" Keith laughed back. The three of them made a big box just for Paul. All four of us were having a great time and it was as if nothing had ever happened.
The next two days went by in a whirl. Keith and I continued to eat down by the beach but not so close to the shore, after all the cast wasn't water proof. We mostly started just laying around and cuddling with each other because I couldn't do a lot with my cast on. We still had a great last two days. On our last night, Keith was an angel and backed up all of our stuff for me and searched the hotel to make sure we had everything. We made sure we also brought back the soap from the bathroom for Paul. Keith and I went to bed together and I feel asleep on his chest. And on that night, I dreamt for the first time on our honeymoon. I dreamt about the new Harkin family. What I thought our family would be like, how we were going to be, what our kids would look like, where we would live, if we would move, how are were going to see Keith's parents? But by the time I heard Keith's smooth voice in the morning everything worked out perfectly in my dream.
"Honey, its time to wake up." Keith's voice called to me.
"Really, already? Didn't we just go to bed?" I asked with my eyes still closed
"I know, that's how I feel too, you slept right through the alarm!"
"Again?" I laughed. "You should start putting out an actual alarm."
"Good idea, I'll get right on that when we get settled at home."
We got to the airport in plenty of time before the flight would take off. Everything went according to plan and Keith and I were having a good time. We were sitting on the plane when I noticed Keith had a little box in his hand. I decided to wait for him to present it to me instead of me asking what it was.
We were in the air for about and hour and we were all snuggled up together. I sat up and decided to look out the window, that when Keith started,
"Darlin' when you were in the hospital unconscious, I went down to a gift shop down the road and picked this out for you."
He handed me the small red box and I just stared at it, I didn't know what it was and I was so grateful that it was him I married. I started to cry.
"Oh honey there's no need to cry about this, I love you." he kissed my forehead. "So are ya going to open it?"
"Sure babe," I smiled best I could and opened the small red box. Inside was a small surfboard on a chain that looked just like mine, pink and green with the initials KH+JH
"I had it made just for you, love." He smiled, and I started crying again. This was one of the sweetest things he had ever done for me.
"Thank you so much! I love it! I'll keep it forever. But why did you get it?"
"This one can last longer than a real one." I lay on his shoulder and cuddled up next to him as he put the chain around my neck.
For the remainder of the plane ride, the two of us fell asleep cuddled up and we didn't wake up until the end of the plane ride. We got our luggage and hailed a cab so we could go back to our nice 2-bedroom apartment and start our lives together as one.
Epilogue:
Damian and Kaitlyn had already been home for a day when Jessica called Kaitlyn to see how their trip went. When Jessica called, Kaitlyn called, she had great news, Damian had proposed to her while they were out to eat in Bali. The rest of Damian and Kaitlyn's trip went beautifully and they had a great time. Jessica got her cast off 8 weeks after they got home and is doing fine, and her and Keith's marriage has gotten stronger.
Jessica: based off an older me
Kaitlyn: based off meggielou
I want to say thanks to all who read the story and a special thanks to meggielou, without her, this story wouldn't never happened