JOHN… Please don’t leave me. John!” I yelled, waking up from a nightmare. My heart was pounding as I realized it was just a bad dream. I’m Rosa, and I just had the worst dream ever. In it, my husband John had left me in a beautiful tropical place with turquoise waters and palm trees. As the morning sun shone through the curtains, I tried to shake off the bad feeling.
“Rosa? Are you okay?” John called from the hallway. He came into the room looking worried.
I sighed in relief. “Yes, it was just a bad dream. What time is it?”
“It’s almost nine. I made coffee,” he said with a smile. “Oh, and happy anniversary, sweetheart.”
My eyes widened. How could I forget? It was our tenth wedding anniversary! I jumped out of bed and hugged him. “Happy Anniversary, John! I can’t believe it’s been ten years.”
John’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
I did as he said and felt something light in my palms. When I opened my eyes, I saw two plane tickets.
“No way,” I exclaimed, looking at the destination. “We’re going to the Dominican Republic? Are you serious?”
John grinned. “Babe, pack your stuff. We leave in three hours.”
I squealed with excitement and kissed him. “This is amazing, John! I can’t believe you did this!”
“Better hurry,” he said, laughing. “You have 20 minutes to pack before we need to leave.”
As I quickly packed, I felt a bit guilty. John had been so busy at work, and we hadn’t spent much time together. This trip was exactly what we needed.
“Ready for our adventure?” John asked, leaning against the doorframe.
I zipped up my bag and smiled. “With you? Always.”
The flight to the Dominican Republic was filled with excitement. When we got off the plane, the warm tropical air felt like a hug.
“Oh my God, John, it’s beautiful!” I said, looking at the lush greenery and vibrant colors.
John held my hand. “Just wait until you see where we’re staying.”
A sleek black car was waiting to take us to our resort. As we drove along the coast, I couldn’t stop staring at the turquoise water.
“I can’t believe you kept this a secret,” I said, turning to John. “How long have you been planning this?”
He smirked. “It wasn’t easy with all those late nights at the office.”
I felt a pang of regret. “I’m sorry for being so busy with my own stuff. I know your new project has been tough.”
John’s expression softened. “That’s why we’re here. No work, no distractions. Just us.”
We arrived at a beautiful coastal resort. The palm trees swayed in the breeze, and I could hear the gentle waves on the shore.
“Welcome to paradise!” our driver said with a grin.
As we checked in, I couldn’t stop admiring the stunning lobby. “John, this must have cost a fortune,” I whispered.
He winked at me. “Only the best for my girl.”
Our room was even more spectacular—a huge suite with a private balcony overlooking the ocean. I stepped onto the balcony and breathed in the salty air.
John came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “What do you think? Was it worth the wait?”
I turned to look at him. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
He kissed me, and for a moment, all my worries disappeared. As we pulled away, John’s stomach growled loudly, making us both laugh.
“I guess we should find some food,” I said with a smile. “What do you say we hit the beach and get some snacks?”
John grinned. “Race you to the water!”
We spent the next few days enjoying the sun, sand, and each other. We lounged on the beach, sipped fresh coconuts, and ate delicious seafood. Every night, we danced under the stars.
On our third evening, we watched the sunset together. I rested my head on John’s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
“Why haven’t we done this before?” I asked, tracing circles on his arm.
John chuckled. “I couldn’t think of a better time than our anniversary. Plus, I wanted it to be a surprise.”
I looked up at him. “Well, you definitely surprised me.”
I had a little surprise for John too. I had found out I was pregnant just before the trip and had been waiting for the right moment to tell him.
“What’s on your mind?” John asked, noticing my serious expression.
I smiled. “Oh, nothing. Just thinking about how lucky I am.”
He kissed the top of my head. “I’m the lucky one.”
As the sun set, John sat up. “Hey, do you want to take a walk on the beach? The sunsets here are amazing.”
I nodded, already thinking about how to tell him. “Sounds perfect.”
We walked hand in hand along the shore, the warm sea at our feet. The golden light made everything look magical.
I took a deep breath and reached into my pocket. “John, there’s something I want to tell you—”
Suddenly, a woman in a white swimsuit ran towards us and fell to her knees in front of John.
“John!” she shouted. “You’re the love of my life. It’s time to stop pretending and tell her everything. I want you to be my one and only. Will you marry me?”
I froze, still clutching the gift in my pocket. As I looked from the woman to John, the world seemed to tilt. I waited for him to explain.
John’s face turned pale, and he opened and closed his mouth silently. Then, to my shock, he burst out laughing.
My heart pounded as John’s laughter echoed across the beach. Was this a joke?
He helped the woman up and hugged her tightly. “You couldn’t pick a better time, right?” he laughed.
Tears filled my eyes. “What’s going on? John, who is she?” I choked out.
John turned to me, noticing my tears. “Rosa, honey, I’m so sorry,” he said, coming closer. “This is Julia. We went to college together.”
Julia giggled and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Rosa. I hope I didn’t scare you too much.”
I stared at her hand, confused. John continued, “I once played a prank on her at a theater performance. She swore she’d get revenge someday, and I guess this is it!”
Julia nodded. “That’s right! I saw him from a distance and couldn’t resist playing a prank.”
As their words sank in, the tension in my body eased. It was just a prank.
“You… you’re not leaving me, right?” I asked John.
He pulled me into his arms. “Never, Rosa. I’m so sorry we scared you. I had no idea Julia was here.”
I laughed weakly and hit his chest. “I almost had a heart attack, you jerk.”
As relief washed over me, I remembered the gift box. Maybe now was the right time after all.
“Sweetie,” I said, pulling back. “I was going to tell you something earlier.”
I took the box from my pocket and opened it, revealing a tiny pair of baby shoes. John’s eyes widened.
“Rosa…” he whispered.
I smiled through my tears. “We’re going to be parents.”
John hugged me tightly, laughing and crying. “This is the best surprise of all. I love you so much.”
Julia clapped her hands. “Congratulations! What a wonderful anniversary surprise!”
As we stood on the beach, I knew that no matter what, John and I would always find our way back to each other. Because, like in the joke, I knew John would never leave me. He was my rock, my best friend, and now the father of our child.
And as we walked back to the resort, hand in hand, I felt more certain than ever that we were meant to be.
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