LOVE

My life had finally turned around and became one I had dreamed of. My book was a best seller. I was married to my soul mate, and I had a number of book signings lined up. We would finally get to enjoy our vacation. I could never have expected how much adventure it would hold or how I would experience such great fear for my life—and for my husband's life.

I finished my last signing. It had been a very emotional journey for me since my book was about getting out of abusive relationships. I met many beautiful individuals who were suffering. They were sharing their heartwarming stories about similar struggles. I was elated by how many had succeeded, moved on to wonderful lives, and achieved their own dreams. Their stories overwhelmed my senses and my mind. I felt my chest tighten, and my heart ached for each person.

Kris had been with me during every signing. It saddened him to see me sharing pain, hurt, and misery, but there were also feelings of relief, hope, and safety that brought smiles of joy to his face. He loved my overwhelming compassion for others, my persistent drive, and my love for helping anyone in need. The negative experiences in my life formed me into the person I was that day, and that was why Kris stood beside me.

I knew what it was like to feel trapped and alone. The Bible and my friends had taken away my fears and given me hope again. Kris and I had both been struggling with our health. His faith grew stronger, and he helped me get mine back. Our connection grew stronger, and we listened for God's guidance. Even through all the abuse, fear, and sickness, I knew my mission was to help others through my writing.

I stayed at the book signing, and my husband went back to the hotel room. When I got back to the hotel, he was sitting on the balcony. His feet were up, and he was soaking in the sun, which had turned his skin to a dark tan. He was listening to the waves crashing against the shoreline and rocks and the seagulls calling away in the sky. A tray of cheese and sausage was on the table by his side. Kris inhaled the sweet aroma of the wine before tasting the fruit. I wondered if the gulls knew about the food and were expecting some.

Kris didn't hear me enter the room. I gently placed my materials on the bed and sneaked over to the balcony. I paused as I looked lovingly at the man who had taken away all my anxiety and let me love again. I was no longer afraid of being loved. He showed me what real, true love was. Kris's love for me could make the birds sing on a rainy day, the moon light our path in the dark, and the flowers open up and bloom upon this touch. Just one thought of him, and my lips were beaming with a smile that would melt anyone's heart. My eyes were filled with love, and my face glowed.

I slowly put my hands over his eyes and asked, "Whose time is it now?"

He genuinely replied, "Ours."

I leaned over Kris; my long, reddish-brown hair swept across Kris's bare, muscular-toned chest. He breathed in deeper as it softly swept across his skin.

Kris brought his left arm up and caressed my cheek. I could not help but close my eyes and soak in all his warmth and compassion. My right hand moved down and felt the contour of his chest muscles as my left hand moved through his ash-blond hair.

I opened my eyes, and Kris's deep-blue eyes looked like the ocean, full of peace and yearning for me. They glinted in a peevish and sexy way that made me want him even more.

Our eyes locked onto each other. As usual, I lost myself in them with an ease that overcame me with nothing but pure bliss. Time stood still while I lost myself in Kris's gaze. I didn't want the moment to end, and the contentment made all troubles vanish.

His fingers intertwined with my hair and approached the back of my head. Once there, his hand pulled me in closer, and my fingers tightened in his hair as well. Then our lips joined, and our tongues melted together.

I felt such amazing love from him. He had brought me back from the dark and dreary tomb I had been in. I could never thank Kris enough for that. He persistently believed my inner beauty needed to be shared with others so they could see how simple love could help anyone willing to try it and see how it could make a person grow. With him, I'd finally found pure, real love that would see us through everything in life, including all the dangerous trials we would be put through. But for the time being, there was nothing but the celebration of our love—and the wonderful life we would be sharing together. We lost ourselves in each other once more.

Upon awakening, my head throbbed with a screaming headache. I tried to sit up in bed, but my head was spinning. I used my weak arms as supports to help steady myself to an upright position. I was confused by how sick I felt.

I'd enjoyed a wonderful night of passion on an overdue honeymoon. How can I be feeling this way? I felt for Kris next to me, but no one was there. I called out for him ... still nothing. My eyes were blurry, and I rubbed them. I looked toward the bathroom. I could barely see the door was open, and the shower curtain was too, but Kris wasn't there.

I turned my head and noticed the balcony door was still closed. I kept turning over to my side. Trembling, I reached over for my glass of water. Before I touched the glass, I noticed a piece of paper falling to the floor.

What is that? I don't remember any paper!

I brought my feet out from under the covers and placed them gently on the ground to steady myself. Slowly bending over, I felt like I was on a Tilt-A-Whirl.

I reached for the unknown nightmare that was about to begin.

THE KIDNAPPING

On a plain, white piece of notebook paper someone had scribbled a number of instructions. At the top, it says:

If anyone else knows about this, your husband will die.

Oh, dear Lord, what is happening? I don't understand what is going on. I don't know who could be doing this to us. Neither Kris nor I have done anything wrong. We don't even know anyone here.

I wonder if the person wants money. If not, what could possibly be the reason for such an act? It frightens me to wonder how my enduringly loving husband could have been taken from my side. I don't understand how the person got into our room without waking us up.

Is Kris playing some dumbass joke? Is he going to fool me later in the lobby? Is it some misguided attempt to scare me into loving him even more? Did Kris wake up unexpectedly and become incapacitated? What is going to happen to us?

Without any answers, I focus on the note. I read the first instruction: Get dressed, grab all of your belongings, and check out of the hotel.

My hands are trembling. My heart's racing like a stallion in the wild, filling me with sheer terror. I'm also feeling lost. This doesn't make sense. I'm so worried about who has my husband—and where he is. Confusion makes me want to go back to bed and wake up to a beautiful morning with Kris by my side, just as it was intended.

Instead, I spring out...