Island Surprise

Welcome to this week's installment of Island Surprise my WIP. This week's Tuesday Tales prompt is knife.            

           Dan and Crystal were on the small island at a table set for two at the site of the new hotel extension. They were sharing a snack of cheese and crackers from a picnic basket, and a bottle of wine, compliments of the hotel. After all the hotel staff assumed the picnic basket was for the honeymooners, and they went out of their way to accommodate Lacy and her new husband. The basket also included a pineapple and other tropical fruits. Next to the basket were utensils, a cork screw and a big sharp shiny knife meant to cut the pineapple.

Crystal sat on the edge of her seat listening to every word Dan said. “It still doesn't make sense to me. I know that you must be excited about this baby, the same way I am.”

“Look Crystal, you’ve got to believe me. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but we have no future, you and me. There is no us. I just married Lacy. Why don’t you take the money, and I’ll make sure the baby gets taken care of financially. He or she will never want for anything, but I can’t be there doing this with you. I just can’t. It’s out of the question.”

“It doesn’t make sense to me, Dan. Why did you bring me here to this island if you didn’t want to spend some alone time with me.” He heard the shakiness in her voice, and thought she was at the point of breaking down. Dan thought it would be easier to deal with Crystal on the small island away from nosey hotel staffers who could report back to their boss and Lacy’s father. He told Lacy he was meeting with her on the island and wanted to handle it himself.

He stood up and walked over to Crystal who had just burst into tears. He put a hand on her shoulder and rubbed her back to comfort her, not really knowing what to do. His gaze fell to the table and the knife caught his eye. Maybe I should put that in the basket. Don’t want her to get any ideas.

Crystal stood up and put her arms around Dan. He was taken by surprise, but continued to pat her back. He reached for the knife on the table with his other hand, just as he picked it up a familiar voice came up from behind him.

“So this is how you handle it, Dan? I thought you were breaking it off with her.” Lacy shirked from behind trees as she approached them.

Dan released Crystal in a flash, put still held the knife.

“Get your hands off my husband. It’s over Crystal, and how dare you show up here. You must be crazy.”

Dan was surprised at Lacy. He’d never seen this side of her before. He was trying to be gentle with Crystal, but she wasn't having any of it.

Crystal turned around and faced Lacy head on with straight posture. “How dare you talk to me like that. I’m carrying his baby. Can you say that?”

“Is she crazy? I don’t have to say that. I’m his wife. I count, you don’t.”

Dan wasn't sure who struck first, but before he knew what happened his two women were throwing blows at each other. He wanted to break it up, and looked down at his hands and saw he still held the knife. “Hey, stop it you two. Stop.” He waved his arms and threw the knife in the picnic basket. Next a crash rocked the tranquil island as Crystal went down and hit her head on the stone table, face first. The blood gushed out of her head that had split open at the forehead. What happened next seemed to go in slow motion to Dan, as it was permanently implanted in his brain. He went to Crystal’s side to see it he could help stop the bleeding, but it was no use. There wasn't anything he could do. Crystal was gone.

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