The Lost

The woman’s fright showed in her hurry to leave the room, and Sebastian realized he had never once seen fear on Isabelle’s face. For all his cruelty to her she had never been afraid and had almost always managed to mask her hurt. He did not know if that was weakness or virtue.

Forbidding her return was the most unselfish action he had ever taken. His love for her made her as fragile as an orchid. If she came back, she would surely die, be taken from him as Angelique had been. Better to send her away than risk that.

Weariness stole his strength and he sank down on the sofa and wondered if Isabelle’s God would listen to him. Protect her, he prayed, feeling awkward and stupid. Please. “I am begging.” He shouted out loud and then whispered, “I love her.”

Isabella’s hymn reached him even as he heard a voice whisper, “Tell her.”

“Come back to me with all your heart. Don’t let fear keep us apart. Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.”

Sebastian struggled into his boots, and ran from the castillo. A train of people followed him. The master never hurried anywhere unless it was very important.

“Who is dying?” one asked.

“Has he found something?” another wondered.

“He can’t run far,” a woman observed.

He found Esmé in her house with a bottle in her hand.

“She has already gone to Herreo’s house. She said she is leaving and told me that I have built my entire life around vengeance and for the curse to end, both you and I have to make the right choice. Isabelle insists that I have suffered as much as you.”

Esmé looked at the spirits in her mug. “She is right. I am a healer. Doing my best to see you in pain is destroying me too.”

She poured the bottle of spirits into the sand.

“Will she come back safely if I tell her I love her?”

“Am I seeing the master ask a question?”

“Yes, you poisonous woman. If you have found wisdom, stop needling me and give me an answer.”

“You stupid man. End the curse. Follow her. Your love for her and hers for you will see you to safety.”

He found Isabelle halfway across the strip of land that co

“Isabelle!” he called.

She turned and when she saw him, after a word with Herreo’s parents, ran back to him.

Isabelle leaped into his outstretched arms, and he spun her around and around. “I love you,” he shouted.

“And I love you.” She slid from him to stand as close as she could. “Could anything be more perfect? I promise I will come back as soon as they are settled in the hospital.”

“No one will bring you back, Isabelle. After what happened when you came, no one will take the risk. I will come with you. Esmé agrees with you that love is the key that will unlock the curse.”

“The healer? She told me that her mission in life is to see that you are cursed for eternity. How can you believe what she says?”

Sebastian took her hand and began to cross over to the big island. “Silly woman. You’re the one who taught me that you have to learn to trust.”

Epilogue

“I swear this island never changes.” Sebastian stood at the entrance to the castillo, his back to the door, and watched as the villagers returned to work after their very enthusiastic welcome.

“It never changes because that’s the way you want it.”

Sebastian conceded the point with a half nod. “There has to be one place where I am still the master.”

“The only place,” Isabelle reminded him.

“Admit it, dear wife, you don’t want to have computers in every cottage and generators polluting the air here any more than I do.”

“No, so I guess this is our escape from reality.”

“Or our return to it.”

They walked into the castillo to find the courtyard a beehive of activity. The usual welcome-h ome celebration was pla

Everyone stopped to welcome them back, to ask where the children were and promise a party “even better than the last one.”

“Where are the boys?” Sebastian asked their mother.

“I wish I knew,” Isabelle countered and began to walk back toward the entrance.

“Mom! Dad! We can’t wait to go to the beach.”

With a glance at Sebastian, Isabelle answered, “All right, but take an adult with you.”

Herreo popped up behind them, his shy smile a welcome that was always one of their favorites. “Am I adult enough, mistress?”

He was tall and strong and one of their dearest friends.

“Yes, Herreo, and thank you. Will we see your parents tonight?”

“Of course. Mistress Healer is coming too. Her newest nurse will be with her.”

There were times when Esmé did not come and times when she could not stay away. Isabelle was glad they would have a chance to see her.

“We can’t wait, Herreo,” the boys shouted. “We can’t wait to go to the beach.” They pulled on Herreo’s hand and were out the side door before anyone could say good-bye.

Sebastian turned to his wife. His dimples had deepened with age, his hair showed just a little gray and the smile lines around his eyes were more pronounced than ever. He often told her he felt wonderful for a man more than two hundred years old, and she assured him he looked wonderful too.

“I can’t wait either,” she said, pulling on his hand like a little girl.

“To go to the beach?” he asked, teasing her.

“No,” she answered, laughing. “If you will come with me, master, I’ll remind you why this is our own corner of paradise.”

Author’s Note

My original intent in using singing as a key part of the story was to include words from hymns I sing in church regularly. I thought that would illustrate that the message of love in the hymns has a meaning beyond their spiritual context.

When it became clear that using most of the hymns I chose would not be possible, I wrote my own words with the exception of the use of one line of the hymn “Be Not Afraid,” with permission of OCP, and words from the hymn “Hosea,” which are from the Bible and therefore not subject to copyright.

If you will take a moment to read the words of the hymns you sing, I know you will see, as I did, that many of them are about love. While the composer certainly had a spiritual view in mind, the meaning of the songs can be expanded to include the kind of love we encounter in dealing with people we are closest too, people we meet by chance and friends.

At the heart of “Lost in Paradise ” is my belief that love is why we are here, and accepting love can redeem even the most hardened of hearts. Isabelle convinces Sebastian to accept love and frees him from his curse. I hope that they will convince you.