When Jade closed the door to my suite, I turned in circles looking at everything, then headed to the bathroom to get dressed, then decided to pick out a cover-up first. I couldn’t figure out why wearing a swimsuit felt undressed to me when it was the same as a leotard. I stood now in the bathroom looking at myself in the mirror.
Maybe it’s not wearing tights that makes it feel less dressed. Plus, no face mask or head gear. That’s it, I need a hat.
I didn’t have to look far to find an assortment of hats. The big straw hat was the winner. My hand then glided over the shoes before resting on a simple pair of white flip flops to match the coverup. As if on cue, Jade knocked on the door.
“You didn’t have to wear a one-piece just because I am.” I pointed to her suit. “You don’t want bad white areas.”
“It won’t be a problem for a few hours. Besides, I did tell you I used to wear them all the time.”
We walked back to where we had left the men to hear dual snoring. Jade motioned to let them sleep and we went out on the beach. There were very little waves, unlike ones I had seen in pictures. It felt so relaxing to sink my feet into the wet sand with the water slowly brushing over my feet and ankles.
“I can see why you live here. It is so peaceful.” I closed my eyes, just listening. “It is a different kind of quiet than what I have been used to.”
“It’s like heaven on earth just listening to the waves lap on the shore.” Jade tapped my shoulder. “Open your eyes and look out there, two dolphins are playing.”
“Wow, they seem so happy.”
“They’re amazing. This week we’ll go out in the boat. I’ll show you where there are lots of them.” Jade sat on the sand. “We can swim with them.”
“We can swim with them when she feels comfortable swimming,” Cota said from behind us. “Mind if I join you ladies?”
“My husband, you can join me anytime. I am yours.” I patted the sand beside me. “I think I am ready to start my swimming lessons. I want to swim with the dolphins.”
Cota jumped up from the sand and held his hand out to pull me up. “Let’s go.”
“Not in the ocean, though, right?”
“No, let’s start with the pool.” Cota pulled me up but held my hand still. “Jade, are you coming?”
“Not right away. I’ll come out there when Sawyer wakes up.”
We spent the next hour with Cota being the most patient person while I learned to swim. I was never going to be in the Olympics, but I had the motion down. It was the not getting water up your nose problem that I struggled with. By the time Sawyer and Jade joined us, I could swim a few lengths of the pool.
“Looks like you will be graduating very soon to ocean swimming, maybe even diving.” Sawyer sat on the edge of the pool with his legs in the water. “That makes you a fast learner, or you tricked us.”
“I don’t trick, as you say. I do have good muscle control from all of my years training.” I swam to the shallow water to relax. “I’m not so sure about ever going diving, though. I can’t stop getting water up my nose.”
“That can be a problem, but you’ll get the hang of it,” Sawyer assured.
ChapterTwenty-Six
COTA
The following week went by in a flash. Sabrina had become a good swimmer in a very short period of time. She seemed ready to move on to new things. Her desire to experience life was infectious. I had essentially saved her but was quickly learning she was making my life better, too.
“Cota, I was wondering when you would be awake,” Sabrina said from a mat on the floor of the deck. “Come on down here and I will teach you yoga.”
“I don’t think I’m the human pretzel type.” I stretched. “Did you eat breakfast yet?”
“Not yet. I like to get my yoga finished first. I suppose old routines stick with you,” she said. “Come on, you taught me to swim, let me teach you to yoga.”
“Fine, but, if I get stuck, don’t let Sawyer take pictures for Facebook.”
“I don’t know of this Facebook, but I will say no to him.”
Yoga wasn’t as awful as I had envisioned it. I found it a little boring, being an active guy. But if it made her feel good, I didn’t mind.
“Let’s grab some breakfast, then we can try snorkeling today.” I helped roll up the mats.