Tim laughed. “I believe you, and I agree. I think there’s a monster too. Humans know more about space than we do about the oceans and life under the sea. Amazing, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
They chatted a little more about the legend of the Loch Ness monster and the different sightings people had claimed to have had over the last century. When their food arrived, their conversation circled back to Gemma’s plans.
“My calendar is wide open. The only things I have to make sure I fit in are my PT exercises and some quality girl time with Frankie and Leslie. How about you?”
“Weekdays, I’m free every day after four, except on Wednesdays—then it’ll have to be after five-thirty. The weekends are fully open.”
“What’s on Wednesdays?”
“I coach junior baseball.”
“Can I come to watch a practice?” Gemma asked.
“Sure, but I don’t think you’d find it all that fun. My kids are eight and hitting on a tee.”
“On the contrary, I think it would be a great way for me to observe and learn from a top coach.”
“I’m flattered, but I’m just an average coach.”
“Still, I’d like to come watch.” Reaching for a chip, she glanced around the table. “No mayonnaise?”
“Why would you need mayo?” he asked quizzically.
“For my chips?” she said, gesturing to them.
“That’s not a thing in the States.”
They launched into a spirited debate over the merits of American fries versus British chips. His fun personality was a breath of fresh air amid the uncertainty of the unknown. She knew that with Tim by her side, she’d never wallow in self-pity and he would always help her see the bright side of things. They said laughter was the best medicine of all, and she hoped in this case, it would help her ailing hip heal.
Chapter 13
A few days later, Gemma rapped her knuckles against Tim’s cabin door.
“It’s open,” his voice called out from inside. She turned the doorknob and let herself in. Tim stood in the kitchen, watering the last of his plants on the windowsill. “You’re early. I didn’t expect you until noon.”
“I wanted us to maximize our time together.”
He grinned. “Good to know you find me irresistible.”
She rolled her eyes.
Putting down the blanket she’d borrowed from Frankie, she asked, “What’s on the agenda for today?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“You’re not even going to give me a hint about where we’re heading?”
“It’s somewhere on the coast.”
She pouted. “That doesn’t do me any good. California has a long coast.”
Tim chuckled. “That’s all I’m willing to say for now, except it’s about a two-hour drive to our picnic spot. If you need to use the restroom, I’d do it now. Otherwise, you might be stuck having to use a bush on the side of the road.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” she countered. “I’d wait until you found the nearest petrol station, even if it was quite a few kilometers away, and use its loo.”
Picking up his car keys from the nail by the door, he gestured to a wicker basket on the kitchen island. “Can you manage that?”
