A giant turtle swam just below the surface, and a school of fish darted about a bit deeper.
“Let’s get out!” She tried to stand up in the kayak.
“One sec. Let’s drop the anchor.” I grabbed the weight from behind me and tossed it into the ocean, ensuring the kayak would remain nearby.
In our tiny wake, the fish and turtle moved quickly along the ocean floor, disappearing from view.
“Aw ...”
“They’ll be back, and there’ll be more, baby girl.”
“Yay! Can we go in the water?”
“First, we need our flippers.”
Carefully, Darla slipped her feet into small flippers and I shoved mine into larger ones, making sure we didn’t fall out of the kayak in the process.
“Okay, now your snorkel and goggles.”
“Ouch,” she said sliding the apparatus over her face. Loose hairs stuck to her cheek and wound their way in front of her goggles.
“I gotta say, you should’ve let Mom put your hair back in a neat bun.”
“I’m fine. Let’s go!”
“Ready, Freddy?”
“Ready, Heddy!”
“Go ahead.”
I held her hand while she tossed her legs over the side and flopped into the water. The Hawaiian sun reflected off her bright yellow swim shirt.
“Come on,” my daughter said, beckoning me.
She didn’t have to ask twice.
I slid into the water and kicked until I was next to Darla. We floated for a minute, and then she took my hand and we swam around a bit. With our faces pressed into the water, the ocean came to life. Schools of fish, octopus, and turtles streaked by, the reason we were out kayaking in the Pacific.
Her small hand tugged on mine, and I turned to see her free hand point to the right. An entire turtle family swam right in front of us.
Sending Darla to private school had been the right choice, even though Jules fought me on it. Darla was incredibly smart, especially in the sciences. She loved sea life, and the teachers took care to make sure she had her fill at school. It wasn’t a boarding school. My girl still spent every night at home.
Her school also happened to house Florida’s top tennis program.
I rose to the surface, treading water as I watched Darla swim around, confirming what I already knew. There was no reason for my daughter not to have every advantage.
Of course, Hawaii had been her idea for our honeymoon after Jules agreed to do the deed. We’d gone to the justice of the peace at the city-county building one December afternoon when Darla finished school. My mom had proven to have zero interest in me, and Darla’s mom was her mom. She picked what she wanted to get involved with. This wasn’t high on her list.
After a quick civil ceremony, Sully and Rosie had taken us to Abba to celebrate. Over dinner where I first recaptured Jules, Rosie had asked if we were going on a honeymoon, and Darla piped right up.
“We should go to Hawaii.”
Jules gave me a look that saidI know there’s no way you’re not taking her with us now.
I’d missed six years of her life. Of course I said yes.
We planned it the next day, and here we were. Christmas in Hawaii with my girls.
