Roger drops the anchor to keep the boat floating close to shore, then lowers a small ladder, jumps barefoot out of the boat, and Mike indicates to Lexi that she should come down first with Roger’s helping hand.
“We’ll get your luggage to your cottage in no time,” Mike says. “With all the travel and this heat, you’ll probably want to catch up on some sleep.”
“Yes, thank you,” I say. “I’ll see you around?”
“Every day. I’m in charge of the fleet and the other activities,” Mike says. “Roger is your skipper for the diving.
Awesome.Or not.“Small world,” I say, just to say something.
At this, Mike laughs. “Small island.”
I make sure Lexi is secure on the ladder, and Roger smiles for the first time as he helps her down. I’m going to ignore that. I jump down, and my feet sink into the soft sand, the water up to my knees. It feels like coming home.
Lexi wades to the shore, wet up to her crotch and jeans clinging, sneakers and purse held high. I bet none of that is coming out of the closet again. I catch up with her, fingers brushing her elbow. “Not so fast, babes.”
“You don’t have to say that when we’re out of earshot, you know.”
“Just method acting.”
She pauses, hand outstretched, eyes rolling. “Don’t get used to it.”
I chuckle as we walk up onto the beach hand in hand, and Miriam and Don head our way. They’re an older couple, probably late sixties, but looking fit as fiddles.
“Welcome to Ne’emba Island,” they say in unison. Handshakes and pleasantries about our flights and jet lag follow.
“Let’s show you your place,” Miriam says. “We have no plans for today except to get you settled in.” She leads the way from the beach to a sandy trail hacked out of the tropical thicket. “We’ve vacated the management cottage for you. We’re in the last available room in the staff quarters since the hotel is full.”
“Oh wow.” Lexi lets go of my hand since there isn’t enough space to stay abreast. “You didn’t need to do that. Surely we?—”
“Oh, it’s only for three nights, and before coming to fill this gap, we were RV-ing through the US,” Don says. “It’s perfect practice for us to get used to small spaces again. We’ll be picking up our travels where we left off two months ago.” He pauses at a split in the trail. “This path goes to the lodge and this one goes to your cottage.”
A small sign that saysPrivateis the only indication that something hides in the thicker tropical forest.
“This is a young couple’s gig, not something for retired folks. By the look of that ring, your engagement is recent?” Miriam’s gaze homes in on Lexi’s hand, where the diamond winks in a drop of sunlight that penetrates the foliage.
That ring had me so torn, but it was the right thing to do if management notices it like this. After walking all the shops in the terminal building, I ignored the expense. My only conclusion was this: Lexi deserves nothing but the best. She’s putting everything on the line here for me, and this was the least I could do. I wanted to get her that eye-popper and half of me cursed. Somewhere in me there is a boy that still wants to be just like his dad and fling money around and buy expensive things for the woman in his life.
Lexi giggles—that little laugh she has when she’s uncomfortable and called out—as she brushes at a rogue strand of hair. “Very recent. How do you know?”
“We get a lot of honeymooners. No wear and tear on their rings, just like yours.”
“Ah.” Lexi’s gaze catches mine, and maybe it’s my imagination, but I’d swear that’s a spot of panic in her eyes.
“Your job descriptions always saypay attention to detail, babes.” I reach for her hand and get in a squeeze before she can pull away. We’re under a magnifying glass right now.
“All you need here is a bed and some space away from guests for your own privacy.” Miriam indicates for us to continue on the path. “The management cottage is perfect for that, and probably the most romantic cottage of them all, if you ask me.”
Don leads the way until the forest opens up to what must be ourcottage.
“Oh…” Lexi breaks off.
I blink in confusion. It’s massive.
“This is it,” Don says. “We’ll run you through the basics and then give you some space.”
We stroll up to the entrance of an A-frame wood-and-woven-palm-leaf structure. This is what I could see on Google Earth—the pointy rectangles that got so pixelated as I zoomed in that I couldn’t figure out much except that they all had solar panels. The frame is tall and wide but has no walls as such, and it covers the verandah and interior of the space. Under this “roof,” the room is another wooden frame with big glassless windows. It gives open concept a new meaning. Woven grass “curtains” have been rolled and pinned up so you can see straight through to the massive king-size bed, which has mosquito net hanging like a veil around it, suspended from a wooden frame up above. It’s a snug fit but leaves about two feet of space open around the bed to move around.
I swallow, refusing to meet Lexi’s gaze.This is… I clear my throat. Expectedly unexpected.
