Introductions
When Riley and Gray returned, the training team was at the shared table.A place for eating, working, and relaxing between dolphin sessions.Cam stood at the centre, rallying everyone's attention.
"Okay, everyone, settle down!"Cam called, grinning as the team quieted."I know you're all excited to get the afternoon sessions started, but I wanted to give a proper introduction to our first official researcher, Dr.Gray Whittal.Gray?"He motioned for Gray to come forward.
The team, seated in their usual spots, turned their focus to Gray as he joined Cam.The break room felt relaxed, a stark contrast to the morning's bustle, when everyone had been in their bright pink bikinis.Now, all eyes were on him.
"Dr.Whittal--" Cam began, but Gray interjected.
"Just Gray is fine, no need for the formality," he said, with a hint of embarrassment."Dr.Whittal was my father's title.He was a plastic surgeon, the kind you'd expect in California."The familiar awkwardness crept in as he recalled those country club events, where his father's peers would slap him on the back and make jokes about the "porpoise" of his work, never quite grasping that dolphins and porpoises weren't the same.He'd given up explaining that long ago.
Cam smiled, accepting the correction."Ah yes, Just Gray.I wanted you to get to know the team better since you'll be spending the next month with us.I've mentioned a bit about your research, but nothing personal.We'll get to know each other as we work together, but is there anything you'd like to share to start us off?We're a fantastic team, sometimes up to no good, but I hope the island is living up to your expectations."
Gray nodded, looking around the room."Absolutely.It's incredible to finally be here.I've been wanting to work at the Lagoon for a long time, but it wasn't until I met Cam and Riley at the conference last year that I thought it could happen."
"Yeah, you must get past Riley to set foot on the island!"quipped Declan.He not only worked with the dolphins but also helped at the turtle rehab program.His dry humour was becoming familiar to Gray.He thought Declan's accent sounded Irish, but he'd confirm that later.His fair skin and nearly white-blonde hair certainly suggested as much.
Riley shot Declan a mock glare."Hey, I'm no gatekeeper, but I could get someone voted off the island if I had to!"
Cam chuckled, shaking his head at the banter."Go on, Gray, before these two get carried away."
"Right, as I was saying..."Gray continued."I started a similar project about four years ago for my PhD.thesis, but progress was slow.You know the saying, 'publish or perish'?Well, I was dangerously close to perishing," he said with a wry smile."The board at the university wasn't too happy about my idea to present a paper on what we didn't know yet, but I convinced them to let me show the gaps in our research.I left the conclusion open-ended, as a kind of 'here's what we don't know...yet.'It wasn't exactly well-received."
A chorus of gasps and laughs broke out from the team."No way!"Marta exclaimed, eyes wide.Her light brown skin glowed in the room's soft light, and Gray noticed streaks in her black hair that reminded him of Riley's, both likely from the sun.She had a quiet energy in the way she carried herself.
"Believe me, it was a tough sell," Gray continued, smiling at the team's reaction."After seeing Riley's presentation last year and then talking to Cam about this place, we realized we could accomplish some amazing research together.And, well, here I am!"
"Riley, weren't you thinking of skipping that conference?"Cici teased from her seat, a playful grin on her face."Now you've brought this Adonis to our little island.Well done, you!"
Cici's words drew laughter from the group, and both Gray and Riley blushed bright red.Cici's innocent appearance contrasted with her cheeky humour.Tall and blonde like Declan, but distinctly American, she seemed to mirror Declan's energy, always ready to stir things up.
"Oh, Cici!Keep your lusting to yourself!"Declan called out, sparking even more laughter.
"Alright, alright," Cam interjected, though his amused smile lingered."Focus, everyone.Gray, please continue."
Gray took a breath, a small laugh escaping him."While the project may seem straightforward, there's a lot we can do with the data interpretation that could open doors to future studies.At least, that's the hope.Now, as for the--"
A sudden, loud rumble cut him off, as if the building was being shaken by a giant."What was that?"he asked, feeling another tremor vibrate through the floor as Gray grabbed onto the table to steady himself.
The team exchanged knowing smiles."The dolphins are demanding their lunch," Cam explained."We're late, and they're not shy about letting us know.We'll hear more about you later.Right now, we'd better get moving before they knock this place down!"
Gray followed the others out.As they reached the docks, his eyes widened at the sight of the two massive dolphins that had splashed him that morning.They swam in perfect synchronization toward a piling, collided with it, flipped around, and swam away for another running start.
"They're perfectly coordinated!"he exclaimed in awe as Marta and Cici walked past him, each carrying four coolers filled with fish.
"Oh, those are two of our Navy brat troublemakers," Cici said over her shoulder."And they don't like being kept waiting.We're taking them out for a walk, and we thought you'd want to come."
"Navy brats?A walk?"Gray echoed, hurrying to catch up."How are they walking?"Gray decided he needed to know the walking part first.
Marta grinned, setting her coolers in the boat."We call it a walk, but we're taking them cruising in the ocean.They get restless, like impatient boys.And they used to work for the Navy until they retired here, along with Amara and Shiloh.You'll meet them later, or you can go meet them now, and we'll go without you?"Marta raised an eyebrow as she said this, knowing full well no one turned down going out to the ocean with the dolphins.
Gray had read everything there was about the Lagoon's famous open ocean training program, where the dolphins ventured out to the ocean daily with their trainers, always coming back to their home at the Lagoon.He'd watched videos, poured over photography books, and even collected travel guides featuring these dolphins.If there was a calendar with dolphin photos, it was of these two boys.And now he was face-to-face with Abaco and Anejo, icons in their own right, as familiar as the dolphins that played Flipper in the 1960s TV show.It felt surreal.
Riley's words from earlier echoed in his mind, and a broad smile spread across his face."I'd love to.There's nothing else in the world I'd rather do."
Marta and Cici exchanged a knowing look."Trust us, Gray," Marta said as she stepped into the boat."You have seen nothing yet."
Chapter 19
