He took her hand, and she smiled softly."I love bringing you to these spots.Watching you see them for the first time reminds me of how I felt when I first discovered them.So thank you for being my willing accomplice."
She leaned in and kissed his cheek.
"Now, let's get going; the mangroves await."Riley tossed her hair over her shoulder as she helped Bear into his seat.Gray dragged his kayak beside hers, and as they prepared to launch, Riley felt that familiar mix of nerves and excitement.She was letting him in a little more, and he seemed to want to be part of her world.Could open her heart a bit more, too?
Chapter 38
Mangroves
Astheypaddledoutin their kayaks, Gray cannot stop his head from swiveling back and forth, taking in the shallow water and the mangrove trees.He's seen nothing like this before.There's so much chatter from the birds, but the mangroves are so expertly camouflaging them he can't see what species has them surrounded.
"I am speechless!Riley, how does this even exist?"Gray took in a deep breath and then scrunched up his nose.The smell was familiar, but he couldn't place it.
Riley noticed the look on his face."I see you're finally getting the full essence of the smell of the mangroves?"
"I am, and it's familiar to me.The mangroves make that smell?"Gray narrows his eyes at the strange-looking trees.
"They do, and let me tell you, this is definitely a better time of year to come.They have a sulphur smell to them, and it gets harsh depending on the season.There are times of intense decomposition.Right now it's only a mild rotten-egg kind of smell, but tolerable.At other times during the year, it's a bit too strong.I love it here December through April; we're on the cusp of the worst of the smell."
"Well, smell or not I feel like I'm in a real-life version of the Jungle Cruise tour I took when I was 10 years old at Disneyland."Gray shook his head remembering the trip and marvelling that this mangrove forest is so similar and also so different.
As they passed close by the mangrove trees, Gray stopped to touch the roots, and he saw that there was so much life swimming around the underwater roots.He plucked a leaf from the tree that was hanging above and was pleasantly surprised.
"I did not know the leaf would feel like–leather?"Gray held the leaf rubbing it gently between his fingers awed because it looked like a leaf but felt leathery and as he'd noticed earlier It had a plumpness to it, like it was full of water ready to burst.
He would definitely need to talk to Bowen more about bringing some researchers here.This was a place that teemed with interconnected life.Gray knew from his own proposal that the people funding projects loved if they could perpetually fund, year after year, projects that had a central location and unlimited scope for research.
Riley smiled at him and shook her head.She knew the pull of the mangroves and also the challenge of living on the island.
"When I first came to the island, all I did was figure out how to navigate everything.Where do I get groceries, do banking, and buy bikinis?"She gave him a mischievous smile."But once I started feeling like I had the day-to-day sorted and I was secure at work, I started accepting the invitations of the people I met.As you've figured out, everyone goes to the same place at night; the Square has all the bars, restaurants, and entertainment.But there are a few people who aren't from here who've made this island their home."
She stopped her slow paddling and pulled her kayak beside Gray's.
"I was nervous to step away from the social scene of the Square and go to dinner or drinks at their houses.I don't know..."She looks thoughtfully at Gray."I felt like I was one step further removed, the dreaded 'expat' who wouldn't stay long enough to fulfill their contract.So, I always said no."
Riley let the lazy river current carry their kayaks along.Bear had taken up his spot in the front seat of Riley's kayak, happily watching the fish swim beneath them in the shallow water that was the lightest blue colour, with the white sandy bottom making it appear as if they were floating on glass.
"Then one day, the vet for the dolphins said he was putting together one of his infamous dinner parties.He said it was a select group, and I was invited, and he wouldn't take no for an answer.So, I put aside my worry and went."Gray can see the fondness in her eyes as she remembers the evening.
"And was it infamous?"he asked, wondering if he could get invited someday.
"Oh, it was!I walked in and was promptly told, 'There's the bar; you better get yourself a drink, or we'll make one for you.'I followed orders."She throws her head back, laughing at the memory of her shock when she saw the bar.Doc had an actual bar, better stocked than any she'd ever been to.She'd found a Riesling chilling in a bucket and decided it was the safest bet.
"It was there that I got to know Carlos and Katrina.And Johnny, who owns the Conch Shack, was there too, and they all started revealing the secrets of the island.Places like this that I didn't know about.The dinner was beyond decadent.He served a five-course meal that he made himself!"Gray had only met the vet once so far, a big ruddy man, originally from England.He tried to imagine him putting together an extravagant dinner.
"There's a specialty food store on the island; I'll take you there one day.You won't be able to afford anything," she laughs, "but the old expats like the vet; it's their stomping ground for the best imported foods.Now, when he invites me to a dinner party, it's an instant 'hell yeah.'"
She pushed his kayak behind hers as they approached a narrow area in the waterway.Gray finally spotted some of the beautiful birds in the trees and immediately saw the magic of this place.
There wasn't another person around, just the breeze rustling through the mangrove trees and the beautiful woman in front of him.He took a few quick strokes, pulled up beside her again and reached out to hold on to her kayak so they were in tandem once more.
"After that first dinner, I went out with Carlos and Katrina to a few hidden gems, including here.I got to spend time with Bowen and have helped him when he's had larger tour groups.Plus, after getting to know Johnny better, I can now use his skiff whenever I want.It's such a community, and I do what I can to show them I appreciate not just their friendship but also their trust."Gray tilts his head, a questioning look on his face.
Riley sighs."Unfortunately, a few expats have come here and behaved poorly towards the island.Did you know there's an entire system of caves and caverns here?"She motions towards a small beach, and as they pull up, Bear bounds out of the kayak, knowing what's coming—treats!
"Bear!Hold on, no spoiling the surprise!"Riley hauled her kayak onto the beach and helped Gray as he got out.The beach was only a sliver of sand between the mangrove trees.He hadn't even noticed it as they had drifted along.
"Where are these caves and caverns?"
