She laughed. “Well, at least you’re not wet and slimy. At first!” she corrected herself lightly.
He groaned.
Should we talk about it?
No.
“I definitely like it,” he said, giving her his approval. “And I usually wear a rash guard for the same reason, lots of things in the water. Though, supposedly, by the private island the nasty creatures know not to come.”
“You think?”
“Not for a minute,” he chuckled. “The ocean is the ocean. Ocean creatures swim where they can lay their eggs, where there’s food... And a wreck can provide shelter and more!”
“I’ve a terry cover-up, too. About to throw that on. Makes it all really easy, too. Wear the cover-up to the dive, take it off for the dive, get to put it back on if I’m wet and the air-conditioning in the bus is too chilly!”
“Perfect, so—we’re ready?”
She nodded gravely and then frowned. “Did you hear anything from George or Edward?”
“No. And I think that no news is good news on this.”
Chloe nodded. “Well, great. I’m starving.”
“Even for food!” Wes said lightly. He already had the dooropen. And, as they came out in the hallway, they ran into Celia and Jeff.
“Hey!” Celia said happily. “You guys are in time for breakfast, too. The usual?”
“A buffet this morning will work!” Chloe said. “They start getting people off the ship and to their various destinations and excursions right at nine, so... we’ve got an hour!”
“Plenty time to wolf down a good breakfast—and hopefully digest it on the way to the dive!” Jeff said. “But, hey, you know what’s cool? I have never felt more comfortable about a dive before, knowing that a real dive master is among our group!”
“Well, I’m not the dive master on this—” Wes began.
“But you’ll be there. And you two lovebirds have already proven your lifesaving abilities!” Jeff said.
“It does make for a nice feeling of confidence,” Celia said.
“Well, good!” Wes told her. “It should be great. A lot of the wrecks that I’ve been to are deep, way deep, and most recreational divers don’t get to see them. This one is on a reef, just thirty feet down.”
“I know! I’m excited. It will be my first wreck!” Celia said.
They chatted casually as they made their way to the elevator and then out to the deck where they’d dined before, lining up for the buffet and looking about for tables.
“Busy this morning,” Chloe noted. “I guess those who just kind of enjoy the ship when we’re at sea like to get up and going when they have a plan!”
“And that’s natural,” Wes said.
“I hope we get to sit together!” Celia said. “I’m looking for a table—oh! There! Broderick, Daniel and Daniel’s new obsession, the young Gina, are at a table already and it looks like... yep! They’re holding seats for us!”
They were.
Once they had filled their plates, they made their way to the table where the brothers were waiting for them.
Wes thanked them as they brought their food and took their seats. Then Daniel murmured, “Hey! I guess she really is okay! We need the rest of the table, too. Edward and Sally are out on deck and, of course, George!”
Sally was up, on Edward’s arm, smiling at him and then waving at their group. They soon joined them, with Sally apologizing as she sat. “I’m so sorry. I mean, first off, thanks for saving places for us! We weren’t hurrying because Edward and I have decided that we’re not getting off the ship. I told him we could, no problem, but—”
“But we can get massages right in the ship’s salon!” Edward interrupted. “I told Sally, I don’t care. We both had our moments. We’re just going to enjoy time.”
