a mile. There, the sun shone to the earth unhindered, turning the coastal mountains an Oz-like golden green. Maria and Nate hiked over the rocky beach, their nostrils flared with the smells of salt and seaweed; their leg muscles burned as they walked barefoot on the cool, damp sand. Ahead of them the beach stretched in a crescent to a finger of land pushed prominently out to sea, its tip spewing out several rocky little islands. Behind them were the massive jetties: two gray-white arms reaching out into the ocean, forming a safe passage to Palmer Bay.
Maria and Nate had said little since leaving the car, communicating instead through gently squeezed fingers and lazily swinging arms.
'Hey,' Nate said finally, breaking the silence. 'What's that?'
Together they spied a form on the beach.
'I'm not sure,' Maria responded. 'But it looks like a sea lion.'
'Wow. It's big. What's it doing? Is it hurt? Will it run away when we get close?'
Maria laughed. 'I don't know. Let's find out.'
Soon they were close enough to look the creature in the eye. Just then it rose up, gave a roaring bark, and fell lamely back to the sand. The tide was going down, and the sea lion lay on its side, its body moving in little tremors, struggling to rouse itself and head back out to sea. But it was so sick or so exhausted that it could not. The animal had no outward wounds, but Maria suspected it was struggling with age and the infirmities of an old body. She put a hand on Nate's shoulder.
'I'm afraid this poor old guy is getting ready to die.'
'Like Mom,' Nate said softly.
'Yes,' Maria said, squeezing his shoulder.
'But she was just gone all of a sudden.'
'I know.'
'I don't want that to happen anymore,' Nate said, his voice breaking.
Then she held him and he cried for what seemed like a half hour. On the way back to the car, Maria could see a change in his eyes. She wasn't sure what or how, but something had been resolved.
30
They were to meet in the lobby of the Palmer Inn. Sitting in front of a mammoth stone fireplace in a brown overstuffed couch, she browsed through a New York Times that she had managed to find at the front desk. They had reserved a private booth at the back of the restaurant. It was 4:00 p.m. She wasn't hungry, her insides were in turmoil, and her feelings bounced from anger to desperation to hope, while her mind fought to see a rational path out of her quandary. They really needed a very private place-a place she could yell and pace. When she agreed to meet him here, she hadn't thought of that.
She felt a hand on her shoulder.
She turned around, and there was Dan, smiling and relaxed.
'You aren't getting yourself all worked up, are you?'
'Yes. I am getting myself all worked up.'
'Well, let's go in the coffee shop and have a talk, then maybe we'll go for a drive.'
'OK,' she said.
They were greeted by a friendly waiter who had no one to wait on. Apparently gauging Maria, he handed them their menus immediately after seating them and said he would return in a while. No chitchat.
The decor was blush pink and black, a little worn, but not nearly as tough as the conversation she contemplated.
'I'm grateful to be alive.'
'Yeah. It must feel good coming so close on the heels of almost dying.'
'It does. We've been saying…' She paused and started again. 'We've been talking about the Highlands and our-' She hesitated, trying to think of how to say it.
'Maybe I could help out here. I mean, you might not have to carry all the water yourself.'
'Why don't you just grab a bucket and have at it?'
'Well, I'd like to change venues if I'm going to help you out. I'm sure the waiter will forgive us. I'll leave a generous tip.'
'OK,' she said, uncertain but willing.
''You have to promise to hold this discussion in abeyance until we reach our destination.'
Dan rose, pulled out his wallet, and offered his arm. As they walked, the waiter rose from his perch with a quizzical frown. Dan smiled and slipped him a five.
''I'm sorry, I just realized there was some important business that I need to attend to,' Dan said.
'Where are we going?'
'My house. Pepacita's just leaving and Nate's with Katie.'
'I see.' They were quiet during the walk to the car.
'I'm really curious now. Do you have food, or what? You look so devilish. I'm almost worried.'
'There's no crew at my house chopping down all the trees if that's what you're concerned about.'
'The suspense is killing me. Can't you just give me a hint? Just a little one.'
'We'll be there in just a minute.'
'Have you talked to my dad?'
'Now, now, you promised.'
'No,' she groaned. 'That's not the same subject.'
'Oh, come on. You'll have to do better than that. Everything to do with your family is the same subject.'
In minutes they turned into the driveway.
'We're here. I promise we'll deal with everything inside.'
They went in through the front door this time. Just as they went in, Pepacita slid past them, smiling mysteriously and kissing Maria on the cheek as she went. Everything looked normal, neat and thoroughly groomed, just as she remembered it. Then they proceeded through the dining area and soon nothing looked the same. Down the hall to the kitchen and family-room area, she could see flowing white diaphanous fabric. Through the doorway there was a soft glow.
She tried to form a question but found herself speechless.
The family room had been converted to a tent with fabric over the bookcases and across the ceiling. There were soft candlelike lights and two candelabras with live, burning candles-Pepacita must have just lit them. The furniture had been cleared, and there was one very large recliner couch that looked like a holdover from the Roman Empire. On it lay a single red rose. Beside it stood a silver champagne bucket packed with ice and a large bottle. A lacquered cart held strawberries and a marvelous array of sushi. There were four flower arrangements-each head- high with lilies, orchids, and irises in an Asian motif.
Dan put his hand on her shoulder and guided her toward the recliner.
Reaching down, he picked up a filmy peignoir and a partly translucent gown. Beside them were men's silk pajamas.
'You'll need a costume,' he said.
'You are completely crazy.'
'I can't help you with that bucket of water if you don't put on your costume. You can use the back bedroom.'
'I thought I could deal with anything. But I'm not so sure about this.'
'Relax. It's only a gown. The lights are soft. You'll be safe as safe can be.' She looked at him. 'I promise.'
'OK,', she said.
On the bed in Dan's room, she found this note:
Eyes can speak things only the soul can hear; Minds can intertwine with greater bliss than touch; A look can stir the heart, never slipping a button; A face has magic enough for heart, soul, and loins. I don't need to see the rest until you're ready.
