by Robyn Steele
Chapter 11
We worked on expanding my abilities out on the man-made beach. Sand had been hauled in to create a smooth surface to work on. The other beaches around what I now had learned was an island, were all covered in lava rock. This privately owned beach was serene and beautiful and isolated. It was perfect for the work we had to do.
The houseboat had been tethered to the pier on the other side of the island and was concealed by the sharp, high cliffs over-hanging there. It couldn’t be seen from the air and anyone approaching by water would be instantly discovered by our private army of bodyguards.
Luckily we had our swimming suits on underneath our clothes. However, I was self-conscious in mine. Cruz and Lissandra stripped down to their swim suits. There was that perfect six pack again! I hesitated. Nate was the only boy that had ever seen me in my swim suit and that’s when I was 10 and younger. Nate always complimented the way I looked. He thought I was perfectly proportioned. However, I couldn’t test it on Cruz. So I tried to stall.
“Come on, Talli. Get down to your swim suit so we can check out the water. It’s really nice this time of year. It’s like bath water.” Lissandra coaxed me. Sure she can say that. She looks like a model in her bikini. I have a suit that covers my curves a little more, thank goodness. I would rather have on a full wet suit, though.
I finally gave in and stripped off my jeans and jacket but I left my t-shirt on. That made me a little more comfortable. Cruz’ dimple appeared as he observed me. “You look adorable, mi amica. But I don’t understand why someone would want to cover up perfection. But whatever makes you happy is what counts.” He knew just the right things to say and they felt genuine. I was starting to feel at ease with him.
At the end of the sandy beach were some lava rocks that led up to a waterfall that plunged down about 100 feet to the ocean. We climbed to the top of the waterfall and sat on the edge looking down. Although it was breathtakingly beautiful, it made the butterflies in my stomach do backflips over and over. “Holy heights!” I yelled. “I’m not good with heights. In fact, I really don’t like them at all!” I began to get up and leave but Cruz threw his arms around my waist and held me tight. There’s that electricity again. I froze in place. That feeling was definitely addicting. “What is that feeling we get when we touch?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve asked around and I haven’t found anyone that has experienced it yet. My guess is it has something to do with an ability that we both share. So, shall we continue to explore abilities?”
“Um…ya…but not here. I’m not comfortable here.”
“I’ll help you with that. The thing is, when you experience high amounts of adrenaline is when your abilities will break through. This jump is intended to facilitate the discovery of your abilities.” Cruz explained.
“Shut up! You are not making me jump! Me and heights don’t get along too well.” I protested with all my might. I started to back away but Cruz stopped me.
“I’m not going to force you to jump, but I highly recommend it. This will bring out abilities you don’t know you have yet.” Cruz encouraged me. “We can jump together if you like. I will hold you.”
He was so calming and soothing and encouraging. However I didn’t think I could do it. I’m scared to death! I do need to find my dad, though. That is my driving force. I think I could do just about anything to find him. “Can I close my eyes?” I asked hopefully. “I don’t know if I can jump if I’m looking down there.”
“Sure, you can close your eyes and just hold onto me. But dig down deep, babe. You can find the strength and courage to do just about anything if you really reach for it.” I thought about the time I wanted to learn to do a back tuck. I didn’t think I was ever going to get it. My tumbling coach said the same thing to me. She told me to reach deep inside and find my inner strength. I mastered my back tuck after that, with perfection I might add. I could look at this the same way, I guess.
I held tight to Cruz and closed my eyes and said, “Okay, I’m ready. Go now before I change my mind.”
He held me close and whispered in my ear, “We’re doing this together. You will never be alone. ” Then he pushed off the cliff with me clinging to him.
We plunged down, down, down until we hit the water, slicing through towards the bottom. I felt a rush of water swoosh past my body. For a split second, time stopped. I felt the adrenaline explode in my body. Besides the fear and excitement that I was feeling, I also felt every emotion that Cruz was feeling at that moment. He was exhilarated and excited. He had an overwhelming affection for me. He was proud of me for jumping. He was in awe of me and enamored with me and he felt a huge responsibility to protect me.
Then we shot back up to the surface. Cruz had me in his arms the whole time. I felt a sense of accomplishment that I hadn’t experienced before. I felt invincible. I felt empowered. I also felt a new emotion for Cruz. I felt like I could always trust him to protect me.
We swam over to the bank, climbed out onto the lava rock and sat next to the falls. I was so caught up in my fears and adrenaline and thoughts that I hadn’t even noticed Lissandra had hiked back down to meet us at the bottom.
“Great job, Talli! You did great. I can’t believe you did that! By the way, I don’t do heights. I’ve never jumped that and I don’t plan on it either.” Lissandra said.
“Well I didn’t plan on it either. I probably won’t do it again. But I’m glad I did it. Thank you, Cruz.”
“I hate to change the subject, but did you feel anything different while jumping?” Cruz asked me.
I thought hard about my experience. It was so fast it’s hard to tell in that short time. I did feel Cruz’ emotions but I’m not sure I should tell him about that. I don’t think he would like me knowing something that personal. I closed my eyes and tried to relive the jump.
As soon as I did, a picture entered my mind. It was my father again. He was running from someone. He kept looking back to see where they were. I couldn’t see anyone else, just him. Where was he? He was in a building without windows so I couldn’t tell where he was. He ran from room to room and changed hallways and went through doors. Still, I could not see where he was. Then the picture faded.
“You saw him again, didn’t you?” Cruz suggested.
“I did. Does that have anything to do with the jump?”
“Inadvertently it does. Like I said before, the adrenaline will bring abilities out or magnify them. It’s like a defense mechanism that is built into us. When our body feels challenged or threatened it will create defenses, so to speak. It’s really just my theory, but it seems to be true.” Cruz explained. Well that just changed my mind.
“I’m ready to jump again.” I said. I stood up and began hiking to the top. Cruz quickly followed behind me.
“No one can ever accuse you of not being determined.” Cruz genuinely commented, with a chuckle.
“True that. Let’s go.” This time I jumped alone. I was going to find my dad if it killed me. Okay, wrong choice of words. However, I was determined, as Cruz said. I hit the water feet first. I seemed to be entering the water in slow motion. Then my father appeared in my head and I could feel his emotions. He felt worried about me and my mom and he felt a lot of love for me and my mom. He also felt anger towards some people. I got a name. Pietro? The name Pietro is in his head. Also, I can hear the name Senesi. What could that mean?
I glided to the surface of the water and looked around. Cruz popped out of the water. “Nice jump.” He told me. “Did anything happen?”
“Yes. I need you to help me figure it out but I think I have something that will help.” I swam over to shore and Cruz and I sat on the rocky beach near Lissandra who was waiting for us. I told him about the feelings I felt and the names that came to my mind. Cruz knew the names. He told me that Senesi is a village not far from
where his home is and Pietro is a common name in Italy. We had great information to go get my dad. We just needed to make a plan and get more people involved. We would start with our parents and grandparents.
We went back to the house to clean up and change into dry clothes. We met in the dining hall and had a quick lunch and were discussing my abilities I had just discovered. Cruz asked me if that was the only time I had felt some ones feelings. I couldn’t lie to him. I had to admit that I had felt his feelings when we were under the water. That made him blush. I tried to think of something to change the subject fast, but luckily I was saved by the bell.
The doorbell rang and a in a few minutes we were joined by momma and my grandparents and Cruz’ parents and Paolo. Cruz filled them in on my newfound abilities and the names I had discovered. The adults were pleased to hear this new information. Grandpa said we would definitely be able to get my dad now.
While the adults were talking to Cruz, I looked across the room to Lissandra and Paolo. They were obviously delighted to see each other. They truly had a relationship born of love. This was not just an arrangement. I could deal with that kind of relationship. If I could have that, it wouldn’t matter if it was arranged. Maybe there is some kind of special bond that happens when you share a culture or have a common heritage. That makes sense. I looked over at Cruz. He was still talking to the adults but he winked and gave me his special smile with dimples, which sent butterflies to my tummy. Butterflies without the touch. These butterflies weren’t as intense as the butterflies I get when he touches me. But they were there. This is the butterflies that normal people feel if they have feelings for someone. I get it now. I see the difference.
I could sit and feel these sensations forever and never tire of them. But I had to be practical and I did have a purpose. We needed to focus on the problem at hand. We started to devise a plan. It was hard for me to contain my enthusiasm. I was so excited to finally meet my dad. However, momma was probably the most ecstatic one of us all. It had been years since she had seen her soul mate. She told me about their dating and wedding and things they had done together. She told me about them planning and expecting me. She told me how my father had been so nervous when I was born. I was his little princess and he didn’t want to break me.
She had never told me these things before. It was too painful to think about him and she didn’t know if she would ever see him again. Now I was learning all about him and their life together. Grams even contributed her memories of him when he was a little boy. It was so wonderful to hear about my dad, what he was like and who he was. This was a refreshing change from my childhood of no one talking about him. It was definitely time to put our plan into motion.