Seriously good. Seriously kind. Empathic. A workaholic by the look of it.
But he’d booked in here for two weeks. Two weeks of this man’s time looked to be an incredible commitment.
Okay, she was impressed, but she was also scared. This wasn’t a man to be deflected with weak excuses. It’d be the truth or nothing, if he decided to stay.
She headed back to work, and found herself almost hoping he’d decide to leave. That’d make her life a whole lot less complicated.
* * *
They had to wait for over an hour, and every minute brought fresh doubts.
He took Harry for a walk around the resort. There were a dozen bungalows built on the beachfront, with dolphins painted on their front doors. Wind chimes hung from their verandas and brightly coloured hammocks hung from the veranda rails.
Sand spits covered with stunted eucalypts reached out from both sides of the resort, the spits forming a secluded bay. A great sweep of netting enclosed half the cove. That’d be a pool for what the information sheet told him were the captive dolphins. These, according to his sheet, were either dolphins who’d been injured in some way or who’d been raised in some form of captivity and brought here in an attempt to rehabilitate them to the wild.
Some dolphins could never be rehabilitated, the sheet said, and these were the dolphins trained to interact with the resort’s clients. Their injuries were so bad or they’d learned to be too dependent on humans to ever survive in the wild.
Jack and Harry wandered down to the beach again, hand in hand. Harry had fallen back into silence as he always did. For the last three months he’d simply done what he was told.
He still walked with a heavy limp—his left leg still needed to be braced. He stumped along and Jack’s heart twisted for him.
One stupid moment of speed and carelessness. Metal on metal. Lives changed for ever.
There was a scattering of people on the beach, well away from the netted area where Toby had died. These must be more of the resort’s clients, he thought, as this place was too far for tourists to come. There were gay little beach shelters scattered about for whoever wanted or needed shade. A couple of kids were in beach-tyred wheelchairs. A few kids were playing in the shallows. Parents were playing with them, talking among themselves.
He had no wish to join them. Did he have any intention of staying?
‘Maisie,’ Harry said, dragging his thoughts back from introspection, and he glanced back to where the little boy was looking and saw the big golden retriever bounding down the beach towards them. Carrying a ball. She raced straight up to them, dropped the ball at Harry’s feet, then bounced backwards and beamed with a full-on canine beam.
‘Toss it,’ Jack suggested. Harry hesitated but Maisie was practically turning herself inside out with ball-need.
Finally Harry picked the ball up and threw it all of three feet.
The big dog pounced, but before bringing it back she raced towards the shore, dropped it into the shallows, quivered and then brought it back to them. Her message couldn’t be clearer. Throw it further. Throw it into the sea.
‘You throw it,’ Harry whispered, and such a command was almost unheard of from Harry.
So Jack threw it, to the water’s edge. The dog retrieved it with joy but this time she took it further into the shallows before bringing it back.
Once again her message was clear. ‘Throw it even further.’
‘She wants you to throw it deep,’ Harry whispered, so Jack did. He hurled the ball out to where the waves were just breaking.
Maisie was on it like a bullet, streaking through the water, diving through the waves, reaching the ball...
But then not stopping.
The reason the waves were so shallow here, why the beach was so safe, was that the outer spits curved around, protecting the inner bay. At low tide the spits would be connected to the land but now, at high tide, the sand spits formed long, narrow islands. The island looked beautiful, sand washed and untouched, apart from a host of sandpipers searching for pippies or crabs or sand fleas—whatever sandpipers ate.
And now Maisie was headed for the spit island as well. She swam strongly until she reached it, then raced onto the sand, sending sandpipers scattering in alarm.
But then she turned and looked back at the beach. She looked at the water between herself and the shore.
She looked at Jack and Harry. She dropped her ball at her feet—and she shivered.
She was maybe fifty yards from them, through breast-deep water. She’d swum out with ease but her demeanour now was unmistakeable. How have I got here? Uh-oh.
‘She’s stuck,’ Harry gasped, appalled.
‘She can swim back.’
‘She’s scared.’
She couldn’t be. Jack stared at the dog in exasperation. She’d swum through the shallow waves with ease. Of course she could get back.
He glanced along the beach, hoping someone official might appear, but it must be time to pack up. The few people left on the beach were two or three hundred yards away, gathering belongings, packing up the beach shelters, heading up through the sand tracks to the resort.
What was he supposed to do? Stand and yell, ‘Help, the dog is stuck, save her’?
‘Maisie,’ he yelled, in what he hoped was his most authoritative voice. ‘Come.’
The big dog quivered some more—and then as the last of the beachgoers disappeared over the sand dunes, she started to howl.
‘Help her,’ Harry said in horror. ‘Jack, help her.’
And there was another first. Not once in three months had Harry called Jack by name. Not once had he asked for anything.
Jack, help her.
‘She can swim back herself.’
‘She’s frightened,’ Harry whispered. ‘What if a big wave comes and washes her off?’
‘Then she’ll have to swim.’
‘But she’s scared.’ And as if confirmation was necessary, Maisie’s howls grew louder. She squatted on the sand and shivered, every inch of her proclaiming she was one terrified mutt, stranded on a desert island for ever, doomed to starve to death or drown on an incoming tide.
‘Jack...’ Harry whispered. ‘Jack!’
And a man had to do what a man had to do.
‘If I swim out and fetch her, promise you won’t move from here,’ Jack told his nephew, and Harry nodded.
‘Hurry.’
Maisie was now crouching low, as if the sand was about to give way beneath her. Her howls had given way to whimpers. Loud whimpers.
‘Promise out loud,’ Jack demanded of Harry.
‘I promise.’
The kid had talked. Even if he took him home now, the barrier of silence had been broken. Great, he thought grimly. Now all I have to do is rescue one stupid dog.
He hauled off his shoes, shirt and pants, thanking fate that he was wearing decent boxers. He hesitated for a moment, thinking he really didn’t want to leave Harry on the beach, but Harry met his gaze head on.
‘I promise,’ he said again, and it was enough. The two words were a joy all by themselves. They were almost enough to make him turn to the water with enthusiasm, to plough into the shallows, to dive through the waves, to swim the twenty or so strokes it took him to reach the island spit.
Finally he hauled himself out of the water and headed for Maisie...who waited until he was less than six feet from her and then bounded to her feet, grabbed her ball, launched herself back into the water and headed for shore.
Jack was left standing on his island in his boxers, staring helplessly after her.
Maisie made it back with no effort at all. She bounded up the beach to Harry, dropped the ball at his feet and turned to stare out at Jack.
Her tail was whirring like a helicopter. Even from where he
was Jack could sense the grin. This was a great dog con.
* * *
She walked over the sand hill and saw Jack in the water. She could see at a glance what had happened. Maisie the jokester dog. This trick almost always worked. Occasionally a parent reacted with anger but usually it was laughter, and Kate could see Jack’s laughter from where she stood. He watched the dog paddle effortlessly through the shallows to the beach and she saw his shoulders shake.
She was smiling as well. So the humour remained.
She’d liked this man.
She’d also thought he was gorgeous—and he still was. He’d stripped to his boxers. He stood in the sunlight, the late afternoon rays glinting on his wet body. Even from here she could see the power of the man. He must work out at some time in his seriously impressive schedule, she thought. He looked ripped.
She watched as he headed back into the water, diving into the shallows, diving under, taking a few long, strong strokes before he caught a wave that took him all the way to shore.
Harry and Maisie were waiting, Maisie tail-wagging as if she’d pulled off the world’s best joke, Harry looking worried.
Jack strode out of the water, lifted his small nephew and swung him in a big, wet circle.
‘She fooled us,’ he told Harry. ‘Don’t look so worried. The doggy fooled us both. Isn’t she clever?’
Harry gave a tight little smile. His rigid body didn’t unbend, however, and after a moment Jack put him down.
‘This is a very strange place,’ he told Harry. ‘Do you know, I think it might even be fun. I’m not sure yet, but maybe we should give it a try.’
* * *
To be fooled by a dog was one thing. To be fooled by a woman you didn’t trust was another. He set Harry down, looked up, and Cathy was there. Or Kate. Whichever, both of them were laughing.
‘I’m sorry. Donna should have warned you. Maisie always tries that on.’
‘Donna?’ he said dangerously.
‘Our receptionist. She’s supposed to warn everyone. This is Maisie’s favourite party trick to get adults into the water. Strangely, she never tries it on kids. Only adults. She’s so clever.’
‘Right,’ Jack growled. To say he was feeling at a disadvantage was an understatement. He was dripping. He was in his boxers. On the other hand, Kate had obviously cleaned up after her time with Toby. She was wearing a soft blue skirt and white blouse. Her hair was neatly curled on top of her head. She looked fresh, professional...and deeply amused, but...
‘Maisie saved herself,’ Harry pronounced, and he was talking again. That was almost enough to make Jack forget about Kate. Almost. Her chuckle had him entranced.
Kate wasn’t his type. She’d never really been his type, he conceded. Yes, there had been that initial attraction but he liked his women cool, sophisticated.
Kate was cute rather than classically beautiful, he thought. She had freckles. Lots of freckles.
She looked like the girl next door, he thought. So why was he looking at a pair of laughing eyes and thinking...thinking...
He didn’t need to think in that direction. She’d always had secrets and he didn’t like it. This woman had some hidden agenda and Harry’s welfare was at stake. He needed to find out what was going on.
But Kate was no longer looking at him. She’d stooped to crouch before Harry.
‘Hi,’ she said. ‘I’m Kate, Maisie’s mother. I hear your uncle has brought you here to stay for a few days so you can meet Maisie and my friends, the dolphins.’
Harry was back to saying nothing. Kate, however, didn’t appear in the least bit disconcerted. She rose, headed over the sandhill and came back carrying a bucket. Of fish.
‘I dumped these when I saw your uncle saving Maisie,’ she said, returning to them. ‘Wasn’t he brave? But isn’t Maisie clever to trick him? Jack, would you like to go and get dry while Harry and I feed the dolphins? Would you like a little time out?’
It was exactly what he’d like. He was feeling...exposed. He was bare chested, bare legged and a bit chilly now the sun was sinking low, but he still had reservations about this woman. He wasn’t about to leave her alone with his nephew until he knew more.
Harry was still not speaking, but he was peering into the bucket. Fish!
‘These are a snack for the wild dolphins,’ Kate said, talking exclusively to Harry. ‘We feed the dolphins in the healing pool, but every now and then we give our wild dolphins a treat. Some of the wild dolphins are ones we’ve treated here for injuries and let go, but most are just free dolphins who come to say hello. If we encourage them to stick around, when we have an injured dolphin who’s better we can release him into a group of friends. Do you think that’s a good idea?’
Harry nodded.
Jack had resolved not to trust this woman, but every ounce of Kate’s attention was focussed on Harry. He thought, It doesn’t matter if I trust or not, but if Harry trusts...
He had to stick with him. He wasn’t going as far as letting this woman take over but something seemed to be working. He hauled his shirt over his still-damp torso and took Harry’s hand.
Harry didn’t respond. There was never a moment when those small fingers curled around his. He trusted no one.
‘Where do you feed them?’ he asked, and she motioned to where the net divided the free bay from the pool.
‘At the boundary. I feed those in the pool and out so they see each other.’
‘But the pool ones can’t get out?’ Harry asked, and once more Jack held his breath.
‘The ones in the pool all have something wrong with them,’ Kate said, starting to walk down to the water, leaving them to follow if they willed. And, of course, they willed. Harry was moving even before Jack led. ‘If we let them out into the ocean they’ll die. But we’ve made the pool enormous and we try and make them feel as free as we can.’
They reached the netted boundary. She walked into the water—she might look professional from the knees up but she had bare feet—and she lifted a fish out of the bucket. She slapped the surface a few times with the fish and she yelled.
‘Grub’s up. Come and get it.’
He was as fascinated as Harry. They stood on the shoreline and watched as far out a fin appeared and then another and another. And then there was a line of eight dolphins, surfing in on a wave to reach the shallows. They paused as a group in about two feet of water, and a couple reared back as if standing on tiptoe, watching.
And in the enclosure four more dolphins assembled and did the same, so Kate had a dozen dolphins at attention.
‘Now, the trick is, one fish each,’ she told Harry. ‘And they’re very tricky. Every time one gets a fish he pretends that he hasn’t. So the ones who do the most jumping up and down and pleading are the ones who’ve had a fish. The others know I’m fair and if they wait their turn they’ll get one.’
She lifted the fish—a fish Jack thought was a good breakfast size—and tossed it to the first wild dolphin. He caught it with dexterity. She then tossed a fish to each wild dolphin in turn. She was right, the ones who’d been fed became sneaky but Kate was sneakier still, and not one dolphin got more than his share.
‘If we feed them too much they won’t bother to hunt themselves,’ she told Harry briskly, as she moved from the outer rim of the pool to the inner. ‘And that’d never do. Now, would you like to give one of my tame guys a fish?’
Without waiting for an answer, she delved in the bucket, snagged a fish and held it up. ‘This would make a good meal for me. Our dolphins get very well fed. Harry, if you’d like to meet my friends, the closest is Hobble. The next one is Bubbles. Then we have Smiley and Squirt. If you and your uncle decide to stay here for a while then you’ll meet them close up. They like playing with a ball just as much as Maisie does.’
But it was enough. Harry closed
up, as he’d closed up for months. Jack felt him withdraw, felt his small body clench with tension, felt his hand become rigid in his clasp.
Did Kate know how much progress he’d made in the last hour? he wondered.
‘Maybe we need to stop...’ he started, but Kate was there before him.
‘Only if you want, of course,’ she said cheerfully. ‘You decide, but if you stay you’ll have a nice little bedroom overlooking the sea. Some people who come here stay in bed the whole time and every now and then they peek through the curtains at the dolphins. That’s all they want to do and it’s why we call it a sanctuary. Everyone here is allowed to do exactly what they want to do. Now, I gather Donna has shown you your bungalow? It’s the yellow one, and your bedroom is all yellow, too. If you want you can go there now. Dinner’s in the dining room in half an hour but if you want to you can have it in your little house. There’s a menu on the wall. We have everything from sausage rolls to pizza to great big hamburgers for your uncle. But you decide. Harry, I’m going to feed the rest of my dolphins now, but you can do whatever you want.’
It was exactly the right thing to say. Harry didn’t move. The tension was still there but he’d been given an escape route. The pressure was off and if he wanted he could still stay and watch.
He didn’t say a word but neither did he pull back, retreat, head for the safety of the cute little bungalow that was to be their home for the next two weeks.
Instead, he stood silent. His hand was still in Jack’s, not responsive, not clinging but not pulling away either. They watched in silence as Kate waded into the pool and spoke to her four tame dolphins. She showed each of them a fish and asked them to spin three times and do a belly roll before she handed them—formally, it seemed—their supper.
Then she backed out of the water, waved to the dolphins and waved to them with the same cheer.
A Secret Shared... Page 3