Out in the Open

by Glazer, J B

  “Do you think the travel will let up anytime soon?”

  He’s quiet for a minute then says, “No, not anytime soon.”

  I sigh and snuggle up next to him. I’m used to it, but I still miss him when he’s away.

  After takeoff I read my magazine then close my eyes. I must have fallen asleep for most of the flight, because I’m woken by an announcement from the captain that we’ve started our descent. I look over at Jake, who’s watching a movie on his laptop. He sees I’m up and takes off his headphones.

  “Whatcha watching?” I ask him.

  “The last season of Entourage. Great show. Have you seen it?”

  “Yes. I saw all the episodes from that season. I won’t tell you what happens. You can put it back on if you want.”

  “No, that’s OK. I’d rather talk to you.”

  “Thanks again for planning this trip. It means a lot to me. And I’m excited to get to spend some quality time together.”

  “Me too,” he says, taking my hand. “I’m sorry I’ve been away so much lately.”

  “I understand. I’m kind of used to it, but I love it when you’re home. It feels lonely sleeping without you.”

  “I feel the same. I definitely sleep much better when you’re lying next to me.”

  Jake kisses me softly on the forehead. The flight attendants come around to do their final checks. I look out the window as we descend, and it’s nothing but blue skies. I usually hate landings, but the wheels touch the ground almost effortlessly, and I let out a sigh of relief. As we’re taxiing to our gate, the captain welcomes us to Aruba. I can’t believe we’re here!

  Jake and I breeze through customs then collect our bags. We find the exit for the shuttle that will take us to our hotel. We walk outside, and I’m struck by the heat and endless rows of palm trees. “This is what my heaven looks like,” I say, and sigh contentedly as we board the bus.

  When we arrive at the hotel, I feel the photos didn’t do it justice. We walk into a spacious lobby that’s bright and airy, and flanked with huge pillars, high ceilings, and displays of various tropical flowers. I look around while Jake checks us in. “You like?” he asks, coming up behind me.

  “Yes! It’s perfect,” I say, turning around and wrapping my arms around him.

  The bellhop takes our bags and shows us to our room. Jake has booked us an ocean suite with two private balconies that offer spectacular views of the pool and ocean. “This is amazing,” I say as I look around, “although a regular room would have been just fine.”

  “If it makes you feel better, I used points. But I like doing nice things for you. I know you don’t expect it, but I want to give you anything I can.”

  “Thank you. I just wish I could return the favor.”

  “Your being with me is all I need.”

  “You really are one of the good ones,” I tell him. “Now let’s test out this heavenly bed.”

  Afterward I change into my swimsuit then step onto the balcony and look out at the ocean. Already I feel more relaxed. Joining me, Jake says, “Let’s go check out the hotel.” We head downstairs and find the pool. It’s very spacious, with water features and hot tubs that spill into the main pool. It’s also right next to the beach, which is dotted with grassy umbrellas. We walk over to the sand, and I take off my shoes. I thought it was just the pictures, but the water really is turquoise. Jake and I take a walk down the beach, and I bask in the sensation of the water lapping at my feet.

  He picks me up and says, “Do you want to get wet?”

  “Don’t you dare! I don’t like swimming in the ocean.”

  “Really? Why not?”

  “I don’t like the salt water,” I confess. “I’ll go in up to my knees, but that’s about it.”

  “OK. I won’t throw you in. But I thought you liked snorkeling.”

  “I do—the goggles help. I’m definitely up for an outing.”

  We talk about what we want to do then head to the concierge to get dinner suggestions and to book our activities for the week. We know we want to relax at the hotel tomorrow then do a day of snorkeling, some sightseeing, and a day of shopping in town. Beyond that, we’re open to suggestions. The concierge makes some recommendations, and we decide to do a jeep tour because it’s a great way to explore the island. We also make arrangements to visit Arikok National Park, a nature preserve with historical sites of the island, including underground caves and sand dunes; Bubali Bird Sanctuary; and Gold Mine Ranch, which offers horseback-riding excursions. For beaches outside of the hotel, she suggests Baby Beach, which sounds good to me because the waters are shallow, and she says we can go a long distance and still touch the bottom. I’m a bit concerned that our vacation will be too action packed, so Jake and I decide to leave a few days open toward the end of the week. As it gets closer, we can decide whether we want to do more sightseeing or just hang out at the beach. The concierge prints our itinerary and hands it to us.

  “Are you happy with everything we’ve picked out?” Jake asks me.

  “Yes, everything is perfect,” I say, pulling him in for a kiss.

  And for the first time in a long while, everything does feel perfect.

  The next few days pass quickly. I love all the tours we’ve taken, but I’m looking forward to spending the day walking around Oranjestad, the island’s capital. Sometimes I think you get the best feel for a place just by exploring on your own. We take a cab to the downtown area; our driver is very friendly and gives us a history of the island. He drops us off in the heart of town, and we make arrangements for him to pick us up later. As I look around, I’m struck by the rows of shops with Dutch Caribbean facades painted in bright colors. They’re very charming. We walk for a while and explore the shops. I make a few duty-free purchases, and then I go on a quest to find souvenirs for Hailey, Molly, and Charlie. Jake and I hit an outdoor market, and we walk through the rows of vendors as I look for the perfect gift for his niece.

  “What do you think Hailey will like?” I ask him.

  “I don’t know. Jewelry?”

  “I don’t know if they’ll have anything in her size, but we can look.” Then I stumble upon a wooden puppet of a parrot that’s painted in pinks and reds. “What about this? Do you think she’ll like it?”

  “Yes. She has a small hand-puppet collection but nothing like this.”

  I bargain with the vendor and buy it. I end up getting a ceramic painted lizard for Charlie—he’s now into reptiles. The vendor tries to convince me to buy a sterling silver bracelet, but I shake my head.

  “Come on. I’ll buy it for you,” says Jake. “You should have something to commemorate the trip.”

  “I already have a silver bracelet I wear a lot,” I say, holding up my wrist so he can see my Tiffany bracelet. “I guess I could get a ring or a pair of earrings.” I don’t wear rings that often, but I find one I like. Jake insists on buying it for me. I don’t protest; I think it costs less than ten dollars. For Molly I buy a bracelet that’s silver with turquoise beads.

  We’re both getting hungry so we decide to stop for lunch. There’s a plethora of cafés, bars, and restaurants. We stop to look at menus then ask a local for her recommendation. She points out a café up the street, where we go and request a table outdoors.

  “This really is paradise,” I tell Jake. “I haven’t taken this kind of vacation in ages.”

  “Well, you deserve it. I’m so glad we were able to get away.”

  “Me too, and I’m impressed you really haven’t been working that much.”

  “I have—I just do it when you’re sleeping,” he jokes. “But seriously, I didn’t realize how much I was always on until we got here. Things have been so busy that I’m constantly working, and it feels good to get a mental break. So,” he says, changing the subject, “what’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to?”

  “I’d have to say London. I studied there the summer before my senior year of college. I loved the energy of the city and the culture. I’m so glad
I got the experience of living abroad. Plus I got to travel around Europe afterward.”

  “I like London too. I traveled through Europe after I graduated, and it was definitely one of my favorite cities.”

  “Where else did you go?” I ask him.

  “Spain, France, and Italy. Rome was my favorite—I loved the mix of old and new. It was amazing to walk down a modern street and see ancient ruins and know the past is right there with you.”

  “I loved Rome too,” I tell him, “although I never made it to France. I’d love to visit Paris. It seems like such a romantic city. I was actually supposed to have a photo shoot there, but it got canceled.”

  “Paris is nice. We’ll have to get there someday.”

  I smile at him. “I’m going to hold you to it.”

  After we eat we stroll through the shops some more. I’m surprised at all the prestigious and upscale stores that sell everything from electronics to jewelry. I look at my watch and see we have ten minutes before we’re scheduled to meet our cab driver. We head back to our designated spot, and there he is, waiting for us.

  “How was your day?” the driver asks as he opens my door.

  “It was great. This is a beautiful island.” He beams at me; I can tell he’s very proud. Jake and I are both quiet on the drive back, each lost in our own thoughts.

  The next morning I tell Jake I’m going to get us coffee. Instead I stop by the concierge and look into tee times. Jake is an avid golfer, and the courses here are breathtaking. I know he’ll protest if I tell him what I’m doing, so I decide to surprise him. The concierge books us eighteen holes for Friday on the grounds of a five-star hotel. He’s done so much for me; I want to do something for him in return. I stop by the coffee bar afterward so as not to blow my cover. Then I head back upstairs and pack a bag. We’re going snorkeling today; Jake and I have been many times before separately, so I’m excited we’ll get to share the experience. He’s actually gone scuba diving, something I’ve never tried, so he booked the snorkel trip instead. Once we’re ready, we head down to the lobby to wait for the tour bus. It takes us to Baby Beach, a beautiful expanse of white powdery sand that opens into a calm lagoon. We put on our snorkel gear and head into the water. Then we walk until we reach the area where the bay opens out to the sea and find beautiful tropical fish and colorful coral. The water is so calm and clear that I wish I thought to buy an underwater camera. When I surface I’m able to make out sailboats in the distance—it’s truly picturesque. We snorkel for the next hour or so then take a break. We head back to the beach and stretch out on our towels, letting our wet bathing suits soak up the hot sun. A young couple comes over and puts their stuff down by ours. I give the girl a friendly smile, and she smiles back.

  “Hi. I’m Lexi, and this is Jake.”

  “Vanessa, and that guy in the water over there is my husband, Seth.”

  “Nice to meet you. Where are you two from?”

  “Philly. We’re here on our honeymoon.”

  “Congrats!”

  “What about you guys?”

  “Just a vacation. We’re here from Chicago.”

  “Oh, I love Chicago. Seth has family there.”

  “Whereabouts?”

  “His cousin lives in Lincoln Park,” Vanessa says, “and his uncle lives in some suburb. I can’t remember which one.”

  “Jake lives in Lincoln Park.”

  Seth sees us talking and makes his way over. “Seth, this is Lexi and Jake. They’re here from Chicago.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  Seth and Jake engage in a conversation, and I spend the rest of the afternoon chatting with Vanessa. We all grab lunch together then head back into the water. Our tour leader gives us the signal that it’s time to wrap things up. We go back to the beach to dry off and pack up our things. Then we make plans to have dinner with Seth and Vanessa that evening. We really hit it off and thought it would be fun to dine together. Now that I think about it, Jake and I never have been on a double date before. They’re dropped off first, so Jake and Seth exchange numbers to firm up our dinner plans.

  We don’t get back to our hotel until close to four. We’re both hungry, so we have a light snack by the pool.

  “What do you think we should do tomorrow?” Jake asks me.

  “Actually I have a surprise for you.”

  “You do? What is it?”

  “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

  “I hate surprises,” he says. “Just tell me now.”

  “Really? Why do you hate them?”

  “I just don’t like being caught off guard.”

  “Well, this is a good surprise,” I tell him. “But since you hate them, I will tell you I booked you eighteen holes.”

  Jake looks excited. “But what about you? You don’t golf.”

  “I’m driving the golf cart! I can’t wait. I’ve always wanted to drive one.”

  He laughs at me. “Thank you. Are you sure you won’t be bored?”

  “Trust me, being here with you and this view, I could never be bored. Besides, you’re always doing nice things for me, so I wanted to do something nice for you. Now let’s go upstairs, and I’ll do something else that’s nice for you.”

  “Who am I to say no to that?”

  Jake and I spend the next hour in bed, then shower and get ready for dinner. I put on a printed tank dress and pair it with braided black gladiator sandals. My hair is naturally wavy, and I let it air dry—there’s no use straightening it in this humidity. I add just a touch of makeup to enhance my tan.

  Jake comes out of the bathroom after his shower and looks me over approvingly. “You look very pretty in that dress.”

  “And you’re so hot in that towel—but even more so if I take it off.”

  He swats my hand away. “We’ll be late for dinner. We have people to see.”

  “OK,” I say, pouting at him.

  “I’m glad I have that effect on you.”

  “Jake, you have that effect on me like no one ever has. I’m always ready for you.”

  “Really?” he says, walking toward me.

  “See for yourself.” He grabs his phone. “What are you doing?”

  “Texting Seth that we’re running a few minutes late for dinner.”

  I smile at him—a victorious smile.

  Twenty minutes later we’re ready. Seth and Vanessa are staying at a hotel a few miles away, so we’re meeting them at the restaurant. The maître d’ leads us to a spectacular patio draped beneath a pergola that’s dotted with beautiful greenery and tiny twinkling lights. I love eating outdoors, and the views here don’t disappoint. Seth and Vanessa are waiting for us at the table.

  When we apologize for being late, Vanessa gives me a knowing look. “We’re the newlyweds,” she says. “We should be the ones running late.”

  We all laugh as the waiter comes to our table. We order a round of drinks and a few appetizers. I ask Vanessa about her wedding, and she’s more than happy to provide all the details. Jake turns to Seth, and from the pieces of conversation I overhear, I assume they’re talking about work. After we order our second round of drinks, Vanessa says, “I’ve brought Table Topics. Wanna play?”

  “What’s Table Topics?” I ask.

  “It’s a game of conversation starters. Seth and I figured we’d be on our own all week, so we brought it to keep us entertained.”

  “OK, that sounds fun. How does it work?”

  “We each take turns picking a question, and everyone has to answer,” she says. “You go first.”

  I reach in and pull out a card. “If you could have any talent, what would it be? Hmm, I guess I’d want to be a singer and star on Broadway.”

  “What about touring?” Vanessa asks. “Would you want to be a pop star?”

  “No, but I’d love to be in a musical like Phantom of the Opera. The idea of constantly being on the road and stalked by paparazzi doesn’t appeal to me. What about you?”

  “I’d love to be able to ac
t,” she says. “My dream job would be to star in a sitcom like Friends.”

  “Why not the movies?” asks Seth.

  “I’d do movies, but TV seems like it would be more fun and less pressure. Plus it’s a steadier job.”

  “If I could have any talent,” Seth says, “I’d be a martial arts master. I’d love to be able to kick ass like Bruce Lee.” We all laugh.

  “Last but not least,” Vanessa says to Jake.

  “I’d be a mind reader.” Jake looks at me and says, “You women are so confusing. I’d love to see what goes on in that head of yours.”

  “All you have to do is ask,” I tell him.

  Vanessa goes next. “If money and skill were no object, what would be your dream job? I’d be an artist and open my own gallery. I love painting, but I’m not very good at it. There’s something calming about expressing your thoughts on canvas.”

  “I’d be a nature photographer. I’d love to capture animals in the wilderness,” says Seth.

  “You’re on your own with that,” teases Vanessa. She looks at me, indicating it’s my turn.

  “I’d work for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I volunteer there once a month, but I’d love to make it a full-time job.”

  “Now you’re making me feel bad,” says Vanessa. “I’d like to do charity work too. I’ll donate some of the proceeds from my auctions to the foundation.”

  “That sounds great. I’ll hold you to it.”

  “Looks like I’m last again,” says Jake.

  “You can go first next,” Vanessa tells him.

  “OK. I’d be a scientist and find a cure for cancer.”

  “Now I really don’t want to play with you guys anymore,” says Vanessa. “How about something less serious? I’m going to ask a question that isn’t in the box. Where’s one place you’d like to do it but haven’t? Jake, you’re up first.”

  “Well, you’re not giving me much time to think.”

  “Don’t overthink it. Just say the first thing that comes to mind.”

  “OK, a hot tub.” Then he turns and looks at me, waiting for my answer.

  I meet his gaze. “Your desk at work, in the middle of the afternoon.” Jake smiles and raises his eyebrows at me.