Cynic, Surfer, Saint (Scenic Route to Paradise #1)

by Andrea Aarons

  Toni knew “the old place” was the refurbished original adobe house. It was over a hundred years old. Celina’s assistant had pointed in the general direction beyond the barn when showing Toni around on Saturday.

  There was a battle of emotions playing about in Toni’s chest as she proceeded to the pool patio. Huram, or Hugh as Mishael called him was not the young traveling companion that she envisioned. He was a mature and opinionated man. The folder was filled with cultural information but Toni hadn’t read anything about gender issues and yet, Huram D’Almata was dead-set against her involvement in these last few months of Mishael’s tour.

  A woman traveling with three men. Toni had innocently told her pastor that they were older teens and a bodyguard but now… It was awkward, she conceded. She knew what she must do.

  Stopping at the kitchen sliding doors, Toni prayed aloud. Her words, plain and to the point, concluded with a request that God would prepare Mishael and his cousin to respond to her proposal, as He would have them respond. Pulling the door open, a large hand and thick hairy arm shot past her and finished the task. Toni jumped. Turning, Rifta was there grinning.

  “Rifta!” she said.

  “Yes, but I startled you?” he asked. She went through the doorway and he followed, closing it behind them.

  “I was concentrating,” Toni explained. “I didn’t hear you.”

  “Thank you,” replied Rifta as he took her statement as a compliment. “You were talking to your God, I think, no?” he asked. His icy eyes glittered when she looked up and he added with a mockingly laced chuckle, “What did he say?”

  As they approached the pool, Rifta carried some bottled water and Toni was smiling at his challenging question. Mishael and his cousin looked over at them. Watching her feet, not wanting to stumble on the uneven turf, and suppressing a giggle, Toni found Rifta’s question refreshing. She would love to take this conversation further but not at this time. Instead she answered, “Yes, I was talking to my God – the God of the entire universe.” Toni waved her arm over her head. “My request is time sensitive. He will answer me when the time is right.”

  Rifta nodded, his face somber.

  Mishael stood at their approach. “Hello, Toni!” He said with genuine delight. “This is my missing cousin, Hugh. He arrived last night.”

  “Oh, Mishael – please sit down. If you jump up every time I come around I won’t be able in good conscience to give you all those squat exercises you’ll need for surfing,” Toni said handing off one of Rifta’s bottled waters to him. “Besides,” she added turning to Huram D’Almata with her hand extended as he slowly, with purpose, rose from his seat, “I don’t expect you to be standing around inventing polite nothings to say to me.”

  Hugh took her hand and shook it, but he didn’t release it quickly. “Nice to meet you, Toni but you seem familiar,” he said.

  Toni smiled and then thought, He doesn’t recognize me as the trespasser from the river! She took her hand back and ignoring his statement she said, “Well, now…”

  Rifta deposited a chair behind her. Toni sat down and the men followed.

  “Thank you Rifta, so thoughtful,” Toni said. “I’m sure I am interrupting something important but I see that I need to rescind on my agreement to be a ‘companion of sorts’ as well as a surfing coach.”

  Having relaxed, Mishael sat up and said rather loudly, “No! No, it’s too late for that! I mean why would you do that? Has something come up?” And then he added firmly, “Ludicrous!” Toni thought his response sounded demonstrably like a young monarch.

  Rifta looked upset and Toni thought this odd as she had known the two for less than 48 hours including seeing them for only a few minutes yesterday. Hugh’s face was controlled and she couldn’t get a read on his bland expression.

  Toni displayed shock. Emphasizing her reasoning, she said to Mishael but motioning to his cousin Hugh, “I thought I would be accompanying a trio of very young men… Instead, your cousin is a full grown male. I cannot go gallivanting about the country with… with… men.” She didn’t want to offend Mishael although he was indisputably no more than a grown boy. Thus, she included him with Rifta in the description although blatantly targeting the older man. Confirming her intention, Toni directed her gaze at Hugh. “Please, it was nice to make your acquaintance but I see I must call Todd… Mr. Nelson and decline the opportunity to teach Mishael to surf. It would be highly inappropriate. Please, accept my apologies but I had no idea! Presumption on my part. Please, forgive the inconvenience.” Toni wondered if she was over playing her hand when she saw Hugh’s eyebrows shoot up above his sunglasses, giving her the impression that he was surprised by her speech.

  Mishael sputtered and with the imagined mouth marbles interfering with his pronunciation, he said, “Hugh, explain to her that we are not American men. We are polite and unobtrusive; she will have everything she needs to be private. It will be extremely appropriate… Tell her all of that.” Standing, he glared at Toni and then marched to the other side of the pool.

  Toni said, “Well, now…”

  Rifta got up and walked toward the edge of the patio. He stood awkwardly looking about – doing his job as a bodyguard, Toni assumed. Mishael threw his robe aside and dove into the pool.

  Hugh and Toni watched him for a moment. Toni said, “He will make a fine leader one day.”

  Hugh took off his sunglasses and opened the water that Rifta and left him. He wiped his mouth on a cloth handkerchief before saying, “I remember now, I saw you in the airport yesterday… last night.”

  Toni shook her head “no”. Although his accent had the similar marbles in the mouth sound, Hugh’s enunciation was clear with a hint of Britain to it. When he spoke at the river, she hadn’t detected the slight foreign twang. Toni guessed correctly that Hugh’s language tutors were British.

  “It will come to me,” he said finally. “Now about this objection you voiced about traveling with mere boys and an elderly cousin. The arrangement couldn’t be more honorable and straight-forward than it already is. From what Mishael’s father has told me, you are well-traveled and… Ah-ha! I now know where we’ve met! Athens! I saw you there at my nephew’s wedding!” Rifta looked over at them to see what the excitement was about.

  Toni said quietly, “I’ve never been to Athens.”

  “Oh?” He said drawing his eyebrows together. “It is considered a fine city by some but nothing compared to D’Almata… too much pollution. It has history of course but most of its history is directly related to our islands. You might like Athens but D’Almata would charm you. Everyone says so, you know.” Hugh took another drink from the water bottle.

  Toni wasn’t sure how to respond. Hedging, she said, “Well, now… I’ve heard that Almata is a magnificent city and yours is a fascinating country.”

  Hugh looked at her in a measuring sort of way and then shifted his eyes to the lawn behind her. He asked, “So, what must I say to convince you to continue with your promise?”

  Promise? She wondered.

  Is this the same guy who was adamant about me not going with them just 30 minutes ago?

  Out loud, Toni said, “I made an agreement, which in a sense is a promise but I wasn’t aware of all the facts. And as far as you being an elderly cousin, you and I are approximately the same age… You understand that this changes the dynamics.” The dark eyebrows shot up again. Frowning to keep her lips from lifting to a smile, Toni assumed that when he was astonished Hugh’s eyebrows responded. She hurried on before he could speak, “To answer your question, I suppose you could fly back to D’Almata and I can continue with Mishael. Certainly, he would be in capable hands between Rifta and me.”

  The eyebrows responded first and as they came down again, Hugh said, “I like that solution. It is reasonable and it would give me great pleasure to return to D’Almata and to my family a few months early but it is against the rules. I am Mishael’s companion of choice and I must finish the Tour-before-Duty with him. It is important in ou
r culture. Otherwise, I like that idea… unquestionably.”

  Toni’s bag was buzzing; it was her cell phone and she excused herself.

  Jack Crespin called again from the county jail. He said that he finally got to the bottom of the mysterious arrest from the week before. There was no data on record but he talked with one of the policemen that were summoned to the motel room that night. That officer hadn’t made the arrest but he said a few days later, the arresting officer told him that there were some odd circumstances surrounding the apprehension.

  Jack explained to Toni, “The perpetrator never made it to the station and he didn’t escape… The perp was released but no one seems to know why or even care.” He told her that was all he could find out. He wasn’t taking it any further. He hoped the information was of some help. She thanked him and hung up.

  As she talked with Jack, Toni strolled toward the house, finishing her call on the back deck. Entering the kitchen, she took some water and juices from the refrigerator. There was a basket of fruit on the counter. Balancing the drinks on top of the fruit, she returned to the deck and paused to watch the men. Rifta and Mishael were standing near Hugh. Toni could see that they were having an animated discussion. She didn’t know how the dilemma would be resolved but she didn’t want to lose this job.

  As she approached, they fell silent. Toni set the fruit down on a nearby table and arranged the drinks around the bowl. She took a water and a banana and returned to her chair. Rifta stepped over to the bowl, chosing a bunch of grapes. Toni watched as he threw one in the air and caught it in his mouth. He left them, returning to his post at the edge of the patio. Mishael and Hugh began speaking softly in their own dialect.

  As Toni peeled her banana, she thought about the would-be kidnapper and how he inexplicably got off free and clear. Someone with clout intervened on his behalf. She took a bite and then noticed the cousins looking at her. Smiling after she swallowed, she asked if either of them would like a fruit from the basket or a drink. Hugh got up and tossed an apple to Mishael who caught it. Taking the rest of the grapes, Hugh left to join Rifta.

  “Mishael, I’m sorry as I see I caused you and your cousin to disagree,” said Toni but she was remembering the discussion she overheard earlier from the kitchen closet.

  “My cousin and I are the best of friends. We disagree a lot… every day. He is a good man; a saint. Because Hugh is wise and also because I am not king yet, he usually prevails.” Mishael’s words were grave. “He has a splendid idea. Perhaps, you will like it and remain as my coach. I think I will be extremely cross if you do not.” She wasn’t sure if his imperialistic words were meant as a threat or an appeal but she withheld her smile.

  Toni looked over at the others but their backs were to her and she couldn’t hear what they were saying. Feigning indifference, she finished her banana and waited for Mishael’s explanation.

  “We all leave tomorrow. The men, my cousin, Rifta and I will take the vehicle. We will stop at the places where my father had planned for us to see and to tour. You will go ahead by plane. We will arrive next week in the car.” Concluding and confident, Mishael like a small child concentrated on the apple as he bit into it.

  Realizing the clumsiness of the situation, Toni initially thought of an identical plan as she trembled in the guest bathroom in the front hall after overhearing Hugh’s contempt concerning her joining their group. Also, she realized her plan, however doable would be quashed by the cousin if he refused to have her along. Her hope, God willing was to get Hugh or Mishael to come up with the idea. Hugh’s reaction after meeting her wasn’t what Toni anticipated but she had prayed.

  Toni expressed her approval with a laugh and a smile before she said, “Great idea. You are correct Mishael… Your cousin is wise. You are fortunate to have him as cousin and friend.”

  “Of course!” Mishael added, “Yes, Hugh would have made a goodly king but he refused to marry. Our sovereigns must marry by the age of 30 but he wouldn’t have her. Therefore, the throne passed from him to my mother however briefly and then to my grandparents. Soon, it will be my turn!” He laughed affably.

  The others turned toward his laughter and then, started heading over to Mishael and Toni. Toni looked at Hugh wondering about his refusal to follow the cultural customs.

  Maybe she was a hag? Maybe he didn’t want to be king.

  “Huram, my surfing instructor likes your idea – We leave tomorrow!” Mishael said enthusiastically. Their faces lit up at this news. Toni smiled too but she felt a bit sneaky for setting up Hugh like a country cousin.

  They went to an early dinner. Toni insisted Rifta drive. He did fine as she assumed he would. They discussed what Toni could do at the beach house before the others arrived, especially in regards to the luggage that had been forwarded from the airlines. Explaining that it usually took several days or a few weeks to locate the right surf spots, all agreed with Toni, their revised plan would benefit Mishael and his surfing instruction best.

  In the parking lot after their meal, Toni showed Mishael the surfer’s squat exercises that he needed to do five or six times a day. Both Mishael and Hugh winced when she said this and she tried to clarify that this exercise was important between now and when Mishael first stood on his board on a wave.

  “At least five times a day… How is that?” requested Toni.

  “Yes, of course,” said Mishael. “How is this?” He squatted and sprung up and did it again. The young man was agile but soft.

  Toni said encouragingly, “That’s it. Do about a dozen along with the other exercises I showed you, five times a day. It doesn’t seem like much but you will be using specific muscles for surfing. I have some other routines for you when you arrive at the shore which are necessary.”

  Hugh said, “I will encourage him to do them 5 or 7, even 8 times a day if they will help him learn to surf.”

  “Thank you. It will help me and Mishael… Oh look, here comes my ride! Merry,” Toni said waving to her daughter who veered toward them and parked her Bug nearby.

  Merry got out and came over. Toni introduced her to Huram D’Almata.

  They said their goodbyes and Toni said she would call Mishael to let him know what was going on at the beach.

  “Remember, squats 5 or 6 times a day,” called out Toni but she noticed Mishael winced again. Hugh was already in their car but Rifta turned from the driver’s door and jogged over to Toni.

  “Let me explain,” said Rifta. “You see these men from D’Almata they have their superstitious customs.” Toni and Merry looked at each other bewildered and then to Rifta. “Yes, it’s true. Every peoples have these strange things that they fear. It’s the number… Yes, you should not use ‘six.’ They cringe like scared dog when you say it. You noticed, yes?”

  Merry shrugged and got into the car. Toni had noticed but she did not make the connection to the number six. She said, “Thank you, Rifta. I see what you mean. I will be more careful in the future. Should I go over and make an apology? What do you suggest?”

  Rifta said, “Oh, no, no... Yes, remember not to say it… just skip number six. It not too difficult, no?”

  Toni looked over at the cousins. The car windows were tinted and she couldn’t actually see them. She asked, “What if I forget?”

  “Their face will show, yes? You not forget again!” Rifta chuckled. He turned and walked back to their car. Toni waved at the dark windows and then got in with Merry. Merry looked over at her with an indifferent lift of her shoulder. The convertible top was down. Pulling her hair up with a hair band, Toni then gave another farewell wave, as they left the parking lot going right, toward Upper Canyon Road. The Mercedes followed but went left.

  Before Toni retired between the sheets, she arranged a flight to Wilmington, North Carolina for Thursday morning and then she slept deep and long.

  In the morning, mother and daughter decided to go shopping for some beach essentials before Toni packed. Toni wasn’t much of a clothes shopper but Merry’s zeal overrode T
oni’s deficiency. Shorts, capris, a couple pair of jeans, shirts, skirts and swimsuits with a few select items from Toni’s closet and her suitcase was full.

  Her special friend, Patsy Sena and a couple of gals Toni had known for decades came by with Thai take-out. They enjoyed a laughed-filled evening on the patio, until Merry returned from work. It was almost midnight. Her friends wondered at Toni’s new job but they left with a passel of questions unanswered. Toni gave them the briefest of details, not wanting them to be tainted by the unlikelihood of her actually fulfilling her job mandate: Teach someone to surf.

  Ridiculous!

  Climbing into bed, Toni sighed. She was certain God had given her this job which included influencing Mishael and perhaps, indirectly the nation of D’Almata too. As a rule when she felt overwhelmed, she unloaded the burden back into God’s hands. Toni imagined a game of hot-potato with God but grinned to herself at the thought of God needing to toss the situation back to her. In truth, God did not need to but He chose to rely on ordinary humans to accomplish His plans in the earth. She sighed again, and then prayed.

  Chapter 10

  The North Carolina air was damp, hotter and not as crisp as Santa Fe in June. Toni knew that the ocean breeze would reduce the mugginess once she left the airport. Driving away from the car rental lot in a white Escalade, Toni headed east and north for the beach house. The owner’s property manager planned to meet her at a restaurant and from there she would follow him to the house on Magnolia Drive. Dianna Cliff, the manager’s wife phoned with simple directions and for that Toni was glad.

  Billie Cliff sat in his car with a long surfboard secured to the top. He spotted Toni right away and jumped out to meet her after she pulled into the restaurant parking. He was a tallish man in his early fifties. Where he was balding on top was made up for by the huge handlebar mustache below his glossy, white sun-screen coated nose. He was a surfer. His tan and the lotion on his nose revealed the time he spent on the board or at least in the water.