Page 34 of Mail Order Splash

“A rinse-off would be nice.” They both agreed.

I liked a girl that didn’t spend hours getting ready. They were back within fifteen minutes, although out there she didn’t have any of her own stuff to prepare herself. I didn’t think she needed all the extra. Her skin was smooth and bronzed just enough to highlight her blue eyes.

“Sorry we took so long. That shower felt amazing after being in the water all morning.” They took the offered seats. “Mrs. Hawthorne, were you out here the other days when I met Tom and Jerry?”

“I thought we discussed this already. I like Triton,” I complained. “I told my aunt the story, so she knows what we’re speaking of.”

“It’s amusing and, to answer your question, no, I was not out with them. When he is out on his yacht his friends are with him.”

I wasn’t going to tell them it was my yacht. Oh well, they know now.

“I need to know right off how Netty is doing?” I spoke first. “She has been on my mind night and day.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you cared that much.”

“It’s all he has spoken of since it happened,” Aunt Victoria smiled. “He even missed work the next day, which had his brother uptight.”

“Kellan is always uptight. Let’s not discuss him.” I turned to Ariel. “May I please see Netty?”

“Dalton, I think you should hear about Dr. Schaffer’s request about her facility. I feel you may be able to help one another.”

“Please, call me Kleine, or Ariel, just not Dr. Schaffer. It sounds so stuffy to me.”

“Kleine, you worked hard for that degree. Be proud of it, would ya?” Josh argued. “She never gives herself the credit she deserves.”

“Josh, not now, okay?”

“Mrs. Hawthorne, I don’t want to bother your day out with business.”

“You aren’t; I brought it up. Please, tell Dalton about it.”

“I own a seaquarium that was passed down to me from my granddad. He left me money to get my degree and run the rescue for years, but the city wants the land. They’re leaning on me pretty hard with violations.”

“We can’t have visitors anymore, in turn, no money coming in,” Josh added. “She has used every penny she had and then some to save it.”

“Sorry, Josh is as passionate as I am about what we do.” She placed her hand on his arm. “It feels wrong what they’re doing and I can’t make enough money fast enough to save it. They harass me daily. Pretty soon they’ll come up with something that forces me to vacate.”

“What will happen to the rescues, to Netty?”

“She will be sent out to sea or taken to another facility.”

“Would she survive?”

“I’m hoping to get her back to her pod soon. The pneumonia is better. Now she needs rehab.”

“Can I come there?”

“I have been avoiding that question. You see, it…”

“She is embarrassed at how bad it looks,” Josh finished for her. “Her granddad left it to her to continue the legacy, but how if the city wants to put up a highrise?”

“Kleine is looking for financial backing to get the place up and running to use for schools and universities,” Aunt Victoria added. “I am most interested in helping but we need to visit the facility then speak with the city to see how bad it is.”

“It’s bad,” Josh grumbled.

“Josh, please, it’s alright, we’ll find a way.” She comforted him again. “We’re surviving for now, but it costs a lot to maintain the water and feed the rescues. Fortunately, I’m a vet and Dr. Garcia is a lifelong friend who helps out for free.”

“Let me call a contact I have with the city. That way, we have all the details of what you’re up against, including the foul play behind the scenes. Chances are there is a bigger player involved.”

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