Page 19 of Seal of Approval

“Because of the coffee,” Lily said.

“I’d like to think it was because of our good advice,” Jack said.

“You can think that if you like.” Lily kissed his cheek.

These people were happy. Maybe there was something to this small-town life. They all shared openly, not fearing recrimination. They teased and taunted each other but not in a bitter way. I felt like they supported each other. I didn’t have a circle of friends like this in San Francisco. The only people in my circle were my brother and grandparents.

The way Jasmine had saved me from their questions made me appreciate her even more. Audrey would have left me hanging. Like when people asked the baby question, she would always look pointedly at me, even though it was something we’d agreed on early in our marriage. Jasmine may have been terse at times, but she was a good person. If she wasn’t, these people wouldn’t love and respect her.

I was respected for my work and determination. I’m not sure that equated to being respected as a person though. I guess to be respected as a person, I’d need people to see who I really was. But I was too busy hiding from the world.

* * *

Jasmine and I headed to the tour meeting point. A few guests had gathered.

“I’d like to try something different with the wetsuits today if that’s OK,” I said. I didn’t want her to think I was trying to take over. This was her world, and I was only in it for a short time.

“What do you have in mind?”

“Some guests seem to have difficulty in following the wetsuit instructions. It was the same with some of my students. I found giving them a demonstration helped.”

It also helped keep the distance between me and the students. Some of the females, although fully capable, would ask for help so they could get close to me. I’d begun to wonder if that’s why they took my class. I don’t know. Some students had crushes on their teachers. The wetsuit demonstration helped put an end to it because I often got the students to help each other.

“OK. There’s no harm in trying.”

We waited for everyone to arrive and then I grabbed my wetsuit and gave a demonstration on the easiest way to put it on. When I turned around to show the guests how to pull the wetsuit up, Jasmine was watching my every move, her mouth slightly agape. I paused for a second, heat rushing up my cheeks. My silence must have alerted her that something was wrong. Her eyes rose to my face and when she saw me looking at her, she blushed and her eyes darted away. She spun around and busied herself with checking her list.

I swallowed and got on with my demonstration. When I turned to Jasmine the second time, her eyes were on the guests. I breathed a sigh of relief.

The guests went off to get changed and I approached Jasmine, keeping my wetsuit zipped up tight.

“That seemed to go well,” Jasmine said.

“No one’s called for help yet so that’s a good sign.”

She nodded. “Your demonstration was good. Very thorough.”

“You can give it a go next time.”

“No thanks. I wouldn’t feel comfortable parading myself like that. I don’t have a body like yours.” She blushed so deeply that if I’d touched her cheek, I’d probably burn my hand.

If she touched mine, she would feel the heat from my anger. I clenched my jaw. The word parading cut deep. “I don’t do it to show off.”

“I didn’t mean that you do. I’m sorry.” She sounded genuine, but she was the one who’d implied it. If she didn’t mean it, then why did she say it?

Audrey had accused me of the same thing. Like I wanted the attention, when in fact I wanted the opposite. My father always wanted attention. I learned when I was young it was better to give it to him than draw it to myself.

I nodded and walked away.

She grabbed my arm. “I’m sorry, Ethan. My words were completely inappropriate.”

I faced her but didn’t make eye contact. “It’s easier to show than explain. And it means the guests won’t have to ask me for help.” I shrugged. “Students often asked me. Trying to flirt. It made me uncomfortable.”

“That was a smart way to combat the problem.” She was trying hard to redeem herself.

“I thought so.”

I walked back to the guests who were starting to emerge from the changing rooms. I needed to be far away from Jasmine at that moment. My stomach tightened every time I thought about what she’d said. Parading.

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