Page 91 of An Adventure For Aster

“Of course I am. Everything in life should be a learning experience. Doesn’t mean we can’t make it fun and that is what I’m trying to do.”

“You’ve surely added some fun to my life,” he said. “And it looks as if it’s open.”

They got out of their rental and moved to the office to check in. Other people had been waiting too.

Once they gave their names, people were broken up into groups. No more than four to six people were in a group and then instructions were given and they were taken to where the dolphins were.

An hour later, Raine’s smile wouldn’t leave her face.

“I feel like one of my kids right before Christmas break. Then on Christmas morning and got everything I asked for. All of it rolled into one. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this way in my life before. I can’t thank you enough for this trip.”

He pulled her under his arm, felt the tightness again and a sharp pain in his chest and armpit but made sure he didn’t let it show. It was only scar tissue. Nothing to worry about. He wasn’t letting Raine know it happened again and have her get concerned, even if he couldn’t get the nagging thoughts from his brain.

“No thanks needed,” he said. “Because I’m starting to feel the same way as you.”

“We are good for each other, aren’t we?” she asked.

“The best,” he said. And meant it one hundred percent.

30

SHOULD BE NEXT

“Did you have a great time?” Raine’s mother asked her Friday afternoon. Patty Scarsdale didn’t work as much as she used to. Just the early morning and lunch crowds during the week. Raine and her brothers would love her to not even do that, but her mother swore that she needed to keep busy.

River and Emma offered to have her watch Drew and they’d pay her, but her mother laughed and said no way. She wanted to enjoy her grandchild like a grandparent should do, not worry she was crossing the line to raise one.

But her mother had offered to babysit when they were in a bind or nights or weekends for River and Emma to go out.

Raine understood what River was doing trying to get their mother out of the diner, but she also knew Patty enjoyed her job. Talking with the regulars more than anything.

“It was fabulous,” she said. “Everything I dreamed a vacation would be like with a guy I love.”

“I’m so happy for you,” her mother said. “And you look so tan and I love the three braids in your hair.”

“They hurt getting done. I’m not used to someone yanking my hair that hard to get it tight, but I thought they were cute with the beads at the end. I’ll keep it for a week and then take them out. The kids will like it.”

“How much did you buy for the kids?” her mother asked.

“Not a lot. I got shells and shark teeth, stickers too. I’ll come up with something fun for them to do,” she said. She’d been trying to think and decided that everyone could draw a beach picture and use one or another and then present and tell a tiny story of what their picture meant.

“You always do,” her mother said. She got a jar of cookies off the counter, brought them over, and then made them each a cup of coffee.

“I want to know everything you did there. I can live through you.”

Raine sighed. “Or you and Dad could go one year. Maybe an anniversary gift from your three children?”

“Never,” her mother said firmly. “That is way too much money and River and Emma have a family now. Ivy and Brooks will most likely be starting one too. If things are going well, you should be next.”

It was the way her mother said that. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Patty said, putting the creamer on the table for them. “Why did you ask that?”

“Because I can see it in your face that something happened. Or you think something will. Maybe you think Aster and I won’t last. I’m not sure. Do you know something I don’t know?”

There might have been times she thought Aster was holding back. Not really keeping secrets, but not forthcoming either.

Like the pain in his arm and his fingers. She’d brought it up one more time when they were away and he did tell her that she had nothing to worry about.

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