Page 15 of Mai Tais and Murder

George chuckled. “Not exactly. I got seasick and spent the first hour hanging over the rail.”

“But he was so embarrassed and sweet about it,” Martha added, patting his arm. “And he still asked me to dinner afterward, even though he could barely look at food.”

“Sometimes the best love stories start unexpectedly,” Helen said, giving Mel a meaningful look. Their first meeting last summer started with Mel rescuing her when Helen became lost using the GPS trying to find Mel’s campground. Mel remembered how beautiful Helen looked that night and how nervous Mel felt around her from the very start.

A collective gasp from the other passengers drew their attention back to the water. The whale had come even closer, rolling onto its side as if to get a better look at them. “Magnificent,” Mel breathed as the whale slapped its massive pectoral fin against the water, sending a spray that reached the boat’s deck. Several passengers squealed in delight, but Mel barely noticed the cold mist.

She was too captivated by Helen’s expression of pure joy. “I never thought I’d see something like this,” Helen said. “I feel so lucky.”

Mel nodded, understanding exactly what Helen meant. She felt it too and as the boat’s engines rumbled back to life, Helen looked in her eyes. “Penny for your thoughts?”

Mel pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Just thinking about the future,” she said honestly. “And how lucky I am to have someone to share moments like this with.”

* * *

As the boatmade its way back toward the harbor, Helen felt a deep contentment settle over her. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the deck, and the breeze off the water had grown cooler. She watched as other passengers began gathering their belongings, many still chattering excitedly about the whales they saw.

“I suppose we should start getting ready to go too,” Helen said reluctantly, not wanting the magical afternoon to end. “Though I hate to break this spell.”

Mel squeezed her hand. “We can always come back before we leave. Maybe see those whales again.”

“If we’re not too busy solving mysteries,” Helen teased gently, though she kept her voice low. She noticed how Mel’s expression flickered briefly at the reminder of their situation back at the resort. “Hey.” Helen touched Mel’s cheek. “I didn’t mean to bring that up. This afternoon has been perfect just as it is.”

Mel smiled. “You don’t have to apologize,” she said. “It has been perfect, but a part of me is ready to get back and check on things.”

The boat’s wake created a gentle rocking motion as they turned into the harbor entrance. The late sun caught the windows of the waterfront buildings, turning them to gold. Helen found herself studying the easy way Martha and George moved around each other as they gathered their things, anticipating each other’s needs without words. It reminded her of how she and Mel were beginning to develop their own rhythms and patterns. “You know another thing that I love about you?” Helen asked.

Mel raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“How no matter what else is going on, you can be completely present in moments like this. How you let yourself just be.”

A slight blush colored Mel’s cheeks. “Only with you.”

“Would you like to walk along the harbor before heading back?” Helen asked. “Maybe find somewhere nice for early dinner?”

“That sounds perfect,” Mel agreed as the gangway was being secured. As they reached the dock, Helen breathed in the mixed scents of salt water, tropical flowers, and grilling food from nearby restaurants. “Are you hungry?” Mel asked as they began walking along the harbor’s promenade. The setting sun painted the sky in spectacular shades of orange and pink.

“A little,” Helen admitted. “Though I’m enjoying this too much to rush into dinner.” They passed various shops selling everything from tacky souvenirs to high-end art. Helen noticed how Mel’s stance had relaxed completely, her usual alertness softened by their peaceful afternoon at sea. A street musician played slack-key guitar nearby, the gentle melody floating on the evening breeze.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Mel asked, echoing Helen’s earlier question.

Helen smiled, squeezing Mel’s hand. “I was just thinking about Martha and George,” she said. “About how lovely it must be to share fifty years with someone. To know each other so completely.”

Mel stopped their steps. “I know we don’t have fifty years,” she said softly. “But we’re making a good start.”

The simple statement made Helen’s heart swell, and she leaned in for a kiss. “Yes, we are,” she said. “And I adore everything about you.”

“Including the detective parts?”

“Especially those parts,” Helen said as she started them walking again. Even though it was not yet evening, the sunlight grew softer, and lights on the beachfront hotels came on. “You know, when I first agreed to this vacation, I thought we’d spend our days on the beach and our evenings having quiet dinners. I never imagined we would end up playing detective.” Mel tensed slightly beside her, but Helen continued quickly, “But I wouldn’t change it. Any of it. Because it’s perfectly us.”

“Even if there turn out to be dangerous parts?” Mel asked, her protective instincts showing through.

“Even those,” Helen confirmed. “Because I trust you to keep us safe. And because I love seeing you in your element, even if you’re supposed to be retired.” A group of tourists passed behind them, their excited chatter in what sounded like German adding to the international atmosphere of the harbor. “Now, should we find somewhere to eat? Maybe somewhere we can still see the water?”

“Yes, let’s find something,” Mel replied. “Tomorrow we can go back to being amateur detectives, but tonight, let’s just be us.”

ChapterSeven

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