Page 64 of Game Changer
The dolphins accompany the boat, and I happily watch them until our guide announces we should look out at three o’clock where he’s spotted a spout of water, which is likely a whale, and they’re heading toward it.
Jax and I stay by the railing.I’m holding my breath in anticipation.It seems to take a long time and I’ve almost given up, when water erupts near the boat.Everyone shouts and my eyes widen.
The whale comes to the surface and the boat gets closer still.Jax is taking pictures like crazy and I’m breathless and laughing as I see the curve of the back of the huge mammal.
“It’s a blue whale,” the guide says.“A small one.”
“That’ssmall?”I smile.“Wow.”
The surface of the water bubbles and sparkles as he goes down, but another spout announces him and then his shiny back arcs out of the water again, graceful and majestic.I’m lost in wonderment.
There’s another spray of water, a whoosh of air, the whale coming even closer to the stopped boat.
“He’s really curious about us,” the guide says.
As he surfaces again, everyone on the boat oohs and ahhs.
“Unbelievable,” Jax says, a huge grin on his face.
I take my eyes off the whale briefly to watch Jax, who’s as delighted and mesmerized as I am.I love his smile, the way it lights up his eyes.My heart skips a beat.I take another picture with my phone, this time of him.
I turn back to the whale, gripping the railing, blinking fiercely.So much beauty.
The next time the whale dives down, his tail comes out of the water resplendently.It’s an amazing moment.
“If we don’t see anything else, this trip was worth it,” I say to Jax a while later when the whale has disappeared deep into the ocean.
“Totally.That was fantastic.”
But we also see a humpback whale, and more dolphins, this time bottlenose dolphins that are even cuter than the common dolphins.
“I want one of those!”I tell Jax, making him laugh.
“Sure, you can keep it in your bathtub in Chicago.”
“Ha ha.Okay, okay, I can’t have one.But I can dream.They’re amazing!”
We return to the harbor after about two and half hours out on the ocean.My skin feels tight from the wind and maybe a little sunburnt, even though I used sunscreen, and my hair is tangled beneath the baseball cap, but I feel blissful and contented.
“Thank you so much for bringing me here,” I tell Jax as we make our way to the car in the nearby parking lot.“That was one of the best experiences of my life.”
He doesn’t say anything for a few seconds, then replies gruffly, “Good.I loved it too.”
13
Jax
It’s our last night here in California.
We’re in bed together, with those goddamn pillows between us.Quiet darkness settles over us.
“Jax?”
I turn at Molly’s whisper.My eyes have adjusted to the dark, and I can just make out her face on the pillow.She’s lying on her side, facing me.“Yeah?”
“Thank you for bringing me here.It’s been an amazing trip.”
“It has.”I didn’t think it was a good idea, but I have to admit I’ve had fun with Molly.I’ve spent time with my family and time alone with her, and time with herandmy family.Grandpa loves her, and so does everyone else, apparently, since Molly, Everly, Taylor and Lacey have all connected on social media like best buddies.
