Page 11 of Visions of You

“Definitely. The snorkel tours have been really popular, so that makes up for it. But I’m looking forward to getting back under the water once the baby’s born.”

I nodded as we stepped onto the brick pathway, wondering how I’d feel in her shoes. Diving was contraindicated during pregnancy. Then I pushed the thoughts away.

I’m thirty-two with no man in sight. Not sure that situation is anything I’ll ever need to worry about.

“By the way,” Maia said. “Your apartment is all ready to go. I’ll show it to you after we get back from the morning trip. You’ll love it—private and near here too, so you won’t have too far of a walk.”

“That sounds amazing. Thanks so much.”

She smiled, and there was something slightly smug in it. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Where’s your dive gear?”

I stopped next to the covered patio. “It’s on the porch of the cottage I spent last night in. I’ll run back and grab it and meet you on the boat, all right?”

She flashed me an okay signal. “Do you feel all right leading dives tomorrow?”

I nodded. I’d been leading dives for six years and didn’t need to know sites intimately to do a good job. “No problem. You and Wyatt can get me oriented today, and starting tomorrow, I can get specifics on whatever sites we’re diving right before we jump in. I’m a quick learner.”

Maia gave me a smile. “I think you’ll love the diving here. We’re a special place in the Keys.”

Chapter Five

April

Maiaand I ate lunch in the employee area inside the Dorado restaurant kitchen. Two long tables were reserved for employees to eat whatever meal fell within their shifts, and the on-duty chefs were available to make entrees to order. We both dug into our chef’s salads.

She had been right about the diving. The previous reef dives I’d done during my trip down the Keys had been shallow near shore. But a deep trench lay just offshore of Calypso Key, making for much more dramatic topography. I had loved both dive offerings that morning and couldn’t wait to get started leading dives.

After we finished eating, we walked up the cement walk, then angled toward another sand pathway that ran parallel to it, but nearer the canal and dive shop. I hadn’t noticed this path before, but looking over my shoulder saw it was an extension of the one I’d used that morning to get to the dive shop.

Maia noticed my examination. “This is the private path that leads from the Big House and family cottages to the dive shop. You’ll be using it too.”

The path rose gradually, and a long building appeared ahead of me on the right side. A stone foundation anchored the structure, and its walls were made from tan-painted cinderblocks. Light brown timber trusses provided a pleasing contrast under the roof.

“That looks like it was built to last,” I said.

Maia laughed softly. “Almost everything here has stood for over a century. The first buildings were demolished during a bad hurricane. Afterward, my great-great-grandfather pulled up his bootstraps and built everything to withstand almost any storm, including the Big House. That’s your new home.” She pointed at the two-story building ahead. Two large barn doors were slightly open on the left side of the structure, and a wooden door and covered porch lay on the right side. “We call it the Barn. Most of it is a large shop, but that’s a two-bedroom apartment there on the right.”

A flutter ran through me. My apartment in St. Croix had been a tiny one-bedroom, and this looked like paradise in comparison. We climbed three stairs onto a small, covered porch and Maia pulled a key from her back pocket. She unlocked the door before handing me the key, then stood aside to let me enter first.

As I stepped over the threshold, I was met with a blast of cool air and the scent of lemon cleaner. An expansive open-concept room lay before me, containing a couch and love seat along with two armchairs. A flat-screen TV stood on a low table against one wall. A kitchen with a table and chairs took up the other half of the area. The walls were white plaster, and the furniture was sturdy and well-built. Timber beams supported a white ceiling, and a giant stone fireplace took up one corner of the room. Wood was neatly stacked in a cubby next to it. My feet were rooted to the wood floor—I could hardly believe my luck.

Fully furnished and included in my salary!

Maia pointed to a closed door on the right. “That’s the powder room. You might enjoy the fireplace—winter nights can get chilly sometimes. Two bedrooms with attached baths are upstairs. You’ll recognize the master when you see it. The whole apartment wasremodeled about ten years ago, so it’s pretty up to date. There’s ductless air-conditioning throughout.”

My two suitcases were lined up near the front door, but Maia waved me toward the kitchen. Our footsteps echoed as we walked across a weathered but spotless floor. The wide wooden planks almost glowed in the light.

A glass-paned door lay between the table and kitchen counter, its curtain drawn. Maia opened it and we stepped outside. A delighted smile formed on my face as I took in a sizeable, covered patio, complete with a seating area and a small patio dining set.

“This is amazing! Thank you so much.” I turned to give her a hug and she burst into laughter.

“You’re welcome. You deserve a nice place. Plus, I think this apartment needs a feminine touch. Feel free to dress it up however you want.”

I was already picturing some potted flowers and artwork on the walls. But I couldn’t keep my gaze from the view in front of me and I walked across the flagstone patio to rest my hands on the wooden rail. The blue Caribbean Sea stretched out as far as the eye could see. I glanced to my left, where Calypso Key continued its gentle rise. Three stone and wood cottages were visible in the distance, with a much larger house behind them.

I pointed. “That’s where all you Markhams live?”

“Yep. Wyatt and I are in the farthest cottage, with Gabe and Hailey in the middle one. The nearest one is empty. And of course, the Big House is in the background.”

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