Page 26 of Meet Me in Tahiti
She didn’t doubt it. As a scattering of simple blue-roofed buildings came into view on the edge of the lagoon, her interest grew. Against the backdrop of lush greenery and impossibly clear turquoise water, the place beckoned like something out of a travel magazine for off-the-beaten-path adventures.
A few fishing boats bobbed nearby, their faded hulls tied to weathering posts. The scent of salt and blooming flowers filled the air, and the faint clink of someone working inside one of the sheds carried across the water.
The dinghy reached the dock, and Tessa stepped up and took a deep breath. The air smelled like fresh wood,sea spray, and something sweet—like coconuts roasting somewhere out of sight.
The pearl farm was small and intimate. No flashy displays. Just hand-painted signs pointing toward the tour area and a tidy gravel path leading to a bright blue house perched among a crop of trees.
Jenna immediately began snapping photos, her phone held high, calling for Drew to pose with her in front of the rustic sign.
“My roommate won’t believe how beautiful this place is until she sees it,” she said, grinning, then posted it to her social media. “Oh, my gosh, we actually have service here, you guys.”
“No way?” Marin pulled out her phone and started posting photos while she walked.
Tessa smiled, unconcerned. She’d be sharing her photos with her family later, but who else back in Miami did she want to show them to? Everyone she cared about was here.
They followed a sandy path to a shaded platform where a cheerful guide greeted them. “Welcome! So glad to see you all today. We’ll begin with a short demonstration before you explore the showroom.”
He led them around the back of the blue house, where a raised platform overlooked the calm lagoon. Below, rows of buoys floated on the surface.
“Out there,” the guide said, pointing, “are the oyster baskets. Each one is hand-seeded and tended for two to three years. A single oyster may only ever produce one pearl.”
They leaned on the railing, listening as he explained the nuances—how water temperature, oyster health, and time all shaped each gem’s color and luster. How the Tahitian pearl was specific to this part of the world. He lifted a small oyster shell from a demonstration tank beside him and gently opened it to reveal a single gleaming black pearl.
There were a few gasps. Jenna, of course, filmed the whole thing for her social media.
Drew elbowed Kyle. “Dude, you better be taking notes.”
The guide laughed and handed the pearl to Avery to examine. “Just for show. But we do have plenty for sale.”
The place was amazing, and this was exactly the kind of excursion Tessa loved—something that included a little bit of education, a hands-on tour, and a beautiful setting. She smiled, remembering how Russ had told her they’d love this. He’d been right.
Inside, the showroom was sunlit and airy, the salt breeze drifting through open windows. Trays of black pearls in every tone, from blue-gray to bronze, glimmered under glass.
Marin hovered over a set of delicate black pearl earrings. “These would go perfectly with that green sundress I brought.”
Kyle leaned in. “Then you should get them. You only turn thirty once, babe.”
“I totally agree, Kyle,” said Tessa, and Marin smiled broadly before she held them up to her ears and looked in the table mirror.
“Yes,” agreed Avery, who stood nearby as Nate looked on, trying on a bracelet.
Tessa studied the jewelry as she browsed the showroom, running a hand over a delicate necklace, but no, she’d only get the pair of earrings she’d already purchased. The pieces were stunning, but many were pricier than she’d imagined.
So as the rest of the group busied themselves indoors, she wandered back outside toward the hand-painted sign that readExplore the Grounds. That certainly sounded like something she’d like to do. Why not follow the sandy path toward the beach and do exactly that?
The midday sun lit the water like glass. A rope hammock swayed between two trees. A massive banyan tree towered to her left, and in its branches, a charming treehouse tucked itself between limbs like a secret hideout. She smiled up at it. Now, that was something she’d have to see up close.
Then, just beyond the hammock, beneath the shade of another wide tree, she spotted him.
Russ. Sitting on a weathered bench, arm draped casually across the backrest, gazing out at the view by himself, like he had all the time in the world.
Her heart gave an involuntary little skip.
Without overthinking it, she waved at him and headed in his direction.
Russ leanedback on the sun-warmed bench, feeling the salt-heavy breeze slipping over him. He’d checked his email when he’d heard Jenna mention the cell service, recalling that the pearl farm had public Wi-Fi. But still, there was no word from Miami. He’d have to stay patient. But if only he’d find out this week… Things could be… different, if he got the job.
Jules had stayed on the boat to get ready for dinner. Malik was currently nowhere to be found, probably taking a nap in the sun somewhere. Russ couldn’t blame him—this stop always had a sleepy, timeless quality that made you want to stretch out and forget the clock existed. It was the perfect place to take a break.
