But she's alive. I attempted a faltering smile. "Hi."
She tried to steady herself, but she slipped and I had to put my arm around her waist so she wouldn't fall. The deck was slippery with water.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be." I hugged her, wanting to let her know she was alright and protected. For a brief moment, I failed to protect her, and I almost lost her.
"I slipped," she added.
"We thought we almost lost you!" Mae said. The couple was standing over us, holding hands. Arther was bug eyed and looked the most shocked of the two. My face probably reflected his fear.
I helped her up and lifted her into my arms. "Let's get you to the cabin." She made a faint protest that was disrupted by a cough. "It's okay darling," I said as I took her inside, grabbed a towel, removed the t-shirt she had on and dried her up. She had lost the sarong she had been wearing when she was swept up by the wave. Her bikini was soaked too, but it was drying up quickly. Satisfied that she was no longer dripping, I laid her on the bed. The cabin was small, but rarely used, so it only had a single bed, a fridge, and a toolbox.
"I've ruined Arther's fishing expedition."
I shook my head as I sank down to sit on the bed next to her and took off my wet t-shirt. "Stop apologizing for something out of your control. It's my fault for sailing out further into the ocean. The waters are rougher around here. We need to get back."
"What about Arther?"
"He wasn't catching anything, anyway. For all the big game he talks, he's an awful fisherman."
She chuckled, and my heart warmed. I finally felt a lot more relaxed, but I still wanted to be sure she was fine. I almost lost her. My hand went to her brow. It was cool. I checked her bodyfor bruises and cuts to see if she had hit the boat when she drowned. There was none. I let out another sigh of relief.
"You scared me," I said finally. "I thought I had lost you."
Her eyes widened. "I should learn how to swim."
"You should. But I should have made sure we were in safer waters."
After making sure she was okay, I went back up and turned the boat back home. Thalia joined us just as I was reaching shore. She still looked like she had done something wrong when she didn't. I wanted to tell her it wasn't her fault. Mae kept pointing out the remarkable coincidence of the four of us getting caught up in some kind of maritime accident each time we've met as we got off the boat. Arther didn't seem disappointed by his lack of fish and seemed much more animated now than before. As though he had finally shaken himself out of the shock of the accident.
We went inside where dinner was waiting for us. I watched as Thalia went to our bedroom while the Bardwells pestered me about what we would be eating tonight. They enjoyed what the chef made last night and asked questions that made me wonder if they want to steal my chef away.
The Bardwells left to change for dinner and it was then I could finally go to Thalia, but when I got to the bedroom, she was no longer there. I found her in the kitchen, helping the chef. I joined her as we put the plates on the table in silence. The dinner was uneventful, but it doesn't mean I didn't feel her presence throughout. She sat next to me as her intoxicating fragrance drove me wild with lust. We went to the terrace after dinner and enjoyed a bottle of wine the Bardwells had brought, chatting about nothing and everything with them. Mae was the first to announce her retirement to bed, followed by Arther, leaving the two of us alone.
The silence became more pronounced now that we were alone. Thalia was sitting in a chair inches away from mine. Her beauty was radiant even in the low light. It was intimidating. She was intimidating at times. I wondered if she knew this. She certainly carried herself as though she wasn't aware of her impact on men.
"Is there something on my cheek?" She rubbed her skin.
I shook my head. "We need to talk."
"I thought we already did that?"
"Do you really want a divorce?"
She frowned. "Isn't it what you want? I mean, you'll be finally free to be with whoever you want. Your father's dead and is no longer shackling me to you. I am only making it easier for you by not fighting."
What if I don't want anyone else."It's not as if I am with someone, unlike you."
She rolled her eyes.
"What? You think I don't know about you and your employee?"
"Unlikeyou, I am not in a relationship with Jack."
"Unlike me?"
"Come on. You don't think I know about New York's worst kept secret? I know all about you and your long-time girlfriend. I don't know why you're even resisting. This is what you wanted! You're now free to bring her to the apartment and not hide your affair—" she darted her eyes around, "—here."
