Lessons Learned, Healing Hearts

Tides of Change (Chapter 35)

Sitting on a lounge chair, staring out at the passing shore, Marlow felt melancholic this morning. Not only was it her last day at sea, her time with Piero was also ending. With only three days left, it would be hard to go back to only being able to see him on a screen. Doting on each other, their connection was stronger than ever. Smiling at Piero as he came up from below to join her, Marlow scooted over to make room on the lounger for him. Grasping her outer thigh, he pulled her leg over top of his and rested his hand on her hip.

"It is going to be hard to say goodbye to you in three days," she said.

"I refuse to think that far ahead," Piero said. "I am only going to focus on today and on you." Dropping his chin to his chest, he puckered his lips and waited for Marlow to kiss him. Wrapping his arms around her back, she did not disappoint.

"Oh, sorry about interrupting," Francesco said, stumbling upon the two of them. "Nicolo apparently has a surprise stop for us and has asked that we all come to the bow of the boat."

Gently pushing back on Marlow's shoulder, helping her to get up off him, Piero followed behind Franz and Marlow.

"This is for the beautiful ladies to enjoy," Nicolo said once everyone appeared.

"Yes!" the girls exclaimed as they looked out at a small, secluded cove and inviting beach. "But what about the guys?"

"They can go too, but I am making them in charge of coming back and forth to the boat to get things for you ladies."

Chuckling, both girls thanked Nicolo and hugged him tightly.

"Now go," he ordered, "You are keeping me from relaxing."

***

Swimming in aqua-coloured water anywhere in Italy was a wonderful experience, but to have a whole cove and beach of pale-yellow sand all to oneself was indescribable. Pairing up and going off to do their own things, Piero and Marlow investigated the tidal pools tucked between the rocks.

"Marlow, come see this," Piero said excitedly.

"What did you find?" Marlow asked, cautiously making her way over the slippery rocks to where Piero was hunched over.

Reaching into a tidal pool, Piero quickly withdrew his hand.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to get this huge crab."

Able to get behind it, Piero grabbed hold of the palm-sized shell and lifted the crab out of the water. Bright orange with cream-tipped claws that knocked together; the crab was not happy at all. Set back into the pool, it quickly sidestepped its way to get away.

Making their way back to their blankets, Piero and Marlow saw Audrey and Franz running towards them.

"You have got to come with us," Audrey said, holding her stomach as she tried to catch her breath. "You won't believe what we found."

"What?"

"Just come with us," Audrey said, grabbing Marlow by the hand.

Climbing over a much higher outcrop of rocks at the far end of the beach, a rush of adrenaline tingled through Marlow's limbs. This island, out in the middle of the ocean, was a scavenger hunter's dream. The sky, the earth, and the water were all treasures just waiting to be discovered and appreciated.

Standing on the top and looking out to sea, a distinct line of coral provided a barrier, causing waves to break before gently rolling into shore. With the tide going out, a vast expanse of sand disappeared into a black cave at the bottom of a jagged cliff face.