As Bright As The Stars (Vaquita Beach Book 2) Read online

  “Sweetheart, I’m so proud of you. I thought for sure that it was all over when the resort owners said no.”

  Felicia laughed. “Who knew the resort owner would fall in love with Cassie and the vaquita, too?”

  “Not me,” Cassie said, handing her mother a glass of wine. “Alex made this all possible and I’ll never forget it.”

  Megan reached for her daughter’s hand. “It’s obvious how much he loves you, Cassie. All is well with the world.”

  “My world, anyway. How about yours?”

  Megan sighed and leaned back in her chair. It has always been difficult for her to know how much to tell her daughter. They’d been through some pretty rough times, and her instinct was to protect Cassie from worrying about her own mother. No child, even in their thirties, should have to worry if their mother was going to be all right. Besides, the truth of the matter was that Megan had taken a pretty big risk with her retirement and she wasn’t feeling like that was the most brilliant thing she’d ever done. As sad as it was, it was embarrassing.

  Felicia nudged her knee and they exchanged a glance when Felicia nodded at her.

  “Things aren’t going real well,” Felicia said, making Megan’s choice for her.

  Without going into too much detail, Megan gave Cassie an overview of the situation of the ranch.

  “Please don’t say I told you so,” she finished.

  “Oh, Mom, I would never, ever say that. You were—are—as passionate about helping people as I was about helping the vaquita. I understand completely, but I’m very, very sorry it isn’t working out.”

  “Me, too, sweetheart,” Megan said as she hugged her daughter.

  “When will you know what’s going to happen? You know you always have a place with us here if you need it. And even if you don’t. I’d love ot have you down here or in Playa Luna full time.”

  Megan was startled by the comment. Even with the possibility of the ranch going under, it hadn’t occurred to her to live in Playa Luna, although her brick house was pretty much all she had left.

  “I couldn’t possibly. I have to work somewhere. Can’t do that here.”

  Cassie smiled at Felicia. “Felicia, tell Mom that with the resort going up, and scaling back from the five-star concept and going more eco-tourism, I’m sure we could find a great position for Mom. Something she’d even be passionate about.” Turning to Megan, she said, “You love kayaking. And paddle boarding. Maybe you could be an instructor.”

  Megan’s mouth dropped open and Felicia laughed.

  “Your mom loves it, yes, but she can only stay upright on the paddle board half the time. I don’t think instructing people on how to fall off is what you want.”

  Cassie laughed and leaned back in her chair. “Well, okay, maybe not that. But Mom, seriously consider it. Please.”

  Megan shook her head slowly. “I appreciate your kindness, Cassie, but I’m sure I’ll land on my feet. I always do.”

  “Have you told them the good news?” Alex said as he breezed onto the patio and sat on the arm of Cassie’s chair. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of the head. .

  “Um, no, we haven’t gotten to that yet,” Cassie said.

  Megan noticed that her daughter’s cheeks had turned a little pink and her eyes were bright as she looked up at Alex.

  “Mom, you said you guys are staying through next weekend, right?”

  Felicia nodded. “Yep. We both lucked out and got time off.”

  Alex smiled and stood up, pulling Cassie up to stand beside him. He wrapped his arm around her waist as if to encourage her, and Megan wondered what was up.

  “Mom, now that the house is done, Alex and I want to get married as soon as possible.”

  “Oh, that’s fantastic,” Megan said. She stood and hugged both Alex and Cassie, thrilled that her daughter was moving on with her decision. “Felicia and I can spend the next week and a half planning the wedding with you. The colors, the dress, the food--all of it. It’s perfect timing.”

  Cassie and Alex exchanged glances.

  “Mom, I don’t want a big wedding. I hope you don’t mind. We just want to get married, and we want to do it here. Next Saturday, before you leave.”

  “I…well, that’s soon. There’s a lot to be done.” Megan took a glance at Felicia, who shrugged her shoulders.

  “Not really. Once we decided, and after seeing how easy it was to cater this party tonight, we just want to do it. I don’t care about colors, or my dress, or any of that. I just want to be married to the man I love.”

  Alex radiated joy as he kissed Cassie’s hand. “I feel the same. And my parents are available next weekend, you all are here, it’s perfect.”

  Cassie clapped and bounced a little. “I even checked with Taylor and she can take off work to be my maid of honor. It’s perfect. All my favorite people are here, and I say we just do it.”

  “Sounds perfect to me,” Kyle said as he and James stepped onto the porch. “I won’t be able to get any more time off until my residency is over and I wouldn’t want to miss the event of the year.”

  Cassie hugged Kyle and rested her palm on his cheek. “I wouldn’t want to do it without my honorary brother in attendance. Thanks, Kyle.”

  “Well, it’s settled, then,” James said. “An auspicious occasion, no doubt, and an excuse for another party.”

  “Oh, my gosh, I can’t wait,” Felicia said. She hesitated for a moment and looked down at her shorts and flip flops. “Is it going to be casual?”

  “Of course,” Alex said. “The most important thing is that we’ll all be together.”

  Megan couldn’t believe it. She’d thought she was just coming down to rest and relax, but it was turning out that she’d be having a family event after all. She would dearly love Annie and Daniel to be there, but there was no way they could leave the girls’ home, and she knew they’d understand.

  After hugs all around, Cassie and Felicia went inside to check on the caterers and Alex and Kyle went inside for a tour. James came over and sat down beside Megan, who was still absorbing all the new information.

  “Well, this all sounds exciting. I gather you had no idea they’d do this now.” James took a glance back into the kitchen. “It’s clear they’re in love. Can’t miss it. And I suppose at that age, they’re eager to get on with their lives together.”

  Megan nodded. “I remember vividly what it was like at that age when you meet someone, the right someone, and fall in love. You want to be with them forever, and the sooner the better.”

  “You miss your husband.” James leaned back in his chair.

  Megan glanced again at Cassie, who bore a strong resemblance to her father. “At times like this, I wish he was here to see Cassie. He loved her very much, and would be so incredibly proud.”

  James nodded. “I’m sure he would be. There’s a lot to be proud of. And you? Do you miss him?”

  “I don’t think you can be in love, have an accident take you away from that person and not miss him. I think of him, wonder what it would be like if he hadn’t died. That first year, I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to breathe again, let alone have a life. But things eased. It’s a fond, distant memory now. Besides, I need to focus on what’s in front of me.”

  “Yes,” James said. “And be happy.”

  Megan rolled her eyes. Here he was again with the happy part. Her daughter was getting married, she was at the beach, and she wasn’t sure how much happier she could manage to be, given her current life circumstances.

  James cleared his throat and leaned down to pick up a beautiful shell. He rubbed the sand from it and handed it to Megan.

  “This is beautiful. I love shells. I always feel bad picking them up, though.”

  James laughed. “Well, as long as you don’t take them all, I think it’s all right.”

  Megan turned the shell over in her hands, rubbing her thumb over the smooth interior that had been worn by being tossed in the sand.

  The part
y, if you could call it that with the small number of people, lasted long into the night. Everybody chimed in about their opinion of what the wedding should be like until Cassie shook her head and said, “No more talk about the wedding. As long as Alex and I are married at the end of it, I don’t care what it is. I’m handing it over to the resort events coordinator and I’m just going to show up.”

  “Perfect,” Megan said, warming to the idea of not being in charge of it and just having fun.

  As the party wound down and James announced he was heading home, Megan walked outside with him to get a breath of fresh air..

  James turned to her, and his blue eyes looked to her to be as bright as the stars in the sky.

  “I’ve been thinking. I bet you’d love Shell Beach if you haven’t been,” he said. His eyes met hers, and he held her gaze as if offering a challenge. “Would you like to come with me tomorrow? I have to take some photographs for an article I’m writing, and I would love the company. The tide should be out, and the shells are everywhere. Special ones. You’d like it if you like shell hunting.

  “Oh, I do. Very much. I haven’t been in years. I’ll have to check with Felicia, though. We had planned a workday tomorrow.

  “Kyle’s here. I’m sure she could do without you for a few hours. I’ll pick you up at nine and I’ll bring lunch. Just be ready.

  “I’ll check with Felicia…”

  “Choose you. Choose happy. You’ll have a great time. I promise. I already squared it with her tonight at dinner. She’s fine. And I look forward to seeing you then.”

  She watched as he turned back toward his car and started whistling, his Hawaiian shirt billowing in the breeze.

  Standing on the cliff as she watched his taillights disappear down the beach, she wasn’t sure whether to thank her friend or fault her for throwing her under the bus.

  12

  The next morning, she woke up bright and early again. She hadn’t expected to be doing anything that required decent clothes, and she rummaged through her duffel bag trying to pick out anything without wrinkles. It took awhile, but she tugged on a black skirt that would be comfortable to walk in and laughed as she shrugged on a coral tank top. She’d worn a lot of black for the past several years, but since she’d already scared him with all the neon colors before, it might be good to get out of the black habit and she was glad she’d brought some things that were a little brighter. Happy to have a coral option, she threw the shirt over her head. Glancing in the mirror, she noticed that it brought out the blue of her eyes and smiled, noticing the sensation of excitement creeping in.

  She quickly rubbed sunscreen over her arms and legs and her favorite SPF30 moisturizer on her face. The sun was always so bright on the beach, and a sunburn was something she didn’t need. Her fair skin usually burned, so she’d gotten in the habit of taking the extra precaution.

  Quickly applying some mascara and chapstick, she grabbed her visor and a big bottle of water just as she heard a car honking outside the door. Sliding into her flip-flops, she closed the door behind her, wondering what kind of adventure this day might bring.

  He stood by his shiny, white Range Rover, holding the door open with one hand and reaching toward her with the other.

  “Your chariot awaits, milady,” he said as he helped her up into the car.

  “Oh, no,” she groaned, laughing as she slid onto the tan leather.

  “Too corny?” he asked, sliding in the driver’s seat. “You said you love all things British. Just thought I’d lay it on thick.”

  Megan laughed as she rolled down the window, throwing a quick wave to Felicia and Kyle as they drove past toward the beach.

  “Bring it on. I love it,” she said, actually feeling the smile on her face reach inside to her heart.

  The few miles flew by as the Range Rover ambled up the beach to their destination. The eclectic group of houses lining the shore ranged from trailers with shade covers to stucco boxes to virtual mansions made of the colorful ladrillo.

  “That one looks like a castle,” Megan remarked as they passed a house that looked like it should have been in Spain. Turrets and spiral columns surrounded a house that appeared to have at least ten bedrooms and an enclosed patio large enough for a restaurant.

  “That’s quite a house. It grows yearly, but never seems to have anyone in it. Just keeps getting mysteriously bigger,” James said as they continued north.

  “Slow down,” Megan said suddenly, as something dark and big seemed to be moving up the beach in front of them.

  The Ranger Rover slowed to a stop. “What do you see?” James said as he peered through the windshield.

  “I can’t tell what it is, but it’s moving from the water toward the dunes.” She couldn’t quite make out what it was, and popped the door open to get a better look. She slowly moved toward the object, noticing that the beach was quiet, no other people in sight but James.

  “Oh, it’s a sea turtle! It’s huge.” she cried, her hand over her mouth. The turtle lumbered toward the high tide line, determined to reach its destination. “She must be heading up to lay her eggs. I’ve never seen that before.”

  “I’ve never seen it, either. I’m going to get my camera from the car,” he said as he headed back to the Range Rover. “Just stay where you are,” he called over his shoulder.

  As Megan sat in the sand and watched the turtle begin to dig a hole to lay her eggs in, the warm breeze and silence overwhelmed her. She felt warm tears spill down her cheeks, overcome with gratitude to be able to witness such a thing. Her sadness melted as the turtle dug and rested her head on the sand, tired by her labor. She said a silent thank you, her eyes lifted to the sky, as she was gifted with such an amazing sight.

  As she sat, mesmerized, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Turning, she met those blue eyes, the ones that were starting to melt her also. James gazed intently at her, his eyes clear and strong.

  “What great good fortune to see this,” he said. “I really don’t know anyone who has down here.”

  Wiping her tears with her sleeve, she smiled up at him. “I don’t, either, and I’m feeling quite blessed to be one who has,” she said, turning her attention back to the turtle.

  With a quick squeeze of her hand, James circled the turtle, careful to keep a respectable distance. The sound of the camera shutter floated on the breeze, and she marveled at the amazing scene.

  He sat next to her again. They watched in silence as the turtle completed her task, the eggs deposited in the same place that the turtle itself had hatched. The whole experience had to have taken at least an hour, and in Megan’s mind it had flown by in minutes. They both watched in silence, save for the periodic sound of the shutter of James’s camera.

  Eventually, the turtle rested her weary head on the side of the hole she’d dug, seeming to need the strength to get back to the water. Slowly, she lumbered out of the deep hole, her legs and arms pushing sand to cover her future offspring. As the sand reached the top, she slowly circled the hole, spreading the sand back and forth, leaving no evidence of the event that had just taken place.

  Megan felt rooted to the spot, and as they watched, the turtle started the long trek back to the water. As she moved toward the waves, James moved over to the sand dune, the shutter of his camera clicking wildly. Resting a few times, the turtle met the water, the waves lapping at her nose. Slowly turning her head back toward her nest for one last look, her eyes turned back to the sea. Her head up and her neck strong, she moved toward the waves, moving forward with purpose into them. On the third wave, she floated, her renewed strength moving her arms and legs rhythmically. With the next wave, she was gone.

  Megan realized that she hadn’t moved, her arms wrapped around her knees tightly. Tears warmed her face once more, and she watched the turtle float in the waves and disappear. The sense of connection to nature swelled her heart, and the foreign feeling surprised her. For the first time in years, she realized that she had been completely engrossed, one hundred perc
ent present in a moment that didn’t involve humans. Not one shred of worry had crossed her mind, and she smiled, wishing that it could always be so. No worry, no anxiety.

  “I think I got some really good shots,” James said as he made a wide circle around where the turtle had laid her nest. “Look at this one.”

  On the camera screen that he held out to her as a perfect picture of the turtle’s tracks moving toward the water, waves crashing beyond where they disappeared into the seas.

  “That’s beautiful,” was all she could say as her tears dried, and her sniffles subsided. “That was overwhelming.”

  “It sure was.” He popped the lens cover back on his camera. “Those are the kinds of things that time just must stop for. Not something you can pass up.”

  “I’ve never had the opportunity to stop before.”

  “No, you’ve never made the opportunity before. There are lots of moments worthy of taking the time to experience. Most people choose not to.”

  She watched as he slung the camera over his shoulder, looking out to the horizon. “Do you see those pangas out there?” He pointed toward several of the typical Mexican fishing boats that regularly fished off shore.

  “Barely. Maybe three of them?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Something’s off about them. The Mexican pangas don’t fish in groups like that, at least not during the day. They’ve been out there for several days, and I’ve sent some pictures to my editor. Maybe I got some good ones when they were closer, when the turtle was here.”

  “Is that part of the story you’re writing?”

  “No. Just not quite right,” he said, his eyes still on the group of boats offshore. “Shall we continue on, milady?” He turned, extending his hand to her, pulling her up out of the sand. As they walked toward the car, he didn’t let go of her hand, his squeezing hers. His calmness comforted her as she let him pull her along.