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I headed to the path, but almost stumbled when the words from the margins flashed through my mind:
The old man should mind his own business. Someone needs to shut him up.
I glanced back at Luis. He might know something about Diana Harden and who she was writing about—and what she was planning. The more I thought on it, the more I wondered if she’d been up to no good.
Before I could think twice, I turned around and walked back. “Luis?” I asked.
I thought he might have fallen asleep because he didn’t immediately answer. Then he opened his eyes and said with a twinkle in his voice, “Yes, Mia?”
“I, um, well, thought maybe you’d like to have breakfast with me? Tomorrow? I came here alone, and if you don’t have anyone to eat with, I’d love to talk to you about the island.”
“Breakfast would be very nice.”
A smidge of guilt crept in because I planned to pick his brain about Diana, but I would also just enjoy talking with him. Even if he knew nothing about the missing woman, he probably knew everything about the island and the Caribbean. He’d be fascinating to listen to.
“Great. Is eight okay?”
“The Blue Dahlia. Eight in the morning.”
“That’s the bar.”
“The chef makes crepes fresh every morning at the Blue Dahlia. You want them. He stops cooking at nine.”
“Okay,” I said with a smile. “Eight at the Blue Dahlia.”
Smoke slowly meandered from his lips as he smiled and waved me off.
The Luz Luna Bahia path was mostly flat as it wound into the jungle. I didn’t know if this would be called ajungle, but the trees and bushes were so thick there was no easy way to walk through them. The path had been trimmed, but the canopy of trees blocked the sky, the only light coming from the ground lighting and strings of tiny white bulbs woven through the plants.
The air was moist and earthy the farther I trekked, with intermittent whiffs of honeysuckle. It wasn’t long before the path ended and I stepped into a huge cavern.
The light from the path cast shadows on the rocky mountain that jutted up on three sides. The ocean rolled in through an arch to the east, the sound of waves echoing against the mountain walls. As my eyes adjusted to the semidark, I realized the sky above was lit with stars.
Slowly, I walked around the edge of the inlet. It was almost completely round, the size of a large planetarium. The beach was about ninety feet wide. I didn’t know if it was high tide or low tide. The sand was moist, not wet. I kicked off my sandals and wiggled my toes, smiling, inching toward the edge of the water, the gentle waves lapping against my feet. The water was surprisingly warm. Why had I put pants on? I should have brought a bathing suit.
I heard nothing but the water. No music, no people. I thought about all the wild things my grandmother had done. This was my moment, my time to let go. After all, I was alone. Who would know?
I stripped down to my panties and left my clothes folded on a rock. Giggling, I walked into the surf. None of my friends would believe I went skinny dipping. Acting out of character was both terrifying and exhilarating.
I dove into the water, then surfaced, worried for a minute that I might be pulled out to sea. But the current was so weak I could have been in a swimming pool. I swam to the rocks, on the edge of the lagoon, then across to the other side. I floated back to the middle and stared up at the sky and had the overwhelming and heady feeling that I was the only person in the world. The rhythmic splash of water against rocks outside the lagoon seemed so distant, yet also comforting.
Believing that I was the only person on the island who knew of this place was foolish, but for the next fifteen minutes, I indulged in the fantasy. I didn’t want to leave, but I could feel wrinkles on my fingers and knew it was time to get out.I walked out of the water. Goose bumps rose on my skin. Tomorrow I’d bring a towel, swimsuit, maybe a snack. I definitely planned to return.
“Maybe you do have your grandmother’s wild streak after all,” a male voice said from the darkness.
I screamed, then clapped my hand over my mouth, heard a brief echo, followed by hearty laughter.
“I’m sorry,” he said with humor. “I didn’t mean to startle you, but I’m glad you’re here improving the view.”
I knew that voice.
“Jason?”
“The one and only.”
I dropped back into the water, embarrassed. Excited. Nervous. A small thrill shot up my spine. I tried to ignore my reaction to Jason and reached deep down for some anger but couldn’t find much ire to hold on to.
“Damn you.” Okay, maybe alittleanger. Because hedidstartle me. And I wasn’t quite sure why I wasn’t more upset about it.