Chapter 38
Mangroves
As they paddled out in their kayaks, Gray cannot stop his head from swiveling back and forth, taking in the shallow water and the mangrove trees.
He's seen nothing like this before. There's so much chatter from the birds, but the mangroves are so expertly camouflaging them he can't see what species has them surrounded.
"I am speechless! Riley, how does this even exist?" Gray took in a deep breath and then scrunched up his nose. The smell was familiar, but he couldn't place it.
Riley noticed the look on his face. "I see you're finally getting the full essence of the smell of the mangroves?"
"I am, and it's familiar to me. The mangroves make that smell?" Gray narrows his eyes at the strange-looking trees.
"They do, and let me tell you, this is definitely a better time of year to come.
They have a sulphur smell to them, and it gets harsh depending on the season.
There are times of intense decomposition.
Right now it's only a mild rotten-egg kind of smell, but tolerable.
At other times during the year, it's a bit too strong.
I love it here December through April; we're on the cusp of the worst of the smell. "
"Well, smell or not I feel like I'm in a real-life version of the Jungle Cruise tour I took when I was 10 years old at Disneyland." Gray shook his head remembering the trip and marvelling that this mangrove forest is so similar and also so different.
As they passed close by the mangrove trees, Gray stopped to touch the roots, and he saw that there was so much life swimming around the underwater roots. He plucked a leaf from the tree that was hanging above and was pleasantly surprised.
"I did not know the leaf would feel like–leather?" Gray held the leaf rubbing it gently between his fingers awed because it looked like a leaf but felt leathery and as he'd noticed earlier It had a plumpness to it, like it was full of water ready to burst.
He would definitely need to talk to Bowen more about bringing some researchers here.
This was a place that teemed with interconnected life.
Gray knew from his own proposal that the people funding projects loved if they could perpetually fund, year after year, projects that had a central location and unlimited scope for research.
Riley smiled at him and shook her head. She knew the pull of the mangroves and also the challenge of living on the island.
"When I first came to the island, all I did was figure out how to navigate everything.
Where do I get groceries, do banking, and buy bikinis?
" She gave him a mischievous smile. "But once I started feeling like I had the day-to-day sorted and I was secure at work, I started accepting the invitations of the people I met.
As you've figured out, everyone goes to the same place at night; the Square has all the bars, restaurants, and entertainment.
But there are a few people who aren't from here who've made this island their home. "
She stopped her slow paddling and pulled her kayak beside Gray's.
"I was nervous to step away from the social scene of the Square and go to dinner or drinks at their houses.
I don't know..." She looks thoughtfully at Gray.
"I felt like I was one step further removed, the dreaded 'expat' who wouldn't stay long enough to fulfill their contract. So, I always said no."
Riley let the lazy river current carry their kayaks along.
Bear had taken up his spot in the front seat of Riley's kayak, happily watching the fish swim beneath them in the shallow water that was the lightest blue colour, with the white sandy bottom making it appear as if they were floating on glass.
"Then one day, the vet for the dolphins said he was putting together one of his infamous dinner parties. He said it was a select group, and I was invited, and he wouldn't take no for an answer. So, I put aside my worry and went." Gray can see the fondness in her eyes as she remembers the evening.
"And was it infamous?" he asked, wondering if he could get invited someday.
"Oh, it was! I walked in and was promptly told, 'There's the bar; you better get yourself a drink, or we'll make one for you.
' I followed orders." She throws her head back, laughing at the memory of her shock when she saw the bar.
Doc had an actual bar, better stocked than any she'd ever been to.
She'd found a Riesling chilling in a bucket and decided it was the safest bet.
"It was there that I got to know Carlos and Katrina.
And Johnny, who owns the Conch Shack, was there too, and they all started revealing the secrets of the island.
Places like this that I didn't know about.
The dinner was beyond decadent. He served a five-course meal that he made himself!
" Gray had only met the vet once so far, a big ruddy man, originally from England.
He tried to imagine him putting together an extravagant dinner.
"There's a specialty food store on the island; I'll take you there one day. You won't be able to afford anything," she laughs, "but the old expats like the vet; it's their stomping ground for the best imported foods. Now, when he invites me to a dinner party, it's an instant 'hell yeah.'"
She pushed his kayak behind hers as they approached a narrow area in the waterway. Gray finally spotted some of the beautiful birds in the trees and immediately saw the magic of this place.
There wasn't another person around, just the breeze rustling through the mangrove trees and the beautiful woman in front of him. He took a few quick strokes, pulled up beside her again and reached out to hold on to her kayak so they were in tandem once more.
"After that first dinner, I went out with Carlos and Katrina to a few hidden gems, including here.
I got to spend time with Bowen and have helped him when he's had larger tour groups.
Plus, after getting to know Johnny better, I can now use his skiff whenever I want.
It's such a community, and I do what I can to show them I appreciate not just their friendship but also their trust." Gray tilts his head, a questioning look on his face.
Riley sighs. "Unfortunately, a few expats have come here and behaved poorly towards the island. Did you know there's an entire system of caves and caverns here?" She motions towards a small beach, and as they pull up, Bear bounds out of the kayak, knowing what's coming—treats!
"Bear! Hold on, no spoiling the surprise!" Riley hauled her kayak onto the beach and helped Gray as he got out. The beach was only a sliver of sand between the mangrove trees. He hadn't even noticed it as they had drifted along.
"Where are these caves and caverns?"
"Funny enough, close to here. We'll go another day, but they're world-famous.
Come this way; I've got something else to show you.
" Riley reached for Gray's hand, her eyes widening for a second.
She'd held his hand enough this past month to know he'd accept hers, but there was always a small jolt when she did it. He smiled and gave her his hand.
"Lead the way, my not-so-local guide!" he grinned, making the moment less awkward.
Moving away from the beach and into the forest, the surrounding beauty again took Gray aback.
Mere moments before, they were basking in the sun with blue skies above, and now they were in near darkness.
Pine trees surrounded them, blocking out the light, and a path meandered through the forest, barely discernible. Only someone who knew it could follow.
As they walked, Gray's hand firmly in Riley's, he heard a scuttling sound and flashes of movement he couldn't quite see.
"Riley? Please tell me that sound isn't what I think it is?" Gray's grip tightened with a hint of desperation, and he pulled Riley to a stop, eyes wide, pupils dilated. He realizes he's frozen, no longer willing to move until he knows what's moving around them.
Riley leans back into him. "Gray? You're squeezing all the feeling out of my hand." But he doesn't loosen his grip. The sounds get louder, more movement comes into view, and Gray's panic intensifies. What fresh hell is this?
She turned in his arms and saw that he's genuinely terrified. She gives a small giggle, but seeing Gray isn't comforted, she steps aside, gently pulling him closer to the ground. He's like a statue, not even blinking.
"Don't be scared, look--" She points at the ground, and Gray begins to identify the noise's origin. Suddenly, there's a crashing sound, and unseen forces knock Gray over. He screams, flailing on the ground.
Riley bursts into laughter while Bear, the ambush hound, has pinned Gray to the forest floor, howling alongside Gray's screams.
"Bear! Get off him!" Riley chides, tears streaming down her face from laughter. Bear finally gives up, deciding it's a terrible game, and bounds off into the forest.
Riley helps Gray to his feet. He's still shaking, not finding the attack nearly as funny. He grabs her, and she lets out a squeak.
"So, you think scaring the life out of me is funny?" He smiled, but she knew he was terrified. And then he kissed her, and she leaned into the comfort. After being trounced onto the forest floor, he smelled of pine needles.
They stay that way for a moment, Gray gently putting her down, Riley with her hands clasped around his neck.
"Now that you and Bear have had your laugh, what on earth is making that noise?" As he listened, the clicking sound returned, and he had the feeling that hundreds of eyes were watching them.
"I wasn't leading you to your doom, though I think you believed that," she teased.
"And if Bear hadn't bowled you over, I was pointing out the blue crabs.
Look--" she gestured ahead along the path, and sure enough, Gray saw crabs, larger than he expected, scuttling on either side of the forest floor.
Their eyes like stalks coming out of their massive heads and possibly, no definitely, looking right at them.
"What. The. Hell. There are so many!" he couldn't believe his eyes.
"They're a really cool species, and because the forest is so dense, making it like twilight during the day, you can see them during the day, not just at night.
Honestly, I wouldn't come here at night; it'd feel like a horror movie.
Imagine hearing all that clicking in the dark without knowing what's making the noise? " She shivered.
"I was picturing some giant creature that'd string me up in its web and eat me!" He playfully slapped her arm. "A little warning next time!"
As Gray looked at the dozens and dozens of crabs again, he could see that they were about the size of his hand, a terrifying size for a crab, and that one claw was definitely larger than the other.
The crabs look comically off balance, as if they did massive weight training but only with one claw.
As he continued to stare at them, shivers ran down his spine and goosebumps jumped up all over his body.
While his brain told him they were just crabs, his heart was beating too fast.
The crabs were an incredible blue colour, like an electric blue he'd never seen in nature before.
But the damn things looked so much like giant blue tarantulas with their hairy legs and strange front claws that he had to close his mouth so he wouldn't scream.
From the size, he figured they weighed about a pound or more, but he would stick to guessing; those claws looked dangerous, and he wasn't sure he could trust that they were crabs.
"But then I'd miss seeing you pale as a ghost and screaming! No way, that was too good!" And Riley knew she needed to run. Gray was back to his senses, and the look in his eyes said she was in trouble.
With a squeal, she took off running down the path, dodging crabs, while Bear bounded after her, barking in excitement. Gray followed, albeit more cautiously; no way did he want one of those tarantula blue crabs latched onto his foot.
The trees thinned ahead, and as they left the forest, Gray stopped short.
They were on a secluded beach, with nothing but sand for miles.
Riley and Bear were running along the shoreline.
She'd dropped her bag of lunch and snacks, laughing as Bear raced in and out of the water.
She looked up at Gray, smiling, inviting him to join them.
Gray ran to catch up; the three of them splashed through the waves, warm water swirling around them . He caught Riley, lifting her up and kissing her again while Bear barked, hoping they'll stop and toss him some treats. And all Gray could think was, he never wanted to leave.