Chapter Twenty-two
The next week flies past. I’m really feeling part of the furniture now. I know my way around most of the tasks, and no longer need assistance with the majority of them. I’ve helped release another sloth back to the wild and I’ve been with Carlos to the meeting in the south of the country, to Corcovado National Park. The drive to the Osa Peninsula was incredible too. It took us about three and a half hours to get there, and after, Carlos insisted we stay a bit longer so he could show me the sights– almost all animal-related, of course.
And whilst I’m loving spending time with the sloths, I can’t say it was any hardship to see a jaguarundi for the first time, although it didn’t quite live up to its name. I’d assumed it would look like a jaguar, but it was more like a weasel. So, even though it was good to see it, it was a little underwhelming.
However, there were monkeys everywhere. Squirrel monkeys, white-faced monkeys and spider monkeys. Oddly, we didn’t see any howler monkeys, despite them supposedly being pretty prevalent on the peninsula. Well, at least I saw those in Manuel Antonio National Park with Dexter.
And then there are all the foods I’ve been eating. Chayote , which looks like a fruit but tastes like a vegetable. I think it’s a kind of squash. They have a lot of squash here.
Anyway, I feel welcome now– obviously, except for with Roisin, who continues to glare daggers at me at every possible opportunity. I’m sure she also waits around corners to try to trip me up, but I don’t care. I got the guy. The guy is into me, and I’m into him, and we’re spending pretty much every waking moment, and many of the non-waking moments, together. Whilst it’s intense, it sort of feels like we’re making up for lost time, plus the whole environment is like being in a pressure cooker, especially with the ravishing Roisin on our shoulders at every turn. Although she’s taken the hint, finally, with Dexter, it’s like she has the attitude of ‘if I can’t have him, no one can’ and as if she is trying to do everything to sabotage our relationship, our happiness, our enjoyment of being in each other’s company, and that of others, as much as possible. She needs to get laid, just not by Dexter. Or she needs to find an interest: take up crocheting, composting, canoeing. I don’t care. But she needs to stop bugging us. She’s even wheedled her way onto the beach trip Nicolás, Ed, Dexter and I arranged. Ella is coming, too, but the others are staying behind. Someone has to care for the animals, but it’s our day off. Roisin switched with Luciana so she could come. Grr.
I’d been looking forward to a day at the beach too. I’m not too old yet to enjoy that kind of life. Volleyball on the beach, lying in the sun with a book, chilling, drinking guaro sours and maybe being brave enough to try the chiliguaro , which, legend has it, blows your head off. Although perhaps I’ll stick to jaguar coladas. It’s like guaro sour, but with passion fruit and cream. Basically, almost a dessert– that works for me!
We’re so often dusty and dirty that the idea of sluicing off in the Pacific really appeals to me. And I love to swim. I used to do a lot of wild swimming back home. Probably my only brave trait– at least, my friends thought it was brave. I can’t decide if it was brave or stupid, as the water’s generally freezing in Scotland. It’s the one activity I’ve missed since I came here, but today we’re going to Escondido Beach, or hidden beach, which is not far from the beach where Dexter took me after our night-time walk through the rainforest.
Nicolás and Ed appear not long after breakfast, keen for us all to head off together. We take their car and one of the sanctuary jeeps. The sun is almost blinding in the cloudless sky. I’d say it’s going to be a hot one, but every day’s a hot one here. Thankfully, my body is more than acclimatised now, but the heat still sucks the air from my lungs sometimes.
Part of me thinks we should be going in the afternoon, since after four is when it starts to cool down, and that’s only to around 26 °C. There’s a huge difference between that and the 33 °C it will be at its hottest. But I suppose there’s a greater chance of rain after that, and it’s dark a few hours later, so I guess this is why we’re going so early.
I’ve slathered myself in suntan lotion. I know I won’t be able to stomach the relentless sun if I’m lying on a lounger for long, and I’d rather be prepared.
I have my book, and Luciana even lent me a sun parasol as my skin is so much fairer– so is Roisin’s, but I dare say she won’t want to sit beside me– and I’m looking forward to chilling and then getting in that water.
We park up and walk the trail until we arrive at the beach, which is gorgeous. The crystal-clear aquamarine water is edged by sand so soft, my feet sink right into it.
Nicolás lays out some blue-and-white collapsible chairs; Dexter, whose hand has been holding mine since we got out of the jeep, sets down a cooler full of beers and soft drinks; and Ed places the diving equipment and snorkels he brought, on the beach beside us.
Dexter kisses me on the nose. ‘I’m going to dive with Ed and Nicolás for a bit. You OK to hang here, or do you want to come with?’
I shake my head. ‘No, I’m going to chill and read my book. You go.’ I lean forward and kiss him on the lips, just as sand blows into my eyes.
‘Sorry,’ says Roisin, not sounding remotely sorry as she swishes her towel to get the sand off it.
‘No problem.’ Dexter’s tone contradicts his words.
‘Dexter, you ready?’ Ed calls.
Dexter nods to Ed then turns to me. ‘See you later.’
I blow him another kiss and settle back to read my John Grisham. Ella settles down beside me in another lounger and pops her earbuds in. Bliss. I hear a shout and look up, but it’s only the boys messing about in the water before they get out far enough to dive. As my attention returns to my book, I catch Roisin scowling at me again. She needs to get a life.
The book’s really good, one of his older ones, but one that somehow I missed. It’s set partly in the Cayman Islands. I slide further down the lounger, pulling my navy skip cap, featuring a sloth on it, of course, over my face as my sunglasses aren’t quite doing the job. I just want to close my eyes for a few seconds, then I’ll strip down to my bikini and go swim in those dreamlike waters.
I must doze as I come to with Ella opening the cool box, and it takes a couple of seconds before I recall where I am. I blink my tiredness away and try to sit up, but my body is sluggish. That’s what happens when you relax and you’re not used to doing so. If anything, the sun feels even hotter.
‘Ella, am I burning anywhere?’
‘Hmm?’
‘Am I red?’ I ask her.
She shakes her head, then I turn and she says, ‘Maybe a little here.’ She points to my left shoulder.
Damn, I always miss a bit. ‘Thanks.’ I grab my sun cream and squirt a generous dollop of the factor thirty into my hands then smooth it over my shoulder and over my upper arm. I’ll follow Ella’s example and have a cold drink, and then I’m going in. The water is too inviting and I’m starting to overheat.
I glance over to where Roisin is lying face down on her sunlounger. I note the factor eight she’s using and almost tut. Don’t people learn? Well, if she wants to have a face like a piece of dried-out old bark when she’s fifty, that’s up to her, I suppose.
‘Do you want something?’ Ella indicates the cooler.
I nod. ‘Coke, please.’
We sit and stare out at the ocean, drinks in hand, and I listen to the rhythm of the waves. The sound of rolling waves has always soothed me and today is no different.
I set down my half-finished Coke and peel off my T-shirt and shorts. Time to go in. ‘You coming, Ella?’
‘Sure.’ She strips down to her tiny bikini. I’d probably wear a bikini like that too if I had more body confidence. Mine covers considerably more, but it’s still a bikini.
Against my better judgement, I say, ‘Roisin?’
No answer. I try again. Still no answer. Good. I’ve done my duty, and the good news is, I’m not going to be stuck with her, or have to interact with her.
‘Last one in cleans out the cages,’ I call to Ella, and she laughs as we sprint as best we can across the sand, straight into the ocean. It’s like entering a warm bath after a long day– just with tropical fish for company. I swim for a bit, enjoying the burn in my muscles, then round in circles, Ella by my side. Then I float onto my back, relaxing, until I realise I haven’t checked if there are sharks near this beach. When I ask Ella, she shakes her head and tells me not to worry.
‘No sharks here, although there were a couple of crocodiles a few years ago.’
That puts me off my stride and I splutter. ‘That’s not very reassuring, Ella.’
She chuckles. ‘You’ll be fine. We swim here all the time. Anyway, do you think Dexter would let you swim in unsafe waters?’
If I was on land, I’d shrug. ‘Well, at least they’re further out. The shark can eat them first.’
Now it’s Ella’s turn to splutter. ‘Charming.’
I smile and continue to swim. I’m heading for the rocks about two hundred metres away. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to be back in the water. This definitely beats the freezing cold Firth of Clyde back home. I mean, I enjoy open water swimming in Scotland, but if it could just heat up by about thirty degrees, I’d be far happier.
This is the life. I smile as my arms slice through the water, then I flip onto my back and drift, paddling with my arms. Not a care in the world, if you forget the earlier mention of crocs.
The cove is beautiful, sheltered, secluded and not very busy. I spot only one other person on the beach now, a guy making a beeline for Roisin. She’ll probably lap up the attention. Miaow. Hmm, my run-in with her has awoken my inner bitch. I don’t usually consider myself that kind of person– perhaps I’m being territorial over Dexter– but she really does bring out the worst in me. And now I think about it, I haven’t noticed the other women at the sanctuary being firm friends with her either. She certainly seems to seek out male attention, and at least the others don’t have the problem that she was trying to ‘steal their man’.
I reach the rocks and pull myself up on them, admiring the view all around. The sun is unforgiving and the heat warms my skin after being in the water. Droplets of water and salty residue cling to my skin and I can taste the ocean in the air now. Ella prefers to stay at the bottom of the rocks, floating around and around on her back.
Raised voices reach me from the shore and I look over to where Roisin is now standing, feet wide apart, gesticulating like crazy. I can’t see her expression from here, but her body language screams ‘get the fuck away from me’.
I glance around to see if the guys are back from their dive, but there’s no sign of them.
‘Ella,’ I call down. ‘That guy’s hassling Roisin, I think. Let’s go back.’
Ella shades her eyes with a hand and says, ‘I don’t recognise him. Yeah, good idea.’
I dive off the rock straight into the water, but on this occasion, I have no time to enjoy the feeling of freedom that comes with swimming in such an incredible location. Much as she’s hardly my favourite person, one thing I hate is men pestering women. Even the fact Roisin pretty much did the same to Dexter doesn’t stop me wanting to protect her from unwanted attention, especially when she’s alone on the beach.
I’m more out of breath than I’d expected when I heave myself out of the water, splashing the final few yards until I’m standing opposite Roisin and the interloper.
They don’t seem to have noticed us, they’re so focused on their argument. Belatedly, I wonder if she knows him. How will that look, if we interrupt and he’s some ex-boyfriend?
Ella stands beside me, but glances at me, as if unsure what to do. I’d forgotten she’s only twenty-one. Maybe she doesn’t feel confident enough to confront a guy she doesn’t know. With a deep breath for courage, I wade in. ‘Roisin, everything OK?’ I ask, my tone making it clear I know everything isn’t OK.
Roisin gives a start. She must have been so engrossed in her spat with this guy that she didn’t hear us approach. In the few seconds it takes her to react, and whilst we were hauling ourselves out of the ocean, I studied her opponent. About five ten, broad-shouldered, handsome, if a little mean-looking. I have no idea how I know this, but perhaps it’s the arrogance flooding off him. His stance maybe. The smirk on his lips doesn’t endear him to me. He’s too sure of himself, and it makes me want to wipe the smile off his face.
It’s testament to how uncomfortable Roisin feels in this guy’s presence that she doesn’t scowl at me, or tell me to get lost; instead she says, ‘No, it’s not. Some people don’t get when they’re not wanted.’
I square my shoulders and turn to the guy. ‘You heard what she said.’
He gives me a scathing look. ‘What’s it to do with you?’
‘We’re her friends. Now, have some self-respect and disappear.’
He sets his jaw and seems ready to challenge me, but eventually he gives us each a long, hard stare then takes a few steps backwards before turning and loping away.
I shake my head after him as he retreats. ‘What a creep.’
Roisin looks at me almost with respect. ‘Thanks. I’m glad you both came back. I should have gone swimming with you earlier.’
‘No problem. And you can rectify that later. I’m sure we’ll go back in. Drink?’ I gesture to the cooler and she smiles– a rare sight in my company– and says, ‘Lemonade, please.’
The three of us sit down on the loungers and chat until the boys come back from their diving session.
As Dexter heads back up the beach towards me, I can’t help thinking that today we may have made progress with Roisin, chipped away at her barrier a little, and the realisation sends a warm glow through my heart.