Finding Paradise by Jerry Cole

Author:Jerry Cole [Cole, Jerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-08-15T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

He swam with turtles nearly every day, getting up early, driving up the coast and choosing different spots, where he would stand outside the car, survey the landscape, the temperament of the sea, and the direction of the winds. Then he left the car on the road, with everything inside but his snorkeling mask, so he could swim for as long as he liked, without having to worry his belongings were on the sand, waiting to be taken.

Chris was in his element, and he would quite happily have stayed on the island of Oahu forever. He was sure he’d never tire of the beautiful beaches and the spoils of the sea, but by late August he had to remind himself of the reason for his visit.

One evening, as he sat on the comfortable, saggy sofa, sipping a glass of sangria and noting the new species he’d seen that day, Chris’ thoughts turned to Elliott. He didn’t want to bother the man, who had surely only made the offer of taking him to Makame to be polite, but it was Elliott who’d made a point of giving Chris his number. Also, Chris got the impression that Elliott wasn’t the type of person to make offers without meaning them.

So, his fingers quivering just a little, he pressed Elliott’s number and held the phone to his ear. It rang twice before there was a click, and a familiar voice.

“I was wondering how long it’d take you,” Elliott said, and Chris couldn’t help but grin like an idiot into the phone.

“Been waiting for my call, I take it?” Chris teased, feeling the urge to flirt, just a little, and it was Elliott’s turn to smile. Chris could hear the beam in his voice.

“Well, of course,” Elliott said. “Anyway, how’s life on Oahu for you?”

Chris gave him a quick recap of all the swimming he’d done, while admitting that much of it was for pleasure, and not work.

“I’m not having the easiest time finding things to eat that don’t involve pork,” he said, “but I’m getting by. How are you?”

“Good, good,” said Elliott. “I was planning to go back and see the folks if you hadn’t called me by the end of August.”

“Well, I don’t want to impose,” said Chris.

“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t think it was something I wanted to do,” said Elliott, and his firmness convinced Chris that he really meant what he said.

“If you’re still all right to go over to Makame for a few days, I’d be in your debt forever,” said Chris, and he meant his words, too. He knew the chance of him getting such an offer again was likely to be almost impossible, and he was relieved that Elliott still seemed as keen as he had before.

“Let me just get a couple of things right in my head,” Elliott asked. “Firstly, what exactly are you looking for on Makame?”

“The Calvert turtle,” said Chris. He spelled it for Elliott. “It’s about the size of a green sea turtle, but a little smaller.

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