Page 55 of Somewhere Only We Know

Chapter 18

Maggie, Bali, 2000

It was two in the morning, Jackson and I were on duty in the turtle hatchery; Utt was outside patching up a hole in the side with wood. A dog had found its way inside the hut earlier and only Jackson’s swift intervention had saved the eggs from getting eaten.

Sixteen baby turtles had hatched in the last half an hour; they were scuttling around the enclosure adorably, so tiny and perfect that it was hard not to keep picking them up for a closer look. Much to Utt’s bemusement we’d given them all names. There was one more egg showing signs of hatching and once it did, we’d be releasing them together.

‘Here he comes,’ said Jackson, peering down at the egg as a fin appeared through a crack in the shell.

‘I think it’s a she,’ I said, leaning close to him. ‘What shall we call her?’

‘Okay, how about Tina?’

‘Tina Turtle.’ I snorted. ‘Perfect.’

‘She’s simply the best,’ sang Jackson in a falsetto voice, ‘the last one out of the nest.’

‘No singing,’ Utt shouted.

‘Why?’ I called, ‘is it bad for the turtles?’

‘No. It is bad for me,’ he shot back, hooting with laughter.

‘I used to sing in church when I was a kid,’ Jackson replied, pretending to be insulted. ‘All the church ladies loved my voice.’

‘I love your voice too.’ My heart gave a little squeeze, imagining how cute he must have looked dressed in his smart clothes, his curls neatly brushed, his little voice wavering on the high notes. I scarcely recognised myself these days. When had I become such a soppy romantic?

Jackson’s lips brushed mine and his hands went to my waist. I could feel the heat from his skin and a pulse in my throat began to throb. I couldn’t get enough of him. In the rare moments we weren’t together, he was all I thought about. I was infatuated with him, and he with me. Our days were full of fun and sunshine and laughing and kissing. It couldn’t be love; we hadn’t known each other very long. But whatever it was, I was having the best time ever.

‘We can’t, not here,’ I breathed, melting into him as he pulled me closer. ‘Utt can hear us.’

There was a thud from outside as if Utt had dropped something, followed by a muttered curse, and we stepped back from each other reluctantly.

‘Let’s go release these babies,’ Jackson said softly.

I picked up Tina gently and put her in the bucket along with the rest, then we made our way out to the beach. Utt left his tools and came with us. He’d never admit it, but I reckoned he liked Jackson and me.

The air was still, the waves barely making a sound, and a full moon hung in the sky above the ocean tingeing the night with an eerie silvery light.

‘Perfect turtle-releasing conditions,’ said Jackson. ‘We won’t even need a torch.’

‘Not too close to the water,’ Utt instructed us. ‘Here is good.’

‘Why?’ I set the bucket down on the sand. ‘If we go nearer, the babies haven’t got so far to go.’

‘The journey to the water is important for them,’ he explained, squatting down beside the bucket. ‘This is when they learn about where they are from. They will always find their way back here to nest and lay their eggs.’

‘Lucky them,’ I said, thinking there were a lot worse places to return to.

‘Imprinting.’ Jackson nodded. ‘A few seconds in this place and it’s enough for them to make memories for life. Amazing.’

‘I think I’ve probably done that too,’ I said, catching his eye.

He grinned at me. ‘Same here.’

Utt transferred the hatchlings from the bucket onto the sand, taking care to orient them the right way so they were facing the shoreline. Jackson and I kept watch to make sure there were no dogs about to leap onto our brave little creatures.

‘I feel like a proud father every time,’ said Utt, brushing the sand off his hands. ‘We take care of the eggs, keep them safe, and then the time comes to set them free. But we will always remember this day when we let them go.’