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Nancy was lying across the bed, her shoulders heaving as she wept. “Oh Carla,” she cried, and struggled to sit up. “Eduardo wouldn’t even listen to me. He was barely polite.”
Nancy and Carla looked at each other, and both burst into tears.
Six
The sun had barely crested the ocean, its golden strands etching their way across the morning beach, when Carla woke. Her roommate remained asleep as Carla slipped from the bed, quickly donning washed-out jeans and a warm sweatshirt. It wouldn’t seem right to leave Mazatlán without one last walk along the water’s edge.
Rushing down the concrete steps that led to the countless acres of white sand, Carla scanned the deserted area. Her spirits sank. This last stroll would have been perfect if Philip were here to share it with her.
Rolling up her jeans to her knees, she teased the oncoming tide with her bare feet. The water was warm and bubbly as it hit the shore. She vividly recalled the few times she’d swam in the surf with Philip. When the salt water had stung her eyes and momentarily blinded her, Philip had lifted her into his strong arms and carried her to shore.
With a wistful sigh, Carla strolled away from the water’s edge, kicking up sand as she walked. Every memory of this vacation would be connected with Philip. She’d be a fool to think otherwise.
“Carla!”
Her heart swelled as she spun and waved her hand high above her head. Philip.
His shoulders were heaving by the time he ran the distance and joined her. “Morning.” He reached for her and looked as if he meant to kiss her, then dropped his hands, apparently changing his mind.
“Morning. I was praying you’d be here.”
“I thought I saw you by the pool.”
The salty breeze carried her laughter. “I was there waiting for you to magically reappear.”
“Poof. Here I am.”
“Like magic,” she whispered, and slipped her arm around his waist. They turned and continued strolling away from the hotel. The untouched morning beach meandered for miles in the distance.
“How’s Nancy?”
Carla shrugged. “Asleep. But for how long, I don’t know,” she said, as a reminder to them both that she couldn’t stay long. “I guess Eduardo wouldn’t let her explain that picking him up in the lounge never was a game. Not really.”
“His attitude is difficult to understand and seems usually indulgent toward their women.”
“Are you as indulgent toward your women?” Carla inquired with rounded, innocent eyes, determined to make this a happy conversation. She’d never be able to tell him all the things in her heart.
“I must be, or you would have shared my bed before now.”
Forcing her gaze toward the sea, Carla struggled to maintain control of her poise. “You sound mighty sure of yourself, Philip Garrison,” she returned. If he’d said that for shock value, he’d succeeded. The evening in his parents’ condo had caught her off guard. The atmosphere had been intimate, and the wine had flown too freely.
“I don’t think I’m being overconfident,” Philip replied. “You wanted me as much as I did you. But whether you’re willing to admit it is something else.”
Carla understood what he was saying and blushed.
“What were you thinking when I called you just now?” Philip asked, breaking the uneasy silence that had settled over them. “I can’t remember ever seeing you look more pensive.”
“About Mexico and what a wonderful time I’ve had,” she said, and smiled up at him. “That’s mostly your doing. In my mind I’ll never be able to separate the two.”
“Me and Mazatlán?”
She answered with a short nod.
Her response didn’t seem to please him. He glanced at his watch and applied a gentle pressure to the small of her back as he turned them around and headed for the hotel. “I’ll take you back before Nancy wakes.”
They didn’t speak as they walked toward the El Cid. Then Carla said somberly, “I was hoping you’d be here. My beach bag’s up ahead. Your gift’s inside.” The handcrafted marlin carved from rosewood had been expensive. Carla had seen Philip admire it the day they’d gone shopping at the arts-and-crafts center and had purchased the hand-rubbed wood sculpture for him while he had been talking to some tourists.
Now her eyes shone with a happy-sad expression as Philip unwrapped the gift. He peeled back the paper and glanced at her wordlessly. Delight mingled with surprise as his eyes looked almost silver in the light of the morning sun.
