Nicholas Sparks - Message in a Bottle

He winced. “You really know how to make it tough on a guy, don’t you?”

“Does that mean you think I’m a tease?”

“No,” he said quietly. “It means I think you’re perfect.”

* * *

Instead of watching the second movie, Garrett and Theresa sat on the couch, sipping wine and talking. Theresa checked on Kevin a couple of times, making sure he was still asleep. He looked as if he hadn’t moved at all.

By midnight Theresa was yawning steadily, and Garrett suggested that she get some sleep.

“But I came down here to see you,” she protested drowsily.

“but if you don’t get your sleep, I’ll look blurry.”

“I’m fine, really,” she said before yawning again. Garrett rose and went to the closet. He pulled out a sheet, blanket, and pillow and brought them to the couch.

“I insist. Try to get some sleep. We have the next few days to see each other.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

She helped Garrett get the couch ready and went to the bedroom. “If you don’t want to sleep in your clothes, there are some sweats in the second drawer,” he said.

She kissed him again. “I had a wonderful day today,” she said.

“So did I.”

“I’m sorry for being so tired.”

“You’ve done a lot today. It’s completely understandable.”

With their arms entwined, she whispered in his ear, “Are you always this easy to get along with?”

“I try.”

“Well, you’re doing a heck of a job.”

* * *

A few hours later Garrett woke to the sensation of someone nudging him in the ribs. Opening his eyes, he saw Theresa sitting next to him. She was wearing the sweats he’d mentioned earlier.

“Are you okay?” he asked, sitting up.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, stroking his arm.

“What time is it?”

“A little after three.”

“Is Kevin still sleeping?”

“Like a rock.”

“can i ask why you got out of bed?”

“I had a dream and I couldn’t fall back to sleep.”

He rubbed his eyes. “What was the dream about?”

“You,” she said in hushed tones.

“Was it a good dream?” he asked.

“Oh, yes . . .” She trailed off. She leaned over to kiss his chest, and Garrett pulled her closer. He glanced toward the bedroom door. She had closed it behind her.

“Aren’t you worried about Kevin?” he asked.

“A little, but I’m going to trust you to be as quiet as possible.”

She reached under the blanket and ran her fingers across his belly. Her touch was electric.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Uh-huh,” she said.

They made love tenderly, quietly, and afterward they lay beside each other. For a long time, neither of them spoke. When the faintest hint of light began to brush the horizon, they kissed good night and she returned to the bedroom. Within a few minutes she was sleeping soundly, and Garrett watched her from the doorway.

For some reason, he found it impossible to fall asleep again.

* * *

The following morning, Theresa and Kevin did the workbook together while Garrett ran off to pick up some fresh bagels for breakfast. Again they headed off to the pool. This time the lessons were a little more advanced, covering a number of different skills. Theresa and Kevin practiced “buddy breathing” in the event that either one of them ran out of air when underwater and had to share one tank, and Garrett warned of the dangers of panicking while diving and rushing to the surface too quickly. “If you do that, you’ll get what’s called ‘the bends.’ It’s not only painful—it can be life-threatening.”

They also spent time in the deep end of the pool, swimming underwater for extended periods, getting used to the equipment and practicing how to clear their ears. Toward the end of their lesson, Garrett showed them how to jump off the side of the pool without having their masks come off. Predictably, both of them were tired after a few hours and ready to call it a day.

“Will we go into the ocean tomorrow?” Kevin asked as they were walking back to the truck.

“If you’d like to. I think you’re ready, but if you’d rather spend another day in the pool, we could do that instead.”

“No, I’m ready.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to rush you.”

“I’m sure,” he said quickly.

“How about you, Theresa? Are you ready for the ocean?”

“If Kevin’s ready, then I’m ready.”

“Am I still going to get certified by Tuesday?” Kevin asked.

“If the ocean dives go well, you both will.”

“Awesome.”

“What’s up for the rest of the day?” Theresa asked.

Garrett started loading the tanks in the back of the truck. “I thought we’d go sailing. It looks like it’s going to be great weather.”

“Can I learn how to do that, too?” Kevin asked eagerly.

“Sure. I’ll make you my first mate.”

“Do I need to be certified for that, too?”

“No—that’s up to the captain, and since I’m the captain, I can do it right now.”

“just like that?”

“Just like that.”

Kevin looked at Theresa with wide eyes, and she could almost read his thoughts. First I learn how to dive, then I become a first mate. Wait until I tell my friends .

* * *

Garrett was accurate in predicting ideal weather, and the three of them had a wonderful time on the water. Garrett taught Kevin the basics of sailing—from how and when to tack to anticipating the direction of the wind based on the clouds. As on their first date together, they had sandwiches and salads, but this time they were treated to a family of porpoises that frolicked around the boat as they ate.

It was late by the time they made it back to the docks, and after Garrett showed Kevin how to close up the boat to protect it from unexpected storms, Garrett brought them back to their motel. Since all three of them were exhausted, Theresa and Garrett said good-bye quickly, and both Theresa and Kevin were in bed by the time Garrett arrived back at his house.

The following day, Garrett took them out for their first ocean dive. After the initial nervousness wore off, they began to enjoy themselves and ended up going through two tanks each over the course of the afternoon. Thanks to the calm, coastal weather, the water was clear, with excellent visibility. Garrett took a few photos of them as they explored one of the shallow-water wrecks off the North Carolina coast. He promised to have them developed that week and to send them up as soon as he could.

They spent the evening at Garrett’s house again. After Kevin fell asleep, garrett and Theresa sat close to each other on the deck, caressed by the warm, humid air.

After talking about their earlier dive, Theresa was quiet for a little while. “I can’t believe we’ll be leaving tomorrow night,” she said finally, a trace of sadness in her voice. “These last couple of days have flown by.”

“That’s because we’ve been so busy.”

She smiled. “Now you have a sense of what my life is like in Boston.”

“Always racing around?”

She nodded. “Exactly. Kevin is the best thing that ever happened to me, but he sometimes wears me out. He always has to be doing something.”

“You wouldn’t change it, though, would you? I mean, you don’t want to raise a TV junkie or a kid who sits in his room listening to music all day, do you?”

“No.”

“Then count your blessings. He’s a great kid—I’ve really enjoyed spending time with him.”

“I’m so glad. I know he feels the same way.” She paused. “You know, even though we haven’t spent much time alone on this trip, it seems like I know you a lot better now than when I first came down here by myself.”