Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks [78]
Garrett handed Kevin the book as he went on.
“If you can finish by tomorrow—it’s about twenty pages to read, plus the test—we’ll head to the pool for the first part of your certification. You’ll learn how to put on your equipment and then we’ll practice for a while.”
“We’re not going in the ocean?”
“Not tomorrow—you have to spend some time getting comfortable with the equipment first. After we spend a few hours doing that, then we’ll be ready. We’ll probably hit the ocean on Monday and Tuesday for your first open-water dives. And if you get enough hours in the water, you’ll have a temporary certification by the time you step on the plane to go home. Then, all you have to do is mail an application, and you’ll get the actual certification in the mail in a couple of weeks.”
Kevin began to flip through the pages. “Does Mom have to do it, too?”
“If she wants to be certified, she does.”
Theresa walked over, peeking over Kevin’s shoulder as he glanced through the book. The information didn’t look too daunting.
“Kevin,” she said, “we can do it together tomorrow morning, if you’re too tired to start now.”
“I’m not too tired,” he said quickly.
“Then would you mind if Garrett and I talked on the patio for a while?”
“No, go ahead,” he said absently, already turning to the first page.
Once outside, Garrett and Theresa sat across from each other. Glancing back at her son, Theresa saw that Kevin was already reading.
“You’re not cutting any corners to get him certified, are you?”
Garrett shook his head. “No, not at all. To get a PADI certificate—the certificate for recreational divers—you need to pass the tests and spend a certain amount of time in the water with an instructor—that’s all. Usually we pace it out over three or four weekends, but that’s because most people don’t have time to do it during the week. He’ll get the same number of hours—it’s just more condensed.”
“I appreciate your doing this for him.”
“Hey—you forget this is what I do for a living.” After making sure that Kevin was still reading, he scooted his chair a little closer. “I missed you these last couple of weeks,” he said quietly, taking her hand in his.
“I missed you, too.”
“You look wonderful,” he added. “You were easily the prettiest woman who got off the plane.”
Despite herself, Theresa blushed.
“Thanks…. You look good yourself—especially wearing that shirt.”
“I thought you might like it.”
“Are you disappointed that we’re not staying at your place?”
“Not really. I understand your reasons—Kevin doesn’t know me from Adam, and I’d rather let him get comfortable with me on his own terms than push it on him. Like you said, he’s been through enough already.”
“You know that it means we won’t be able to spend much time alone this weekend, don’t you?”
“I’ll take you any way I can get you,” he said.
Theresa glanced inside again, and when she saw that Kevin was immersed in the book, she leaned over and kissed Garrett. Despite the fact that she wouldn’t be with him all night, she found herself surprisingly happy. Sitting beside him and seeing the way he looked at her made her heartbeat surge.
“I wish we didn’t live so far apart,” she said. “You’re kind of addicting.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Three hours later, long after Kevin was asleep, Theresa quietly led Garrett to the door. After stepping out into the hall and closing the door behind them, they kissed for a long time, both of them finding it hard to let each other go. In his arms Theresa felt like a teenager again, as if she were sneaking a kiss on her parents’ porch, and it somehow added to the excitement she was feeling.
“I wish you could stay here tonight,” she whispered.
“I do, too.”
“Is it as difficult for you to say good night as it is for me?”
“I’d be willing to bet it’s a lot more difficult for me. I’m going home to an empty house.”
“Don