Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks [82]
“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