Message in a Bottle

  When the day finally came for Theresa and Kevin to visit, Garrett bought some groceries, washed his truck inside and out, and showered before heading to the airport.

  Dressed in khaki pants, Top-Siders, and the shirt that Theresa had bought him, he waited nervously at the gate.

  In the last two weeks his feelings for Theresa had grown. He knew now that whatever happened between him and Theresa wasn't based simply on physical attraction--his longing hinted at something much deeper, more lasting. As he craned his neck for a glimpse of her among the passengers, he felt a pang of anxiety. It had been so long since he'd felt this way about anyone--and where was it all going?

  When Theresa stepped off the plane with Kevin beside her, all his nervousness suddenly faded away. She was beautiful--more so than he remembered. And Kevin--he looked exactly like his picture and a lot like his mother. He was a little over five feet, with Theresa's dark hair and eyes, and gangly--both his arms and his legs seemed to have grown a little faster than the rest of him. He was wearing long Bermuda shorts, Nike shoes, and a shirt from a concert by Hootie and the Blowfish. His choice of apparel was clearly inspired by MTV, and Garrett couldn't help but smile to himself. Boston, Wilmington... it really didn't matter, did it? Kids would be kids.

  When Theresa saw him she waved, and Garrett moved toward them, reaching for their carry-on bags. Not sure whether he should kiss her in front of Kevin, he hesitated until Theresa leaned over and gaily kissed him on the cheek.

  "Garrett, I'd like you to meet my son, Kevin," she said proudly.

  "Hi, Kevin."

  "Hi, Mr. Blake," he said stiffly, as if Garrett were his teacher.

  "Call me Garrett," he said, holding out his hand. Kevin shook it, a little unsure. Until this point, no adult other than Annette had said that he could use their first name.

  "How was your flight?" Garrett asked.

  "Good," Theresa responded.

  "Did you get anything to eat?"

  "Not yet."

  "Well, how about we grab a bite before I take you to your motel?"

  "Sounds good."

  "Do you want anything in particular?" Garrett asked Kevin.

  "I like McDonald's."

  "Oh, honey, no," Theresa said quickly, but Garrett stopped her with a shake of his head.

  "McDonald's is fine with me."

  "You sure?" Theresa asked.

  "Positive. I eat there all the time."

  Kevin looked delighted at his answer, and the three of them started walking toward the baggage claim area. As they left the gates, Garrett asked: "Are you a good swimmer, Kevin?"

  "Pretty good."

  "Are you up for some scuba lessons this weekend?"

  "I think so--I've been reading up on it," he said, trying to sound older than he was.

  "Well, good. I was hoping you'd say that. If we're lucky, we may even be able to get you certified before you head back."

  "What does that mean?"

  "It's a license that allows you to dive whenever you want--kind of like a driver's license."

  "You can do that in a few days?"

  "Sure. You're required to take a written test and spend a few hours in the water with an instructor. But since you'll be my only student this weekend--unless your mother wants to learn, too--we should have more than enough time."

  "Cool," Kevin said. He turned toward Theresa. "Are you gonna learn, too, Mom?"

  "I don't know. Maybe."

  "I think you should," Kevin said. "It would be fun."

  "He's right--you should learn, too," Garrett added with a smirk, knowing she would feel cornered by the two of them and probably give in.

  "Fine," she said, rolling her eyes, "I'll go, too. But if I see any sharks, I'm quitting."

  "You mean there might be sharks?" Kevin asked quickly.

  "Yeah, we'll probably see some sharks. But they're little and they don't bother people."

  "How little?" Theresa asked, remembering the story he'd told about the hammerhead he'd encountered.

  "Little enough that you won't have anything to worry about."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Positive."

  "Cool," Kevin repeated to himself, and Theresa glanced at Garrett, wondering if he was telling the truth.

  After picking up their bags and stopping for a bite to eat, Garrett drove Theresa and Kevin to the motel. Once their things were inside, Garrett went back to his truck, returning with a book and some papers under his arms.

  "Kevin--these are for you."

  "What are they?"

  "It's the book and the tests you need to read for your certification. Don't worry--it looks like there's more to read than there is. But if you want to head out tomorrow, you have to have the first two sections read and complete the first test."

  "Is it hard?"

  "No--it's pretty easy, but you still have to do it. And you can use the book to find the answers you're not sure about."

  "You mean I can look up the answers while I take the test?"

  Garrett nodded. "Yeah. When I give these to my classes, they're supposed to do them at home and I'm sure almost everyone uses the book. The important thing is that you try to learn what you need to know. Diving is a lot of fun, but it can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing."

  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. Lik
e 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't say that. You'll make me feel guilty."

  "Maybe a little guilt is a good thing. Lets me know you care."

  "I wouldn't be down here if I didn't." They kissed again, hungrily.

  Pulling back, he mumbled, "I should really be going." He didn't sound as if he meant it.

  "I know."

  "But I don't want to," he said with a boyish smile.

  "I know what you mean," she said. "But you have to. You've got to teach us how to dive tomorrow."

  "I'd rather teach you a couple of other things I know."

  "I think you did that the last time I was here," she said coyly.

  "I know. But practice makes perfect."

  "Then we'll have to find some time to practice while I'm here."

  "You think that might happen?"

  "I think," she said honestly, "that when it comes to us, anything is possible."

  "I hope you're right."

  "I'm right," she said before kissing him one last time. "I usually am." She gently pulled away from him and backed toward the door.

  "That's what I like about you, Theresa--your confidence. You always know what's going on."

  "Go home, Garrett," she said demurely. "And do me a favor?"

  "Anything."

  "Dream about me, okay?"

  Kevin woke early the next morning and opened the curtains, letting sunlight flood into the room. Theresa squinted and rolled over, trying to get a few more minutes' rest, but Kevin was persistent. "Mom--you've got to take the test before we go," he said excitedly.

  Theresa groaned. Turning over, she checked the clock. A little after six A.M. She'd been in bed less than five hours.

  "It's too early," she said, closing her eyes again. "Can you give me a few more minutes, honey?"

  "We don't have time," he said, sitting on her bed and nudging her shoulder gently. "You haven't even read the first section yet."

  "Did you finish it all last night?"

  "Yep," he said. "My test is over there, but don't copy, okay? I don't want to get into trouble."

  "I don't think you'd get in trouble," she said groggily. "We know the teacher, you know."

  "But it wouldn't be fair. And besides, you have to know this stuff, just like Mr. Blake... I mean Garrett... said, otherwise you could run into trouble."

  "Okay, okay," she said, sitting up slowly. She rubbed her eyes. "Do they have any instant coffee in the bathroom?"

  "I didn't see any, but if you want, I'll run down the hall and get you a Coke."

  "I have some change in my purse...."

  Kevin jumped up and began rummaging through her handbag. After finding a few quarters, he ran out the front door, his hair tousled from sleeping. She heard his feet thumping as he raced down the hall. After standing and stretching her arms above her head, she made her way to the small table. She picked up the book and started in on the first chapter just as he returned with two Cokes. "Here you go," he said, putting one on the table beside her. "I'm going to shower and get ready. Where'd you put my swimsuit?"

  Ah, the endless energy of childhood, she thought. "It's in the top drawer, next to your socks."

  "Okay," he said, pulling the drawer open, "got it." He went to the bathroom and Theresa listened as the shower was turned on. Opening her Coke, she returned to the book.

  Luckily Garrett had been right when he'd told her that the information wasn't difficult. It was easy reading with pictures describing the equipment, and she was finished by the time Kevin was dressed. After finding her test, she set it in front of her. Kevin walked over and stood behind her as she glanced at the first question. Remembering where she'd read about it, she began to flip back through the book to the appropriate page.

  "Mom, that's an easy one. You don't need the book for that."

  "At six in the morning, I need all the help I can get," she grumbled, not feeling the least bit guilty about it. Garrett had said she could use the book, hadn't he?

  Kevin continued to look over her shoulder as she answered the first couple of questions, commenting, "No, you're looking in the wrong place," or, "Are you sure you read the chapters?" until she finally told him to go watch television.

  "But there's nothing on," he said, sounding dejected.

  "Then read something."

  "I didn't bring anything."

  "Then sit quietly."

  "I am."

  "No, you're not. You're standing over my shoulder."

  "I'm just trying to help."

  "Just sit on the bed, okay? And don't say anything."

  "I'm not saying anything."

  "You're talking right now."

  "That's because you're talking to me."

  "Can't you let me take the test in peace?"

  "Okay. I won't say another word. I'll be as quiet as a mouse."

  And he was--for two minutes. Then he started whistling.

  She put her pen down and faced him. "Why are you whistling?"

  "I'm bored."

  "Then turn on the TV."

  "There's nothing on...."

  And so it went until she finally finished. It had taken almost an hour to do something she could have done in her office in half the time. She took a long, hot shower and dressed, putting on her swimsuit beneath her clothes. Kevin, now famished, wanted to go to McDonald's again, but she drew the line and suggested that they have breakfast at the Waffle House across the street.

  "But I don't like their food."

  "You haven't ever eaten there before."

  "I know."

  "Then how do you know you don't like it?"

  "I just know."

  "Are you omniscient?"

  "What does that mean?"

  "It means, young man, that we're going to eat where I want to eat for once."

  "Really?"

  "Yes," she said, looking forward to a cup of coffee more than she had in a long time.

  Garrett knocked at the front door of their motel room promptly at nine, and Kevin raced to the door to answer it.

  "Are you two ready?" he asked.

  "We sure are," Kevin answered quickly. "My test is over there. Let me get it for you."

  He skipped over to the table as Theresa rose from the bed and gave Garrett a quick kiss good morning.

  "How was your morning?" he asked.

  "It already seems like afternoon. Kevin got me up at the crack of dawn to take the test."

  Garrett smiled as Kevin returned with his test.

  "Here it is, Mr. Blake. Garrett, I mean."

  Garrett took it and began to look through his answers.

  "My mom had some trouble with a couple, but I helped her out," Kevin went on, and Theresa rolled her eyes. "Ready to go, Mom?"

  "Whenever you are," she said, pic
king up the room key and her purse.

  "Then c'mon," Kevin said, leading the way down the hall, toward Garrett's truck.

  Throughout the morning and early afternoon, Garrett taught them the basics of scuba diving. They learned how the equipment worked, how to put it on and test it, and finally how to breathe through the mouthpiece, first on the side of the pool, then underwater. "The most important thing to remember," Garrett explained, "is to breathe normally. Don't hold your breath, don't breathe too quickly or slowly. Just let it come naturally." Of course, nothing seemed natural about it to Theresa, and she ended up having more trouble with it than Kevin. Kevin, always the adventurer, thought that after a few minutes underwater he knew all there was to know.

  "This is easy," he said to Garrett. "I think I'll be ready for the ocean this afternoon."

  "I'm sure you would, but we still have to do the lessons in the proper order."

  "How's Mom doing?"

  "Good."

  "As good as me?"

  "You're both doing great," he said, and Kevin put the mouthpiece back in. He went back underwater just as Theresa came up and took out her mouthpiece.

  "It feels funny when I breathe," she said.

  "You're doing fine. Just relax and breathe normally."

  "That's what you said the last time I came up gagging."

  "The rules haven't changed in the last few minutes, Theresa."

  "I know that. I just wonder if something isn't wrong with my tank."

  "The tank is fine. I double-checked it this morning."

  "But you're not the one using it, are you?"

  "Would you like me to test it out?"

  "No," she muttered, squinting in frustration, "I'll manage." Underwater she went again.

  Kevin popped up and took his mouthpiece out again. "Is Mom okay? I saw her come up."

  "She's fine. Just getting used to it, like you are."

  "Good. I'd feel really bad if I got my certification and she didn't."

  "Don't you worry about that. Just keep practicing."

  "Okay."

  And so it went.

  After a few hours in the water, both Kevin and Theresa were tired. They had lunch, and once again Garrett told his diving stories, this time for Kevin's benefit. Kevin asked what seemed like a hundred wide-eyed questions. Garrett answered each one patiently, and Theresa was relieved at how well they seemed to get along.

  After stopping at the motel to pick up the book and the lesson for the following day, Garrett brought them both to his house. Though Kevin had planned on starting the next few chapters right away, the fact that Garrett lived on the beach changed everything. Standing in the living room and looking toward the ocean, he asked: "Can I go down to the water, Mom?"