Swimming Lessons (24 page)

T
he loggerhead Caretta was undeniably the star of the Aquarium’s Great Ocean Tank. When the turtle had arrived in Charleston six years earlier as a juvenile, there had been a city-wide contest for school children to name the new sea turtle. The big question on everyone’s mind was,
Is the sea turtle a boy or a girl?

The Aquarium just didn’t know, since it is impossible to determine the sex of a sea turtle by physical signs prior to maturity. Once it reached adulthood, the male could be identified by its longer tail. Without expensive DNA tests or ultrasound, it was the public’s guess if this new resident turtle was a male or a female. So when the turtle’s tail grew longer, and its testosterone level tested high, everyone assumed that the sea turtle was a male. The name Caretta was chosen, from the Latin for loggerhead
Caretta caretta
. Toy had always thought it a feminine sounding name, rather like having a boy named Sue.

Boy or girl, Caretta was beloved by everyone at the Aquarium and the state of South Carolina because he really was a character. He hammed it up for photographers, huddled close to the glass so young children could
gather around him, nipped the divers—which the audience thought was funny—and was a vision of grace when he swam past the viewing window.

The star turtle’s yearly physical was on Toy’s schedule for the day. When she arrived for work, Elizabeth was already in high gear. She was vigorously sweeping the floor that she’d scrubbed just the day before.

“You’re here, thank goodness,” Elizabeth said, her blue eyes wide with anticipation of the day ahead.

“Sorry. The Ben Sawyer Bridge was up again. I swear that line of cars keeps getting longer and longer.” She set down her briefcase and camera on the steel examining table. The turtle hospital still didn’t have desks or files in the basement but they made do with whatever surfaces they could scrounge. She turned and gave Elizabeth a quick once-over. “Say, don’t you look nice.”

Elizabeth blushed slightly. She’d obviously taken extra care with her appearance. Her thick white hair was styled and she’d put on makeup for the newspaper photographer due to arrive shortly. “I just got word that Kevin wants to inspect the turtle hospital today after Caretta’s exam.”

Toy’s face fell. “Great, just great.”

She grabbed a clipboard, thinking it wasn’t Kevin’s inspection or the newspaper reporter that had her flustered. Rather, it was the prospect of working closely with Ethan today. Ethan had not come down to the basement since she’d told him she needed time alone.

While she walked through the cavernous basement, she made a list of things that still had to get done. There was so much potential in all this space, she thought. In her mind’s eye she envisioned what she could do with all that grant money. This was the only sea turtle hospital in
the state and so much depended on whether or not they got the grant.

“Everything looks great, Elizabeth. Just remember not to feed them until after the inspection, or they’ll foul the water just when Kevin walks though.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Especially Litchfield. He’d do it just for spite.”

“Well,” she said, her hands on hips. “It looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. Every tank has a turtle in it. If another sick turtle comes in before the grant, I just don’t know where we’re going to put it.”

“The grant will come through, don’t worry.” She glanced at her watch. “Right now, you’d better get up to the Great Ocean tank. I’ll man the fort.”

“Thanks, Elizabeth. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Just be sure to include me in a picture this time. I’m always cut out.”

Toy looked at her lovely, open face. Her generous spirit shone through her eyes.

“I will. I promise.”

Toy took a last look around then grabbed her camera and made her way to the third floor. Her palms were damp and she tried to appear calm, but knowing she would be seeing Ethan did nothing to quell her nerves.

The dive team was already suited up and gathered on the metal platform at the tank’s edge. She recognized Ethan easily by his height but his attention was on the equipment and he didn’t acknowledge her approach. Favel and Irwin, also in wet suits, returned her wave. Toy walked around the top of the tank and exchanged greetings with Kevin and Jason.

The commotion at the dive platform brought Caretta
swimming by, curious and looking for a hand-out. At Ethan’s signal, the team of divers jumped into the tank, surrounding the unsuspecting turtle. It didn’t take Ethan and the team long to corral the indignant turtle onto the platform where a team of six stood ready to heave the unwilling and decidedly uncooperative, three hundred pound turtle out of the tank. It was quite a job. Caretta waved his powerful flippers, splashed wildly, and if given the chance, would have nipped any arm or leg within his bite radius. She saw the creamy underbelly of the turtle as they hoisted him off the platform. Ethan pulled himself out from the water and grabbed hold of the shell.

“Move off,” he said gruffly to her, his focus intense. “He’s too heavy.”

“I can handle it,” she ground out.

“I’ve got him,” he barked, and this time it was an order.

Toy released the shell and backed away, fuming that he’d claimed rank. Although she knew that he was taking no chances with his famous turtle, it stung nonetheless to be ordered away by virtue of her sex. She watched the men struggle to get the big turtle over the tank wall and gingerly placed into the plastic crate. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief when that part of the job was done.

Downstairs in her turtle hospital, the examination went smoothly. Dr. Tom examined the turtle, took samples, gave him an ultrasound and weighed him. At the end of the exam, Dr. Tom proclaimed the turtle healthy but overweight.

“Your butterball has to go on a diet,” he told Ethan.

Toy couldn’t hold back the giggle that escaped from her lips. Ethan flushed slightly and said he’d look into it immediately.

The chubby Caretta behaved himself while Toy and Elizabeth scrubbed his carapace. The guys waited, standing around and talking about the possible diet changes, various Aquarium business, and “those great-looking cutlass fish.” Twenty minutes later her fingers were pruned and her shoulders ached, but Caretta’s shell was gleaming. The physical was over.

When they lifted the sea turtle back into his crate, he offered little argument. The turtle seemed to know he was headed back home for lunch. Favel and Irwin, still in their wet suits, came back to transport the turtle back to the big tank. They whispered something to Elizabeth that sent her squelching an outburst with her palms. Then en masse they turned to look at Toy, their eyes bright with excitement.

What?
she mouthed to them, but they just smiled and called out their goodbyes.

“How about that tour?” Kevin asked.

“Yes, sir,” she replied. “I’ll be right with you.”

Toy washed the betadine and soap from her hands in the big sink, then tucked a fallen lock behind her ear, hoping she didn’t look too disheveled after her waltz with Caretta. She was intensely aware that Ethan had not left yet, nor had Jason or Tom. They followed as she led Kevin past each of the six holding tanks and told each turtle’s history. Over each tank, Elizabeth had put Toy’s
Before and After
photographs of the turtle. Each picture spoke a thousand words about the miracle of the turtle’s rehabilitation and was a testament to the great work being done at the hospital.

She was proud of their efforts and some of their innovative solutions. There was the epoxy seal on Cherry’s broken shell and Hamlin’s repaired flipper. Big Girl’s
weight belt drew a chuckle from Kevin. But it was Litchfield who delivered his usual coup de grace as the director walked past. Elizabeth groaned and dashed for the net to clean the tank.

“If we get the grant, we’ll be able to filter the water in each tank,” Toy said as they watched Elizabeth skim Litchfield’s tank. “The good news is we’re ready for our first release back to the ocean.” She pointed to the tank beside them. “Kiawah is ready to go. We’re just waiting on the final blood work results.”

Kevin stopped and put his hands behind his back. Ethan, Jason and Tom gathered closer. Even Elizabeth drew her net from the tank and waited, listening. Toy sensed something was up.

“You’ve done a great job here and all on a shoestring budget,” Kevin said. “We’re all very proud of what you and your colleagues have achieved. Now, about those filters…” Kevin’s face eased into a smile. “It’s my distinct pleasure to inform you that the grant has been approved. Congratulations.”

Suddenly she was surrounded by laughing and applauding and people offering congratulations. Toy’s mouth hung open with shock as she tried to take the news in. Her eyes sought out one person amidst the whirlwind. Ethan stood outside the circle but his eyes were on her. When their gazes locked it felt as though everyone else in the room had disappeared. In that moment all their earlier aloofness shattered and they shared the private knowledge that this award was a result of both of their efforts and dreams.

The moment was gone as quickly as it came and she knew a profound sense of loss.

Jason called out for everyone’s attention.

“Before we break up,” Jason said in the tone of an announcement,” “I thought you’d all want to know what we discovered today in Caretta’s ultrasound.”

Everyone stilled, riveted by what they were about to learn.

Jason spread out his palms. “Caretta is a girl!”

Another round of laughter rang out, peppered with several bursts of, “I told you so!” and “I knew it!” Toy had to admit, the turtle’s longer tail had her fooled. Ethan and Jason bid goodbye to hurry off and escort the lovely Caretta back into the GOT.

“There’s something else we need to discuss after the party,” Kevin said in a confidential tone to Toy as he walked with her to a party in the conference room to celebrate the grant’s success.

Flo and Emmi had the lights blazing at their house when Toy arrived. Balloons and banners shouting out CONGRATULATIONS in neon colors filled the front room, and Emmi met her at the door with a glass of champagne.

Toy stepped in and looked around the front room in a daze, her eyes filling with gratitude. The whole team was here for
her
and their love was more palpable than the wild colors, the thumping music or the wide grins on their faces. Toy was keenly aware of how much each person in this room had given her and how, because of them, she had traveled far from the day she’d first walked into their lives, a suspicious, broke, pregnant teen.

There was a crush of hugs and heartfelt congratulations and plenty of jokes and stories about poor Caretta, who would be the topic of the town for weeks to come.

“The house looks great,” she told Emmi.

Emmi looked around the front room and smiled. “Flo
and I had a blast fixing it up. We painted all the rooms a soft palette and polished the floors. Then we just picked our favorite things, a few of my pieces from Atlanta and a few of Miranda’s antiques. The rest we put in storage. It looks fresher, doesn’t it? Younger?”

“It really does. The plantation shutters are a nice touch. The h se feels happy.”

Emmi’s gaze flicked across the room shining with contentment. “We are. We get along fabulously. She loves to cook and I like to dust.”

Toy chuckled. “Who’d have thought two firebrands like you could live together?”

Emmi stepped closer and said in a lowered voice, “Listen, I know you’ve been talking to Cara about moving. No, no,” she said when Toy’s eyes widened. “We’re not sticking our noses in your business. We just wanted you to know that if you’re looking for somewhere to move, well,” she shrugged, “we’d love to have you and Lovie move in here.”

Toy’s breath fled from her, the kindness almost overwhelming her. “Oh, Emmi, that’s so nice of you, but I don’t know…”

“Just so you know you have an option. Not that Cara’s kicking you out, God knows.”

“If I did, wouldn’t this be like the turtle team dorm house?”

Emmi tossed her head back and laughed. “I love that! Sure, why not. We can even get a sign made up.” She laughed again then seeing Toy’s uncertain expression, said, “I’m joking!”

“Thanks for the invitation, Emmi.” She puffed out a soft plume of air. “I guess the summer is over and I have to start thinking about all that.”

“Not tonight,” Emmi said, pouring more champagne into her glass. “Tonight is to celebrate. I’m proud of you, sweetie. We all are. No one deserves this break more than you. All you have to think about is how you’re going to spend all that grant money!”

Flo came up carrying a tray of cold shrimp. “Help yourself, star.” While Toy took a shrimp, Flo asked, “Where’s Ethan? Didn’t he want to come? I seem to recall that he had a lot to do with this grant.”

Toy twiddled the shrimp on the toothpick. “I didn’t invite him. We…well, we aren’t seeing each other and…”

“Shoot, he still could’ve stopped by for some champagne. He deserves it.”

Emmi looked through the white window shutters at Toy’s beach house across the drive. “Did you invite Darryl?”

She said Darryl’s name like it was an obscenity. Toy shook her head. “I haven’t even told him yet.” She skipped a beat then asked, “But would he have been welcomed if I had?”

Emmi’s lips tightened and she looked at Flo.

“It’s your house now,” Flo told her.

“I wouldn’t have kicked him out…” Emmi said, hedging.

Toy nodded her head feeling no anger, just a weary sadness that Darryl was still unwelcome by those she loved.

“Honey,” Emmi said, trying to return to an upbeat mood, “you don’t want to put Darryl in the same room with Brett anyway, especially after a few beers. I just put up my best porcelain!”

“Speaking of Brett, he’s hovering pretty close to
Cara,” Flo said, pointing to the pair across the room. All three women turned heads to see Cara sitting in an armchair with Brett standing by her side like a guard holding a plate of shrimp. “And that’s not all,” Flo said bringing her head in closer. “She’s drinking club soda.”