Page 222 of Banter & Blushes

“What did she say?” Mitch pretended not to hear.

“She wants us to hold hands while we walk,” Elva repeated to him, not sure if he really didn’t hear or just wanted it confirmed.

He looked from Elva to Melanie and then to Dozer, “that’s showbiz, I guess. I’m game if you are?” He lobbed the ball back into her court.

She offered her right hand out, “I don’t see what it would hurt.”

They continued strolling at a slower pace now. First looking out to the water and then to one another. Their eyes met, and they heard Mel cheering them on, “Oh wow. You guys, this is perfect. Just a few more.”

“I wonder if she even has film in that camera?” Elva smiled through her question, knowing that this was yet another ploy to push her toward this man. She wasn’t the town matchmaker for all these years without knowing all the tricks of the game. Well played, though, she thought to herself. This was well played.

“Does it matter?” A mischievous smile pulled across his face. “You have very beautiful eyes. I love how they sparkle.”

Not sure what to say back, she smiled knowing Melanie was still snapping away. “You have very pretty eyes, too. A green hazel?” She offered.

“I don’t believe anyone has ever commented on my eyes before,” he couldn’t help but laugh off the compliment.

“I’m sorry they haven’t. They are worth commenting on.”

Melanie knew she got the shots she needed but didn’t want to break up the moment on the sand. Feeling very proud of herself, she took out her phone and found Jill’s number. “We are a go,” she typed out in a text before quietly walking back to the road.

“Is she still taking photos?” Mitch asked, not taking his eyes off of Elva.

“I’m not sure. Does it matter?” She asked back, keeping her gaze on him.

“It really …“ his train of thought was interrupted by Dozer barking ahead of them. He grabbed something from the water and ran as fast as he could back to the happy couple coming to a stop. He shook bay water off of his fur and all over Elva’s dress.

“Oh!” She involuntarily reacted to the cold water hitting her skin, “thanks buddy.” She smiled.

“I’m so sorry.” Mitch looked at his soaking wet dog sitting in front of him. “You need to apologize. You had the entire beach to shake, and you had to do it right here?”

“It’s okay,” she laughed. “A little bay water won’t hurt anyone.”

Dozer gave a whimper in agreement before holding up the item he found higher for Mitch to take.

“What do you have here?”

Mitch pulled a murky glass bottle from the dog’s mouth and Dozer waited for recognition of his good deed. “That’s a good boy,” he responded.

Her hand found her hip as she shifted her weight to one side. “Huh, is that a bottle? It looks old. I wonder if it washed up during our big storm last summer?”

“Maybe so.” He held it up to the evening light. “It’s definitely vintage.” The bottom of the murky, aqua tinted bottle was thick glass. Using the edge of his t-shirt, he wiped the sides of the bottle clean revealing two raised letters on the outside. Squinting to read them he held it out further and then closer again.

“Want me to try?” She reached for her readers normally on the top of her head, only to realize she didn’t have them.

Laughing that he couldn’t make it out, he held the bottle steady in front of her. At her hesitation he pulled it back and then closer, “better?” He teased. “If only we zoom in on it like a photo on our phone.” He laughed again. “Actually-“ pulling out his cellphone he snapped a photo of the bottle, then one of Dozer out of habit. “Want to take a selfie?” He smiled at his companion, realizing he’d never asked anyone that question before. “I mean,” he stumbled, “all the kids do it, don’t they?”

“Well, this is a photo shoot, isn’t it?” She giggled into a large smile as he angled the phone above them and hit the large circle with his thumb.

Setting the bottle down in the sand he opened the photo he took and zoomed in.

“Oh,” Elva thought she could make it out. “I think it says W…. T? It’s very faint from years of weather.” We may need to get a better look at it. Amazing isn’t it?” She picked it up to examine. Trying to see through the glass, she asked, “Is there something inside of it?”

“Maybe a treasure map!” He sounded more like a boy looking for an adventure than a mature man he was.

“Maybe,” Elva laughed, “we’ll only know if we open it.”

Shoving his phone back in his pocket he patiently pulled the stopper from the bottle. Dozer sat patiently, waiting to see what he found. Sand poured out from inside along with a tightly rolled piece of paper.

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