Page 152 of Sharkbait
Perhaps the way it was always meant to be.
I peer toward the shore and spot a pod of Hawaiian monk seals resting on the beach, and of course they remind me of Meilani. I miss her a lot, but her team in Monterey emails me updates on her at least once a month, which definitely helps. Sometimes we even set up video calls so Meilani and I can “chat.” And James, Iris and I just got our plane tickets to California to see her in person at the end of the summer.
So we’re still connected.
Like James said all those months ago,“When there’s a connection, there’s a connection. Sometimes these things are hard to explain.”
“Ready to see your students’ work?” James asks.
“Of course!” I say.
We pad over to the main deck area and find our whole crew dutifully filling their canvases with color. The painting workshop I’m running is called “The Flow.” We put people in some of the most beautiful, nature-filled spots in the world and encourage their creativity. It’s amazing to see what people create when yougive them the freedom to just… be.
My heart fills as I take in all of our people’s creations.
Mabel and Wally are painting portraits of Bonnie and Clyde to hang in their new home. Calliope and Ralph are designing cover concepts for their next series of dinosaur love story collaborations.
And Iris, Eva, and Ron? I have to put my hand over my heart and regulate my breathing when I see what they’ve made. An image of Iris is the biggest in the center, with all four of her “parent people”—as she calls us—surrounding her.
“I think my heart might explode,” I say.
“I think you’ll be okay.” James laughs softly and cuddles me from behind.
“Toast!” Wally shouts. “It’s time for the toast!”
He distributes champagne glasses and fills them with bubbles: Sparkling Nature’s Nectar for Iris and James, prosecco for the rest of us.
“To The Highs and Lows!” Wally leads.
“To The Highs and Lows!” we all respond.
And it’s then I realize that James is right. Whatever highs and lows come our way, with this incredible guy by my side, everything will always be okay.
The End.
