A tray bearing a pot of coffee, cream, sugar, and a small vase of flowers showed up by her side. Susan thanked the young man who brought it and was busy stirring cream and sugar (it was her vacation, after all!) into the steaming brew when she noticed an attractive blond woman strolling down the long pier toward the charming gazebo that stood on stilts a good ten feet above the water. A long peach kimono fluttered behind her in the morning breeze. Susan had seen that robe just a few weeks ago in Bergdorf Goodman. In fact, Kathleen had considered buying it-before checking out its price. Now Susan realized that her friend must have been unable to resist, after all. She sipped her coffee and smiled. If Kathleen had worn the nightgown that went with that kimono last night, there was little reason to worry about the state of the Gordons’ marriage.
“What are you smiling about?” Kathleen Gordon slid into the chair across from Susan.
“I-” Susan looked out on the pier. “I thought I was watching you. Out there. I thought that woman walking on the pier was you.”
“I’m flattered,” Kathleen said. “She’s gorgeous. Jerry could hardly take his eyes off her yesterday. Of course, she was wearing the tiniest swimsuit I’ve ever seen then, not a robe,” she continued while Susan’s mouth dropped open.
“I… you know how men are,” was Susan’s inadequate comment. Both women had been married for many years. They did know how men were, but that didn’t necessarily mean they excused them.
Kathleen didn’t respond.
“Would you like some coffee?” Susan asked. “The waiter is around somewhere.”
“Someone will be over in a minute. The staff here is very attentive.”
“Have you and Jerry been having fun? What have you been doing? How was dinner in town last night?”
“Awful. I think we picked out the worst restaurant on the island. It was dirty, noisy, and the food was dreadful.”
“Why did you go there? Did someone recommend it?”
“No, we were just walking by. The menu was posted. It looked okay. You know how it is.”
“Sure, but… I don’t understand why you went into town. The food here is supposed to be wonderful. Don’t tell me it isn’t.”
“Oh, no! We arrived in time for lunch. The food here is fabulous! I had a piece of grilled fish-I think it was grouper-and it was delicious. Really light and the spices were so unusual. And Jerry had a shrimp salad that was sensational.”
“Then why did you go into town?”
“Damned if I know.” Kathleen frowned. “It was Jerry’s idea.”
Susan, who was happy to sympathize if a female friend wanted to criticize her own husband, but knew enough not to be the one to start it, changed the subject. “Was your flight on time?”
“Yes. Thank heavens. Alex was up almost the entire night before we left. He claimed to have had a series of nightmares, but I think he was worried about us being gone. I got on the plane and fell asleep almost immediately. I didn’t wake up until the pilot announced that we were about to land. So I arrived feeling wonderful. I only wish the same were true of Jerry. He says he didn’t even nap, and he’s completely exhausted from that mess at the agency. I’m really worried about him. I can’t remember the last time I saw him relax.”
“You mean that new account Jed and Jerry took over in December?”
“That and everything else,” Kathleen answered vaguely. “Oh, there’s that nice young man who keeps track of the kayaks. I watched a young couple paddling around in the water yesterday afternoon and it looked like they were having so much fun. I want to reserve two for Jerry and me. Do you and Jed want to try, too?”
“I… I think I’d rather watch first. To tell the truth, my plans for today include a short swim in the pool and lots of time spent with a paperback in one hand and a cool drink in the other. Maybe tomorrow I’ll feel more energetic.”
“Then I’ll just ask him to reserve two. Oh, there’s Jed! I’ll tell him we’re over here.”
“Great.”
Susan picked up her coffee and resumed her contemplation of the ocean.
“Hi, hon.” Jed leaned down for his morning kiss. “Sleep well?”
“Sure did.”
“I’m surprised you’re up so early.”
“I’m planning a leisurely day of dozing in the sun. Thought I’d get an early start.”
“Just be careful that you don’t get a burn,” Jed warned.
“I won’t. I packed three different sunscreens. Besides, there are umbrellas set up all over the place.” She looked around. “It’s really nice here, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is bright.” Jed looked over his shoulder. “Where have Kathleen and Jerry gone?”
“Kath is trying to reserve kayaks for them to use today, and I haven’t seen Jerry yet. Maybe he’s sleeping late. Kath says he’s been exhausted.” She thought for a moment before asking a question. “Have things been going on at the agency that you haven’t told me about?”
“Probably. I don’t tell you everything, after all. But I gather you’re referring to something specific?”
“I don’t know. Kathleen mentioned problems, and you hadn’t told me anything unusual. Oh, here they come. Let’s order. I’m starving.” If she had been a bit less hungry, she might have noticed the change of expression on her husband’s face when she mentioned problems, but Jed had reassumed his relaxed facade by the time Jerry and Kathleen arrived at the table. They were followed closely by a perky waitress who offered menus and coffee.
They spent the next few minutes deciding on their orders. Jed and Jerry stuck to eggs and bacon, but both Kathleen and Susan threw caution-and their diets-into the Caribbean winds and decided on coconut French toast and fresh tropical fruit cup.
The food arrived promptly and it was wonderful. More and more hotel guests began to appear, many of them barefoot, dressed only in swimsuits and flowing cover-ups. Susan noticed that the casual atmosphere hadn’t forced some of the diners to leave their jewels at home. One deeply tanned woman wore gold chains around her neck, both arms, and one ankle. A thin gold chain draped around her hips just below her navel completed the ensemble. The man she was with had adopted a yachting theme-boat shoes, navy slacks, a navy and white striped knit shirt-and a hat proclaiming him to be the captain shielded his eyes from the already warm sunshine. Susan leaned toward Kathleen. “Look at the woman over there. She’s…”
But Kathleen wasn’t listening. She was staring at her husband with her mouth hanging open and a distressed expression on her face. “But I thought you wanted to kayak. Yesterday when we were watching that young couple, you said it looked like lots of fun.”
“No, you said it looked like lots of fun. I just didn’t disagree with you. Kath, I am not going to go out on the ocean in a little slip of plastic that could flip over at any minute. Period.”
“But-but I don’t want to go out alone.”
Susan realized the Gordons’ vacation wasn’t starting off on the right foot, and she hurried in to help. “I’ll kayak with you, Kath. I was just telling Jed that it sounded like fun.”
Jed looked up from his plate. “But I thought-”
“I was planning to lie around all day,” Susan admitted. “But now that I’ve consumed about a million calories, I think some exercise is an excellent idea. Maybe we could get another kayak if you want to join us. Right, Kath?”
“Sure. There are five or six available. Do you want me to check with James?”
“Who’s James?”
“He’s the young man who keeps track of the sports equipment and the towels and stuff like that. There’s a little cabana/kiosk building right in front of our cottage; he might be there.” Kathleen sat up a bit straighter and looked around. “There he is. He’s arranging the seats by the pool. I wonder if we could reserve the four chaises in front of your cottage. Maybe put books on them or something?”