Free House of the Blue Sea by Teresa van Bryce

water’s warmer than any Canadian lake in mid-August!” She was hip deep in the dark water, the waves splashing up around the bottoms of her shoulder blades.
    “You have been drinking, Ms. Liberated, and should not be swimming in the dark,” he called over the sound of the surf.
    “Oh don’t be such an old curmudgeon, come join—.”  A large wave swept over Sandra’s shoulders, drowning out her last word. She laughed and spluttered, “—me.”
    “Okay, you win. I’m coming out to get you before you drown.”
    As Ian began wading toward her, Sandra moved further out into the water. “Sandra. I mean it. You need to stop there.”
    “You sound like my father, and I rarely listened to him.”
    He stretched his hand toward her even though she was still twenty feet away. “I know you can swim but tequila has a way of hampering athleticism ... and dulling common sense.”
    “I heard that!” Sandra got the words out just before a wave crested her shoulders and swallowed her head. When it passed, she was underwater, imagining Ian scanning the surface for her, calling her name. She could feel the surge of the sea pushing her toward the beach and then pulling her into its depths. Four years ago she would lie in the water and let the current pull at her, tempted to let it take her out, lacking the will to drag her weighted body back to land. It seemed the years had changed that, she no longer wanted to drift away, the shore had won out. She swam underwater in Ian’s direction, knowing he’d be moving to where he last saw her. She guessed at the distance and launched herself to the surface right next to him, sending salty spray into his face. “Gotcha!”
    He stood there waist deep in the rolling water, glaring at her, water dripping from his nose and chin. “What the hell, Sandra? You scared the crap out of me!”
    “You are a curmudgeon. When did that happen? I’m sure you weren’t like this last year when I was here.”
    They stood in the dark water, the surf continuing to roll by at shoulder height. Ian’s back was to the beach, his face shadowed and grave. She flashed him her best “come play with me” grin. And then he started to chuckle, his chin dropping to his chest, shoulders bouncing. Sandra laughed with him, accepted his outstretched hands and turned a circle there in the sea. She wished she could wrap this moment up and tuck it away so its joy could be pulled out to light up her darkest thoughts. He held her hand firmly in his as they left the water and ambled back to the hotel, a trail of salt water drops behind them on the sand, the echoes of their laughter blending with the crashing of the waves.

CHAPTER NINE

    S andra sat in Sukhasana, her hands resting on folded knees, palms facing up into the faint orange of the morning sky. She closed her eyes and still saw the glowing horizon on the backs of her eyelids. She was the only one on the rooftop and couldn’t believe she alone was taking advantage of this perfect time of day. Even the gulls were silenced by the morning’s blissful tranquility.
    She stood and brought her feet together and reached up into the growing light, raising her eyes to the coloured canopy. Peace. I will maintain peace through this day. I will maintain peace through this day. Her arms panned wide as she swan-dived into a forward bend, fingers touching the bumpy green surface of her yoga mat. I am an island of calm. I am an island of calm. Her hands dropped onto the mat and she stepped back into Downward Dog. She smiled as she thought of Rufus mirroring her position, his tail wagging in an invitation to play. Despite the freedom it afforded, she missed his constant presence in her day. Maybe she’d talk to Paul about bringing him again next year. He loved the beach.
    She lowered her forearms to the floor and kicked her feet up into a headstand. Mark would be here in a few hours. Was there any chance of maintaining peace through this day? She thought of the ease and fun of