Free 02 The Moon And The Tide - Marina's Tales by Derrolyn Anderson Page A

first it was fun… listening to the water, trying new
things on some really big waves. Then I nearly hit the rocks and I
realized I was being reckless. I thought about the time you got
hurt and about what you’d think. So, I told Shayla we had to go and
asked her to not say anything. I had no idea Kimo would come
looking for me... I didn’t say anything because I thought you’d be
mad... I didn’t want to get you all upset again.”
    He looked down, “Whoa.” He turned and tipped
my chin up to look into my eyes, “I don’t want you to be afraid to
be honest with me... I want you to trust me.”
    “I trust you.”
    “Promise me you’ll always tell me the truth,”
he said with intensity.
    “I promise,” I said.
    He smiled, his blue eyes amused, “I’d come
looking for you too.” He kissed me again.
    “Will you still take me surfing tomorrow?” I
asked anxiously.
    “I’ll be there in the morning.”
     
    I woke up on Saturday with a start. I put a
swimsuit on under my clothes and hurried towards the kitchen,
looking out the front window. I got a little jolt of adrenalin when
I saw Ethan’s blue truck and was thrilled to walk into the kitchen
to find him there with Abby, waiting for me.
    “Good morning sleepyhead!” she said warmly.
Ethan and I locked eyes and smiled at one another. I gave both of
them a kiss on the cheek and poured myself a cup of coffee.
    “What do you two have planned for today?”
asked Abby as she flipped through the newspaper.
    “Surfing!” I said with enthusiasm.
    “Isn’t it kinda cold?” Abby said, looking out
at the blustery day.
    “It’s not supposed to rain until tonight,” I
said, “And wet suits are really warm.”
    “Dutch is coming over to make us dinner
tonight so try and get back early.”
    I gulped my coffee and pulled Ethan up by the
arm, “Let’s go!”
    Ethan laughed, “I guess we have to go right
now.”
    “Be careful!” Abby called after us.
    We loaded my board and bag in the truck and
climbed in the cab.
    “Can we go somewhere with big waves?”
    He chuckled, “How about medium?”
    I rolled my eyes at him, “Let’s just go!” We
started driving, and this time went north, continuing up the coast
past the point where Shayla had taken me. Ethan pulled his truck
into a gravel lot at the top of a steep bluff. We could see down to
a rocky beach with some good sized waves breaking pretty far off
shore.
    Ethan looked out across the water and back at
me skeptically, “The surf looks pretty big today...”
    “Good!” I said, bolting for the door.
    “Whoa– hold up! Eat something,” he pulled a
bag with some bananas and granola bars from under the seat.
    I sighed, and leaned back, taking a bar from
him, “Thanks.”
    “How many times have you been out on your
short board?” he asked, watching with amusement as I scarfed it
down.
    “Twice,” I said.
    “And the second time was at the point?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, you should be alright here,” he seemed
worried, and hesitant. I saw a flicker of doubt cross his face. For
a moment I was afraid he’d change his mind and take me home.
    “I’ll be careful,” I used the most soothing
tone I could muster, “I promise.”
    I was itching to get going, and when Ethan
was finally ready I sprang out of the cab and grabbed my bag. I
flew out of my clothes and was struggling to zip up my suit when
Ethan came around the truck.
    “Let me get that,” he said, and I turned my
back to him. He pulled up the zipper, stopping short to kiss the
back of my neck before zipping it all the way up.
    “You know what?” he murmured in my ear, “I
wanted to do that on the day of your first swim lesson… You looked
so cute standing there, all shy.”
    I looked up with a smile and kissed him,
“Let’s go!”
    We picked our way down a switchback trail to
the beach, Ethan’s hand firmly on my wrist. I waded in and paddled
out past the waves, Ethan staying near me protectively.
    I felt another instant wash of