John pulled the boat to the dock and jumped down as Anna tossed him the ropes. Between the two of them they loaded the fish into crates and managed the dollies to roll them into the fishery where Mrs. Hughes waited. Her eyes widened at the sight of the fish, then at the kind of fish, and even wider when she realized John came in with a woman.

"Does the Coast Guard know about this?" Mrs. Hughes kept her eyes on the fish as her workers loaded it into the containers to weight and sort it.

"They found me first." John shrugged, dodging someone working the crates off the dollies. "It's all I could do to explain to them the miracle of it all."

"Miracle it is." Mrs. Hughes turned to Anna, "What about your friend here? I was sure that I knew everyone involved in your life considering there were only three people and one of those people is me."

"She's my…" John stopped, turning to Anna. "She's very dear to me."

"You already look nicer than the last woman he brought in here with him so that's a good thing." Mrs. Hughes extended a hand and then withdrew it so she could take off the glove she wore. "Sorry, there's more fish on there than I want to admit to and it's better if I don't wear it and shake your hand."

"I'm used to fish." Anna shook her hand, "Though I'm intensely curious about the last woman he brought with him."

"Other than Ondine, who's a joy to behold anytime she comes, the only other woman he brought with him was his ex-wife and we'll be honest…" Mrs. Hughes shook her head, "That woman's a terror."

"I've only heard bad stories." Anna smiled, "But I prefer to try and believe she's got a sort of soul… somewhere."

"We all do." Mrs. Hughes tallied up the last of the fish and tore the receipt for John. "People are going to be very happy that they'll get salmon early this year."

"And I'm happy they pay for it." John folded the receipt into his pocket and nodded at Anna, "Do you want to go back or…?"

"I think I'd like to finally see the town." She held out a hand, "Shall we?"

They wended their way out of the fishery and onto the dock. Anna looped her arm through his, keeping pace as they reached the actual road. John leaned toward her and followed her direction to walk or stop at the different shops. He noticed, as they walked along in the afternoon, the people along the street that stopped to gawk at them.

"Anna," John whispered and she looked up from where she had bent over to investigate a sampling of chocolate. "We've gathered a crowd."

"Haven't they ever seen a woman before?"

"Not one like you." Both turned to see Ondine steering her chair toward them. "And none with my Da."

"Does he have some kind of undesirable reputation?"

"More like a rather nasty ex-wife." John muttered and turned to Ondine. "Aren't you supposed to be at school?"

"It was half day today. Budget cuts."

"What's the school system coming to?" John sighed and opened his hands to Ondine and Anna. "Anybody want an ice ream?"

"What flavor?" Anna smiled at him but her brow furrowed. "Though I think she might have other ideas."

John's face fell immediately and he put his body in front of Anna's when Vera stopped in front of them. Her sneering scoff ground at John's bones but he gritted his teeth as she spoke. "So Angela was right."

"And what could Mrs. Bartlett have to say?"

"She told me you'd found yourself a hussy to take around the town." Vera snorted at Anna, "I hope he's paying you well for your time ill spent."

"I'm sure there's nothing he'd have to pay me for." Anna shrugged, "The pleasure of company is its own reward."

"His company?" Vera's howling cackle was enough to bring onlookers peering at their strange assemblage. "The great bore that he is brings you any kind of pleasure?"

"I'll admit it takes a bit of intelligence but I'm more than equal to the task."

Vera made a move toward Anna but John put a hand on her shoulder. "Get your hand off me John Bates or I'll make a scene."

"Bigger than the scene you're making now?" John removed his hand and lowered his voice. "I think you need to leave and go back to Richard or your house or whatever pub you want to crawl into."

"I'm not leaving Ondine here with you and your whore." Vera grabbed the back of Ondine's chair. "She's coming back with me."

"Ma I don't want to go home yet. I only just got here."

"I don't care." Vera pulled at her chair. "I'm not letting you stay with that woman."

"What are you afraid she'll do? Teach her good manners or treat her with kindness?" John went to put a hand on Ondine's chair but drew his hand back. "You can't begrudge Ondine her happiness just because you can't stand that I might be trying to find mine."

"What do I care about your happiness?" Vera spit, "You're nothing to me."

"He's everything to me Ma." Ondine butted in, pushing off the handles of her chair to stand. John and Anna both moved forward to help her stand but she grabbed Vera's arm instead. Her fingers dug into the fabric of Vera's sweater. "Please, don't do this. Don't be cruel."

A muscle in Vera's cheek twitched as she gritted her teeth. With a stiff nod, she helped Ondine back to her seat and then stepped back. "Fine. Stay with your father and his hussy of a girlfriend. But you'll be home tonight and you won't see him again until the carnival Saturday, is that clear?"

"Yes Ma." Ondine got comfortable in the chair. "I'll be home on time."

"Then I'll see you at home." Vera shook her head at Anna, before muttering at John. "And she better not be with you when you come."

"I'm not so cruel as to grind any kind of happiness I have in your face, Vera." John chewed the inside of his cheek, "I'm not like you."

"You always did think you were better than me."

"I've never thought that Vera."

"You're a liar." Vera turned on her heel and walked up the road.

With a sigh, John turned to Ondine, "I think I mentioned ice cream and I still want to try out a new flavor if you're both up for it."

"They've got a quadruple fudge." Ondine went to steer her chair, hands tapping excitedly against the armrests. "And then there's the whipped cream and-"

"Oh my goodness," John took the back of Ondine's chair and pushed it forward, "I think my arteries are filling just listening to you."

"Maybe," Anna took Ondine's hand, keeping pace with the chair. "Your dad's too old for ice cream and we should get him something else instead. Something more befitting his age."

"That's cold."

"Not the cold of ice cream you're not eating." Anna teased and smiled at him with Ondine.

John pushed the chair forward, shaking his head, "You're both pretty lippy for people about to get ice cream."

"What's life if not a bit of fun?" Anna laughed, "And I think I'll try a bit of the quadruple chocolate fudge as well."

"Then you'll both be sick later and I'll have to fit the two of you on this chair to get you back." John nodded, "Anna could you-?"

She grabbed the door and swept her hand toward the interior. "If you'd escort the young lady in sir, then we can allow her to choose according to her desires."

"That might be a dangerous road to travel."

"But it is our road." Ondine pointed her arm forward, "Onward, noble sir."

John pushed Ondine in with a smile on his face.

The rest of the afternoon, and even as they wandered into the evening, John had never felt happier. Anna and Ondine reveled in the shops and the little things as they shared their ice creams. When it came time for it John pushed Ondine to the edge of the warren of houses where Anna waited.

"We'll be back soon."

"I've got nothing but time." Anna rested on the edge of a low retaining wall. "I won't mind waiting here."

"We'll be back soon." John repeated as he pushed Ondine toward the house.

They were a little farther in when Ondine finally spoke. "I thought she had to keep hidden."

"It wasn't anything we could avoid." John maneuvered around a corner, "She came out fishing with me and we trawled salmon."

"Must've got you a pretty penny considering you sprung for ice cream."

"You make me sound so stingy."

"Frugal is the word they use in school."

"That's not true." John pulled to a stop outside the gate to the house. "You learned that reading above your level. Don't think I didn't have the librarian berating me for giving you all those books you're not supposed to be reading yet."

"The books are school are for children."

"You are 'children' you know." John knocked on the gate and heard someone moving around inside. "But keep reading whatever you want. Just-"

"No cable and stay off the internet, I know." Ondine managed a little wave as Richard reached the gate. "Mum back yet?"

"She went out with her friend. Probably won't be back until late." Richard nodded at John, "You leave your new friend somewhere?"

"Maybe I did." John kissed Ondine's head. "I'll pick you up Saturday morning and we'll have all day at the carnival."

"See you then Da." Ondine rolled herself into the house and Richard followed after, leaving John alone outside.

He walked back to Anna and they kept pace with one another down to his boat at the docks. "I hope this afternoon wasn't too bad."

"It was lovely." Anna reached for his hand, interlacing their fingers.

"What about why you didn't want to be seen before?"

"It's too late for that." Anna shrugged, "Once they saw me on your boat there wasn't anything we could do."

"What is that you'd be afraid of people doing once they did see you?"

"Just…" Anna took a breath, "Just what people might say."

"My ex-wife called you a prostitute and you didn't even blink."

"I think the word she used was 'whore' but that's not what worried me."

"Then what?"

Anna pulled to a stop, just outside his boat. She took his hands, studying them before meeting his eyes, "It's not important. Whatever comes it'll be fine as it is."

"Are you sure?"

"No but there's nothing else to be done about it." Anna slapped the side of the boat. "Shall we go home?"

"Yes." John smiled, helping her into the boat.

She stopped, making a face, "Why are you smiling?"

"Because you just called it 'home'."

"Well it is now." Anna offered her his hand. "Do you want to go home?"

"Yes."

They sailed over the water, Anna keeping her eyes closed, and John steered them toward the middle of the bay. When he turned his focus toward the water he felt a hand on his and turned to see Anna there. She smiled, "Do you swim?"

"I'd be a shit fisherman if I didn't."

"Then," Anna winked at him, pulling his hand away and nodding toward the deck. "Let's go swimming."

"Not in the middle of the bay." John waved a hand. "I'm not risking either of us being drown by another boat or dragged under by something."

"But you'd like to go swimming?"

"Yes, but there's a place for it." John wrapped his fingers over hers, where they still rested on his hand, and kissed them. "Just trust me."

"Alright." Anna went back to her former position, leaning over the edge of the boat to bask in the breeze.

John guided his boat to the dock near his mother's house and tied it in place before extending a hand to Anna. "Come on."

She joined him on the dock and he pulled his jumper over his head. With a giggle she put a hand on his arm, "What are you doing?"

"I'm getting ready to go swimming." John worked his trousers down and kicked his boots to the side. "Don't you still want to go swimming?"

"This is where we're swimming?"

"It's safer than out in the bay." John finished, tucking a thumb under the line of his pants. "Do I keep these on or not?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"It was your idea." John tugged them up and down, "On or off?"

"Off." Anna pulled her own clothes over her head and off to drop with his until her hands were reaching behind her to grab at the clasp of her bra. "Or else this stays on."

"Off." John shucked his pants and caught sight of Anna, in the dark, leaving her own knickers to the side before jumping into the water with a squeal. He jumped over her head, splashing water at her, and then shivered. "This was a bad idea."

"Are you too cold?"

"I'm shivering." His teeth chattered and he flicked water at her but she dodged it. "How come you aren't?"

"I've always been at home in the water." Anna teased, diving under the surface only to surface nearer him. "Don't you love the water?"

"When it doesn't make my teeth chatter."

"Then you're not only not having fun but you also live in the wrong hemisphere." She put a hand to his chest, "We could make it all warmer… if you want."

"What'd you have in mind?" John worked his hand through the water to run his fingers over her stomach as she moved closer. "Is it as good as your idea of going swimming at night?"

"I got you naked so I think my ends were served." Anna leaned forward to kiss him, "If you want."

"What man on earth could possibly reject that kind of proposal?" John accepted the kiss, kicking his legs back toward the floating platform in the inlet. "Do you mean for it to be in the water or-"

"I don't think you've got the dexterity for what I plan to do to you in the water." Anna kissed him again before pushing off his shoulders to get onto the platform.

John hurried to follow and they both laughed a moment when the platform wobbled. "I don't know if it'll float this way."

"Hardly matters." Anna used a hand to work herself to kneel and rest her weight on her thighs. "We won't be standing on it so balance isn't a problem."

"It might be."

"No," Anna caught his hands to pull him toward her. "I've got that covered."

She pulled him down so John lay on his back before straddling his thighs. John reached for her but Anna stopped his hands. "Please, let me."

He relaxed back and she bent herself over him. Their lips met, without hurry and without speed, as the wind whistling through the inlet raised the hair on their bodies. Her fingers roved over him and he shivered under her but not because of the cool air blowing over them.

Anna massaged over him, running her fingers over his skin to guide her lips as her tongue traced the droplets of water off his skin. John tried to touch her but Anna shook her head, wiggling free of his grip, and stopped his motions with a determined focus on his body. When her hands reached his hips, John's hands scrambled to grab at the wood when her fingers brushed over his arousal.

"I guess you didn't get too cold." She teased, tracing her tongue over his hips.

John could not speak to respond, only grunted as his hips bucked under her. Anna slid her body over his, kissing up his erection, and licked around the top like she did her earlier ice cream. When he groaned she took him further, kneading the flesh of his hips and thighs between wrapping her tongue over him.

As his groans grew louder and his skin hotter, Anna finally pulled off him. She offered him a moment to relax before moving up to perch her knees on either side of his hips. In the dim light of the growing night John's eyes met hers. His fingers traced over her face and Anna smiled at him before positioning herself to sink down on him.

John sat up, holding any part of her he could reach, and kissed her again. She gripped him tighter around the hips and met the demands of his mouth on hers. He slipped his hands over her skin, sliding and losing his grip when the drops of water there caught under his fingers, and found purchase on her ass.

She moaned into his mouth and tried to move even closer when John rocked his hips toward her. The raft under them shifted but they rolled with it, moving in time with the lap of the waves. Anna gyrated her hips against him, lifting her legs behind him to manage him deeper.

He broke in a few moments, panting into the skin of her neck, and switched their positions. Anna spread her legs as John withdrew and met his lips again when he traced the dips and valleys of her skin with his fingers. Her own cries began when he took her breast in his mouth and worked his tongue around her nipple. John alternated between the right and the left until Anna's sounds were unintelligible moans.

Gliding down her body, John replaced his fingers with his tongue. Sucking, nipping, and licking he drove her under she broke in a sweat. John waited, continuing his gentler moves until Anna breathed a little easier. With moves back up her body, John used his fingers again to send Anna back toward the edge again. He felt the rise in himself and adjusted her legs to allow him back toward her.

"May I?"

"Please." She pulled at his shoulder, dragging him down toward her, and lifted her hips to take him in again.

They moved with the waves again. Their positions altered but their motions were as familiar as time itself. John snuck his hand between them, rubbing and pressing to get her over the edge again, and followed soon afterward.

Laying together, their panting breaths synchronizing, they soon relaxed. John kissed at her neck and then her lips before moving off. Anna traced his face with her fingers and rolled back into the water.

John watched her slipping through the water, smooth as the waves themselves. He followed her, shivering all the way, and joined her on the dock as she collected her clothes. Climbing on the dock, dripping and shuddering, John picked up his own clothes. She giggled and he turned to her, raising his eyebrows at her. "What's got you feeling so humorous?"

"This night swimming activity is exactly what I hoped would happen."

"Then why didn't you just tell me that from the beginning?" John kissed at her neck again, "I would've been much more agreeable from the beginning."

"I thought you were agreeable enough." Anna smiled, "Now, I'm freezing so let's get inside."

"You weren't cold in the water."

"I told you, I'm at home in the water."

"Because you're a sea creature?"

"Maybe." She moved past him down the dock, "I guess you'll just have to find out."

John chased after her, "I think I want to."