LILY

BNR848

Disclaimer: The publicly recognized characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plots are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.


Chapter 50

The next morning the birthday gifts kept coming. He thought they would do some snorkeling, enjoy a swim, then she'd head back to the ship while he went diving. She'd told him she enjoyed the beach and had been snorkeling, but not much of anything else. Imagine his surprise when he'd found her PADI scuba card on the bathroom mirror. He bounced back onto the bed and kissed her awake.

"I thought you weren't into scuba diving?" James asked as he tickled her.

"But I am into one particular scuba diver," she answered while attempting to get away.

He pulled on his swim trunks and headed up to check his gear. He found the divemaster, who handed him his bag and provided details on local dive sites. James explained Lily had just received her certification and he wanted to start at an easy area with plenty to see. James inquired as to water temperature and if they'd require wetsuits. The water temperature this time of year averaged around eighty-five degrees, some divers preferred to wear wetsuits, but it was not necessary. He did, however, recommend a long sleeve dive top to provide some protection from the rocks and other sharp edges. Just as they were finishing their conversation Lily approached.

The body tight, royal blue long sleeve dive top she wore hugged every inch of her curves. The sleek black swim shorts accentuated her long thin frame and those endless legs. She smiled, literally skipping towards him with a mask, snorkel, and bag in her hand.

"They said you might need this and I didn't know if you had one," she added as she handed him the bag.

"You're spoiling me, Ms. Castle," he replied with enthusiasm as he opened the bag.

He slipped the navy blue long sleeve dive shirt over his head, leaned in and kissed her.

As a first time diver, Lily was carefully prepped and advised prior to entering the water. She was nervous but excited. Between him and the divemaster, James was confident Lily was well taken care of.

They started off at Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary and a visit to Christ of the Deep statue.

Through her mask, he could see the expression of awe on her face and the joy in her eyes. He held her hand which she nervously grasped. Once he felt her relax he let her go and snapped some pictures. The clear water gave them a wonderful view of the vibrant marine life around the statue. Surrounded by colorful sponge and coral life, the fish were bright and plentiful. Lily spotted a long trumpet fish and eagerly pointed, her smile contagious. They swam among schools of angelfish, found some vivid colored snapper and saw numerous barracudas which were very friendly. Before long the divemaster was signally for them to surface.

Once on board, she was giddy with excitement, unable to stop talking about everything they'd seen. To him, that was by far the best gift to date. The joy in her voice and the enthusiasm she demonstrated simply made him happy. He showed her the pictures he'd taken, including one of Lily with a cautious look on her face with a barracuda inches away. The best picture though was one of them at each side of the Christ statue touching his raised arms. Lily's wondrous expression was childlike.

They had lunch and enjoyed the sun. Later, James returned for more diving while Lily took advantage of the shallow waters and snorkeled. That evening, waterlogged and exhausted they'd slept soundly.

Friday saw them up at the crack of dawn. They'd frolicked in bed for a while then hurried out to catch the sunrise. Coffee on the deck with his arms around her was as good as life got, James thought to himself. After a light breakfast, they plotted their day's activities. There was a nearby wreck, the Thunderbolt, the divemaster thought James would enjoy. The vessel was upright but was classified an advanced dive, he did not recommend Lily go. About 115 feet down, it not only attracted colorful schools of fish but was also a great area for a variety of larger fish. There was even a 700-pound goliath grouper and several five-foot black groupers that called the area home. Though Lily insisted he dive, he adamantly refused.

"James, this is your birthday present. I want you to dive and enjoy yourself. I've already done what I came to do. Please go," she pleaded.

"I've seen wrecks before, and we only have two days left. It's my birthday and I want to spend it with you," he announced while planting a kiss on the bridge of her nose.

Then the divemaster suggested a compromise. The Thunderbolt was near Sombrero Reef, one of the most impressive coral reefs in the area. A protected marine preserve with depths between five to thirty-five feet, perfect for novice divers, and great for snorkeling. They could start off at Sombrero Key then head to the Thunderbolt for a short dive. After all, their bottom time would be limited to no more than thirty minutes.

Sombrero Reef was indeed a worthwhile stop. They abandoned the scuba gear, in favor of snorkeling. The water was warm and crystal clear, and in spots so shallow they could sit and enjoy the view. The coral was plentiful and vibrant, the entire area teeming with sea life. They dove down enjoying the sights, among them parrotfish and a large school of snapper. They spotted several turtles and even a nurse shark. After seeing the shark and snapping a quick photo, Lily called it a day.

While they enjoyed lunch the Captain steered them towards the Thunderbolts. As they headed to their destination James rummaged through his dive bag in search of the expensive gadget he'd carelessly tossed in his gear bag after his last adventure. He finally located the miniscule waterproof video camera and went about charging it. With any luck, he could get some video to show Lily.

Once at their destination, James suited-up, attached the camera to his mask, added gloves, grabbed a flashlight, gave Lily the thumbs up, and followed the divemaster down. When they reached the wreck it was all and more than he'd been promised. The current was strong and he could see why it was not recommended for beginners. The wreck was covered in sludge and plant life, making it tricky in parts. The visibility was a bit cloudy and at moments rather murky. They spent time along the two huge propellers and the giant cable lying spool, then went exploring. He closely followed the divemaster as they entered the engine room via the main deck, later following a staircase leading to the wheelhouse. He managed to see an array of fish, several sharks and even got a visit from one of the famous five-foot groupers. Lily was going to love that picture.

She took advantage of the time alone to make sure all was set to Saturday. She'd arranged for a birthday cake and James favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream. After speaking with the Chef she returned to the deck and went about a little research. She searched for Thunderbolt wreck on her phone and marveled at the pictures. She hoped James was enjoying himself.

Before long a check of his watch indicated they'd be surfacing soon. After another quick swim around, and a few more photos they headed up.