"Okay, let's go," Lisa sat up from her position, leaning against Jack on the oceanfront balcony again the next morning where they had been enjoying the early morning sun as they drank their coffee. Jack groaned, glancing over at her as she was still looking at her phone as she stood.
"Go where?" Jack asked, gesturing to where they were. "I thought we were going to relax and not do much of anything. I'm enjoying that."
She waved to him to give her his hand to help him stand up, "Come on, we're going to go walk on the beach. I have up the tide chart here on my phone. It's low tide now, and this is the best time to walk, not that there's a huge difference in tides here. The further north you go, the tidal changes get more drastic, but let's go for a walk. It will be nice, and we can come back here and relax again and have another cup of coffee. It will be good for both of us," she gestured for his hand again, giving him a small smile. "Let's go, Cowboy. It's also not as hot, so this is a win on many levels."
"Okay, okay," he chuckled, putting his hand in hers as he stood. He nodded at her, "We're not going to be on the 'Lisa set time schedule' all week are we?"
"Promise," she shook her head, showing him her phone. "I really am checking the tides. I'd also really like to go for a walk, with you," she smiled and nodded. "You are definitely going to want those shorts," she gestured at him, still there in his pajama pants. He at least had on a t-shirt instead of his normal long-sleeve Henley style sleep shirts.
"Just give me a minute," he shook his head as he gestured at her. "I will say I can get on board with this Florida attire there with you in shorts. Don't see that every day." Lisa grinned, smoothing out her pair of khaki shorts. She'd gotten dressed while Jack had made the morning coffee, both sleeping in more than normal with the time zone change, but neither complaining on their vacation. Now that they'd each had a cup, they were at least awake and apparently ready for a walk.
"Let's just say I know how horribly hot and humid it gets here, so shorts are the way to go, even in December. In fact, this is one of the best months here." She followed Jack back into the room where he was digging through his bag. He glanced at her with a grimace.
"Then, please don't suggest we ever come here in the summer. I don't think I could stand it much warmer than this. Let me get a quick shower first, and I'll be ready."
"That's fine," she smiled at him. "I'll take the coffee tray back downstairs. I'll see you soon." She leaned up and kissed him, patting his side as she went to retrieve their breakfast dishes. 15 minutes later, Lisa, who was watching the morning news in the kitchen, looked up when Jack walked into the kitchen, a huge smile widening on her face as she took in Jack's 'Florida' attire.
"Wow! I almost wouldn't recognize you."
"I'm sure it's the blinding, pasty white skin I'm now showing," he rolled his eyes, gesturing to his legs. "I'm not sure they've ever seen the sun."
Lisa laughed as she turned off the television and walked toward him, Jack pulling her into an embrace, "All the more reason to get a little sun. You will need to pour on that sunscreen today if we sit out at all. That sun will burn you to a crisp down here. I like you in your shorts. It's a very nice look on you, and you will be glad with this heat." She stepped back, nodding as she took in Jack's appearance. He had on a solid navy t-shirt, paired with the gray shorts she'd gotten him. Lisa had ordered the same shorts, just in a few colors, for Jack, and these fit him well. She gestured to his sandals, "Wow, that is a rare sight, you not in either boots or socks. Your feet never see the light of day."
"Oh, I'm aware," he dropped his head in a chuckle. "Feeling a bit out of sorts wearing this getup."
"Jack," she smacked at his arm and rolled her eyes, "it's not getup. One could argue your ranching clothing is getup, but that's what you wear where we live. Here," she spread her arms in gesture, "shorts, t-shirt, sandals, all normal." She gestured to herself, "You don't think I look ridiculous, do you?" To go with her khaki shorts, Lisa had on a white blouse with the sleeves rolled to a button on the arms. She had on a pair of casual, yet dressy looking sandals.
"No, gosh no," Jack made a face. "You look beautiful, much more relaxed than I've seen you in a long time."
"As do you," she said, taking his hand. "Come on. I think you will be shocked at how warm the Atlantic water is here." Jack held up his new hat with an admiring nod from Lisa.
"Well, I could see people already swimming in it," he said, as they stepped out on the back porch. Jack put on his new hat, and Lisa put on her sunglasses, her hair clipped up with the morning humidity already being felt. There was a pathway up over the dune with beach access from the house. Lisa laughed as she looked over at him.
"You have no idea. It's like bathwater, and oh," she pointed at the sand as they were reaching it from the back porch. "You might want to leave those sandals on. The sand could burn you feet."
"Burn my feet," Jack chuckled with a nod. "It's not that hot, is it?"
"Not if you walk in the water," she shrugged with a smile. She gestured for him to try the sand. Jack reached down and took off his sandals, walking some in the sand. He glanced her way.
"Okay, I have to admit the sand is much softer than anything up near Canada. That's the only place I've been to the ocean, there near Vancouver. It's much rockier there, and this is soft and almost white. You weren't kidding, though, that it's warm."
"Right?" Lisa laughed as they walked. Jack gestured for them to stop, and he put his sandals back on, nodding at her.
"I wouldn't want to try to walk in this when it's summer here, geez," he sighed.
"Come on, Cowboy," she tugged on his hand with a bright smile. "Let's head down to the water. I'm telling you, the water is almost hot, nothing like anything back home." The two walked hand in hand down to the water, Lisa grinning up at Jack.
"Are you going to have a permanent grin on your face this trip?"
"I just might," she said, still grinning as she poked at his stomach. "I like your hat. You look very handsome," she told him, gesturing to his entire outfit.
"I appreciate that, but I'm still feeling uncomfortable," he grumbled, looking around at the beach. He shifted his head from side to side.
"You look like everyone else at the beach, well," she made a face and laughed, "actually, much better. The attire on some men has a lot to be desired," she chuckled. Jack looked around and saw some very interesting people walking, some barely wearing anything and others looking like they'd gotten dressed in the dark with their mismatch of random clothing. "I do try to keep you at least fashionable," she said, raising her head in a joking manner as she laughed.
The two reached the water, and both took off their sandals to step into the surf. Jack's facial expression changed, and his eyes widened, "This is the temperature? I have taken many showers colder than this. I don't think any lake water in Canada has ever been this warm."
"I know, right?" Lisa grinned at him as the two enjoyed the surf. "You wondered why I bought you those swim trunks," she nodded to the water. "You might want to go for a swim."
He made a face and shook his head, "I don't know about that. I'm not really into floating around in the ocean. Wait," he looked at the clear water, "is that a jellyfish?" Lisa looked over his left side where he was standing, and both watched as one washed up on the beach. She nodded at Jack.
"Yeah, forgot to mention, there are a lot of jellyfish here in the winter. I was reading about that. They migrate like a lot of other things, coming to the warmer water. So, yeah," she nodded with a slight grin, "maybe the ocean isn't for you, at least for swimming." She looped her arm through his, "The house does have a hot tub, and we didn't even check that out."
"A hot tub," Jack gestured with his free hand. "That house is a vacation destination itself."
"I know," she nodded, still grinning, "which is why we are here. Yes, the hot tub-we have a date later this evening for it. It will be good for your arthritis. Now," she tugged on their arms, "come on. We're going to get a walk in before it gets even warmer, and later, after we've had a relaxing morning, we can figure out lunch."
The two spent the next hour on their walk, not walking all that far, but taking their time, talking and enjoying the scenery. They watched several fishing boats as well as a cruise ship in the distance. As they returned to the house, the cruise ship was much closer, and Jack gestured to it.
"Now that is something you will never get me to do, a cruise."
"Oh, I'm aware of your boundaries," Lisa laughed, squeezing Jack's hand. "That would be like a prison sentence for you, a boat with no escape, bound to a tiny room, schedules for meals and all, people everywhere," she shook her head. "I hope you know me better than that. I think this works though, don't you? No other people, no schedules, just us doing whatever we like when we like."
"Well," he huffed slightly in a joking tone, "except my cruise director here with our walk schedule." He looked down at her with a wink.
"Okay," she stopped and used her free hand to gesture back at him, "as your 'cruise director' as you just coined me, how was your walk? If you hated it, we don't have to do it again."
He considered things for a moment, frowning slightly as he looked around, out toward the ocean water again before looking back at Lisa. She could tell he was teasing her somewhat and started to chuckle lightly. He nodded, "With no knowledge of Florida or the tides or the heat," he pointed toward her, "I must admit I do appreciate the insider knowledge shared about walking at the low tide and before it's hot. I did enjoy our walk, much different than any walk at the ranch, and," he dropped his head, meeting her gaze with a nod, "I'll be happy to walk with her again tomorrow."
Lisa grinned, nodding at him. She leaned up and kissed him quickly, "Good. I'm glad you aren't rushing to the house to pack your bags and fly home."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to deal with those crazy Florida drivers you were battling yesterday," he chuckled, winking at her. "I'll stay, I suppose." Lisa laughed, nudging at him. The two finished walking, reaching the house. Lisa gestured to the outdoor spicket by the walkway.
"We can wash off our feet here, and then do you want coffee or tea?"
"Coffee sounds great," he told her. "Lise," he called to her as she finished washing off her feet and was putting on her sandals. She looked up, almost noting a concerned tone in his voice. Jack stepped toward her, reaching for her waist and pulling her toward him, her concern disappearing as he did so. She settled in his arms, looking up at him, her eyes sparkling.
"Thank you for this, for prodding me to come. I never expected to come on a trip like this, but I'm really enjoying it, all teasing aside. I almost don't know what to do without chores."
"I'm glad you are here too," she leaned up, and the two embraced in a long, lingering kiss. She patted his arms as they stepped back, "That's the point of a vacation, no chores, no work, just relaxing."
"Relaxing with my lovely wife," he offered her a flirtatious smile. "You just need to know that, that I am glad to be here. Now, I am looking forward to that coffee, and maybe we can plan out the rest of our day," he nodded his head from side to side, "not a schedule of events, but more like where we are going to get lunch, maybe taking a nap, reading those books we brought, and even maybe a simple dinner with some wine while we check out that hot tub."
"I'm liking vacation-mode Jack," Lisa grinned, squeezing his arms as she was still settled in his. "We're definitely getting a picture of us here in the sand. It's a beautiful morning, and well," she winked at him, "I have to send something home to everyone. They will not believe vacation Jack exists and will need proof to see it for their own eyes."