Page 41 of Hidden Depths

"I don't think I'd want it to."

She smiled softly.

"We saved twelve years for this trip."

I looked at her.

"Twelve?"

She nodded.

"A little at a time."

"We almost canceled twice."

"Why?"

"The roof."

She laughed.

"Then Frank needed a new truck."

She shrugged.

"There was always something."

"But this year..."

Her eyes sparkled.

"We finally said yes."

I couldn't help smiling.

"I'm glad you did."

"So am I."

Later...

I found Frank standing near the bow.

His elbows rested on the rail while he watched flying fish skip across the surface of the water.

"Pretty amazing, isn't it?"

He looked over.

"I spent forty years teaching geography."

He laughed quietly.

"I've shown students maps of the Pacific thousands of times."

He looked back toward the horizon.

"I never imagined I'd actually be here."