Heart's Passage Part 9

The senator looks a little uncomfortable, Cadie reflected. Can't say I mind that, she thought with a smile. "What's up?" she asked.

Naomi frowned. "Does anything have to be up for me to sit next to my partner while we're on vacation?" grumped the senator.

Cadie raised her hands. "No, no. It's just you looked a little pensive."

Naomi looked down at her hands self-consciously, and then cleared her throat. "Look, Cadie. I'm sorry about last night. I was out of line." For the first time she looked Cadie in the eye.

"You mean about being jealous of Jo? Or about taking a swing at me?" Cadie asked a little more sarcastically than she'd intended.

Naomi bristled. "I apologized, didn't I? And as a matter of fact I do think you've been acting like an idiot around that woman. You've been making a fool of yourself-and of me-over a woman you barely know." She quieted her tone a little. "But I had no right to raise a hand to you."

Cadie tried not to be insulted by the backhanded apology. She was frankly surprised to get anything out of her famously intransigent partner, let alone an apology, however meager.

"You're right, you didn't. Apology accepted," she said shortly. "But Naomi, know this. However much you don't want to acknowledge it, you and I have some problems we really need to talk through. Because the bottom line is, I'm not happy about the state of our relationship, and I think, deep down, neither are you."

"Jesus, Cadie, what's not to be happy about? We've made it. We're where we always said we wanted to be. I'm a US senator, for G.o.d's sake. I bought you a great house, clothes, we get to take long vacations in exotic places." She swept her arm around, taking in Blue Pearl Bay and the Seawolf. "I got you started in a career that seems to suit you. What more do you want?"

It was Cadie's turn to bristle. "You got me-" she spluttered. "Excuse me, Naomi, but my career is 100% my own blood, sweat, tears, and trust fund. Don't even try to start taking credit for that," she objected.

"Oh come on, Arcadia. You don't think being married to a senator has something to do with the number of high-profile authors wanting you as their agent? Please."

Cadie was almost speechless. "Every single one of those high-profile writers was an unknown until I found them a publisher, Naomi. How can you have the nerve to try and claim credit for that?"

"I know what I know," said the senator smugly.

Aargh. She's not listening to a word I say, thought Cadie in frustration. Gotta get this back on track. "Naomi, forget that for a minute. Do you really think I care about the house and the clothes and the money? If you think those are what make me happy, then we've got a serious problem."

Naomi lay back on the deck, with her hands behind her head. "Would you relax? We're on vacation, let's make the most of it. You worry too much."

Cadie sighed. "The whole point was that this would be a good opportunity to do a lot of talking, reacquaint ourselves with each other, Nay."

The senator snorted. "Not much chance of that if you keep flirting with Captain Courageous all day long, is there?"

Cadie winced. "Don't use that as an excuse to avoid working on our relationship, Nay," she said pointedly. "I'm certainly not going to."

Naomi sat up straight again. "What's that supposed to mean?" she barked.

"It means I started this vacation hoping it would give us a chance to salvage something we both used to care a lot about. That's still what I want to do, regardless of whatever paranoia you might have about Jo." Careful, Cadie, she chided herself. Jo was right. She was only reacting to what she saw.

"Enough," the senator said brusquely. She stood up quickly and towered over Cadie. "There's nothing wrong with our relationship that a little more care and attention from you wouldn't fix, Cadie. As far as I'm concerned, we're just fine."

Cadie was stunned into silence by the senator's arrogance. Naomi took that as a victory and stalked away to rejoin Larissa and Kelli.

Yeah, and don't think I don't know you two weren't listening to every word, Cadie thought with a grimace. Why the h.e.l.l am I worrying so much about this relationship? She doesn't give a d.a.m.n. She's just not taking me seriously. Why the h.e.l.l am I tearing myself up over this?

She sighed.

Because I care about her. Because it's 12 years of history I can't just throw away. Because giving up on it without a fight... disrespects it somehow. She ran her hand through her blonde locks. Life is so complicated sometimes.

And almost as if to prove her point, she heard Paul firing up the dinghy. She stood and watched him heading towards the beach, where a tall, dark-haired woman stood with a man and a truck.

Cadie's heart leapt at the sight of Jo leaning casually against the vehicle, and she wondered what was going through the skipper's mind.

Jo felt faraway eyes lock onto hers.

How does she do that? she thought. How do we do that? She watched Cadie lean against the mast as Paul roared away from the Seawolf in the dinghy. G.o.d, she looks wonderful. She looks...golden. She tried to picture Cadie in the snow and cold of Chicago and failed totally. She belongs in brilliant sunlight.

Paul approached the beach and Jo pushed herself off the hood of Tony's truck and walked down to the water's edge to meet him.

She moves like a cat, thought Cadie. Smooth and graceful, like everything is so easy for her. I bet she can move fast if she has to though.

The blonde watched as Jo and the other man helped Paul load three boxes of supplies from the truck into the dinghy. The crewman climbed back in and waited while Jo turned back to the other man to say her goodbyes.

"Thanks, Tony." Jo smiled at the dark-haired man. "Are you going to be at your mother's place for dinner tonight?"

"'Fraid not, Jo-Jo. I'm waiting tables at La Scala," he replied. "I'll be able to keep an eye on your loopies for you." He grinned.

Jo gave a couple of seconds' thought to asking her friend to keep an especially close eye on the senator and Cadie, but bit back the idea. Cadie's a big girl, she thought. And I'm already in enough trouble without actively looking for it. She leaned up and kissed Tony on the cheek. "See ya, big guy," she said.

He reached down and enfolded her in another bear hug. "Don't stay away so long next time, okay, Jo-Jo?" he said softly in her ear. "We miss you."

She smiled and patted his cheek gently. "I promise, Antonio."

"'Bye Jo." He waved as she pushed the dinghy back off the beach and jumped into the front. Paul fired up the motor and pointed them back in the direction of the Seawolf.

Hmmm, Cadie thought as she watched the goodbyes on the beach. I wonder who tall, dark, and handsome is. I know who tall, dark, and beautiful is, she chuckled. G.o.d, how are we going to survive this vacation?

Jo looked up as the dinghy drew closer to the Seawolf. She found herself raising her right hand and waving at Cadie, who quickly waved back. She grinned. Oh, we are in so much trouble here.

Half an hour later the new provisions were loaded and everyone was back on deck luxuriating in the late morning sun. It was just over 100 degrees, but the sanity of all concerned was saved by the sea breeze and the proximity of the water.

Jo took the opportunity to gather all the pa.s.sengers together to talk about their plans for the next day or so.

"I've taken the liberty of booking you all in to Hayman Island's top restaurant, La Scala, for dinner tonight," she said, folding her arms as she rested her foot on the bottom of the port wheel. "If that doesn't suit all of you, it's not a problem to change the reservation, but I should do that fairly soon as the place is in pretty high demand."

Toby piped up. "What kind of a place is it, Jo?" he asked.

"Top of the range, mate," she replied. "The Michelin Guide gave it three stars, and there are only four restaurants in the whole country with that. There's a pretty strict dress code. Suit and tie compulsory for the guys."

"No problem," he grinned. "We brought our tuxes."

Jo nodded. "If you're all agreeable, we can motor around to the resort late this afternoon. It's only about a half-hour trip, so there'll be plenty of time for you to freshen up." There were general murmurs of agreement to the plan from around the c.o.c.kpit. "Okay then. Anybody have any thoughts about what you want to do this afternoon?" she asked.

"We're going to do some more snorkeling," Therese said, looking for agreement from her partner. Sarah nodded.

"Jo, is there a walk we can take up to the top of the island?" Jason gestured toward the hill rising up behind the bay.

"Sure is," she replied. "It's not a bad trip. A bit steep at the top, but otherwise not too taxing. About an hour each way."

"I'd like to do that, too," Cadie said quietly, with a smile. "How about you, Naomi?" She turned to her partner.

"Nope. I'm gonna stay here and soak up some more rays," the senator said.

Jo watched the quick flash of hurt and disappointment cross the blonde's expressive face. Boy, the senator sure doesn't act like someone who wants to spend time with her partner, she thought.

Jenny emerged from the cabin. "I can fix up a packed lunch for the bushwalkers, if you like. That way you can start out now, and take your time there and back," she said, getting enthusiastic nods from the two men and Cadie. "Ok, done." She disappeared below decks again.

"Now, about tomorrow," Jo spoke again, "if anyone wants to experience the game-fishing thing, we're in about the best place to organize that. Hayman has a terrific charter boat that heads for the outer reef for the day. They pretty much guarantee you'll take some serious trophy fish."

"Yeah, we definitely want to do that!" Toby said excitedly.

Jo grinned. "You two are up for anything, aren't you?"

"You bet," Jason said "This is a once in a lifetime thing. Gotta make the most of it."

Jo nodded. She was starting to like the two men, even if they were in public relations. "For everybody else, the full facilities of the resort are at your disposal tomorrow. Tennis courts, swimming pools, restaurants, and gymnasium. There's even a cinema complex and their cabarets are legendary. They also have an art show going on in the main lobby at the moment."

Everyone seems pretty satisfied with the arrangements so far, she thought. Even the senator is nodding her head. Yeehah. She caught Cadie's eye and smiled at the attractive blonde. All I have to do now is figure out who's going to take them up the mountain, she mused. The senator will have a hissy-fit if I go. Jen's gotta do lunch. That leaves...

"Paulie," she beckoned the crewman over as the pa.s.sengers dispersed to their various activities, "can you lead the bushwalk?"

"Ah," he said, "not if you want us to have a functional motor in time for tonight, Skip."

"What's wrong with the motor?" she asked.

"Well, it was running a bit rough last night when we came in, so I stripped it down this morning. I was gonna put it back together again after lunch," he said sheepishly.

Jo sighed. It just wasn't going to be her day, she could feel it.

They managed to get ash.o.r.e without the senator realizing Jo would be leading the bushwalk, largely because the skipper had steered the dinghy to the beach and then swapped places with Paul who dropped them off and roared back to the Seawolf. Jenny had prepared little backpacks filled with water, sandwiches, fruit, and chocolate for each of the walkers. They stood together for a few moments on the beach, settling the packs on their backs and getting their bearings.

"Where to, Skipper?" Toby asked.

Jo pointed up the beach to a break in the undergrowth. "That path loops up to the top and back again," she said. The two men quickly made for the track. "Fellas, hang on a second." She grinned at the impatient duo who were obviously keen to set a record for making the summit. "Do me a favor okay? When you get to a fork in the path, go left. At least that way we'll know exactly where each other is." The men nodded. "And let's stop for lunch at the top, yeah?"

Jo turned to Cadie, who had been standing quietly behind her left shoulder. "Ready?" she asked. The blonde just nodded. Jo smiled at her. She looks a little blue, thought the skipper. Probably antic.i.p.ating the response when we get back on board. She sighed.

The two men were already powering ahead as Jo and Cadie walked from the beach and under the cool, green canopy of trees.

"How did I know those two would be racing each other to the top?" Cadie asked and then laughed. "They're terminally compet.i.tive."

"They sure are," Jo replied. "But at least they're enjoying themselves. Hard to argue with that."

Silence fell as the pair settled into a walking rhythm, Jo moderating her long strides to allow the shorter woman to keep up without discomfort.

Jo knew she owed Cadie an explanation. "Look, um, I'm sorry I'm here," she said hesitatingly. "Well, that is, I'm not sorry I'm here...I mean-"

She felt a gentle hand on her forearm, halting her words.

"I know what you mean," Cadie said with a smile. "And I have to be honest; it's not going to be easy." She looked up into troubled blue eyes. "But I am glad you're here." She watched Jo's brow unfurrow. "What happened?"

Jo sighed. "My boss doesn't have anyone else to replace me. We've got one guy out sick and another one out with another group. He couldn't see a way to make it work."

Cadie nodded. "Well, we're just going to have to make the best of it." She hesitated. "Jo..."

"Yes?" the skipper asked quietly.

"Thank you for trying." She smiled and Jo held her breath as their eyes met again. "I don't want you to try again, okay? Um, this is going to sound kind of out there, but," she hesitated again, "I missed you when you weren't here when I woke up. I mean, I really felt it."

Jo nodded, glad to know she hadn't been alone in feeling an emptiness at the prospect of leaving. "Come on," she said with a smile, "or we're going to get too far behind the Wonderboys."

Cadie grinned and they picked up their pace a little. She gazed around and took in the lush surroundings. "This is gorgeous, Jo. Is this what they call rainforest?"

"Pretty much," the Australian replied. "Though the soil's a bit too sandy to be true rainforest. But it's still a pretty rich environment with a lot of wildlife around."

"Will we see any?" Cadie asked, looking down at her feet quickly.

"It's a pretty well-used path, so the animals probably know to stay away, but you never know your luck," Jo replied.

A wild and startled yell from further up the path caught their attention and Jo broke into a run, taking the steadily increasing incline in long, strong strides. She could hear Cadie running behind her and concentrated on listening for further sounds from in front of her. She rounded a corner and came across the two men, standing stock still in the middle of the path.

"What's wrong?" she asked breathlessly.

Toby pointed further up the track.

"S-snake," Jason said shakily. "I nearly walked on it. Scared me half to death."

Jo stepped between them to get a closer look at the reptile that was curled in an angry, hissing pile in a patch of sunshine in the middle of the track.

"b.u.g.g.e.r," she said quietly, recognizing a nasty customer when she saw it. "It's a good thing you didn't step on it, Jason. That's a taipan. See the rectangular head and red eyes?" She pointed at the distinctive characteristics.

"They're poisonous?" Jason asked.

"Oh yeah," she understated.

The two men took another step backwards. Cadie came up beside Jo to get a better view. "Can we go around it?" she asked, looking skeptically at the relatively narrow track.

"I don't think he's going to appreciate us getting that close somehow," Jo muttered, thinking hard.

"I was afraid you were going to say that," Cadie said. "What's the plan?"

"I'm working on it," Jo said, keeping one eye on the alarmed reptile while searching for a likely tool. She spotted a handy looking long stick that had a fork in it and reached for it, trying not to startle the snake with any quick moves.

"Maybe we should just go back?" Toby offered.

"Come on, fellas. Where's that sense of adventure we've come to expect from you?" Jo grinned as she trimmed the branch down to a long pole with a narrow fork at the top. "Okay," she said as she folded her Swiss Army knife back up and put it in her pocket. "Here's what's going to happen. You three are going to stay right where you are, where he can see you. I'm going to try and sneak around and behind him, then pin his head still with this little gizmo." She waggled the stick and smiled. "Ready?"

"I notice you get out of range of his fangs while we get to stay his target," Cadie said with an uncertain smile.