As Deep As the Ocean

by Cindy Nichols

  Cassie pulled on a white tank top and soft, pink skirt and answered, “No, I got it.”

  By the time she made it to the kitchen, Taylor was slicing the last tomato for the burgers and had everything set out on the colorful tile counter.

  “Wow, nice job,” Cassie said, easing onto a stool opposite the sink.

  “Thanks,” Taylor said, her hands on her hips with a look of satisfaction. “I think it’d make your mom proud. Especially since you don’t cook, stingray barb or not.”

  Cassie laughed. “Good thing you’re here so we don’t starve.”

  They both turned toward the door as Alex and Raul knocked, then entered bearing chips and salsa. They’d both clearly showered—Alex’s hair was no longer full of sand—and they definitely had a Latin flair with their khakis and buttoned, embroidered shirts.

  “Brought something for you,” Alex said with a smile as he set the chips, salsa and guacamole on the counter.

  “Thank you.” Taylor nodded at Raul and said, “Care to help me light the barbecue?”

  As Taylor and Raul headed out to the patio, Alex asked, “How are you feeling?” He took a seat next to Cassie.

  “Better, thank you. It still hurts, but the bath helped a great deal. I had no idea that’s what you were supposed to do.”

  He smiled gently and pointed to her leg. “May I?”

  Cassie smiled and nodded, pulling up her skirt a little. She’d taken off the bandage after her bath as it had soaked through.

  Alex narrowed his eyes and inspected the gouge. “It looks pretty good. A little red still, but it’s not oozing. No sign of infection so far.” He reached into his pocket and took out a tube of antibiotic ointment. He smiled up at her, his eyes gentle, before he said, “I hope this won’t hurt, but with this and another bandage, I think you’ll be in good shape.”

  Cassie nodded again but winced as his warm hand rubbed on the cool ointment. He finished quickly and wrapped gauze around it again, patting her knee when he finished.

  “There you go.”

  She looked up at him gratefully as he stood and took a step back.

  “I’m not sure how to thank you, Alex. We’d have been at a loss if you hadn’t been there—and here now.”

  Alex cleared his throat and ran his hand through his dark, wavy hair. “I’m sure it would have worked out fine.”

  He held out his hand, and she took it, easing herself off the stool and following him out onto the patio. The sun would set soon, over the mountains behind them and the sea would change, the sky turning many different colors until the stars came out. It was Cassie’s favorite time of day, and she’d never enjoyed it more than this evening, sitting with good friends.

  “Look, an osprey and its baby,” Taylor cried, pointing out over the cliff. They all watched as the larger bird circled the baby as it got its bearings. It wasn’t very old and just learning to fly, and as the baby tired and began to sink toward the ground, the mother circled and came up below it, lifting it higher and giving it a bit of a rest.

  “Never hurts to get a little help,” Cassie said as she turned to Alex. He was mesmerized by the sight and had stood up and crossed the sand over to the edge of the cliff.

  “She’s helping the baby? To teach it how to fly?”

  Cassie stood and walked out to the cliff’s edge. “Yes. It’s critical for their survival that the osprey young be able to navigate the changing direction of the gusts that come off the sea at sunrise and sunset. And that they understand the changing tide line.”

  “I imagine that’s important for any bird,” Alex said as he pointed to a group of seagulls converged together offshore.

  “Here we go.” Taylor rolled her eyes as she gestured for Raul to follow her into the house and announcing they were ready to start cooking.

  “Not exactly. The seagulls are there in the water because there are a lot of fish congregating there, but they also eat carrion. Easy pickings, and it’s called a boil. That’s their job and they’re also taught that at a young age.”

  “Carrion?” Alex scratched his forehead, his brow furrowed.

  “Oh, sorry. Dead animals, or dead fish. The osprey, on the other hand, eat only live fish, so they have to dive for them. But they don’t get into the water really, so they must be strong aviators. Completely different.”

  Alex turned to her, his amber eyes questioning. “I had no idea. So how, then do the osprey eat if they can’t get wet?”

  “Watch,” she said, pointing to another osprey circling the fish boil. As the seagulls dove and jostled for position, the osprey came at them dead on, swooping in so just its feet touched the water.

  “Wow,” Alex said as the osprey rose from the water, a fish wriggling in its talons. “That’s amazing. Like eagles.”

  Cassie nodded and smiled. “You’re a quick study.”

  “And so glad you’re here to listen so I don’t have to.” Taylor winked at Cassie as she came back onto the patio carrying a plate of burgers.

  As Taylor and Raul laughed and cooked the burgers, Alex and Cassie sat out on the cliff, watching the wildlife. The tide was coming in, and Cassie waved as people walked by with their dogs, frequently throwing sticks out into the waves for the dogs to fetch. She told him about the tide, the clams they dug at the point to the south, the fishermen who launched their beaches in the mornings and came back with buckets full of fish for dinner.

  “You sure know a lot about—well, everything around here,” Alex finally said.

  “And that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Taylor said as she set the delicious-smelling burgers on the patio table and Cassie’s stomach rumbled.

  “Oops. Guess I haven’t eaten much today,” she said as Alex took her hand, pulling her up.

  They all ate and laughed as the sun set, and the sky on the horizon changed from pink, to purple and finally to dark blue. Cassie lit the candles on the table as darkness fell and the stars began to sparkle overhead. The warm breeze had the candles dancing, and as the burgers disappeared, Cassie paused.

  “I’ve been babbling. Sorry.”

  “Nah, not you,” Taylor said, laughing.

  Raul smiled and nodded at Cassie. “It’s been fascinating hearing about Baja, and your time here. And your wealth of knowledge about marine and desert life is impressive.”

  Cassie had hoped she wasn’t boring them and flushed at hearing she wasn’t. She’d tried to keep it light, purposefully avoiding discussion of the vaquita as she didn’t trust herself not to get emotional like she usually did.

  “What about you two? What brings you here? I know you’re staying at the rancho. You all on vacation?”

  Cassie paused and glanced at Taylor as the two men exchanged glances, but hesitated to answer.

  “Alex?” Raul finally said as he looked expectantly at his friend with a cocked eyebrow.

  Cassie waited, a little confused. “Vacation?”

  Alex closed his eyes and let out a huge breath. “Yes, vacation. A little work while we’re here, but vacation.”

  Raul frowned, and Cassie assumed it was because they had to work while they were in such a beautiful place.

  “Same with us,” Taylor said. “Some rest and relaxation, but always work to be done.”

  Taylor stood to clear the table and Raul followed.

  Alex helped Cassie up and gathered more dishes from the table, following the others into the kitchen. Cassie was sorry that the moment had passed. She wanted to know more about Alex. A lot more. But it would have to wait.

  “Oh, no,” Taylor cried just as Cassie came through the sliding glass door and the lights went off.

  “Oh, no,” Cassie echoed as she stood in the pitch black darkness.

  “What happened?” Alex asked, and Cassie could dimly make him out against the counter.

  “Hang on,” Taylor said, and in a moment a flashlight turned on and seconds later she lit a big candle on the counter by the sink. “Guess we’ve got no electricity.”

  “Where
’s your inverter, and panel?” Raul asked, taking a flashlight that Taylor offered him.

  Over dinner, they’d talked about the fact that the house, while beautiful, was limping along on its solar panels and batteries and it had been next on the list to upgrade it. This trip had been planned in a hurry, though, and they were just hoping that things would hold out until next trip.

  Taylor led him to the back of the house and they disappeared around the corner.

  Cassie smiled at Alex, his eyes dancing in the flickering candlelight. “Guess this is one of the things that happens when you’re off the grid.”

  “I suppose so,” he said. “It’s very interesting.”

  “Interesting is a good word,” Cassie said with a laugh.

  “Fascinating, actually,” Raul said as he and Taylor came back into the kitchen. “A really interesting, old school take on solar panels and electricity.”

  “Probably. My parents put it together probably thirty years ago, long before my dad died. We’ve been keeping it going with spit and bubble gum, my mom says,” Cassie said.

  Raul laughed. “That is a very apt description. And that’s what it looks like. But the batteries aren’t even holding anything that the solar panels are feeding it. The wire’s frayed and much too thin. You really need an overhaul.”

  Cassie and Taylor sighed in unison. “Well, we don’t know how to do that.”

  “We do,” Raul said, squaring his shoulders. “Or I do, I should say. Alex is great at helping. We did construction work during summers in high school. Learn the trade. And I’ve worked with solar and can help. Is there anywhere around here to get a new inverter, some upgraded equipment?”

  “I think so,” Cassie said slowly. “I can ask Jimmy in the morning. I really don’t want to ask you for help on your vacation. We’ve already monopolized your time.”

  Taylor cleared her throat loudly as she glared at Cassie, her eyes wide. “If they want to help, that would be great. Otherwise, we’re here for days in the dark. No cell phone charging, no nothing.”

  “Oh, right.” Cassis scrunched her nose and looked at Alex. “You don’t mind?”

  “Of course not,” Alex responded. “How could we leave two damsels in distress?”

  Raul laughed. “Absolutely. We’ll be back first thing in the morning with what supplies we can round up beforehand and go from there.”

  “You certain you’ll be all right on your own tonight?”

  Taylor laughed. “It won’t be the first time we’ve played Scrabble by flashlight.”

  “Well, if we have anything to say about it, it will be your last,” Raul said as he and Alex headed toward the door.

  Alex turned and took Cassie’s hand, holding it to his lips for a moment. “Thank you for a wonderful evening. I appreciate knowing so much more about Baja. Thank you.”

  Cassie flushed and was glad for the candlelight to make it. “You’re welcome, and thank you for everything.”

  The girls waved from the cliff as Alex and Raul drove north on the beach.

  “Well, that wasn’t how I thought tonight would turn out,” Taylor said as they went back inside.

  “Me neither.” Cassie flipped the light switch one more time in disbelief, but nothing happened.

  Taylor handed Cassie a flashlight and blew out the candle. “I don’t know about you, but I’m beat. I’ll do the dishes in the morning.”

  “I should be able to do it,” Cassie said, glancing at her leg. “I feel much better, but I’m beat, too.”

  “I bet. It’s been a huge day.” Taylor blew out the remaining candle and headed for her room.

  “It has. And sounds like it’ll be another huge day tomorrow.”

  Chapter 9

  Alex looked over at Cassie a few days later as she pulled her long, blonde hair into a ponytail and her green eyes danced. She was lovely even in work shorts and a t-shirt, and they’d laughed for days as Raul and Taylor bent over drawings and calculations, and Alex showed Cassie how to use a staple gun. He’d enjoyed getting to know her even better, and it felt good to swing a hammer again after so many years of suits and board rooms.

  At the same time, though, the twinges of guilt for not telling her who he was grew more frequent. From the day they’d started on the project, people from the south campos had stopped by—old friends of Cassie and Taylor, and brought food, supplies, anything they’d needed. He’d gotten to know a few of the men, including the Mexican camp owners, and he was beginning to understand exactly why they all objected to the building of the resort. It threatened to completely change their way of life, everything they’d known and loved about the Baja for generations.

  He’d thoroughly enjoyed Cassie’s company, and it turned out they worked well together. Raul and Taylor were the brains of the project, but they did a good job of executing their assignments. At least they had until now.

  “Ouch,” Alex yelled, and dropped the hammer he’d just smashed his thumb with. He brought it to his mouth and tried to stem the bleeding.

  “Oh, no,” Cassie said, dropping her own hammer and running for the first aid kit. She returned in a flash and came toward him with a bandage and gauze.

  “Here, let me see,” she said, her eyes full of concern. She held the gauze on it tightly but gently. “Here, you hold it and I’ll get some ice.”

  She reached past the lemonade they’d been drinking and filled a small baggy with ice, holding it on his thumb. Although it hurt badly, he knew it wasn’t serious—it would just be really sore.

  “I’m sorry,” he said as he watched Cassie check if it was still bleeding. “I must have gotten distracted. Too much beautiful scenery in here.”

  Cassie looked up, perplexed and glanced around the room they were replacing the wiring in, and to be honest, there was nothing special about it. Just her.

  He smiled as she turned a lovely shade of pink, realizing what he’d meant. “Oh, goodness. Well, you’d better pay closer attention.”

  “I’ll try,” he said as he reached into the ice chest and handed her a lemonade.

  “We’re almost done, anyway.” Cassie turned away quickly and reached for her hammer, securing the last bit of wire that Raul had assigned them. “We should be able to have the great light show soon,” she said, sitting back down beside Alex.

  “Good thing. I don’t think I’ll be good for much for a while. Maybe we should be on supper duty.”

  Cassie frowned. “I don’t think that would be very appealing for anybody. Taylor’s the cook around here.”

  “She and Raul have a few more hours hooking everything up. I say we give it a try. I used to cook with my grandmother, and although it’s been a very long time, I think I can remember how to go to the store and buy carne asada to barbecue. If we’re lucky, they’ll have beans and rice already made. All it takes is a few tortillas and call it dinner.”

  Cassie stood and put all the tools back in the bucket they’d hauled around the house for several days. “Yes, the store at the poblado has all that, and it’s great. Better than anything I could make. We’ll need to return Jimmy’s tools, and maybe we could invite him for dinner, too.”

  “I say we invite anybody who’s helped. Make a fiesta out of it,” Alex said, surprising himself. He didn’t have much of a social life back in the city, but here, somehow, even though he hadn’t been here long, he felt at home.

  Raul confirmed that he’d be done before dark, and Cassie and Alex headed to the store for supplies, stopping at Jimmy’s house on the way to drop off the tools.

  “Oh, my,” Alex said as they pulled up to a round hill on a bluff overlooking the ocean. The large, round boulders it was made with were interspersed with what looked like the bottom of wine bottles of many colors—blue, red, green and some yellow.

  “That’s a most interesting house,” he said as he stepped out of the jeep and grabbed the bucket of tools and followed Cassie toward the house.

  “It sure is. One-of-a-kind, that’s for sure. He built it all on his
own.”

  He followed her through the arched wooden door and whistled. “Wow. This is fascinating.” He glanced around and the inside was as unique as the outside. The place was small, but had a fireplace, a huge Mexican-tile sink and windows that looked out over the sea and on the other side, a magnificent view of the mountains.

  “Doesn’t look like he’s here. I’ll leave a note,” Cassie said as she grabbed a pencil and jotted quickly.

  They continued on the dirt road onto the highway he’d seen from the jet—which seemed like a lifetime ago. They ordered enough meat to feed an army, and Cassie gathered the other things. He noticed a bin of corn on the cob and remembered how his grandmother had cooked it when he was young.

  “Have you ever had elotes?” he asked Cassie as he set their items by the cash register.

  “Street corn? Yes, I love it.”

  He filled a bag with corn and grabbed some cheese out of the refrigerator, positive he’d seen the rest of the things he’d need back at the house.

  When they got back, Raul confirmed just another hour or so, and Alex and Cassie got to work in the kitchen.

  “You may not know how to cook, but you’re good at heating things up,” Alex said, and he smiled as Cassie wrinkled her nose. She did it often, and he thought it was charming.

  “Thanks. I’m glad I’m good for something,” she said. “I always helped my mom cook, but I never had time to learn.”

  “No problem. We’ve got this,” Alex said as he headed out to the patio and lit the barbecue. “You can help with the corn.”

  “What—what do I do?” she called after him.

  “Shuck the corn,” he called back.

  “That I can do,” she said, and by the time the coals were lit and he went back into the house, she was halfway done.

  “So we grill these?” she asked.

  “Yes, and then you add the secret sauce.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Watch and learn,” he said with a laugh. He mixed mayonnaise, Mexican cheese, cilantro and spices together and set it in the refrigerator.

  “Mayo? On corn? If I’d known that’s what it was I might not have eaten it.”