Now, this isn’t what I expected, but then she remembered her Hyde Park dream. Just one scene, one picture frame from the dream and Toni wondered if this is what was meant. How did this make sense? After what she had overheard, it didn’t make sense. For his part, Hugh overheard them listening to the recording but she didn’t want to bring that up, not now – not ever.
When Toni continued in silence, Hugh said, “I am the Minister of Education. One of my duties is to find educators for our blossoming population of young people. I have eyes! I do not ride a goat! You work extremely well with Mishael and I offer you a position.”
“Well, now…” Toni was at a loss for words and yet, this might be what God wanted for her. She loved the mission field! The intrigue involving Misha Nelson, her grandmother – Rose, and also Hugh concerning Mishael’s ascension to the throne, didn’t fit with her own prayers and recent hopes for D’Almata. Her thoughts and struggle for a suitable answer was interrupted again by Hugh.
“That is my agenda! Now, breakfast.” He announced and then took himself upstairs.
Toni set about making breakfast; her therapy, as she tried to process Hugh’s proposition and what it could mean to her own agenda. Her yearning and purpose was to please God and obey His Holy Spirit guidance. Part of that obedience was getting her bills paid but there had always been the larger picture; one of personal purpose and of destiny and of eternity.
When Mishael came downstairs, they decided they would go to the beachcomber after breakfast. Although the surf was considerable, daredevil surfers would be trying to catch the hurricane waves. The beach would probably be closed but Toni reassured Mishael that a closed beach never stopped a determined surfer.
Hugh stayed behind.
When they arrived at the beach, the water was off-limits but there were a dozen boards in the water on the outside of the break, beyond the end of the pier. Mishael and Toni leaned against the boardwalk rail watching the water along with a legion of other spectators, including wanna-be’s and those surfers who had already given it a go that morning.
Someone standing near them said, “It’s double overhead.”
Mishael looked at her questioningly. In answer, Toni pointed to the water announcing, “Look at that long shoulder!” A set had arrived. Two surfers went for the first wave and the second guy succeeded.
Dropping in, the surfer made his bottom turn pushing off and extending the turn for down the line. The wave began pitching out, top to bottom, forming a tube. He came up halfway and then he was barreled. The wave looked like a rotating wall of water, racing down the shoreline. Disappearing from their vision the surfer rode inside the wave. He reappeared momentarily before the wave started to pitch out again. Everyone watching from the boardwalk was mesmerized although some were hooting and others shouting encouragement. The wave pitched over and he was in the tube again. As his ride came to an end, the typical mist of ocean spray followed him. He kicked out and paddled back to his fellow surfers. There was cheering, high-fiving and clapping from the boardwalk.
Toni was thrilled to see such a ride, but also because Mishael witnessed it too. She explained what tubing or barreling was and how experienced surfers aimed for that type of ride.
Mishael had never seen a surfer tubed in real-life. He listened earnestly as he watched for another set.
Several hours later, Hugh and Rifta joined them for a late lunch at the Beachcomber restaurant. They sat at the window to keep an eye on the water. Mishael enthusiastically explained the variety of surfing maneuvers he had seen and some of what he learned as he watched that day.
Enjoying Mishael’s excitement, Toni was quiet and spoke only when she needed to correct a detail he was explaining. As he talked she noticed that he had gone from the soft looking, apathetic teenager she met at the airport a scant month ago, to a disciplined and engaging young adult. Perhaps this is what his father, Todd Nelson had in mind but she looked across the table to Hugh and wondered if this new, improved Mishael wouldn’t cause him problems.
Hugh was engaged, listening to Mishael and periodically asking questions. Toni found his behavior incongruous to the second hand information she overheard only the morning before, evidenced on her cell phone recording.
A set came in as they continued to sit at the table, Hugh and Rifta sipping strong coffee. Hugh said to Mishael, “One day you will be able to ride waves like this… but not off D’Almata.” The three men laughed.
Mishael turned to Toni, “I wish I could ride one this summer before I go home… maybe I’ll be barreled.”
Toni said, “That would be super but this swell is fairly rare. You’ve been staying up on your board and I think you’re ready to try that other board. You need to get used to it before the contest. You’ll be riding some great waves by then. Remember, we’re planning the Cape Hatteras trip the first week in August.” Mishael glowed. They stayed at the table until the last surfer came out of the water at sunset.
As they drove home, Toni decided to call Billie later and ask him to give Mishael a briefing on surfing survival. Surfing three or four foot waves isn’t necessarily dangerous unless the surfer gets caught in a rip current or surfs through a pier. The young guys surfed through the pier frequently at the Beachcomber break. Toni continually discouraged Mishael from ever attempting it – even though he had yet to surf next to the pier. The more important worry was the stronger waves that could hold even excellent swimmers down underwater, longer than normal. Billie would have some safety tips that could help a newbie like Mishael.
Chapter 19
The hurricane – or rather, tropical storm diminished over the next several days. For a beginner, Mishael got some great surfing in at the Beachcomber break with Billie Cliff’s help. All the local surfers were cramming in as much surf-time as possible with the contest a brief few weeks away.
In the meantime, Coach Merriweather was directing from the sidelines and in the water too. She was either on her new board or on the jet-ski, (although only twice at the Beachcomber break as the other surfers complained). Most times she was on shore, barefoot in the wet sand with a pair of binoculars.
The Plastic Fantastic hadn’t been ridden by her. Toni had no plans to paddle around on the vintage board. Rather, she promised Mishael he could try it out and he did – frequently during the busy surfing days of July and early August. He liked her board.
Merry continued to text or call with her internet surf calculations but Billie used the internet too. He and Rick Salerno examined the information they found to minimize the run-around time. They realized if the wind was steady and on shore, the swell would more than likely be blown out. If the tide was wrong or the swell minimal, they didn’t bother to go look for themselves. If there was a question, they would check the live beach cams or lastly, drive down to the prospective beach to see for themselves what the surf conditions were like.
Along with Rick and his son, Alex, Billie and Mishael were planning a surf run to Cape Hatteras. As all of them had flexible schedules, they were hoping for stellar surfing conditions at the Cape for either Friday or Saturday a week before the Forecastle surfing contest.
It turned out that both days looked possible but they chose Friday, as the water and beach wouldn’t be as crowded as Saturday. The plan was to leave at 1am from Edgewood to arrive at the Outer Banks before sunrise for dawn patrol. The four of them would surf as much as possible before returning home around mid-night the same day.
Hugh with Toni’s advice thought it best to take their rental cars with Toni and Rifta driving. The surfers could sleep some, during the drive but especially on the return trip when the four water jocks would be exhausted.
Toni drove the Escalade with Billie, Rick and Alex and the boards on top. Rifta took Hugh and Mishael in the Mercedes.
It wasn’t long before the men fell silent and then asleep as Toni headed north to Hatteras. The Mercedes was behind her. In front, the road was dark and empty as there were no straight four-lane highways but only second
ary roads. Toni had instrumental music playing but otherwise the drive was quiet except for the occasional deep breathing or snore coming from the passengers. For Toni, it was a time to think and sort through possibilities and to make decisions. This was the kind of road trip she and Vance would use to unravel problems, ponder dilemmas or work through ministry issues that were unresolved. With Vance, God would direct their conversation to His desired conclusion. Or as it always seemed, in hindsight to the missionary couple.
By herself, Toni would talk to God – silently and He would guide the course of her mind like the channel of a river. It was a freeing experience which always fascinated her. Over the years, Toni repeatedly learned the lesson of how willing hearts were lead by the Spirit.
Tonight, she once again turned her mind to Hugh’s teaching invitation. She liked Hugh. She liked a lot of people. Toni often saw personality quirks as God’s stamp of artistic genius. And she loved Mishael as an aunt would love a favorite nephew. She was fond of Rifta in spite of his cynicism; Toni knew God had his number.
What Toni was uncertain about was Hugh’s intentions.
She liked Hugh. After interacting with him for the last several weeks, she knew Hugh to be a thoughtful, intelligent soul. Other evidence such as Rose Cervantes’ lipstick on his collar revealed that he wasn’t always forthright. Hugh lacked transparency. The difficulty was that Toni could not reconcile the contradictions.
She overheard Hugh say he hadn’t wanted to kowtow to a woman with “polite nothings” or something like that and yet, given the opportunity he seemed to do the opposite… at least, with her. Hugh certainly did not ignore her and he went so far as to throw a birthday party for her. Toni thought some of this behavior was due to the D’Almata upbringing. Perhaps, his seeming duplicity was his upbringing as well? She wondered.
Toni’s would-be captors had mentioned a plan to overthrow Mishael’s ascension to his nation’s throne. The implication had Rose Cervantes thrusting young Misha into position to be the next sovereign of D’Almata. They made it clear that Rose was involved with Hugh or with someone they monikered as the Duke. The thought crossed her mind that these hoodlums may have been using a slang-name, calling Hugh a duke even as they called Rose Cervantes “the old lady.” Toni had never got up the nerve to ask Hugh or even, Mishael if Hugh was considered a duke on D’Almata. She realized she was afraid of the answer.
Another contradiction; Hugh enjoyed going to church and yet, he bantered irreverently about God and God’s kingly ways. For Toni this was major. She liked Hugh. She wanted him to know God. Otherwise, he would be left with a certain destiny which included ultimately, eternal death.
Finally, Hugh said that his “agenda” was to hire her as a teacher for the D’Almata youth. His statement rang true but only partially. Toni was a master at partial truth telling. The gut feeling she had, forecast that his agenda was part and parcel with the other unknown factors. If she knew the truth about any one of his discrepancies she expected the others to fall into place defining the whole.
It was important to know the facts before she could make an intelligent decision about the teaching job. Even so, Toni understood well from both scripture and her personal experience, sometimes God inspired faith moved one to do the illogical.
Furthermore, she liked Hugh.
Chapter 20
Friday – all day at Cape Hatteras.
Billie awoke about 30 minutes out from the old lighthouse wave break. As they drew near, he mentioned that the islands were still cleaning up after the hurricane damage from the previous year. Toni had seen the crews working on her last visit with Mishael. She remembered reading that there were approximately 200 miles of islands that made up the Outer Banks and because they jutted out into the ocean, the coastal islands were vulnerable to any passing or incoming severe weather.
Billie directed Toni to park and the surfers were out of both cars before the engines were off. They ran down to get a look at the water as Hugh, Rifta and Toni climbed out to stretch and to get their bearings. The sky was alight but the sun hadn’t made its appearance yet. Toni jogged over to the public restroom and when she returned to the cars, the surfers were back. The swell was happening. It was head high with the hope of some smooth 6 or 7 foot sets coming in. There was a steady offshore wind which is often the summer norm at dawn.
Billie pulled out his munchie stash and everyone ate a banana. The surfers consumed more food and liquids before stretching and running.
Rifta got busy unloading the boards as the others followed through by preparing first, wax on their surf boards and then, sunscreen on their faces for a long cloudless morning in the water. It was almost 7am before they actually got wet and by then other surfers had arrived.
Toni was going to set up on the sand but not yet. Knowing Mishael would be fine with Billie and Rick, she planned a morning walk – with some workout sprints and then hot tea and perhaps, even breakfast. Her all night vigil caused her mind to slow but her body seemed indefatigable.
Hugh and Rifta were already discussing breakfast. Rifta was tired and wanted to sleep before it got hot and sunrise was his usual bedtime. Hugh decided he would walk with Toni and then they could get something to eat. With the windows down, Rifta climbed into the backseat of the Escalade as Toni and Hugh walked down to firmer wet sand.
They strolled for a mile or more without saying anything. The water was warm and the air was warming quickly. When a dog, an Irish Setter came bounding towards them from behind the mound of sand dunes that lined the road, which Toni was certain was against beach rules – Hugh asked, “Do you continue to miss your dogs?”
Toni watched two girls, looking like sisters of eight or ten years of age, come running after the dog who was paw deep in the water. Remembering, her faux pas in June about being lonely, she wondered at his question.
“Not as much as I did. I’ve been too busy to enjoy them even if they were here with me. And I know my daughter, Merry is taking wonderful care of them,” she answered. She hoped he would not ask their breed but when he did, she said without apology, “They are mutts.”
“Oh?” Hugh looked at her quizzically. Then to hide his ignorance, he said, “Yes, Mutz. I have heard of it.” Toni wanted to laugh but instead she only grinned toward the ocean and he didn’t see.
After regaining her composure but with a spark of humor lighting her eyes, she told him, “One is Blue and the other a female, is Blondie.”
He noted her twinkle and he took this as a friendly sign that any awkwardness between them was fast diminishing. “Ah, I like dogs. I would like to see your blue Mutz and the blonde one, sometime,” Hugh said seriously.
Fascinated by the ridiculous, Toni simply smiled at him and nodded, before she said, “I’m sure they would like you, if you are a dog lover.”
Although he faced straight ahead as they walked the shoreline, Toni saw Hugh’s brows go up and then drop. The smug smile faded. He replied, “I said, I like dogs but I am not a dog lover as you imply. I have dogs, five or more canine beasts but I do not miss them. Now, my horses – I miss.”
In the open expanse surrounding them and the breeze confirming an atmosphere of freedom, at the word ‘horses’ isolation separated them from one another and the encompassing world, as their thoughts diverted to other places and to former times. They walked on in silence.
Toni wondered about the man on the horse, riding into the Santa Fe National Forest back in June. His wild grey hair and his posture, military straight, galloping past as she watched unnoticed from her rocky post. She had felt nothing then. No gut leap or Holy Spirit insight but only a sense that she was alone and perhaps, vulnerable on an isolated path, miles from anywhere and anyone. Musing further, Toni decided that Hugh walking next to her now two months later, had at that time no clue to the hinge-pin that day became for them. From time to time, she noticed a stirring about his expressions as if he realized circumstance had pivoted him into a new avenue of life. Scripture described Jesus as the Door. In
various ways, doors were opening and closing for Toni by the Hand of God since she could remember. Accordingly, for Huram D’Almata that day in June was notably striking to her… for both of them.
Hugh was first to shake off reminiscing as he pointed to some commercial buildings off to the left, toward the road. “Look. There is a restaurant. Are you hungry yet?”
Toni was hungry and said so.
The restaurant was across the road. Dodging the summer traffic, they crossed over and went in. Toni ordered her morning hot tea and Hugh asked for coffee.
Her recent thoughts led Toni to ask, “Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems your nation, D’Almata has arrived at a new place in your history. From what I understand your customs guard you from pushing haphazardly into the 21st century.”
Pursing his lips, Hugh nodded.
An idea came to Toni and before he spoke she continued, “Forgive my inquisitiveness, but how does your nation or better yet, you… How do you deal with offence? I mean when you have hurt someone perhaps, by insult or even physically… Your horse tramples their prize herb garden, for example.”
Hugh’s face lit up. Of course, Toni would want to learn of the superiority on D’almata! Who wouldn’t? This was perhaps the sort of inquiry she would ask if contemplating the teaching position he offered, he surmised. He said, “We are extremely polite people and I would go to great lengths to make right my wrong.”
As the waitress returned with their drinks, Hugh was momentarily diverted. He asked her to give them a few minutes before they ordered. The waitress hurried after new arrivals as the diner was filling with the second wave of beach goers... surfers being the first wave. Toni glanced at her menu but while Hugh was studying his, she studied him.
When he put the menu down Toni pursued her agenda. “Again should the need arise forgive me, but what if the offense was beyond correction? Instead of a garden, your horse trampled your neighbors’ child? What then?” Toni began stirring her steaming tea as if to cool it but in reality, she did not want to see Hugh’s expression.
Cynic, Surfer, Saint (Scenic Route to Paradise #1) Page 16
