by Joan Rylen
Vivian started to get tired and could tell the girls were, too, but she made it one more song. “I Will Survive” came on. Oh, yeah, Vivian could dance to that song. Hell, lately it had become her life’s mantra.
As Donna Summers ended, they called it a night. On their way out, Lucy took her shoes off.
“I’m impressed they made it this long,” Kate said, and carried them for her.
Once on the street, Vivian sang “I Will Survive” and the girls chimed in. They danced through the streets of Playa del Carmen and along the beach, back to their hotel.
Great ending to my 30th birthday and our first day of vacation!
CHAPTER 15
Day 2
THE NEXT morning the girls awakened to the sound of Lucy groaning. “Why did you let me drink so much?”
Kate sweetly responded, “We tried to warn you, and we even slowed you down at one point, to no avail.”
“I told you so!” Vivian shouted.
Wendy, a.k.a. the walking pharmacy, knew Lucy needed hangover remedies. She gave her Tylenol, Pepto and a bottle of water. Wendy assured her she would be fine, but announced they had to get going in order to catch their fishing boat. Lucy groaned even louder. Vivian loved to fish and the girls had made plans to go on a deep sea fishing excursion.
With no one to impress but the fish, they threw on trashy clothes and left the hotel. Wendy jumped in the driver’s seat of their rental and sang Robert Earl Keen’s “Five Pound Bass” as she drove. Though bass could not be caught today, she sang with enthusiasm.
They arrived at the marina and made their way down the dock, to the fishing boat Mucho Grande. Stepping on board, they met Captain Juan, and his first mate, Pedro, who introduced the girls to the other people chartering the boat; newlyweds from Alabama and a guy from New Jersey with long, yellow toenails. Gross.
Captain Juan went through the spiel about equipment, safety, bathrooms and the cooler. “Comprende?” he asked when done.
“Si,” everyone answered.
Wendy glanced at Lucy, who looked green around the gills, and realized she probably needed Dramamine. She had seen a small store at the marina, which was more like a shack, and asked Captain Juan, “Do I have a few minutes? I need to run to the store.”
He told her she had about 10 minutes.
A bell jingled above the door as Wendy walked into the shop. The aisle to her immediate right had medicine and such, so she grabbed the less drowsy version of Dramamine, then checked her purse to see how many ibuprofen she had left. Not many, so she grabbed a bottle of that too.
As the clerk rang her up, she glanced past the him, out the large window that overlooked the parking lot. She noticed an SUV with the windows down, facing the docks. The guy in the driver’s seat held something up to his eyes. Binoculars maybe? She thought.
The clerk cleared his throat. “169 pesos por favor.”
Wendy pulled out a twenty. “Is American money okay?”
The clerk took it, gave her change, then put the items into a bag.
Wendy looked out at the guy again and saw the faint outline of a ponytail. He turned slightly in her direction and she saw that what he held was not binoculars, but a camera. One with a long zoom lens. Pointed in the direction of their fishing boat.
“Gracias,” Wendy said as she took the bag from the clerk, still looking out the window. The customer behind her reached around to place his beer on the counter, so she moved out of the way and went outside. She heard a car engine start and turned back toward the parking lot just in time to see the “photographer” drive off.
That’s a little weird, she thought. Maybe he’s taking pictures of the boats or something She walked back to the Mucho Grande hoping she and her friends weren’t in any of the weirdo’s pictures.
As she climbed aboard, Lucy wobbled over and held out her hand. “Help me.”
Wendy opened the package and handed the medicine to Lucy. “Give it a few minutes. You’ll feel better soon.”
Captain Juan started the engine and pulled away from the dock. As they motored out of the marina Wendy pointed to another boat. “Look, is that Jon and Pierre?”
On a powerboat, also leaving the marina, were two guys wearing brightly colored tropical shirts, two girls, and a Hispanic guy at the helm. He looked like the guy Jon and Pierre acknowledged last night as they left the Purple Peacock.
“Hmmm, they’re kinda far away,” Vivian said. “It’s hard to tell if it’s them, but it does look like their style of shirts. I wonder who the other guy is?”
“It kinda looks like that short guy,” Kate said. “Whoever he is, that’s a nice boat.”
Wendy couldn’t make out the details of the stripes going down the side, but the deep V-hull and sound of the engines impressed her. “Yeah. That’s one helluva boat. The sound of those engines, wow. It turns on the speed freak inside of me.”
“There is something wrong with you,” Kate said and Wendy grinned.
As soon as they left the wake-free zone Captain Juan gunned the engine and pointed the boat toward open water. Thirty minutes later they arrived at their fishing spot, and Pedro rushed around getting the equipment set up. He threw out several lines and they waited for action. Soon, a reel started zinging, the line going out fast.
First up in the fighting chair was New Jersey toenail guy. He practically knocked everyone down getting to the chair. So much for chivalry.
“Where’s Lucy?” Vivian asked.
Pedro pointed to the bow of the boat. “Feeding fish.”
Everyone laughed, and Wendy grabbed a water and went to check on her, carrying her portable pharmacy along.
Toenail caught a Spanish mackerel, and after a bit, another reel starting zipping with activity Pedro pointed for Kate to take the chair.
Kate, who had never fished before, started to say no but Pedro handed her the rod before she could finish. She turned and gave Wendy and Vivian a look of bewilderment and asked, “How do I work this?”
The zzzzz zzzzz zzzzz of the fishing line on the reel went crazy and Pedro jumped and pointed, “Big fish! Big fish!”
They looked to where Pedro pointed and SPLASH! An amberjack leapt from the water, and then there was another splash. A blue marlin was hot on its tail, chasing it — just like something from National Geographic. Wendy heard the theme song in her head and started humming it.
Kate hooked the amberjack, which had been running for its life. It lost. The blue marlin took the bait and got hooked too.
The fight was on. Vivian and Wendy took turns helping Kate reel. Lucy was still camped out in the bow, unable to keep from heaving. Finally, after about an hour, Kate brought in her catch.
As the others fished, Kate, Wendy and Vivian enjoyed the sunshine.
Lucy finally joined them, saying she felt better. They placed bets on whether Nasty New Jersey would catch anything good. Only Kate bet he would; the rest of them thought his toenails would scare off the fish while he sat in the chair.
Kate, Wendy and Vivian caught some amberjack, barracuda, and a wahoo. The honeymooners reeled in a large kingfish. After a while, Lucy decided she’d like a turn. When the next line started zipping, Pedro helped her up into the chair and explained how it worked. Thirty minutes later, Lucy reeled in her catch, close enough so they could see what was on the line. It was a hammerhead shark, and oddly enough, she had foul hooked it in the tail. After a few pictures, Pedro cut the line and let it go.
Fishing excursion coming to a close, Captain Juan navigated them back to the marina while Pedro scurried around washing the deck, securing the rods and cleaning up in general. Once on the dock, the girls took pictures with their catch up on hooks behind them. Pedro then cleaned the fish and prepped it for cooking. Knowing they’d never eat it all, the girls gave the Captain and Pedro all but the Blue Marlin, which he cut into thick steaks. The chef at their hotel would cook it up for them for dinner. Yummo! Kate bought a small Styrofoam cooler from the store, and they loaded up.
Driving out of the marina, Wendy slowed and pointed. “There’s the boat Jon and Pierre were on today. I noticed earlier that the name is Belize It!, and it’s registered in Ambergris Caye.”
“I don’t even know where that is,” Vivian confessed.
“You and geography, Viv. No bueño!” Wendy said. “It’s south of here, in Central America. I wonder how long it would take to get there by boat?”
“Well, wherever it is, they are short one boat,” Kate laughed. “Get it!”
The girls laughed at Kate’s “short” joke.
“That Shorty,” Lucy said, still laughing, “he kinda has a criminal look about him.”
“He’s short,” Wendy said. “That’s criminal, but not a crime!”
“If Jon and Pierre hang out with him he probably isn’t bad,” Vivian said.
Wendy pulled up to the barricade for their “VIP” parking spot policeman Arturo gave them a nod
As he let them into the lot, Vivian rolled down her window. “Hola! We want to go salsa dancing tonight. Know any good clubs?”
“Salsa dancing?” Arturo replied. “You must go to Club Caliente. It’s the best salsa club in Playa.”
The four of them chimed in with “Aye ya yai ya yai!”
Arturo grinned then asked, “Que hora? What time are you going?”
Vivian answered, “Later, after dinner. Maybe we’ll see you there?”
“Bane. Adiós, Texas girls,” he said.
“Thanks for the spot.” Lucy waved goodbye and smiled at him.
They ran by the restaurant in the hotel to drop off the fish. The chef came out to meet them and asked how they’d like their fish prepared. He also gave them options for the rest of dinner. They made their selections for appetizers and sides — shrimp cocktail, scalloped potatoes and sautéed spinach in white wine and garlic. Mmm, mmm good, Wendy thought.
They were salty and fishy so it was time to hit the showers.
CHAPTER 16
THE GIRLS rested a bit and got cleaned up from their deep sea fishing excursion. Vivian made a final brush with mascara as Lucy said, “Hey, let’s go down to the poolside bar and have a frosty beverage before dinner.”
Vivian glanced at Lucy in the mirror. Yep, she looked 100 percent.
“Are you really up for that?” Kate put on a dab of perfume. “After all the tequila yesterday and being out on the boat today?”
“Yep, all the toxins have been heaved from my body and I’m ready for round two.”
Vivian checked herself in the full length mirror before walking out the door, satisfied with her progress on the pale scale. Kate walked up behind her and draped an arm around her shoulders. “You look cute, love that dress. You look happy and relaxed, too. I’m so glad to see that.”
“Yeah, for the first time in I don’t know when. This vacation is just what I needed.”
Lucy turned around in the doorway. “Come on you two. Let’s get this party started!”
God help us, Vivian thought as they walked out the door.
They arrived at the bar and grabbed four stools together. “Round of margaritas por favor,” Lucy said to the bartender when he approached.
“Look.” Wendy pointed to the shelves of liquor bottles. “The only tequila up there is that Tiempo Loco stuff everyone keeps selling us.”
“I wonder if the whole town has ownership in it or something and that’s why they keep pushing it,” Vivian said.
As they waited for the bartender to serve their drinks they couldn’t help but notice and overhear the couple next to them talking, mostly because the couple was loud, but also because the woman was very animated, and sparkly.
They were quite the pair. He wore a shimmery, expensive-looking blue shirt, strategically buttoned to emphasize his gold chain and a thick tuft of salt-and-pepper chest hair. She was petite and younger by at least 20 years, and busted out of her hot pink, rhinestone-studded top. Her platinum-blonde hair had been mega-teased and must have been sprayed with industrial strength hair spray. It hardly moved in the ocean breeze, and when it did, it moved as one unit. The humidity held no challenge for that hair. Her lips and nails were the same shade of hot pink, and she was dripping in jewels — diamonds for every accessory: earrings, necklace, bracelet, rings.
Vivian couldn’t stop staring and figured she might as well make small talk with them when they paused for a breath.
“Hey! How are y’all tonight? Isn’t this hotel wonderful?”
“Oh yes, we love it here,” the woman answered.
Vivian then introduced herself and the girls.
The man spoke up, “How you ladies doin’? I’m Al Russo and this is my wife, Adrienne.” He started to keep going, but his phone buzzed. He glanced down at it, gave a smirk and said, “Gotta take this.”
“Nice to meet you,” Vivian called after him, then turned to Adrienne. “Y’all sound like you’re from Chicago, maybe?”
“Al’s third generation in Chicago, but I’m from New Orleans originally,” Adrienne said.
“I thought I heard a hint of Louisiana in your accent,” Vivian said.
“Give me a few more of these,” she said and held up her daiquiri, “and I’ll sound like I just stepped out of a cup of filé gumbo.”
“Oh, that’ll really throw the locals off.” Vivian laughed and then continued, “It’s so beautiful here, don’t you just want to live here?”
“Oh my god, Playa is fabulous!” Adrienne said. “I could live here permanently. Are you girls staying out of trouble down here?”
“Never! We bring trouble wherever we go!” Wendy said. “We practically swung ourselves into the oblivion at the Purple Peacock last night. Right, Lucy? Then we went to Jungle Fever and discoed the night away. We are having a blast.”
They proceeded to tell her about Lucy’s swing incident the night before, Vivian’s birthday serenade, the ever-so-gorgeous Pasqual and of course, soap-stud Jon.
“I think I’ve seen him now that you’ve described him. I didn’t know he was an actor. Al and I are down here taking a break from the family and the business,” Adrienne told them, “although Al can’t seem to tear himself away from his phone.” She used her hands as she spoke and the glare cast off her wedding ring blinded Vivian a few times.
“Damn, girl, that is quite the rock you’ve got there,” Vivian couldn’t help but say. She decided to be safe and put on her sunglasses.
Kate raised her eyebrows and said, “Which one? The earrings, necklace or wedding ring?”
“The ring,” Vivian answered.
“Oh honey, this is nothing,” Adrienne said. “I don’t like to be too flashy on vacation.”
Nothing? Her bling is blinding! Vivian thought.
Al returned with his phone in his shirt pocket, which made it droop and expose even more chest hair. He said to the girls, “What are you ladies up to?”
They didn’t get a chance to respond because Adrienne replied, “They’re fabulous, and so much fun! They’ve been catching rays and catching men, all while catching a buzz.”
Al stepped back and ran his hand through his hair. “Oh, really?”
“We went deep sea fishing today, and I caught the big one,” Kate said. “It was huge and took me forever to get him in the boat.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard stories like that before,” Al said then raised his right arm as if to measure the length of a fish. “I caught one this big…”
“No, really, the chef is cooking the fish for us tonight and there will be plenty,” Kate said. “Y’all should join us.”
“Appetizer and sides included,” Wendy said. “It’s gonna be delicious.”
Adrienne looked at Al with a smile.
“Whatever you want, baby.” His shirt buzzed and he walked away to answer it. “Excuse me again, ladies.”
Adrienne rolled her eyes. She must have heard that a lot on this trip. “We’d love to join you for dinner,” she said to the girls. “Thanks for the invite. I could use some girl talk.”
&n
bsp; They clinked glasses to that, chatted while they finished off their drinks, then walked to the hotel restaurant. It, too, was filled with tropical plants, but it wasn’t quite as jungle-y as the lobby. The walls were painted a light terra cotta, which reminded Vivian of Santa Fe. Very soothing.
The waiter arrived with a bottle of Champagne. He popped the cork and said, “Compliments of the man in the blue shirt.”
The waiter asked Adrienne how she and Al would like their fish prepared, then walked off without taking any other orders. No need as they knew what they were having.
The five girls raised their glasses to toast to new friends.
A few minutes later, Al returned and Vivian asked, “How long are y’all here?”
Al took a sip of champagne. “As long as it takes to relax.”
“Must be nice to have an open-ended vacation,” Wendy said. “I’m a mortgage loan originator and there’s no time for lunch some days, much less a vacation. This is the longest vacation I’ve had in four years.”
“What do you do for a living Al?” Kate helped herself to the just-delivered shrimp cocktail.
“I own an Italian restaurant in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood,” he said. “Family business. My Poppi opened it in the ’40s.”
“Best cannoli this side of the Atlantic.” Adrienne raised her glass to toast Al.
“So are y’all in the mob?” Lucy asked.
Kate nudged her. Lucy had seen too many episodes of The Sopranos.
Adrienne sucked in her breath but Al shook his head and said, “Nah, I try not to get involved in anything like that. I’m just a guy who owns a little Italian restaurant and goes to mass on Sunday.”
Adrienne coughed lightly and rolled her eyes.
Vivian didn’t quite believe Al’s story. Mass or not, he looked like he had a devilish side. To break the tension, she gestured with a shrimp, “Wow, this cocktail sauce is excellent.”
