Kate led me out the door of the administration offices and we headed to the baths.
When we got to the dressing room, none of the members of our group were there or in the showers. Kate and I hurriedly stripped, showered, and wrapped towels around our bodies. We walked to the largest tub and found members of our group singing songs, led by Aoife.
We got in the tub and paddled to a vacant location against the rock wall overlooking the ocean.
We sang “The Parting Glass” and “Carrickfergus.” When the group finished, we applauded Aoife. She thanked everyone and turned to Kate, “You have a lovely alto, Kate. Are you singing in a group?”
“No. not since high school.” Kate leaned into me, and I wrapped my right arm around her.
“Nice hickey,” Julie smirked, observing the blue bruise on my shoulder.
“I’ve marked Tom as mine,” Kate said and then growled.
Everyone laughed.
“Relics of our ‘befriending” ceremony,” I said with a straight face.
Everyone laughed and moved closer.
“Show us other marks,” Lucy chuckled.
I sunk down in the hot water until only my head showed.
“You can see them when Tom takes a shower,” Kate said, tilting her head to one side. “But you will have to pay.”
“Will you accept checks?” Aoife laughed.
“Cash, check, or credit card.”
“I’m staying here until you all leave,” I said.
“I know how to empty the tub,” Otto said.
“I’ll get my camera,” Julie chortled.
We both started laughing and everyone joined us.
Within a few minutes, the group was singing again.
Thick fog descended on the tub. Kate and I felt it was time to leave our happy group. We showered and dressed in silence and walked together up the path to the dining room. I led Kate back to my suite.
Unlike the previous night, we slowly undressed each other, embraced and sat on the king-size bed. “What would you like to do?” We said at the same time.
“Let’s go slow,” I said.
“Slow is good.”
Forty-five minutes later we were lying side by side, panting, drenched in sweat. Kate ran her left hand up my chest and stopped at my chin. “I have a confession to make. Everything has been so good, I’m afraid something awful will happened and spoil it.”
“Me, too. I’m still scarred from Fiona’s death.”
Kate pulled me close. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry. It’s not you or me, it’s existential. I’m aware of the fragility of life. I’m aware of how precious each day is.” I kissed Kate. “How precious you are.”