It was just before sunrise when we arrived at the marina. The weather report predicted a beautiful day, the sky was clear the sea was calm and a light cool breeze blew in from the ocean.
For the first time in months we had a whole day we could spend together. About time, too. The stress of our jobs keeping us apart was beginning to take its toll on our relationship. We had begun to argue over petty little things that shouldn't have mattered. I hate arguments, so does she. We knew it was just stress and we always made up quickly. But her new job required some odd hours and my promotion meant that 'occasionally' I had to make a road trip for a few days. 'Occasionally', however had quickly turned into once a week as my boss put more and more responsibility on my shoulders.
Now it was time for a break, just the two of us. A cruise up the coast, maybe a little fishing, maybe some diving, maybe just a day on the ocean getting some sun and spending some quality time together.
Jeannine loaded the ice chest and a few other things onto the boat, wearing a faded, snug pair of jeans and a bikini top. With her long, dark hair hanging down her back, her deep tan and the way she filled those jeans, I began to have thoughts of robbing a few banks, just so I could retire early and spend every waking moment looking at her. Watching her as she cast off the mooring lines, I was convinced she would be worth the risk.
We left the 'No Wake Zone' and I shoved the throttles all the way to the stops. Jeannine always loved taking the swells near the shore at full speed. At 26 feet, the Cigarette is big enough that the ride wasn't too rough, but small enough to get airborne off the larger swells. I have to admit I enjoyed it too, though for different reasons. Seeing her standing beside me with the wind in her hair and the bouncing of the boat causing a bouncing in her bikini, it's a wonder I didn't wreck the boat.
At a few miles out I cut the throttles. "Well, my one true love, what will it be? Fishing, diving, just cruising around, or would you prefer some other kind of fun?" I said with a wink and a wolfish smile.
"Hmmm... Maybe all of the above though not necessarily in that order." She returned the wink and the smile. "Actually I heard of a wreck just south of Key Biscayne that the last storm uncovered. That could be interesting. I got some vague GPS coordinates from some fishermen at the marina. Do we have enough fuel?"
"We've got enough to make it to St. Croix if you want." I grabbed her around the hips and pulled her close. "I could call in dead for a few days and spend them with you on the beach. What do you say... Sand in your shorts... Fruity umbrella drinks... Me..."
"You know I want nothing more than to have you all to myself for a week. But your boss thinks the world of you and you would probably get away with it. Mine, on the other hand, has been watching me like a hawk since I started there. I would probably return to find my desk had been cleared out."
"Well, you can always find another job..."
"But I like it there except for the boss. And she's not so bad when she isn't standing over my shoulder asking a dozen questions. Besides I'd like a little stability in my career, bouncing from job to job won't help that."
"I know," I said, "we just don't get to spend enough time together lately. And I miss you."
"Well, we have today. That'll just have to get us through for a while. So, You want to dive on the wreck or what?"
"I'm thinkin' 'or what'." I gave her the wolfish smile again.
"Oh, we will 'or what', but later, you dirty old man."
"Hey! Who you callin' old? You dirty old woman?"
She laughed, "Well you are getting a little gray."
"That's from putting up with you. And I earned every one of those. Just be glad I still got some left to turn gray. Besides I can still take you in a fair fight."
She exaggerated a pout.
"Hey, I said a fair fight. Pouting is not fair."
"Who said I fought fair? Now kiss me you old fool?"
I did. Thoroughly. "How 'bout I get a blanket and throw it on the deck and we 'or what' right here right now."
She smacked my arm and pushed me away. "Are you out of your mind? We're only a couple miles from the marina, anyone could come up on us and have the show of a lifetime!" Her shocked look I didn't quite buy. "Though I have to say, I'm really tempted. But, let's dive. We can have all the fun you want later."
I jammed my hands in the pockets of my shorts, kicked the captain's chair and skulked a bit over-dramatically. "Ok, Mommy."
She giggled and kissed me again. I cranked the throttles back up and followed her directions.
"Not the most accurate coordinates I've ever gotten." I said "But in that area the water should be 40 to 60 feet deep. I can use the fish finder like sonar and see a fair layout of the floor. At those depths it should give me a pretty wide view."
"Well they aren't the best, that's true, but it was the best the fishermen could offer. They said the Coast Guard had been out to check it out and they got the coordinates from their own GPS when they were told to fish elsewhere."
"Hmmm... That sounds fishy indeed."
"More bad puns?"
"Unintentional, I assure you. It's just odd that the Coast Guard would be so secretive about something like an old wreck."
I flipped on the fish finder and began a search pattern scanning the contours of the ocean floor looking for anything that didn't look natural.
She changed from jeans into her bikini bottom on the deck.
"You sure you don't want to 'or what'?" She gave me the look again. "Ok, Mommy"
She kissed my cheek. "You're so cute when you're angry."
"You should see me when I'm lusting after you. Oh... Wait... I AM lusting after you."
She spread a beach towel on the forward deck and laid down on her back to work on her tan.
"Sure!" I called over the windshield. "I do all the work and you get to relax."
"So?" She smiled back. "I got the information on it. Besides you know I don't know how to read that thing."
"Fair enough. But you owe me a little extra 'or what' for this."
"Careful, I may 'or what' you death before we're through."
"I could live with that" I said grinning again.
She shook her head in mock disgust. " And the bad jokes just keep a comin'."
"Do I know any other kind?"
"No, but I like your bad jokes. They're the best."
"Does that mean my good jokes are the worst or that my bad jokes are actually funny?"
"Yes."
'Thought that's what you meant."
After half an hour of searching, I spotted what could be a wreck on the fish finder. I almost missed it entirely. Watching the LCD display was difficult when I had other things to watch that were much more appealing.
"What's this look like to you?" I said as I made a turn for another pass.