Black Beaches of Tahiti

No, it wasn't right, but she was going anyway.

The car was packed, reservations were made, and Frank was in London. She turned slowly back to the room. With a heavy sigh, she took in one last look.

She deserved this.

The keys in her hand jingled as she set them on the counter, reminding her of this same day five years ago when things were different. She had set her keys on the counter with the same jingle as they prepared for their honeymoon in Tahiti. That day was rainy and cold, the taxi was late picking them up, and the airport had overbooked their flight. It seemed the entire trip would be cursed. She had hoped they could reschedule, but Frank insisted they keep their plans.

"Everything is booked," said Frank. "If we don't go today, I'll miss the best dive times."

At the front desk of their hotel, the clerk recognized Frank from his many business trips. She handed him the keys to his regular room. "I'll be up with your appreciation gift soon," she said.

"That won't be necessary," he answered. "We will be here for the week and we'll be very busy."

"We?" She asked.

"Let me introduce you to my wife, Lizzy" he said. "Liz, this is Cora."

Liz stepped out from behind Frank, still untangling her camera and purse straps from the suitcase handle. "Hello," she smiled.

Cora looked Liz up and down. "Nice to meet you," she said.

"Likewise," said Liz. "Do I get an appreciation gift?"

Cora paused, staring blankly at Liz, then at Frank. She didn't answer, instead she turned her attention to another customer in the line forming behind them.

Frank grabbed the luggage and headed for the elevator. Liz followed.

The elevator ride was quiet. Liz wondered if there had been something between Frank and Cora. "She's beautiful," Liz said.

Frank responded, "Yes."

In their room, Liz turned on the television to find a weather forecast hoping they had left the bad weather behind. There was only sports. She went to the bathroom just as Frank stepped out of the shower. She admired his tan muscular shoulders glistening in the sunlight. He pulled her close. "Let's spend the entire honeymoon making love," he whispered.

Liz curled into his arms. She cherished this moment. Tonight they were the only people on earth. Though, as wonderful as a week of lovemaking sounded, she knew it would not happen. Each one had their own agenda. The truth was they couldn't be more different, but it was their differences that had drawn them together. Frank loved scuba diving. He had grown up on the Florida coast and had spent a great deal of his childhood exploring the reefs. He enjoyed talking about diving and would drift endlessly as he told the stories. She, on the other hand, didn't like the ocean at all, but she loved the beach. She could spend hours hunting for shells and sunbathing. Tahiti offered exceptional diving and beautiful sand beaches in many colors.

In the morning, they prepared for a flight to Rangiroa where Frank would dive the vibrant reefs of Tiputa Pass and Liz would photograph shells and tour Tikehau. She had noticed the many shells decorating the lobby and hoped to get tips from Cora, but she wasn't at the front desk.

They made their way to a small plane. "Hey! Frank!" said the pilot.

"Sam," said Frank. "Why are you flying? Have you canceled your dive?"

"Nah. The weather is iffy and I want my own transportation. Some small plane pilots won't fly if there is even light rain," said Sam.

"Iffy?" asked Liz.

"Yeah the forecast calls for a slight chance of thunderstorms," he answered.

Frank saw the worried look on Liz's face. "Slight," he said.

"We'll come back if the weather turns," Sam assured her.

Liz got on the plane despite her better judgment. She didn't want to make a fuss and ruin Frank's dive. After landing, Frank hurried to the dive site.

Liz hollered after him, "Where do I go?" But he didn't hear her.

"I'll show you," said Sam. He directed Liz to the beach then joined Frank for their dive.

Liz strolled along the white sand beach waiting for the flight to Tikehau. She stopped every few steps to sift for shells in the warm sand and dig for others in the cool, moist sand below. She had nearly used a roll of film when she noticed an hour had passed, and she had just minutes to get to the plane. It was a small plane, similar to Sam's, that took her the short flight, but it seemed like forever in her rush.

She had forgotten about the weather and didn't notice the darkening stormy skies until the tour boat was far from shore. She began to panic when the water became too choppy for the small boat. She scanned the pamphlet of the pink sands of Tikehau, and boat tour, for a photo that would show her where they were. She begged the captain to return to shore.

"We will dock soon, and you can return to Rangiroa by plane," said the captain.

Liz remembered what Sam had said about small plane pilots and wondered what qualifies as light rain. She watched the skies for Sam's plane but wasn't sure if she would recognize it.

Finally on land, she was able to take the plane back to Rangiroa. The weather calmed while she waited for Sam and Frank to fly her back with them to Tahiti. When they arrived, Sam waved for her to get on the plane. She was surprised to see Cora sitting in Frank's arms and wrapped in his jacket.

"Liz," said a surprised Frank. He scooted over to make room for Liz between him and Cora.

"Cora was with us on the dive and was caught in a rip tide," said Frank. "Sam saved her life."

"I bet that was terrifying," said Liz.

Liz remembered the rest of the honeymoon as being awkward and uncomfortable and felt the same pain she had felt that day. She grabbed her keys from the counter. She had never known if Frank and Cora had a thing. If he had explained the appreciation gift and told her that Cora was diving with him, it might have changed everything, but now, it only added to the long list of questionable behavior involving other women.

Anyway, it didn't matter anymore. It was too late, and Sam was waiting for her on the black beaches of Tahiti.