Butshe could still hear his steps for the beach was stone not sand. Thestrong tides that pounded this area washed away all the sediment. Allthat cover...d the exposed ocean floor was a thin layer of grey mud. Itwas low tide. Way off in the distance the Atlantic waves could be heardrolling in. But Nancy did not hear them at all as she was focused on thesound of the footsteps she was trying to follow. She was making a greateffort to catch up. At one point his outline came into view but Nancyslipped. She had on a sundress and I could see she had her suit on underneath. She wandered over to one of the loungers.I went to let Marie know her guests were arriving. She was laid out on the bed. I gently shook her. She looked up and smiled. I told her there were some girls down in the pool that were her age.I then went to our bedroom and knocked on the door. Tamara opened the door and I told her Trish and company had arrived. She said they would be out shortly.I went to see Michael in the study and. I hold my breath. "Hey," she says as her eyes travel over everyone. When her eyes meet mine she holds the look a few seconds, a smile creeping over her perfect lips. Acting like I couldn't care less is the hardest thing I've ever had to do considering the way my heart is hammering in my chest. She looks amazing! Her clothes and hair are wet from the rain and it only adds to her allure. "How are things?" Becky asks. "Oh you know, same as always. How are things here?" she says as she peels off. “Twenty per cent, cheapskate! They need the tips!”“Don’t they pay their staff properly?” I asked, dropping thirty-five dollars on the table. Her comment had stung. I wasn’t a cheapskate by any means, but I thought a surcharge of twenty per cent for simply taking an order and bringing the food to the table was still a bit steep. I wondered if I was supposed to tip the cashiers and shelf-packers in the shops, and mentally shrugged; perhaps that was just how it worked here.I checked our bearings.