65 - Summer Lovin’

Unsurprisingly, the teens weren't thrilled about having to re-enroll in school, but when they understood that they were being given the option to reside in Isla Paradiso permanently if they agreed to work hard to attain their diplomas, they were ecstatic.

Maia hadn’t mentioned her shark attack to the kids, but she had told Dylan about it, as well as her uncertainty about her decision. “For what it’s worth, I think you made the best possible compromise,” Dylan told her later. “I know it can’t be easy being away from your babies, but it won’t be for much longer. I’ll be glad to have the kids around and get to know them better, and I will help you teach them everything they need to know in order to live here safely.”

Maia’s young adult children were also planning to stay in Isla Paradiso. Destiny had gotten a job at the Nautilus Laboratories, while all the other adults as well as the teens had dreams that involved diving, fishing, sailing, and lifeguarding, so it really was best that they made their permanent homes here in order to better achieve their lifelong goals.

Once the kids were attending classes again, Maia set out to explore more of the Isla Paradiso islands with one of the houseboats.

And later, she checked into a resort and booked herself a VIP room at the Shimmering Sands Resort.

It was lovely to pamper herself, to eat whatever she wanted from a buffet and not have to cook, and to relax in the hot tub, even if the water there wasn’t as comforting as seawater to her mermaid scales.

But that made her realize she was more than willing for her mermaid experience to come to an end.  Maia felt she had learned what she had needed to and was ready to have her witch powers back again.

It didn’t take long for Destiny to mix Maia up a potion to remove her scales, and afterwards she waved her arms around to test out her restored witch powers, which were as strong as ever.

Seeing that the teens were all settled doing their homework and that Dylan had everything well in hand, Maia returned to the resort to finish out the rest of her stay.

She decided to go for a swim and then got a drink at the pool bar.

Maia had almost finished it when she started feeling a little drowsy, so she decided to head to her room for the night, but then a voice asked her, “Hey, can I buy you another?”

At first, Maia was irritated at being disturbed, but upon feeling the sparks of instant attraction towards the man who'd offered to buy her a drink, being alone no longer felt so appealing...

He introduced himself as Reid Calder. Maia felt a strong connection with him; they shared a few more drinks and talked well into the wee morning hours. 

After the bar closed down, they left the pool and then Reid kissed her goodnight.

But rather than letting him go, Maia kissed him back fervently, and invited him into her room.

By the time she finally fell asleep, with Reid curled around her, the sun was already coming up.

Maia slept late into the day and was disappointed to see that Reid was no longer curled up with her when she awoke.  But then she heard the shower running. 

Grinning, she went to join him.

Afterwards, when he asked what she had planned for the day, Maia told him that she was due to check out of the resort and was probably going to go back to her rented houseboat. He asked her if she’d like to go somewhere with him instead.  Without hesitation, Maia told him yes.

Reid took her to the water park.  They spent time together walking along, talking and laughing and holding hands.

Then they stopped at one of the surf stations and Reid demonstrated his surfing technique. Maia enjoyed watching him very much.

“Pretty sick, huh?” he bragged afterwards.

“You’re very... athletic,” Maia said, and she blushed as she recalled their earlier activities.

Reid grinned.  “You too,” he rejoined and winked as he flirted. “So, how about we soak our wicked ‘well-exercised’ selves in the hot tub? Join me, yeah?”

Not long after they hopped in the hot tub together, Reid whispered to her, “No one’s around... Wanna play a game of who can hold their breath the longest?”

The following days passed in a similar fashion, with Maia going to check on the teens to make sure everything was going well with them, and then she would spend the rest of her time with Reid. She felt she had made more of a romantic bond with him in the days they spent together than she did with most of the men she’d known in her lifetime. She tried hard not to think of the future, though, and hoarded up memories of the days and nights they spent together.

Then came the day that Maia had anticipated with both delight and dread; the birthdays of her teenagers. But they were all so excited, and Maia was swept up into a very celebratory mood at the family party they had at the Bella Vista Beach.

Happy birthday, Kai!

Happy birthday, Marina!

Happy birthday, Ripples!

Happy birthday, Bubbles!

And the following day the whole family went to celebrate their graduation.  Kai was named valedictorian for his outstanding grades, but all the kids had buckled down and had done very well.  Maia was thrilled that they would all be able to pursue their dreams in a place they loved.

As Maia hugged her children goodbye, she felt pleased at how well they had grown up and was happy that she would soon be returning home to her babies. But she couldn’t help feeling torn. As much as she tried to deny it, she knew she’d be leaving a piece of her heart behind when she left Isla Paradiso. And for once this feeling wasn’t only the bittersweet loss of her children leaving the nest—Maia had started becoming accustomed to that.  It was what children did; they learned to fly on their own, and she was thrilled knowing they would soar...

But once her children were gone, that ultimately left her alone.  And after experiencing the relationship she’d had with Reid, even if it was only a romantic summer fling and she really didn’t know all that much about him outside of that relationship... it was going to be very hard to return to the life she’d led before. And for the first time since embarking on her challenge, Maia wasn’t sure if she hoped she’d become pregnant or not...

She also wasn’t sure how to say her farewells to Reid. And after seeing him standing on the beach, watching the sun go down, she decided she couldn’t do it.  She turned to walk away, but he spotted her.

“Maia!” he called out, and ran to catch up with her. “Something wrong?”

“No, no. It’s just... I have to be getting back home.”

“Already? Whoa, bummer! You sure?”

“Yeah...  I have responsibilities that don’t allow me much travel time, and I’ve been gone longer than I meant to be already.” Maia shrugged nonchalantly, as if the words weren't sticking in her throat.

“And I’m guessing you won’t be back anytime soon, then?” Maia saw something on his face that could’ve been disappointment, but it was gone too quick for her to be certain.

“I don’t... no.” she said quietly.

“Well, that’s cool, I guess... but we had good times, yeah?”

“Yeah...”

“Eh, well, hang loose, brah,” Reid said, and he turned and walked away. He never looked back.

Maia felt stung by his casual dismissal, but then wondered if he was just covering his emotions behind a wall of indifference, just as she had. It’s for the best, Maia told herself as she left the beach, it never would’ve worked out. But while she walked away, she blinked back tears and tried hard not to think of what she was leaving behind.

She tried...

Author’s note - Summer fling, don’t mean a thing, but...