The sand is like sugar, melting between every crevice of her toes with the passing seconds. She can feel the warm seawater, like a clear glass, flowing over the sand and causing her to sink in even further. She holds her long and slender arms out at her sides to keep her balance, trying to acclimate to the ebb and flow that sways and makes her dizzy in the waves. With every step she takes, her head turns to watch the water make a smooth palette from where her footprint once imprinted the earth. They disappear, going back into the sea, as if her steps were never there at all.
Cait is far from home. Her mind is even further out into the ocean, contemplating the long return. The flight from Queensland to Chicago is almost a full day’s ride; having not gotten any sleep last night, the prospect is inviting and even welcome. As the sun barely crests over the distorted lens of the sea, Cait breathes deeply with her eyes closed, taking in the strong scent of the water. She wants to hold on to this moment, reliving the last few hours, curling her toes in the sand. The wind blows Cait’s hair away from her face, hitting her with a strong and warm humidity that she still won’t experience in the city until late May. Australia’s backward weather this time of year is a comforting balm against the frigid winter waiting for Cait on the other side of the world.
Jack silently walks up behind her slim form, wrapping his long arms around Cait’s waist and gently kissing her neck. Cait’s finger’s trail along his forearms, exhaling with a quiet, satisfactory sigh. The two stand together watching the sunrise, wasting precious minutes in their embrace.
“Have you had time to pack?” he asks, an inflection of his voice that echoes care for Cait’s journey. Jack isn’t leaving for another two days, but knows her flight will depart within the next three hours.
Cait says nothing, only nodding her head that she hasn’t yet. The wet air will force her to wash all she brought with her anyway, so she has procrastinated the mad dash to throw all of her garments into a hard suitcase. Cait doesn’t want to leave Jack’s warmth, favoring their feet being polished together in the tide. She turns around and they lock lips a final time, a true Kodak moment of their silhouettes against the orange and purple sunrise.
...
Cait was brought to Queensland on an errand from her job as an architect. Her passion was creation, drafting building after building but never having the opportunity to show her talents on a wide scale. She was underappreciated at her position, dissatisfied with her lack of movement into development. Cait’s nature has always been soft and quiet, never one to seek out her desires aggressively, which contributed to her slow promotion. But she was sought out as a special consultant for a building that Jack was working on in the Coolum beach area, and jumped at the opportunity to travel abroad and exercise her nearly dormant skills.
Jack met Cait while she was still a student, seeking out internship sites to finish her licensure. Despite her being only in her early 20’s when they worked together, Jack thought she had great potential, and even greater beauty. Cait was unusually athletic for a woman with her demeanor, muscular but slender, and almost fearless in the way she would volunteer for daredevil activities. An invitation to skydiving didn’t make her flinch. The dichotomy of her tender attitude against her aggressive physical endeavors made Cait all the more appealing to Jack; her naivety towards his advances made the day-to-day tasks of working with her challenging. Though the two of them never crossed the threshold past a professional relationship while he was her supervisor, there was no shortage of defense from either of them against their spouses’ accusations.
Jack’s wife, Anna, was always suspicious of the teenage way that Cait looked at Jack when they would all meet for dinner. She was intimidated by the young girl’s figure and, ultimately, knew that Jack had hired Cait because he thought she was pretty. It was mere luck that Cait provided any sort of asset to Jack’s practice. Anna was no stranger to attention herself, however; despite bearing two children, she had a svelte appearance and spent time widely in the public eye as a socialite and charity event organizer. Jack’s success in the architectural business had given Anna a great name to backboard off the causes she supported. She would often bring Jack along to the events as an additional status symbol, since Jack was tall and an ideal match for her high-fashion taste at such occasions. His straight, dark hair would mop on the top of his head, with longer layers in the front to highlight his deep brown eyes. Jack’s brows were commandingly thick, giving him a near constant expression of control and distrust, which made women swoon at the idea that they could break his harsh exterior. Anna was not ignorant to the effect he had on women, and purchased him an almost obnoxiously large wedding band, engraved with Celtic knot work as an unmistakable symbol to others that Jack belonged to her.
Cait’s husband Bradley, on the other hand, was not so much jealous of Jack as he was the concept that Cait would find someone more interesting than himself. Bradley was the polar opposite to Jack, taller but very blonde, his blue eyes reflecting a constant innocence. They had relocated from their families in Colorado to live in Illinois, pursuing Cait’s dream of architecture. Bradley was just trailing behind. He was stuck in a desk job that didn’t fulfill him, making him bitter at the end of each day, and he reflected those failings onto Cait when she would come home. Her joy in doing what she loved gave him a sense of inadequacy and defeat, which he expressed poorly. Bradley didn’t notice the way that Cait looked at Jack; he was too focused on his own appearance at the several large parties that Cait managed to drag him to. But despite his sore loser attitude at times, Bradley was a kind person who cared very much for Cait. The couple had met when the two were only teenagers, mistaking their youthful lust for genuine love, only getting married when the overwhelming sense of duty took over amidst several friends’ weddings. The years kept passing, both of them growing more and more tired of each other, yet neither of them had the courage to declare their want to split. Cait tried to impress Bradley with her workouts and spontaneity, being brave to show him her spunk and growing need to escape. But Bradley never saw Cait the way she craved he would.
Jack was presented with the opportunity to map out a new resort hotel on the oceanfront of Coolum Beach, and decided he needed an assistant to help draft the vision; his success lied in the grand expectations he had for his buildings, not in his artistry. Cait was an obvious first choice. They had not worked together in four years, but she was stuck making model trees for the pompous high-end designer she worked for in Chicago and couldn’t wait to get away. Jack kept in touch with Cait often in the weeks leading up to the trip, stealing more minutes during their lunches each time they got together. Cait wanted the excursion to remain purely professional, but she couldn’t deny that the cold bed she shared with her husband gave her a longing for Jack’s powerful-looking hands.
Cait and Jack didn’t leave together, as he needed time to organize a tour of the build site with the Australian liaison. His flight left on a frigid Tuesday morning from O’Hare, the March wind making takeoff a nervous experience. Jack’s pictures of Anna and his two children, Owen and Fay, gave him comfort and happy memories to think of during the long trip. He fell asleep with the thoughts of the first time he held Owen, his firstborn, seven years ago, and how perfect the infant seemed. The three of them had much more fun than Jack ever expected to have as a father; he had somewhat of a wandering eye for good-looking women, but would never stray from the ultimate love he had for his child. Three years later, when Fay was born, Jack couldn’t help but wonder if his little girl would fall prey to a man who valued beauty over brains, filling his heart with rage for the imagined enemies.
Fay was diagnosed with autism a year prior to this trip, finally bringing some sort of answer to the obvious struggles in development that she was suffering from. But the constant responsibilities of their special needs child brought pressure to Anna and Jack’s marriage, and he had to admit that a big reason he decided to take a job so far from home was to get away.
When Cait left Chicago, she was boiling over with excitement, anxious to see a different country. She had been on a spring break trip to Mexico with her sister, Beth, just before getting married to Bradley, but it had been so long that she felt the travel bug again. She was awestruck at the view of the ocean beneath the plane’s wing, spending who knows how many hours just staring at the sight, tricking her eyes into defining the difference between water and sky when the clouds dissipated. Her back was uncomfortable and strained in her seat, and the movies she had brought along with her were only so much of a distraction for the amount of time she’d be in the air. Cait was cursing herself for forgetting her journal in the checked bag, wishing she had a paper and pencil to start drawing now. She picked architecture so she might be able to make money with her art, instead of scribbling doodles on some business report at a dead-end job somewhere. This opportunity with Jack could help get her skills on the map, as he could conceptualize a project and she would put it expertly to paper. It was refreshing to know that Jack trusted her, and called her as the first choice to be at his side.
Though she had gotten flack from her sister Beth before leaving, Cait was adamant that there was no chemistry between her and Jack. Even home in Colorado, Beth could see straight through Cait’s wishful lie. But Cait had met Owen and Fay, and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Jack’s family.
At least, she had no intentions to do so.
Upon arriving in Brisbane, Cait was awestruck by the bright blue sky. Shortly after a fresh rain, the air was thick and musty, but it felt good on Cait’s skin. Humid cold air was uncomfortable, like not being able to fully dry one’s hands and then sitting in a cold office; but the heat here was inviting at a balmy 80 degrees. Cait took a bus north to Coolum beach, a little over an hour’s drive, staring at the shore. Always a landlocked girl in her youth, the ocean held a certain fascination for her. She learned how to surf, poorly, during her time in Mexico with Beth, and watched for any signs indicating that she might take lessons while here.
Jack was waiting for her at a small café. The window in front of him, open to the main beach, beckoned to anyone passing by. When Cait arrived, she was still carrying her enormous hard suitcase and duffle bag, not yet having checked into the hotel. Luckily, the store was empty, and she didn’t disturb anyone on the bus.
“How was your flight?” Jack asked her, making polite conversation. It had been a week since their last lunch date, but Cait was still anxious.
“It was fine, though I feel like I rode in a time machine instead of a plane. I’ve missed a day!” What Cait said was true; the plane ride, being so much longer than she realized, crossed the international dateline into Saturday. She was disoriented from a lack of sleep and the change in weather; back home, the switch from 40 to 80 degrees in the span of a day wasn’t uncommon, but Cait just wasn’t used to it anymore.
“I’ve seen the build site. I think you’re going to love it. The hotel is going to replace a row of old houses and overlook the main beach; my hope is that it will become the premier destination for this region north of Brisbane.” Jack spoke with large expressions and even wider gestures, pointing to the front view.
Cait nodded in agreement to his proposal, sipping her coffee. She barely understood the person at the counter; the woman’s accent was so thick. Cait expected English, not an entirely different language.
“That sounds like an amazing place. I can’t wait to finally see it and start working.” Cait smiled widely at Jack, genuinely. He arose from his seat and gestured for her to come along.
“Well, let’s get you checked into the hotel first. I don’t think you’re going to need your suitcase where we’re going.” They laughed at each other, awkwardly. This was the first time they were together without a deadline, no one waiting by the time clock to see Cait come back in, and no secretary waiting for Jack’s post-lunch appointments. She had grown tremendously since she was his student intern, but he was still much older. Cait’s eyes glanced to the woman at the counter a final time as they left the café; the local gave her a smirk of approval, clearly having seen the same look towards Jack that Anna was always wary about.
The next few days were full of work and little recreation. Cait brought her sketchpad to appointments with contractors, scribbling notes and even small prototypes as Jack described his vision. Cait had a few moments to go to the beach in the early evenings, taking two surfing lessons in the warm water, before returning to get trussed up again for business dinners. Each night, Cait wore a different dress, favoring the knee-length black choices she found in thrift shops around Chicago.
Four days of business deals and a whirlwind of discussion took place around Cait, who was still so awestruck at the opportunity that she was trying to write every detail down in her journal to review later. Jack noticed her enthusiasm and found it charming; he was used to these sorts of meetings and the novelty had worn off after years of traveling abroad and seeing new cities. But this trip was different, because he was there to protect Cait, and she made Jack feel like he was just starting out again. The last conference with the zoning board went faster than expected, and Cait didn’t waste any time getting back in the water. She shook hands with the men and went back to her room to get changed.
Cait’s swimsuit was a simple, black two-piece. Her hair was tied in a messy bun on the top of her head, and she walked to the beach with a rented yellow surfboard. The sand on the beach was a desert, only interrupted by the slow wash of clean fluid up to the high water mark. Tourists had already picked the shore clean of shells and other tidbits, for which Cait was thankful; she swam out into the water, paddling on top of the board, floating in the sun. Though she quickly spat out any splash of saltwater that made its way into her mouth, she secretly enjoyed the flavor. Jack came soon after she did, and he watched her from a bench as she drifted farther and farther out to sea. A small swell came up and finally washed Cait closer to the shore again; Jack had to catch his breath when she stood up, showing off her figure unintentionally. Something about the water dripping off her tan skin sent a shiver up his spine.
Jack shook his head. He knew better, and decided it would be best to spend the rest of the afternoon in the quiet comfort of his hotel room. Cait didn’t even notice that he came to the beach at all.
One final dinner was all that Cait had to attend before packing to leave the next morning. She chose a dark blue dress, shorter this time, with a boat neckline and flowy, short sleeves. The only accessory she wore was a long, silver chair than hung from her nape to her belly. Cait let her hair dry as much as it could in the humid, natural air, and wrapped it all in a clip, save for a few self-curling strands that framed her face. Her shoes were flat and comfortable, a big change from the heels that were supposed to make her as tall as Jack at the meetings. She did not succeed.
Cait walked through the lobby of the hotel to the restaurant at the far end, behind the exit that led to the beach. Her party was already waiting, sitting at one of the larger tables. Jack caught her eye and nodded to her; as her eyes fell to her feet to make sure she didn’t trip, Cait didn’t notice that Jack watched her every move until she made it to the table. He stood and held the seat open for her. The two businessmen Jack was already conversing with were chatting about the marketing plan. They were oddly feminine in their exchange.
“It would have to be an international affair, aimed at the existing tourists; maybe we could talk to cruise lines about a special stop to our location?” Cait was not at all interested in the logistics of the business, only the design of the hotel. Jack even seemed less involved this time, asking Cait how her afternoon in the water went, spending more time buttering the roll in his hand than was necessary. The girlish men on the other side of the table bickered about the target market until dessert had come and gone.
“Well, we can’t very well decide for our customers what the best attraction is. You can say the shopping is our main draw, but I say the beach is by far why people come here.” The sass from those two was nearly tangible. Cait had one cocktail too many and was laughing out loud at their quarrel. Her bubbly giggle set Jack into a fit of laughter as well, until all four of them were filling the room with their raucous noise.
“Come now, let’s go outside, we are making a spectacle of ourselves,” Jack announced the idea to the group, and they all rose to go out the back door.
During this time of year, guards heavily patrolled the beach, as guests of the nearby hotel chains were not allowed in the water after sunset. The four of them stumbled out on the sand, tripping as the soil gave beneath their feet. The two men yelled at each other, obviously more than just business associates, as the taller of the two gestured out to the sea in a show of how beautiful it was. Cait had to agree, and she stood just so her toes could meet the water when the tide came in. Jack stood behind her slightly, watching Cait close her eyes and breathe in the sea air. This would be her last night here, and she wouldn’t have time in the morning to come out and enjoy it a final time.
The other men walked back to Jack and bid them goodnight, they would send a report in the morning, and it was nice to meet Cait. They all waved. Cait again burst out laughing when one of them tripped on the gateway back to the hotel, and Jack laughed with her. In her tipsy mindset, she lost her footing, and tripped forward into Jack’s arms. He held her up and they kept giggling. They snickered under their breath until Jack’s lips met hers. And then they met again. Cait’s heart felt like it stopped in her chest when he pulled her in close with all his strength. Her body was light and warm. Jack grasped at the giving material of her blue dress, and Cait pulled at his tie. He lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the elevator, only stopping to push the button and head to his room.
They gave into their passion. Jack and Cait called out each other’s names loudly throughout the night, forgetting all that was waiting for them back home, a world away.
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