Chapter 22

We were accosted by the two teens and their father. One of the boys pushed at me saying, “Pretty boy, we’ll take care of your girl. She looks like she needs a real man.”

Karen looked at him and chuckled, “You are way out of line. First, I’m married to a real man and he hasn’t anything to prove to the likes of you. Second, we’re on this cruise to have fun. Neither of you would be fun. Third and last, buzz off. Hitting on me will be hazardous to your health.”

The father came behind me and grabbed my arms. I thought to myself that I’d been here before with more of them. One teen came at me while the other came at Karen. I levered up against the father and, kicked the teen hard trying to lift his head off his shoulders. Karen swung on the other and caught him in the stomach folding him over. I then headbutted the father and he released me. It had to have hurt him because it hurt me and it was his face. Trevor came running down the path as we stood looking at the three who were now lying on the ground moaning.

“Are you two okay?”

Karen answered, “Yes, Trevor. Thank you. They tried to grab me with bad results for them.” She looked at me and I nodded. “We will be glad to file charges if that will help.”

Trevor said, “I saw it as the father grabbed Brad. We can handle it with the Mexican authorities or aboard ship.”

The father was holding his nose. He mumbled, “We’ll go aboard ship.”

Trevor said, “So be it.” The other driver had come running down. He conferred quietly with Trevor for a moment.

He went over to the father and helped him to stand. “You three will come with me to the ship.” He looked at us. “Mister and Missus Gillis, when you come aboard late this afternoon, there will be a meeting in the purser’s office. Someone will guide you there at that time.” We nodded. He guided the three attackers up the path. We didn’t see them nor the wife again until our return to the ship.

Trevor said, “I’m sorry that happened. We try to think about the people on these trips and they had seemed all right originally. I also wonder where the wife and mother was while this went down.”

I said, “I don’t know but I appreciate your taking them away.” He nodded and left up the path. We wandered around the beach area some more holding each other.

Karen asked, “Why do I attract that kind of situation, Brad?”

“You are beautiful, startlingly so. It’s also obvious that you’re happily married.” She smiled at me happily nodding. “Some men and older boys when they think no one will catch them have rape fantasies that they try to live out. It’s stupid but you are so hot looking that some people lose their brains. It’s not good but, fortunately, not often either.”

She thought a moment. “Okay. I still don’t totally understand. Let’s head up.”

We walked up and met up with her parents and Annette. We walked around some more as Annette told us more about the Maya and this location. It was interesting and her descriptions were good enough to give us an idea of life at ancient Tulum. Shortly thereafter, the buses arrived. Annette had to lead the crowd and we were left with Trevor and Sheila. Trevor didn’t have Annette’s degree of knowledge but knew much about the lives of the Maya also. He told us some about corn and how it had changed over the centuries.

We enjoyed our time together until it was time to leave for lunch. Lunch was delicious! Trevor really did know the owner of the restaurant who showed an appreciative group of four what he could do and, speaking great English, could explain how the dish came to be developed. Karen and her mother were enthralled with his descriptions of his culinary creations and he reacted to them the way any gentlemen would. We left for Xel Ha with pleasantly full stomachs and happy hearts.

We arrived at Xel Ha ready for another adventure. Karen and I had dressed in our ‘red’ suits under our clothing. Sandals, shorts, and a loose shirt had completed our clothing. We were each given lockers for our clothes and any valuables. We stripped down and put everything inside our locker but our sandals. Hand in hand, we walked to Sheila and Trevor to wait for Karen’s parents. Sheila was wearing a thong while Trevor had a speedo. Both ogled us. A few moments later, Mister Mason came out followed by his wife. He was wearing his normal swim trunks while Missus Mason was wearing a bikini! She looked great.

Mister Mason said, “I may have to start carrying a stick again, Helen.”

I heard her whisper back. “I like the one you always carry, Don.” Mister Mason blushed. Karen and I grinned at each other.

Sheila said, “Let’s start with snorkeling. Later, we can go to the SCUBA gear and get in a first lesson.” We all nodded at her and went to the stand to check out what we needed. Carrying everything, we went to the water. I felt it. It was warm and only tasted slightly salty.

Sheila went over the equipment and how to use it. I saw two other couples listening to her instructions. They all looked to be in their middle twenties with the girls wearing skimpy bikinis while the guys wore regular trunks. The two girls really liked Trevor’s speedo and my red thong. One looked at me and licked her lips! I gave Karen a squeeze at her waist. She looked at me and smiled. I got a bit harder. Being married for a year and having her wonderful body available for loving hadn’t cooled my ardor in any way. If anything, I was more in love with her.

We walked into the water and started the simple lessons to learn to breathe with the snorkel. Sheila then directed the group of us to an area not far away. She said, “That area is great for watching colorful fish. Be aware though that it’s about fifteen to twenty feet deep though it will look more shallow than that. That’s why you have the small vests to wear. They will keep you afloat and you can breathe when you get tired with no effort.” Everyone nodded.

The four of us, Karen and I and Mister and Missus Mason, moved to swim in the designated direction. Our fins flapped lazily in the warm water. I felt almost no current as the four of us moved along. This fish were glorious as they darted around the coral and other objects that had been placed on the bottom. I was happy that it was clean with no trash. After a while, we lifted up to talk. Mister and Missus Mason were heading back to shore while Karen and I would stay out a little longer.

We swam some more touching frequently as we went along. We kept to areas with plenty of people. Karen was now a bit gun shy of being harassed by strangers. We finally swam to shore and sunned with her parents before dressing for the return trip.

As we closed on the boat, she reminded me that tonight was Elena’s mother’s birthday celebration at dinner. Mister and Missus Mason wanted to know about that and we filled them in. They would be with us and would join in congratulating Missus Marisol.

We went to our rooms to clean up and dress for supper. Once outside our bedrooms, Trevor was there to prepare drinks for us. We all had non-alcoholic pina coladas. Trevor said, “The purser handled your attackers this afternoon. They are gone and won’t be bothering anyone on the boat again. He had received other, though less serious, complaints against them.”

Mister Mason said, “I’m glad that’s over. Some people don’t seem to understand the word, ‘no, ‘ particularly when away from their homes.”

Pursuant to the boat’s dress code, this was not a fancy dress night. We were dressed nicely but not formally. Trevor escorted us to the dining table and seated us with the assistance of our server. We were handed menus with a small insert about the birthday of Marisol Hernandez. Karen looked at me and smiled. Karen looked at her parents and said, “We met her son in-law yesterday and were told of this event. She is a widow. She had noticed the two of us so he made the effort with his wife to talk to us. They are a nice couple.”

A few moments later, Marco appeared with an older woman on his arm. Karen and I stood and clapped. Karen’s parents joined us and other tables quickly did until the entire dining room was standing and clapping. I could see that Missus Hernandez had tears running down her cheeks though was smiling happily. Elena behind them was also smiling through her tears. Marco was visibly moved. The entire wait staff lined up to greet them and the server for their table seated her with a flourish. All in all, it made a grand entrance.