“A crocodile hunt? Whatever made you agree to that? You hate hunting.”

“I know but a woman in love will do anything for her lover isn’t that right?”

“Yes I suppose she would.”

“I just want to make her happy Kelly. She’s so uninhibited and non-conformist. I’m seeing a totally different side of her on this trip. I’m afraid she’ll soon lose interest in me if I don’t open myself up to new adventures with her; besides it could be fun. If nothing else I’m sure I’ll get some amazing photographs and I’d love to sketch some of the scenery.”

“You do love your art don’t you?”

“I do. Sometimes I think my love of photography and painting has saved my sanity.”

***

On Kelly’s first night at Eden the three caught up on each other’s lives while enjoying a wonderful home cooked meal prepared by the housekeeper/caretaker Katie. Katie was a spryly seventy year old that had lived on the property for the past fifty years. She’d stayed on to take care of it when the owners moved away and turned the estate home into a vacation rental for wealthy tourists.

Kelly claimed exhaustion from the long flight and made it an early night as did Jodi and Tina. In the early morning hours Jodi had awakened from a restless sleep and got out of bed to get some air. At least that is what she told Tina who’d been awakened by Jodi moving around the room getting dressed. Tina mumbled something in response and went right back to sleep. Jodi dressed in yoga pants and a tank top walked barefoot onto the patio through the French doors in their bedroom. The expansive patio surrounded the entire half of the estate and each of the guest bedrooms opened up to it including Kelly’s a few doors down. Jodi entered Kelly’s room through the unlocked French doors and crawled into the king sized bed awakening her lover with a kiss on the lips.

“Wake up baby.”

“Jodi? What are you doing in here?”

“I couldn’t stand to be away for another minute. God I missed you.”

“I missed you too baby but we have to be careful. What if Tina comes looking for you?”