When my husband and I vacationed in Costa Rica, we stayed at a lovely resort on Playa Conchal in Guanacaste.  The lagoon-style swimming pool was astonishing.  We were told it was the largest hotel pool in Central America.  We spent many serene hours relaxing on the lounge chairs and swimming in the infinite stretch of cool, inviting water.

Photo by L. Walkins, 2011

“You’ll be back by Sunday, won’t you?”

Josie’s  desperate request floated through her mind as  Coral walked slowly along the edge of  the sun-dappled patio. The pool area was deserted at this early hour.  The only sounds breaking the stillness of the morning were the soft tread of her flip-flops against the warm stone and the lapping of the water against the sides of the pool. The scent of freshly baked croissants mingled with the fragrance of jasmine wafted through the clear, bright air.  A light breeze ruffled loose tendrils of hair that had escaped from her long braid and the tropical sun warmed her bare shoulders.

She dropped her canvas tote on one of the cushioned lounge chairs arranged in discreet groups beneath billowing white umbrellas.  Turning to look at the palm-lined pool, which seemed to go on forever, Coral wished she had left her cell phone at home or at least in the little safe in her hotel room.  She had hoped this weekend away would be a sort of retreat, a respite from her everyday life.  Apparently, her assistant hadn’t gotten the memo.  Before Coral even finished her breakfast of warm croissants, fresh mango and yogurt in the open-air dining room, Josie had called and texted twice.  In a long-winded voice message, Josie rambled on about Coral’s upcoming book tour, outlined all of the publisher’s expectations and wondered when she would be home.

Contemplating the glittering water in the serpentine swimming pool, Coral sighed as all her worries washed over her in waves of anxiety and indecision.  Where would she find the courage and yes even the ability to spend the next three months facing crowds at book-signings and even worse chatting with picture-perfect hosts on morning talk shows?

A year ago, when she sat down at her computer and wrote the first chapter of her novel, she had not imagined those lovingly crafted words would lead to this startling overnight success.  She had simply set out to tell a story. A coming-of-age story set in Scotland.  As she wrote, Coral got to know her fearless character, Iona Cay, and shepherded her through a life-altering adventure.  When her book made the New York Times best-seller list, no one was more surprised than Coral, and she was gobsmacked when she began to receive  stacks of letters from other women, telling her how much Iona’s story meant to them.  “Everything will be fine,” she murmured, recalling the  amazing gratitude she had felt on reading her first fan letter.

Coral kicked off her sandals and loosened the knot at the nape of her neck to remove the flowered sarong that covered her blue, polka-dot tankini.  “Everything will be fine,” she said again, drifting over to the side of the pool.  Slowly, she lowered herself into the water.  Pushing off with her feet, she began to swim.  She stretched her arms and kicked her legs, the cool water rushing over her body.

As images of her petite, bespectacled heroine filled her mind, Coral paused, treading water and contemplating the wide lagoon of sparkling water in front of her.  What would Iona do?  The intrepid girl hadn’t chickened out when she had to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.  She had marched onto the stage and sang her heart out.  If Iona, who was a bit like an alter-ego, could overcome her fears, Coral should do the same.

Coral dove under water and twisted around as she surfaced.  Floating on her back, she gazed up at the cerulean sky.  Slowly, she began to relax.  Next month  when she set out on her tour, she would simply have to deal with her nerves.   For now, she would live in this timeless, buoyant moment and enjoy her weekend.  She would sit in the sun, catch up on her reading and walk on the beach.  And when she went back to her room, she would lock her cell phone away in the safe.