Mayra watched Naomi and Caspian leave, a little yearning in her heart. They seemed happy dancing and laughing together, and she thought maybe her initial resistance to their match was unfounded.
No. Just because something happened to work out didn't mean that it had been a good idea in the first place. She knew Finn to have plenty of terrible ideas that worked out regardless of the ill-conceived nature of the plan.
"You look troubled," Peter observed, and she shook off the reverie to smile at him. They were dancing to yet another song, but neither of them felt tired despite the long, busy days.
She was grateful that after that initial look during the ceremony, he had reverted back into her predictable, easygoing friend. They were both outwardly pretending that the almost-kiss never happened.
It suited her to do so; she had yet to sort through her thoughts on the topic, and perhaps would refuse to do so for as long as she possibly could. It was embarrassing, to say the least.
She'd never been kissed, and partly wondered if she would do it poorly. Was there a bad way to kiss? Maybe Peter only thought he liked her, but would decide otherwise?
She could aggravate him greatly, but he'd put up with her so far. Maybe that would all change if their friendship changed into more! He would grow tired of her. She didn't know how to be the kind of woman that men liked. How did one even go about that?
Other women were natural at it. She had a sense for who they fit with, no changes needed.
But Mayra was independent and irritating. Who would be able to stand that forever? She wasn't sure she could grow into anything better.
Well, not better, necessarily. She liked the way she was, mostly. But it didn't seem particularly suited to a healthy marriage.
She pushed that thought back. No one had mentioned marriage. Well, Peter had, but only because the topic had come up in conversation. They were at a wedding, after all. It was a natural thing to discuss here.
Blinking, she realized he was still waiting for a response to his comment.
"There is plenty to be troubled about," She deflected.
"I suppose," He said, "If you're just absolutely desperate for something to worry about, there are one or two choices around. Hundreds of brides, a troublesome former-traitor, other worlds, the threat of the Void… I mean, that's if you're completely aching to be troubled about something."
The joke worked, and she smiled in spite of herself.
"All valid points, but none of which were troubling me just now," She admitted before snapping her mouth shut. What was she doing? She didn't want to steer the conversation to what she was actually stuck on!
"Hmmm, fascinating," Peter responded. "And what is currently at the heart of your troubled thoughts?"
Mayra's mind raced to come up with something other than the truth to tell him. Not a lie, necessarily, but anything. Before she could speak, Peter continued.
"Ah, I see."
"What do you see?" She asked a little fearfully. Was she that patently transparent? The thought horrified her.
"I'm the problem here. I'm distracting you by making you dance with me when you think you should be helping the brides get acquainted with potential grooms. You're too polite to tell me so and it's troubling you finding a way to say you want to get away from me."
"Oh?" Her mouth curved in amusement as she listened to his self-deprecating assessment.
"I'm sure that must be it. I should have known. I suppose I'll be a gentleman about it and release you from my grasp immediately so that you can be about your business," Despite his words, he pulled her closer against him, and her heart thrilled in her chest.
"Immediately, you say?" Mayra teased him.
"As immediately as you desire," He smiled easily at her, and at that moment, she couldn't pinpoint exactly what she desired at all.
_______
The morning dawned warm and sunny, and Naomi snuck out of bed to prepare breakfast before Caspian awoke. With the exception of that one morning on the boat, she always woke before him.
She snuck outside to care for the animals, then quickly cooked breakfast before fretting about the garden. Slipping back outside, she discovered to her surprise that it had been cared for sometime within the past day.
Had Cora found time to do it for her? She would have to thank her later. Or, now, she supposed. She could save Caspian the trip to his parents' house to borrow a swimming dress for her.
Leaving the prepared breakfast set out in case he woke while she was gone, Naomi jogged lightly to her in-laws' home. Cora was up and completing her own morning chores when she saw the younger woman's approach.
"Good Morning," Cora embraced her firmly for several seconds. "I regret I haven't been by already to welcome you home from that harrowing voyage. I heard about it from the men. My goodness, you must have had a terrible time of it!"
"It was educational," Naomi said with a diplomatic smile, "but it seems I require further education. Caspian is to give me a swimming lesson today, and he thought I might be able to borrow some appropriate attire?"
"A swimming lesson?" Cora tilted her head. "Yes, of course. I'll have to speak to Mayra about the other brides and organizing something. All Cetoan women must learn how to swim…"
She continued musing to herself as she led Naomi inside and rifled through a chest of clothing to find something suitable.
"Ah, yes! This might fit you." She held up what appeared to be a one-piece bit of clothing consisting of calf-length bloomers and a thin overskirt combined with a bodice that boasted elbow-length sleeves.
Naomi thanked her profusely and made her excuses to get back home quickly. Though she was extremely self-conscious about wearing the costume, it must be what all Cetoan women wear, for Cora bore her no ill-will.
Breakfast conversation was light, for Caspian was usually grumpy in the mornings, and before long, it was time to head to the sea.
He didn't comment on her swimming attire, but she noticed that he looked at her more often. Did she look ridiculous? It was hard to tell, having no one to compare herself to.
"There's a cove this way that should be calm enough for a beginning lesson," He said as they reached the shore, and dutifully, Naomi walked alongside him.
He walked on the ocean-side of her, staying far enough down that each wave licked at his feet, and the larger ones would splash up to his knees.
Naomi squealed in delight at the first several, earning a chuckle from her seafaring husband.
"You love to walk like this," She observed after a while. She thought most people would want to walk higher where they would never get wet, but found this method highly enjoyable.
"The waves calm me," He admitted. "I can't be too upset about anything as long as I'm around them."
"What upsets you today?" She hoped the question wasn't too presumptuous.
His eyes cut to her and he considered for a moment before answering.
"My parents." He admitted.
"Your father is recovering well, so it seems. And your mother seemed in good health when I talked to her this morning," Naomi offered.
"It's not that," He sighed. "I find myself chafing at their leadership."
"Did they not listen to your concerns about Edmar?" She guessed.
"Not as well as I would have liked," He said.
"I'm sorry. You are wise and brave, and deserve to be heard." Naomi looked at the sand as she spoke, but her words were sincere, and he seemed to relax a little.
There was companionable silence for a time as they walked, with the steady cadence of the waves' ebb and flow, and the occasional call of a sea bird.
"It is beautiful here," Naomi finally said.
"I've always thought so," Caspian looked at her kindly. She smiled back, happy beyond words to have found something that pleased them both that they could talk about.
A large wave suddenly hit their legs harder than the previous ones. Caspian kept his footing, but the shifting sand threw Naomi off balance. He grabbed her hand and pulled her higher up on shore to wait out the wave's passing, but the water's force was hard to resist.
The sand was pushed out from under Naomi's feet and she fell with a splash into the surf. As Caspian bent to help her, a second wave hit, knocking him off balance as well. They both tumbled into the water as it finally ebbed completely, leaving them lying on their backs, side by side in the sand.
Caspian rolled up onto his side, obviously concerned that Naomi might be hurt, when she gasped at the sight of him.