KyleReevis
Really Experienced
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2017
- Posts
- 190
"One Day at a Time"
Closed for RitaPita
Closed for RitaPita
Henry Thomas
55 years old
6'2", 200 lbs, fit and healthy (sort of)
Graying hair and beard, brown eyes
Henry ended his two mile jog up and down Costa Brava where his dinghy was tied to a pole sunk into the sands. He felt great, despite what his doctor had said about his health. Still, his heart was noticeably pounding and his breathing was deep and quick.
Once he'd regained himself, he looked down the beach. Barcelona wasn't far off to the southwest. He couldn't see it from here, though. Beach obstructions; homes, a pier, a jetty.
He looked out into the world's largest sea. His leased 36 foot long sailboat bobbed gently at its anchorage. Henry had taken delivery on it a week ago in Lisbon. Before that, he'd taken a week long sailing refresher course in Boston. In between, he'd spent an additional day with a Certified Sailing Instructor. The leasing company needed verification of their customer's abilities at the tiller.
Henry's vacation was scheduled to last six months. He was already thinking he'd cut it short. He was determined to give the getaway a couple of more weeks. A couple of more days at least. He was ready to head home already.
Henry hadn't taken a vacation since 2000. His work for others and, later, his work for himself simply hadn't allowed the time off. Less than a month away, Henry felt the need to return to Boston. He was neglecting his company.
His family felt otherwise. It was his mother who'd demanded he take time off. His company was in preparations for the next big project. Despite being the lead once work began, Henry wasn't needed there now.
Henry had had a stress episode a couple of months back during a stressful time. A few days later and then a few days after than, he suffered two more. Not a heart attack. Not a panic attack. Stress episodes his doctor had called them.
At his mother's urging, a travel agent friend had put together a Med Cruise package for him: jet to London for some shows and shopping with his Ex-Pat sister and her husband; a second flight to Lisbon; boat leasing, maintenance, fueling, and cleanings at a series of ports; and hotels, rental cars, scooters, and more in those same ports.
It was called a Freedom Package. Henry's itinerary was without specific dates of arrival or departure. He could show up when he wanted and leave when he wanted. The lodging, services, and everything else would be made available to him when he got there. He also had the right to end his vacation early or extend it further, too.
There were additional costs related to that, of course. But Henry Thomas's net worth was just shy of $14 million. A couple of extra thousand dollars of penalties or adjustments wasn't going to be an issue.
He looked back the way he'd jogged. The surf lapping at the sands had already erased his tracks. It was as though he'd never even been there. That bothered Henry, of course. He was a single man with no children. He had a fortune, a profitable and productive company, and hundreds of dedicated employees. Despite this, when he died one day in the future, he knew he would eventually be forgotten by this fast moving, busy, easily distracted world.
As if he'd never even been here.
He untied the dinghy and pushed it out into the surf. It was time to return to the boat and the open sea. His next port of call was Marseille, 184 nautical miles. Even with favorable winds and a direct, Point A to Point B course, it would take him more than a day and a half.
Henry stopped short, though, at an unexpected though not unwelcomed sight. The most incredibly sexy woman in an unbelievable bikini was nearing him through the knee high water. She was petite, well tanned, and young; he would learn soon enough that she was just short of 19 years of age.
And she was smiling to Henry as if she knew a secret he didn't.
Try as he might, he couldn't lift his gaze from her delicious body. Later, he would try to recall ever having been with a woman who looked this incredible. He would fail.
His ogling of her figure was undeniable when she stopped in the surf just five feet from him. Henry forced his eyes up to her own. He wanted to say something to her. Anything. A greeting? An introduction? Her face was as perfect as her body was, though. He found himself simply tongue tied.
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