Bette stopped, then turned with Shane to look out into the sea, which was illuminated by floodlights.  A school of brightly colored fish swam by.  Shortly, several manta rays cruised under the footbridge slowly, their “wings” elegantly flapping, propelling them smoothly through the water. “That is the coolest thing,” Shane said, as she leaned against the railing, chin resting on it, as she and Bette quietly observed the wonder of the teeming sea life underneath them.

In the darkness she asked, “Bette did you know about the ring?”

Bette turned to Shane, shocked. “Did you?”  She was confused.

Now Shane was confused. “What ring are you referring to? “ she asked Bette.

“I got Tina a ring,” Bette said quietly. “I have no idea how you knew, though, because I never got to ask her, or show it to her.”

Shane smiled broadly, then shouted, “Hah! I knew it!” She danced a jig, as Bette observed the strange antics of her friend.  Maybe the long flight over left Shane’s brain a little scrambled.

“Alice owes me a twenty,” she said, triumphantly.

“Okay, okay, I bite. Why does Alice owe you a twenty?” Bette was amused now.

“Because I had bet her a twenty that you had gotten Tina a ring.”

“When did you make that bet?” Bette asked, still confused.

“Um… I’ll let you ask Tina that story when,” she paused, for emphasis, “When you see her.”

“What?!” Bette asked.  She playfully spanked Shane on her shoulder, but her friend would not budge. Saying repeatedly, “That’s Tina’s story.”

The next day, they decided to go to one of the alcoves on the opposite side of the island from Bette’s villa.   Bette stretched out on the edge of water, then decided to lie on her front.  She unhooked the top of her bikini, removed it, then tossed it beside her.

Shane was lounging under an umbrella, and shook her head.  “I’m surprised you aren’t stripping off your bikini, too,” she called out.

“Shut up,” Bette responded, lazily.

Twenty minutes later, they heard voices of a group of women who were about to turn the corner, and head towards them.  Shane pulled down her sunglasses as they came into view.

Mother of …..

She’d heard from the woman who took her to Bette’s villa that there were some women who had been  in the Miss World or Miss Universe contest that had taken place in Colombo who were being invited by the resort owner to spend a few days in the resort.  But she had mentioned it was likely that they would be coming the week after.