Restoration and Creation
The early morning sun shone brightly over the water as the small group got ready. They were to begin by seeding a few biodegradable mats to do the actual restoration.
Dan filmed as the marine biologist explained how they would need to look at the rhizomes and make sure they were healthy before placing them on their mats made of coconut. Every member in their group prepared two mats each; several hundred had already been prepared, and they had all committed to placing at least fifty of the mats down on the seafloor.
Dan and Amber got their mats together and continued filming. "We are only going to go down a little more than eleven and a half feet, guys. The resort's restoration is right here in the shallows. The area that they have chosen is a true biodiversity hotspot, and we will show you why in the next few videos—or maybe just some pictures. I do have to do fifty of these mats, so that is that for now. Amber and I will see you in the next video."
The camera panned to Amber, already in her snorkeling gear, and she waved brightly. "See you in the next video!" She popped the snorkel in her mouth and went to collect her mats.
They worked for three hours and did their mats and some of those of the other group members. They were competing with each other to see who could place the most mats and thusly began asking the group members who had given up. When they finished, they came out of the water to a round of boisterous applause.
"You two are truly insane. Can my wife and I take pictures with you? I kept telling her you were Dan Trace, but she didn't believe us."
"I should have recognized you, too. My wife and I watch you all the time. We want pictures, too. Let me get her and our phones."
Amber smiled at Dan and gave him a kiss. "You are a superstar."
He hugged her to him. "You know, influencers are the new superstars of the 21st century." He kissed her. "I am just trying to do my best."
The two couples returned, and they took a group shot with Dan's equipment and then took couples' shots of Dan and Amber with each couple's phone.
"We are going to shoot one last video and then we have another excursion, but since you all were so great, I want to give you three-day passes for two to Blue Serene Resort. I will have them sent to the resort for you. Pick them up from reception."
"The Blue Serene!" a petite woman squealed, and Amber smiled. "I tried to book there and it is booked till next year!"
She squealed again and her friend, the second wife, frowned. "Is that the resort you've been talking about for three months now?" Her friend nodded soundlessly, her smile widening.
"Since my wife is doing that, Trace Progressive will fly you out to Carson City."
They watched the couples leave and did two more videos.
"Okay, guys. We are going to grab some food, then we will be going on our second and final surprise excursion."
"Do they know about this one, too?"
"I cannot confirm or deny that."
Amber sucked her teeth. "You guys keep secrets from me, but I won't keep them from you. We are insane and did fifty mats, but tourists usually only do about five, certainly no more than ten. And because I wanted to do so many, my husband paid for all of the extra materials." Amber smiled directly into the camera and Dan ended the video.
He looked at her oddly and she shrugged. "You can edit it out." She kissed him and they went to one of the resort restaurants for an early lunch.
They sat at an intimate table at a restaurant set close to the edge of a high cliff. The ocean was before them, the waves rhythmically crashing against the rocks below. They had calamari done two ways, olive salad, a tomato feta salad, and hummus with fresh pita bread.
Amber slipped some of the grilled calamari into her mouth and closed her eyes, savoring the flavors of lemon. Dan reached in and grabbed a warm pita. He looked up at her and smiled. He had taken a picture of the table before they had begun and he filmed them together when they first started eating. Now, he had his wife all to himself.
A few times their hands actually touched as they reached in for their selections. Each time this happened, they smiled at each other like high-school sweethearts.
Amber cocked her head. "Do I need a lot of strength for this afternoon's activities?"
Dan smiled. "There is a seafood restaurant that is supposed to be right on the beach. You love seafood. Let's have dinner there."
Amber pursed her lips and ate some of the olive salad. She closed her eyes as the flavors of lemon, garlic, and coriander filled her mouth. Dan smiled. He was enjoying her more and more every moment. They finished their meal and watched the sea for a few moments. Then they went to their suite and changed again.
"So we are going for a hike?"
Dan grabbed the large bottles of water they had ordered from the resort and merely smiled. He turned her around and placed two bottles in her backpack and one in her hand. "Yes, we are going hiking, Amber."
She looked thoughtful. "Are there olive groves near here? No... where are we—"
"Stop trying to figure it out. Let's just go." Amber pouted, but she followed him out of the suite.
They hiked to an area a short distance away from the manicured resort grounds, but they never left the property. Dan had been videoing for much of the way, and Amber frowned when he stopped in a barren area.
"Okay guys, here we are." Dan set up three cameras to cover the area they would work in. Amber was still frowning. "I already scouted out the area and I think this will be the best place to search."
He pulled small hammer-like tools from his backpack and handed one to Amber. She looked at it and then looked at the area. Her eyes widened as she began to understand.
"It seems my wife has figured things out, everyone," Dan spoke with a widening smile as he turned on Amber's mic and hit a patch of rock that had water seeping up from it.
Amber began looking as well and immediately picked up three dusty grey rocks. Dan came over to her with a large blue chrysocolla half-submerged in a host rock of limestone. "This is what I have been looking for."
Amber smiled at his excitement, but her eyes went wide when she saw the beautiful blue semi-precious stone. She touched the top of the stone. "It's beautiful."
Dan smiled. He would need to find a couple of backups, but he hoped this one would be big enough to do what he wanted to do. They continued working for a few hours. Amber had a good collection of rocks by now and she was now pouring water over them. She smiled broadly when she found what she had been looking for.
"Did you find something you like?"
Amber looked up at Dan with a broad smile. "I did. I assume we are going to a lapidary." Dan nodded. "I can have something made for our parents."
Dan looked at her with wonder, but he was still a bit disappointed—he had hoped she wanted to make something for him.
They finished their treasure hunt, with Amber actually helping Dan find more of the same beautiful blue chrysocolla. They walked back to the resort and found the lapidary. Amber almost breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that there were three artisans in the shop. Dan spoke to one and she spoke to the other two.
After everything was set, they went back to their suite to rest—Dan did some editing and Amber went over construction schedules and design proposals. When they returned to their suite after their romantic dinner by the sea, they saw the small boxes placed on the table near the door.
Amber forced herself not to squeal when she picked up the boxes marked with her name. It had all been incredibly expensive, but she had always believed excess was meant to be spent.
"Can I go first?"
Dan smiled. "Of course, love." He was very curious about what she had chosen for his parents in particular. He felt she could not know them well enough to choose properly.
"Let's start with my parents then. I found some nice white Botswana-style agate and I had cufflinks made for Dad and earrings made for Mommy. They came out rather well. What do you think?"
Dan looked at each piece; they were actually very beautiful. The bezeling was done very well. "They're beautiful, Amber."
She smiled. "For your father, I had a fountain pen made, and for your mother, a huge, ghastly brooch—but it came out beautifully. I used the moss agate I found for these. I think your parents will love the green inclusions."
Dan was stunned. He looked at the pieces and then up to Amber several times. She knew them better than he did. His mother collected brooches, the more unique the better, and the bezel on this one was raised and etched with some sort of Celtic design—something else his mother loved. And his father's hobby was calligraphy—this pen would soon be his favorite.
Amber smiled at him. "And I also found a nice bit of carnelian agate." She handed him a ring box. "I hope you like it."
Dan's hands trembled. Mere hours ago he was disappointed because he thought Amber hadn't thought about him. His trembling fingers opened the box with a snap and his eyes went wide. It was a gold pinky ring set with a large piece of agate that looked like a setting sun. It sat up a bit, an intricate filigree sitting above a band with a thin channel of the same vibrant colored agate at its center.
Dan pulled Amber to him and kissed her deeply. When he pulled away, she was breathless. She smiled. "I am glad you like it."
He shook his head. "I love it." He ran his finger down her jaw as he stared into her eyes. "How did I never know just how lucky I have been to have found you?"
"We were lucky to have found each other."
Dan smiled and handed her a box. "I think you have outdone me by a mile, but I hope you like it."
She shook her head. "I will love it." She took the ring box back. "Can I put it on you?"
"Of course."
She slid the ring on him, handing the box back to him, then opened hers. She smiled broadly. The peacock blue stone was even more beautiful than she thought it would be. He had made her a pendant and matching dangling earrings.
"They are absolutely beautiful, Dan! It's like Blue Serene Lake!" She quickly put the earrings on, and then he helped her with the pendant. She ran to the mirror and stared at herself for a long time; tears ran down her cheeks. "We found these stones with our own two hands. Not only did you choose the design, but you worked to find the stone for the piece."
She spun around and wrapped herself around him. That night was their first true night together since Jessica returned.
Cost per Day: Day 3
Restoration Materials (50 Mats & Seedlings): $1,500
Mineral Foraging Guide/Access Fee: $800
Custom Jewelry & Lapidary Work (6 pieces total + Gold/Silver settings): $12,500
High-End Seafood Beach Dinner: $600
Daily Suite Cost: $18,000
Total for Day 3: $33,400
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