Chapter 41: | like the locals-1

Nine Weeks Ago Friday I wake up to an empty bed. Phoenix is up, bright and early as usual. I hear hushed tones, but I don't see anyone. I get up and follow the murmuring. It sounds soft and caring. It's Phoenix, on the phone out on the balcony. Who does he keep talking to? A friend? Is it a woman? It's none of your business. He's with you, so there's nothing to worry about. Remember how Sebastian turned out. Can't live in the past forever. "No, Mom, I'm fine. You worry too much . . . ." Phoenix leans over the balcony railing. See? I shrug it off. Wearing his white tank top which fits like a short dress on me, I tiptoe to the shower, so I don't disturb him. The gigantic, square showerhead beads water down beautifully on my body. With the temperature as hot as I can stand it, I soak in a steady flow of steam and enjoy an intense, massaging waterfall, just for me. I find myself in deep relaxation, when Phoenix decides to join me. He enters the fogged-out glass shower and begins laying hands on my back. His fingers penetrate my tense muscles. I'm putty in his hands right now. Mold me! The man has skills. This is something I can get into. ____________________ People watching on the street-facing side of the wrap-around balcony, is sort of like National Geographic for the concrete jungle. So much can be learned just by watching. The girls down there are wearing bikinis. In public. I've seen it on TV a trillion times, but never in real life, right before my eyes. They're dressed like that in stores, restaurants, boutiques, everywhere. Rarely am I seeing jeans. A few dresses and some shorts, but everyone's wearing mostly bathing suits and sandals. I'm feeling adventurous. It's time to get out of my comfort zone. As the saying goes, when in Rome . . . . Mia, Penelope and I have a little pow-wow out on the main balcony. "I say it's time to go shopping." Penelope points to me. "She's right. How else can we look like we belong, if we don't shop at their stores? Mistake me for a South Beach hottie any day!" "When you're right you right. We need to get that new-new, not these tired old bikinis we brought from Milwaukee." Mia flings her bikini top across the balcony. "Cause I ain't trying to be out here looking all haggardly. No, Penelope don't do that. Ya girl gotta be crisp and clean. OK!" "Then it's settled." An hour later, I'm trying on an emerald green and white polka-dot bikini. The boutique sales girl says it looks amazing against my skin and with my hair curly, I remind her of her visits to Brazil, somehow. I'm sold on the fact that the bra, which is made of two tiny triangles of fabric on strings, makes my breasts look a full cup-size larger. My tan leather-and-cork sandals and an oversized tan hobo bag complete the look. Truth be told, I'm a bit nervous going out in public in just a bikini. Everyone says it looks nice, but I feel naked. My Midwestern values shout inappropriate as I walk out of the dressing room to look in the hall mirror. I'm scared to look up, afraid to face myself, especially under these harsh fluorescent lights. I should've left that extra helping of fries alone, yesterday. Phoenix walks over. "That bikini is it. You've got that coke-bottle figure, your ass sits upright. That's the one." Those few words are all I needed to hear. I unfold like a flower. My arms loosen their grip as I no longer feel the need to cover myself. Standing in front of the mirror, I finally allow myself to see what everyone else seems to see. I walk down the hall and back, gaining more confidence with each step. Phoenix is right, I can rock this. If other girls can do it, why can't I? Mia decides on a vibrant, cobalt blue bikini with fringe hanging from the top and the hip area of the bottoms. Penelope dons a white crochet swimsuit with back and side cut-outs. It might as well be a bikini. The top and bottom are connected only by a narrow strip of crocheted fabric that covers her navel. Sheila, Nixon's wife, decides on a black one-piece and a sarong to wrap around her hips. A little conservative for Miami if you ask me, but to each their own. Eager to feel like true South Beach natives, we all decide to wear our bathing suits right out of the boutique. We pay for them and stuff the clothes we wore into store bags. "Where to ladies?" Phoenix asks. "I don't care. I just want to walk down the street half-naked. I can't believe people do this. This is so wild!" Unable to contain my excitement, I find myself jumping up and down. Maybe we're a little too excited? Let's calm it down. Wouldn't want the twins popping out unexpectedly. "That was fun! Can we check out some other boutiques and shops?" "Let's do it. What about this place?" Penelope points to a storefront down the street. "Oh, I'd love a new pair of sunglasses." Mia nods in agreement. JC takes Penelope by the hand. "Come on. Let's see what they've got in here." As we're walking through the crowd, random guys take pictures of me and my girls. One guy even stops me and asks if I can pose in a picture with him, as if I'm a celebrity. I look at Phoenix. There's red in his eyes. "Hey, if you want a picture, it'll cost you a bill," Phoenix wagers. "A hundred dollar?" the guy replies with raised eyebrows. "Yep." "That's OK." He backs away. "Thought so." Phoenix lets the victory soak in. "Very effective." I give him a polite applause. "You like that?" I roll my eyes, smirking at how smooth he is. "Clever and manipulative." "It was well played, if you ask me," Sheila interrupts. As a matter of fact, no, we didn't ask you. "Phoenix managed to get you to see that not only was that guy cheap, but he also didn't think you were worth the money, apparently. So ultimately, he pales in comparison to Phoenix and is a total waste of your time. Brilliant! I love moves like that. You're speaking volumes without saying much at all." 'Moves like that?' Is this chick diabolical or what? She's talking like she lives in a soap opera or Big Brother. She's a little too calculating. We wade through the overcrowded street and arrive at the sunglasses shop. "Hi, can I see that pair there? The oversized cat-eye ones?"