Spring Break Secret by Holly Rayner
Louisa
Ten Years Later
“Hi, Louisa! So glad you could make it!” Ellen, ten years older but still her sprightly self, pulled Louisa into a tight hug at the entrance to the La Vega Sea Turtle Conservation Center’s annual fundraising gala.
“Good to see you, Ellen.” Louisa returned the hug, genuinely happy to be there. Although she had moved back to La Vega after her first year in college, raising her daughter Rei with the help of Ellen and her parents, she often had to miss important conservation center events because of the baby.
But now Rei was nine years old, turning ten at the end of the year, and it was much easier to leave the girl with her parents for an evening now that she was older. When it came time for the fundraising gala this year, Louisa had tugged on a slinky black dress she hadn’t touched in years and made a glamorous appearance.
“I have you at my table,” Ellen said, ushering Louisa into the ballroom decorated with sea green and ocean blue balloons. “You haven’t been to a good party in ages, so I didn’t want to stick you with anyone boring.”
Louisa’s name tag read SQUID, and she laughed as she took her spot at the table. “You never change, Ellen,” she joked, glancing over the menu.
“Thank heavens for that, too,” Ellen replied. “Mr. Leatherback might not recognize me, and then who could get him to take his medicine?”
Louisa was about to say something about Ellen and the sea turtle being on the same arthritis medication, but Ellen had to leave when some big donors entered, playing host and welcoming them to the event. Louisa took a moment to breathe, leaning back in her seat and taking in the sights.
The conservation center had been holding its annual fundraising gala every year since before Louisa was born, but over the past decade, it had changed significantly. What used to be a “pay what you can” cookout on the beach became a decadent evening with men in suits, a live jazz band, and thousands of dollars in donations from people who wanted to be seen as philanthropists.
It wasn’t just the gala that had changed, either. Since Louisa had Rei, the entire town of La Vega had grown very different. Although it had always been a haven for tourists and spring breakers, over the last ten years, a number of very wealthy developers had come to the area and built massive resorts and residential villas that brought in more new people and all the industry that accompanied them.
Parts of the changes had been good, Louisa had to admit. With more money flowing into La Vega, there were more educational opportunities, which meant she was able to finish her degree closer to home while raising Rei. Rei, too, went to a great school, and was able to participate in the Eco Scouts, a program Ellen had started for the young families that continued to move to the area.
But the influx of wealth and transplanted residents had its downsides, too. The conservation center had grown bigger, with more donations coming in, but the fights it faced were also bigger. It seemed like every month there was a new builder proposing another development on beach land, and the town’s growth had increased the amount of pollution in the area as well. Ellen was as busy as she’d ever been, trying to protect the sea turtles and their environment and fighting to hold back big business and other interests that threatened them.
“Whew,” Ellen said, dropping heavily into her seat beside Louisa. “Those high rollers do like the VIP treatment. I must have sent seven different caterers over to refill Mrs. Patra’s wine glass.”
“Hopefully she’ll be feeling nice and generous by the end of the night,” Louisa said. Though she didn’t work for the sea turtle conservation center, she was closely involved with their operations in her role as a marine biologist and researcher in the area. Most of her work looked at the impact of development and pollution on sea life, and Ellen used Louisa’s research in her protests and pushback against new buildings.
“Here’s hoping.” Ellen raised her own wine glass, toasting to Louisa and their donors, as the caterers began to bring steaming plates of dinner around to the gala’s guests.
Louisa enjoyed chatting with Ellen, catching up with her friend and mentor without any distractions. Ellen had been great about helping with little Rei, but between Louisa’s single parenting and both women’s demanding jobs, it was hard for them to have an uninterrupted adult conversation these days.
The jazz band faded out, and a spotlight turned on, illuminating a podium at the front of the ballroom. “Sorry,” Ellen said, dabbing her mouth as she rose from her chair, “that’s my cue.”
Every year, Ellen gave a speech at the gala, discussing the victories that the conservation center had accomplished over the past year and outlining the challenges they still faced. It was a delicate operation, this speech, since many of the developers whose projects Ellen tried to shut down were also sitting in this very room, smiling and clapping as they positioned themselves as wealthy benefactors to the local sea life.
Louisa listened, smiling as Ellen gave some promising numbers about new sea turtle hatchings and telling a funny story about a beach cleanup that involved helping a family find their lost kitten.
“Finally,” Ellen said, wrapping up her speech, “we have a special award to give here tonight.”
Louisa looked around the room, wondering who Ellen might be presenting a gift to.
“This person has been integral to the operations of the La Vega Sea Turtle Conservation Center for almost thirty years,” Ellen said, grinning. “She has helped with everything from aquarium tank cleanings to local government meetings, and she’s the greatest advocate that our wildlife has.”
Louisa began to suspect that Ellen was talking about her, and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. She didn’t do this work for fame or recognition, and Ellen knew that.
“But as much as I could go on and on about how wonderful she is,” Ellen continued, a mischievous smile on her face, “here at the La Vega Sea Turtle Conservation Center, we believe in research and consulting with experts. So I thought I would bring one out to tell you more.”
Ellen motioned to the back of the room, and every head in the audience turned. Louisa gasped in delight—there was her daughter, Rei, her hair in two pigtail braids, standing with Louisa’s mom and dad.
“Come on up, sweetie,” Ellen said, and everyone applauded as Rei took the microphone.
“My mom is really great,” Rei said, her child’s voice amplified by the microphone that looked huge in her hands. “She raised me all by herself, here in La Vega, and she taught me all about the important plants and animals that live here.”
Louisa felt her face breaking out into a huge smile despite herself. It was just like Ellen and her parents to conspire like this, bringing Rei tonight and honoring Louisa with an award.
Rei paused, waving shyly at Louisa before continuing. “My mom is a scientist, and she studies ways we can help the turtles and other creatures that are important to the environment. She went to school when I was a baby, and now she helps me with my own homework. I love my mom very much, and I think she deserves this award.”
Ellen reached under the podium and produced a crystal sculpture of a sea turtle on a shiny silver platform. Rei took it with both hands and carried it over to Louisa as the room broke out into applause that soon became a standing ovation.
“Thank you, sweetie,” Louisa said, pulling Rei into a tight hug and kissing the top of her head. Rei had inherited Louisa’s red hair, but she had her father’s ocean blue eyes. It never failed to astonish Louisa just how adorable, not to mention brilliant, her daughter was. She knew that Tom, wherever he was, would be incredibly proud of her.