“Where’s Delphine?” he asked pointedly.

“You’ll see her, don’t worry,” Carson assured him. Like Nate, she wanted to break free and run to the pool to see Delphine.

At last they reached the edge of the pool. Nate wanted to go closer but was cut off by Lynne’s outstretched arms.

“Here’s how we’re going to do this,” Lynne said in a tone that brooked no argument. “Carson, you know the drill. You can help me give Delphine her antibiotics. While I get the meds, you can go in the water and let Delphine know you’re here.” She turned to Nate. “Sorry, Nate, but you can’t go in the water.”

Nate looked stricken. “But I went in the water with the other dolphins.”

“I know. But this is a hospital. It’s not allowed. But . . .” Lynne smiled at Nate, who reluctantly met her eyes. “How about I let you play with Delphine using some of her favorite toys? Her very best favorite is that pink ball in the bin over there.” She gestured toward a basket by the wall. “See it?”

Nate scanned the room and, spotting it, nodded.

“Okay, go stand by the wall and wait until I say you can throw it to her, okay? Carson and I have to give Delphine her medicine first. Stay by the wall,” she said.

“That’s the rule,” Carson added for clarity, knowing he’d take it very seriously when put in that context.

“Carson, if Delphine will let you, you can give her a rubdown. She loves those.”

Carson was surprised she’d still be allowed to touch Delphine, now that the dolphin was so much improved. She knew Lynne didn’t want human interaction with the wild dolphins if possible, especially not touch. It made her wonder if decisions had been made as to where Delphine would be transferred once she was deemed healthy.

“Is Delphine already slated to go to the Dolphin Research Center?”

Lynne shook her head. “No. We haven’t given up on trying to release her into the wild.”

“But the rubdown . . .”

“It’s helping her heal, which is our top priority. This particular dolphin gets depressed in isolation. We had to make a call based on her needs. As for her release—when and where—the jury’s still out on that.”

The pool was enormous and deep and the vast screening over it provided lovely dappled light that made patterns on the water. Carson stood at the edge and squinted into the shifting shadows, searching for the dolphin. Not seeing her, she lowered herself to sit on the edge and slipped her legs into the water. It was cool but not cold, refreshing against the searing temperature of the air. She searched the water for some sign of Delphine. Carson kicked her legs in the water, hoping the vibration would alert the dolphin and bring her close, if only out of curiosity.

Nothing.

Carson added a whistle. Sharp and clear, it pierced the quiet. It was the same whistle she’d always used at the Cove when she called Delphine. She glanced over her shoulder at Nate. He stood keen eyed and alert, watching.

Suddenly she saw a gray shadow streaking through the water toward her. Her heart skipped a beat as the shadow swam close, then veered, doing a glide-by. She knew Delphine was checking out the stranger in the pool. Carson gasped with a laugh when a glistening head suddenly emerged from the water right before her. Two shiny bright eyes studied her for a moment. Then Delphine shot high in a vertical jump and released a whistle that sounded to Carson’s ears like a yelp of joy.

“Delphine!” she cried, her heart near bursting. From behind her, she heard Nate shout out Delphine’s name and run toward the pool.

“It’s her! It’s her!” he exclaimed, arching on his toes excitedly and pointing.

Swimming past them again, Delphine tilted to her side, looking up. Passing Nate, she stopped and rose up, whistling.

“She sees me!” Nate exclaimed, rushing to the pool’s edge.

Carson watched as Nate looked into the dolphin’s eyes, overwhelmed with gratitude that Delphine had recognized Nate. There was an attentiveness between them—a connection—that went beyond words.

Two female volunteers came closer from the other tanks, intrigued by what was happening in the pool.

When Nate crouched at the pool’s edge, Carson put her hand out to stop him from getting too close. “Honey, I’m sorry, but you have to go back against the wall until Lynne tells you it’s okay to come close.”

“No!”

“Remember what Lynne said.” Nate was jumping up and down, getting overexcited. She feared a meltdown and spoke calmly but firmly. “Go stand by the wall. That’s the rule. If you do what Lynne says, you can play with Delphine. You’ll have your turn.”

Reluctantly Nate went to stand by the wall, but he rose up on his toes and kept his eyes glued to Delphine.

Delphine kept rising up in the water to peek out over the edge of the pool, obviously looking for Nate.

“She knows you’re here,” Lynne called out to Nate. “She’s happy to see you. I told you she would be!”

“What are all those marks on her body?” Nate asked, looking stricken.

Carson looked at Lynne, who nodded at Carson, giving her the silent go-ahead to explain.

“Those are her scars. But don’t worry, they will get better. Look how healthy she is. That’s what’s important.”

Delphine began chattering excitedly, then took a rapid run around the pool before returning to where Carson stood. She tilted her head to study Carson with her shiny black eyes.

Carson lowered her head closer to the dolphin’s. “Yes, it’s me. I’m back.” She braced herself with her arms and slipped into the pool. Delphine swam very close, her eyes big and eager looking. The dolphin stopped in front of her and waited, as though inviting Carson’s touch. Carson tentatively reached out a hand in the water and held it inches from the dolphin, giving her time. Delphine moved to gently nudge the tip of her rostrum against Carson’s hand, then nudged her head against Carson’s fingertips. Carson felt the old connection and relaxed, letting her hands slide gently over the rubbery skin.

“Hey, Delphine,” she murmured.

Over and over Delphine swam past Carson, each time allowing Carson’s hands to rub her sides in a circular massage. After several minutes, Delphine faced Carson again, this time remaining under the water. Carson heard a quick staccato sound and felt a tingling on her abdomen, like tickling. Laughing, she tried to shoo Delphine away but Delphine was persistent, returning over and over to send the sonar to her belly.