Dark Beach - By Lauren Ash Page 0,1

clean-cut blond hair, perfect chiseled features, and gleaming brown eyes. He was younger than she, and slightly taller—and, she noticed, he had a distinct lack of wrinkles. She frowned at her reflection again. “Huh? Oh, blue shirt in the dryer, sunglasses on the dresser, and I have the sunscreen,” she finally answered.

“What’s wrong?” he rubbed his hands up and down her pale arms.

“Nothing. Just getting ready.”

“Don’t forget your pills,” he said, as he wandered away.

Razor-sharp teeth flashed again in her mind, an image that had been plaguing her for months now. She stood still a minute, struggling to forget. Three bottles of pills sat on the counter. She shoved them into her black toiletry bag.

“Charlie’s escaped again,” Ron shouted.

“Maaaaaa. Ma.”

Jenny felt a tug on the hem of her short white nightgown. “Yes, my lovely.”

“Charlie’s outside.”

“Again? Oh!” On autopilot, she dropped her concealer, pushed past her daughter and her husband in the bedroom, and crashed down the wooden steps and out the front door.

“Charlie? Chaaaaaarlieeeeee!” she called.

“Honey, the neighbors will see you.” Ron stood on the front steps.

Jenny ignored him.

“Ouch! These rocks are sharp.” She looked down at her bleeding big toe. “My toe. Ron, I need an … ah!”

“Mommy has an owie?”

There was no sign of the little black dachshund.

“Here.” Ron handed her a bandage. “Come in. He’ll turn up.”

“I hope so. Should we cancel the trip?”

“God, no. We need this. I have been working so much lately. Don’t worry. Come inside. You finish packing. I’ll come out and look for him.” Ron headed back out in his sweats and well-worn slippers.

Jenny limped into the shower, holding her foot out to rinse off the blood and watching a drop fall to the floor and streak down the drain. Then she dried her foot and carefully placed the bandage.

The rest of the packing went smoothly, although there was still no sign of the dog.

“Into the car, Kip. Come on. It’s time to go.” She ushered their daughter into the backseat, finally feeling the first pangs of excitement.

“We’re going to the beach.” Kip sang.

“Are you excited?”

“Ya.” Kip climbed into the toddler car seat, and Jenny strapped her in tight and patted her soft blonde curls. “Charlie?” Kip asked.

“He’s lost, but Daddy told the neighbors, and they are going to keep an eye out for him. He always comes home.”

“You have the directions?” Ron asked from the back as he finished loading the last of their bags.

“Try the sat-nav.” Jenny pointed to the dash as she climbed into the passenger side of their black SUV.

“I hate that thing.” Ron grimaced buckling up. “It’s only right most of the time.”

“Most of the time? All of the time, for me. Anyway, I have my cell phone if it screws up.”

“Turn right,” a perfect female voice instructed as Ron eased the car out of the drive and then abruptly slammed on the brakes.

“God, Ron! What is this—whiplash?” Jenny grabbed her neck.

“Look!”

“Charlie! There you are, you silly doggie. Come on. Come in.” Jenny opened the car door.

Charlie, happy as pie, leaped into her lap and licked her face.

“I missed you, fella. Where’ve you been?”

Charlie just wagged his tail.

Jenny smiled as the car pulled away. Autumn leaves from her favorite tree were starting to carpet the ground outside their yellow seventies-style home, she noticed, even though it was only early fall. Already she could detect a slight change in the air in the mornings, a breeze that was just that much cooler.

“It’s all good,” Jenny said, as Ron turned on the car stereo.

* * *

“They found what?” Carl’s southern accent was still thick, even though he’d been away from home for years. He stood on the hot deck of the old World War II destroyer, a white hard hat on his head, yellow safety glasses covering his eyes, and with his hands on the spare tire that encircled his hips.

“Munitions. Old munitions,” the young welder yelled above the noise of the drilling.

“We need to get that garbage the hell off. Now!” shouted Carl, shaking his head. “That’s all Ah need right now. You hear me—now!” Carl punched the buttons on his worn-out cell phone. “Yeah, get me the Admiral … wait … wait … never mind.”

* * *

The freeway was stop and go.

“Mommy, I’m hungry.”

“Me too,” said Jenny.

Ron checked the clock. “Let’s stop and get a quick bite.” He changed lanes, slowed down.

“Burgers?” Jenny asked, thinking only of meat.

“Sure, my rear needs a break, and I forgot to tell you earlier...”

“What?” Jenny asked.

“...I have to make a conference