Dark Beach - By Lauren Ash Page 0,7

go. Something happened. I don’t know really. One day that was it: we packed, we left. Never came back. This is my first time back in years.”

“I wonder…” Jenny didn’t pry.

“Are you finished? I have to go down there.”

The grass was dirty yellow, tall, waist high and bisected by a narrow path so overgrown that Ron had to cut through the vegetation with a rusted machete he’d found in the garage. Jenny jumped with each whack. What was it with that sound? It made her feel anxious, tense. Sweat beaded her brow as she followed—ever the good wife.

Charlie weaved in between them; his tail wagging faster and faster, as if he knew something exciting was coming. They reached the edge of the sandy dune to find a four-foot drop to the beach. Ron jumped. Charlie followed. Jenny took Ron’s offered hand down, helping Kip last.

“We’re on the beach!” Jenny pointed.

Kip repeated the phrase, the wind catching at her small voice and whipping the words away as she ran ahead, her arms outstretched.

The weather had improved, although it was still mostly cloudy and very cold. Jenny pulled her hood back up and stopped to watch Kip and Ron greet the ocean. She didn’t want to venture closer; she knew what was in it. Instead, she shook the red plaid blanket out on the sand, lay back, and sucked in the fresh air.

After a while, her nerves settled. All the fire went out of her; all that remained was a little smoke. “Ah…” She breathed that out too, releasing any angst.

Time passed. Jenny felt cozy there on the blanket, and a little sleepy, but, not wanting to nod off, she made herself wake up. The camera hadn’t been used in ages. She switched it on, browsing the last photos, which had not yet been downloaded, and added some shots of the grey distance. Standing, she zoomed in on Ron and Kip, knee deep in waves.

“Did you catch it?”

Jenny lowered the camera. “Excuse me?”

“Did you catch it?” An older couple, dressed in raincoats, stood before her and pointed to the ocean. “The whale.”

“What?”

“It’s out there; you can see it spouting up water. We think we saw its tail, but the water is so dark it’s hard to tell.”

“Oh right, yeah…” Jenny nodded, her anxiety rising again.

The couple stared at her a minute, bemused, and then nodded and continued on their way.

Jenny closed her eyes, blinking back the fear that crept over her like the sand invading her blanket. She just as quickly groaned and opened her eyes again, not wanting to see it there in her mind’s eye: that black body, those razor-sharp teeth. Gazing out at the ocean, she saw a huge black shape surface. Just as quickly, it was gone.

TWO

“This is so good.”

“Oh yeah.”

“Yeah.”

Jenny leaned back in her chair, enjoying the moment. “I could do this every day: warm butter, lobster, ah.”

“What is it with this creature?” Ron put a juicy forkful of sweet lobster meat into his mouth, savored it, swallowed and then delicately dug for another. “I mean, why on Earth did people think they could ever eat this? Look at its claws and antennae? They look like mini-monsters—devil’s spawn. I guess it explains why this used to be food for the poor. Did you know it was used as fertilizer in some places?”

Jenny sat up. “I’m eating fertilizer?” she deadpanned.

“Yes.”

“Over-priced plant food! Thanks for ruining the moment.” Jenny put her fork down and fixed Ron with an exaggerated frown.

Ron took an even bigger bite. “Who knows what might be popular in ten, twenty, thirty years—dachshund?”

“Now, stop.” Jenny pointed her fork at her husband, and he pointed his back, laughing.

Kip, in the highchair next to her, giggled and went back to drowning her fries in a pool of ketchup.

“Would you care for another glass of wine, sir?” The waiter stood between them. Disregarding the fork-duel, he gestured to the two half-full wineglasses on the white-clothed table.

“Yes, yes. Same as before.”

“And you, ma’am?”

“Umm.”

“Oh, honey, come on! Have a glass of wine. Enjoy yourself—we’re on vacation.”

“Umm … well … okay.”

“Good, two glasses. She’ll have what I’m having, it complements the crustacean.”

Jenny sighed absentmindedly, thinking she’d have to pretend to sip it slowly.

“What?” Ron asked.

She composed herself. “Nothing.”

“Come on, I can tell something is on your mind. Out with it.”

“I have something to tell you.”

“I knew it. I knew it! You’ve been too quiet today.”

“I went to the doctor…”

Ron’s cell phone vibrated. Jenny could hear it buzzing against the chair. She paused,