Dark Beach - By Lauren Ash Page 0,8
then said, “Go ahead, you can answer.”
“No. We’re at dinner. I don’t want to interrupt our first date out here.”
The phone kept trilling, demanding attention.
“God…” Ron opened it up. “It’ll be quick. I’ll be right back. I promise, honey. Promise.” Ron fumbled in his jacket pocket until he found the fancy electronic nuisance. “Hello?” he said, as he hurried away from the half-empty dining room and his beautifully dressed wife.
“Wine, ma’am.”
“Thanks.” She muttered under her breath, “I can’t believe he took the call.”
“Excuse me, ma’am?” The young, dark-haired waiter tried not to seem interested, but his eyes frankly assessed the attractive, petite woman in striking blue before him. She looked too good to ignore.
Jenny glanced up at him, thinking he looked as if he were genuinely sorry for her, which actually made her feel slightly better. She smirked slightly.
“Can I get you anything, ma’am?” He paused a little too long, but waited patiently.
“Yes. A dessert menu—that’ll do it.” She turned to Kip. “You want something sweet? I need something sweet,” then, under her breath, “with a hint of bitterness.”
“We only have sweet, I’m afraid,” said the waiter, who must have heard her.
“Fine, anything.”
Jenny stared at the swollen girth of the wineglass before her, the light streaming through the clear, yellow liquid. She ran her finger along the edge, sensing the slight imperfection along its lip. Then she knocked it over. It splashed a topaz streak across the table and wine dripped down onto the tiled floor.
“Oops.”
No one had even noticed.
The drive back to the beach house was silent. Ron was too distracted by the phone call; Jenny too relieved that his forgetfulness had prevented her from telling him her news. Kip was asleep in the back. She watched the sun dip down into the sky, sinking in oranges and pinks.
“Do you want to see the jetty? I love the jetty.” Ron pressed his foot harder on the accelerator.
“Now? But it’s windy and cold. What about Kip?”
“You can wear my coat. You’ll be toasty warm. I’ll be by your side and the sun is setting. And Kip will be fine in the car; she’s asleep anyway and we won’t go out of sight. I don’t want to miss a beach sunset.”
Jenny felt a twinge of fear. “As long as it doesn’t get dark.”
Closing the car, they hurried to a pile of gargantuan black rocks that stuck out into the water. Ron kicked off his shoes and socks, and Jenny bent down to ease off her heels.
“Look at it.” Ron grabbed her hand and pulled her to the ocean’s edge. She glanced the sun, and then back at the car. It was still; no one was around. She turned to the horizon again. The sun had almost hit the ocean, its colors intensifying, refracted through the clouds. They stood there, speechless, watching the ball of light vanish into the unknown.
“Do you want to climb up on the jetty?” Ron asked.
“I don’t think I can get out of it, can I?”
“Nope.”
He helped her up, onto the nearest behemoth rock, carefully climbing behind her and trying not to slip on the slick surface. Ocean spray surrounded them, its icy drops enlivening them.
“I’m soaked now. My dress!” Jenny complained, smoothing down the deep blue fabric. She peered towards the car again—still the same.
“Your dress is blue—what are you worried about? No one’s here but us.” Ron took a step towards her, lowered his head. “Live a little. You’re so worked up tonight.”
“I can’t help it. You took that work call at dinner.”
“I had to take it.”
“You always have to take it.” Losing her balance, she fell forward, into the arms of the man who loved her, who had always loved her.
“I’m sorry.”
She felt his heart pounding against hers as he held her there, on the brink.
* * *
“May I sit?”
“No.” Jenny shook her head but did not look up.
“You know, you can take a break. This is college. You’re supposed to have fun every once in a blue moon.”
The young man before her looked baby-faced, much younger than the men who usually flocked around her.
He held out one hand and pulled out a chair with the other. “Hi, I’m Ron.”
“Ron, I’m busy. And you don’t look like you belong here.”
“I don’t?”
“No.” She returned her attention to her studies.
“But … soon I will.”
Jenny couldn’t help but laugh. “I knew it. I just knew it.”
“What?” Ron’s voice deepened a little and he hooked his thumbs in his jean loops.
“You’re still in high school.”
“So.” He sat, stretching his