The scenery is L.A. is breathtaking, the large palm trees, every other person has a convertible or jeep. The music blasting, the sun bright, the scent of ocean, the sound of the seagulls as we approach the beach. Jensen and I glance at one another, but didn’t speak. I close my eyes, feel the breeze from the wind on my face. The closer I am to him the more my heart flutters, and every chance I get I touch his hand. It is the first time I feel protected and safe with him. Jennifer Hudson, If this isn’t love comes on. The hood is down and I kick off my shoes, put my feet on the dashboard. I pop my fingers, and he peeks at me.
“I’ve always wanted to put my foot on the dashboard and feel the sun on my toes. No drugs, no cutting, and ....”
“What?”
He raises his eyebrow, and smirks.
“I just feel good and I never thought sober came without drama.”
“One day at a time. It feels good to see you happy.”
“Always feared saying the word happy.”
“Me too. Bad shit follows let just say we mellow.”
“Yes, mellow and serene.”
Listening to the waves crashing against the rock, the blue water, the laughing children making sand castles, women in skimpy bikinis, men with big bellies, children building sand castles. The life guards sitting high with their sun tan skin, buffed bodies. He lays the blanket out, and sits. He puts his knees up and just stares at the ocean.
"Are you okay?"
"Thinking."
"About?"
"Six months ago no one could have told me I'd be at a beach in California. I thought I'd dead and buried shit seems surreal."
"Did you ever kill someone?"
He tossed the rock into the water.
"Some things are left unsaid."
"One more question did the councilman or Elizabeth send for you to kill me?"
It never left my mind, he looks straight ahead and then turns to me. His silver eyes pierced through my skin, his jaw bone moved side to side, and pushed his lips out.
"If I was going to kill you'd be dead."
"What is that suppose to mean?"
"It means I move in silence and two months ago if that was the case I would have been rest in peace your ass."
I shivered and turned my head from him.
"Janae, I just want to chill , enjoy the beach, and you. I don't want to think about the past."
The waves crashed against the rocks, my mind was on the statement he said and that he never answered the question.
“Okay.”
“I came out here for a reason and I knew my murderer was going to be out here. I wanted to see how she would interact with her other children. I was hoping something.”
He waved his hand up in the air and pick up a rock from the sand and flung it in the water.”
I survey the beach and saw her sitting next to a white man, two children digging up sand and dumping it in a bucket. The little girl drops the shovel, and runs to the water. She squeals and splashes. Jensen looks over and watches. A large wave of water covers her body. Jensen jumps up and runs over to the water and jumps in. I see his large arms flinging in the water. He grabs the girl and bring her to the shore. He is on his knees, his mother runs to the shore, a tall, lanky, white man stands besides him as Jensen performs C.P.R. The little girl coughs, her arms move, and she said,
“Mommee, I fell in the water and the man saved me.”
The lifeguards run towards her, the paramedics, and he stands. The lanky man walks towards Jensen and extends his hand.
“Thank you for saving our daughter’s life. His mother looked behind her shoulder, her eyes grew wide, and a single tear fell. Jensen glared at her, he brushed the sand off his broad chest, and knees.
“Thank you, young man for saving our daughter’s life.” He blinked twice and shook his head.
“No thank you needed. She reminds me of a little sister I once had.”
The little girl said,
“Sir, You are the man who came to mommy house to talk to her awhile ago.”
Her father turned to his mother and then Jensen.
“I came to see if she was looking for a new landscaper turns out she’s happy with the one she has. I just happen to be here with my girl.”
“Oh,”
Gloria led out a sigh of release and he walked away.
He sat on the blanket, the clouds in the sky began to form, the wind picks up, and I know he doesn’t want to talk. I take his hand in mines and he just stares into the water. Gloria and her family are gone.
“I save my sister’s life and she couldn’t even acknowledge I was her fucking son. She treats me like I did something wrong to her. Like I violated her life when this broad told them to let me die. It’s all good. You know what I want to get off this beach and just take you home.”
“Okay.”
We gather the blanket and pack the stuff it in the car. The entire ride is just the sound of the street, the cars, the view of water, and his face is like stone. He pulls up in front of the house.
“I need to be alone.”
I step out of the car and he speeds off.