Even if Jack and I couldn't get a word in edge-wise, the sheer joy coming from the back seat, bouncing between the two kids, was such a gift. I'd felt as if I'd had a rock sitting on my chest ever since I'd woken up that morning to the thought that somebody had killed Rooster.
Now, I was finally breathing again, and I realized I was starving.
"How is it you survived this long without breakfast or lunch?"
Jack grinned at me and then growled over his shoulder at the kids, who immediately went silent. "When I'm this hungry, you know what looks super tasty to me? Children! Because they're crunchy with ketchup!!"
The peal of giggles let us know they hadn't taken him at all seriously, of course. We were all smiling when we pulled into the restaurant parking lot.
The server never even batted an eye when Jack asked her for four of the fishermen's delight platters, but she asked us if we needed a bigger table for the rest of our party. Since the kids and I had already ordered, it made sense that she thought we must have more friends joining us.
I smiled at her and shook my head. "Nobody else is coming, thanks. That's just for him. Shockingly enough, he'll probably order dessert too."
Her eyes got big, but she didn't say anything else. Just headed back to the kitchen shaking her head.
After the four of us ate enough fish and chips, shrimp, Mahi, and burgers—Zane—for eight people, we went down to the beach to walk it off. Jack held my hand while we walked, which gave me a quiet feeling of contentment, despite everything going on at home. The late December sun warmed our faces enough to counter the ocean breeze sweeping over the sparkling white sand. The familiar scents of surf and suntan oil recalled laughter-filled memories of days at the beach with Molly when we were growing up. We'd solved the world's problems and endlessly discussed the mysteries of boys while sitting on frayed beach towels and walking in the dancing surf.
The sound of Shelley and Zane laughing while they played barefoot at the edges of the advancing waves made me smile. It was a beautiful day, and this was what people should do on a beautiful day.
Not find dead bodies.
Guilt slammed into me as I thought about Darryl, who would never walk on a beach again. I stumbled to a halt.
Jack pulled me close, his emerald eyes filled with concern as he looked down at me. "I know. I know what you're thinking and feeling, and I understand why. But all those years at war taught me to appreciate the good moments when they come. I'm sorry that Darryl died, and I'm very sorry for the Petersons, especially with this happening just before Christmas. I don't know why, but that feels like it makes it worse. When we get back to town, we'll see about taking some food over there, okay?"
I nodded and just held him for a moment. Then I took a deep breath and smiled up at him. "You're right. I know you're right. I just want this to stop happening."
"I know. Me too." He bent to kiss me, lightly, but I put my arms around his neck and the kiss turned into something deeper. Reassuring and seeking reassurance. Giving comfort and taking some for myself.
The sound of high-pitched voices shrieking "Euwww" broke us apart.
"Jack was kissing Tess!" Zane shouted. "Out in public! In the middle of the beach!"
Shelley put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes at us. "I know," she said with mock exasperation. "They do it all the time. It's so yucky."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "That's too bad. Tess, I guess it's only us going for ice cream, since these two goofballs think we're so yucky."
Happy shrieks of protest drowned out anything I might've said, so I just laughed and held out my hand to take Shelley's. Zane and Jack walked ahead of us, Zane chattering a mile a minute, and we made our way back up to the street and down a block to an ice cream shop. It was December, but it was Cocoa Beach, so the little place was still crowded. When we got to the front of the line, Jack, Shelley, and Zane got triple cones.
I settled for a single and regretted the lost metabolism of my youth.
To be honest, though, I was still full from lunch. By the time I was halfway through my cone and too full to eat anymore, Jack was done with his triple and perfectly happy to finish mine.
Between Jack and Lou, I never had to worry about leftovers anymore.
We browsed in a few of the little touristy shops and picked up matching sea-glass bead bracelets for the kids. Jack asked me if I wanted one too, but I shook my head and touched the pendant that he'd given me—the pendant I never took off.
"No. I'm good with only this."
He reached out and lifted the pendant away from my skin, and his eyes flared with heat. "I love it so much that you wear this, Tess. It means a lot to me."
I reached up and touched his cheek. "It means a lot to me, too."
Shelley, who was studying a display of saltwater taffy like it held the secrets of the universe, shot us a glance filled with warning. "If you two start kissing again, we're leaving you here."
Jack threw back his head and laughed. "Okay, kiddo. Tess, how about we take these kids back home so they can shower off the ten pounds of sand they managed to cover themselves with?"
"Probably a good idea," I agreed.
