Page 3 of Sighs By the Sea

Georgie launches into stories, and I keep my hold on him. As he talks, mostly nonsense that means nothing to me, Tommy leads us to the patio table. I take a seat, letting Georgie sit in my lap.

Sam and Greg are already sitting, both watching the interaction quietly with broad smiles. It’s perfect. So perfect. I'm out of jail, and my son is here. Finding a house, buying a car, getting a job, it's all still in the back of my mind, but as long as this boy is with me, I know everything is going to be okay.

Grayson

Half an hour later, just when I think my son will never run out of things to talk about, he suddenly gets out of my lap and sprints to the sandbox. TJ, Sam’s three-year-old son, and both the twins are already in there, flinging grains of sand every which way like an explosion of silica.

I watch my son go, already missing his voice. The late afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the yard, and I take a deep breath, savoring the salty ocean breeze. When I turn back around, Tilly is taking a seat with a woman I don’t know.

“Grayson, this is Penny, Sam’s sister,” Tilly says. The resemblance strikes me immediately. The women look very similar with their copper hair and matching smiles. I met Sam briefly last year, and let's just say, if she wasn't married, I would have happily made a move. She has an easy way about her, a freedom that is enchanting to watch. Discreetly, I check Penny's ring finger. Damn.

It was a long time in jail—not as long as others get—but still. I missed women. Dating was a curious thing before prison. I had fun on occasion, but nothing of note. Relationships of any kind were practically forbidden under my family's thumb. Now that I'm out and there is no longer the family to contend with, I'm suddenly very curious. Alright, I'll admit it. I'm feeling lonely. The pleasant company of a woman would be more than welcome.

Unfortunately for me, both Sam and her sister are off-limits. I'm not that interested anyway. In fact, the only thing that strikes me about either of them is the resemblance to a certain auburn-haired detective. I never knew I had a thing for redheads, but here I am, pining over everything with a slight reddish hue.

“Hi, Grayson. Nice to meet you,” Penny says, holding out a hand. I shake it as two more kids run out into the yard. “Annie, keep an eye on Clark," Penny calls after them. The ten-year-old girl rolls her eyes but follows after the younger boy with bright curly red hair. “Ignore her; she secretly loves watching out for all those boys.”

The group grows quiet as everyone watches the kids start arguing over a bright red shovel. One of the twins starts crying, but Annie grabs a different shovel and guides his hand to it.

That must be Drew. Right, he’s blind. Drew feels along the toy, then smiles and starts digging. All is peaceful in the sandbox once again, and the adults settle back into their conversations. Penny was right; Annie is great with them.

Penny clears her throat. “So, Grayson, what are your plans?”

I sip my beer. There's no probation for me, which I'm very grateful for right now. The drink slips down my throat, bitter and delicious, soothing my entire body. I savor the flavor and set the bottle down. “Erm, get a job and a place, I guess.”

“Any ideas where?” Tilly asks.

I shake my head, and the group takes turns studying each other’s faces. Miranda is the first to speak. “Penny has been doing the books with me, but she lives in Monterey and has her own things going on.”

Penny nods along. “Not that I don’t love helping. But Miranda tells us you’re a guru with accounting.”

“I was, I suppose.” I can already see where this is going and shift uncomfortably in my seat.

“When can you reapply for your CPA?” Penny asks.

“Now. There’s no guarantee they’ll approve it, though.” There’s a collective nod. Felons can apply, but the state of California has the final say on whether to issue it or not.

“Would you be willing to work for us?” Tilly asks, her voice hopeful. “I’d like to be a real family, Grayson. What you did for us… we want to take care of you. No strings attached. You can go whenever, and we would never expect anything in return.”

I almost laugh. Of course, she would reiterate that. Our blood family had been the exact opposite. Every favor was just waiting to be cashed in, even with my own mother.

My mother-in-law, Lori, with her gray hair shining in the sunlight, leans forward. “We’d love to leave George with you today, Grayson.”

I take a breath and study each of their faces. Everyone is wearing expressions of cautious optimism. What in the world is happening? They’re being so… nice. It makes me shudder.

But it’s as if all my dreams are being displayed on a plate right in front of me. All I have to do is reach out and take a bite.

I smile. “I’d love to, Tilly. I should be the one asking you, really.”

She laughs. “You know that’s not true. None of us went to jail or sacrificed two years with their kid. We all have kids, Gray. We know exactly how hard that would be.”

“Not all of us. Some can still keep their legs closed,” Miranda says. Lori actually gasps, but the rest of the group laughs.

Penny is already getting up. She flips her hair back and smiles at me. “I have a few things for you to sign. Let’s go to Tilly’s office.”

“Tommy’s office too!” Tommy says, but that makes everyone laugh even harder. Tommy is a professional surfer. His aloof and goofy personality doesn’t really align with a business mindset. I’d eat my hat if the man did anything in the office other than lock the door to watch porn.

I rise to my feet and follow Penny. Before I go inside, I take a look over my shoulder at Georgie with his… cousins? Wait, no. Second cousins. He looks very happy. But his cheeks are already growing pink in the hot overhead sun.

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