Page 78 of Our Final Encore

“Crystal Cove.”

“I’ve never heard of it before.”

“It’s a quieter beach.”

I toe off my sandals and leave them next to the dunes. We walk along the shoreline in silence, listening to nothing but the waves and the wind whipping around us.

“I like it here. I haven’t been to the beach in years.” It hadn’t even crossed my mind that I haven’t taken a true vacation in so long. The last one was a short beach trip with Maisie and her daughter over two years ago.

For a moment I imagine the three of us, Alex, me and the baby. Here on a family vacation. Our baby splashing their feet in the shallow water, or digging holes in the sand with their chubby little hands.

Quickly, I shake away the daydream. That isn’t something co-parents do, as far as I know. Then I remember that I hardly know whatmarriedparents do.

“What are you thinking about?” he asks.

“Nothing.”

“I know that isn’t true,” he grins. “I know you’re deep in thought when you have that look on your face.”

Sighing I stop walking, facing the water. “Just thinking that…this is nice. Thanks for bringing me here.”

“We could live here.”

I glance over at him, my brows furrowed. “What?”

“You, me and the baby. We could get a place here.”

I shake my head, not understanding what he means by that.

He brushes his hand through his hair. “You could go to college. Start a career. We could start fresh here. A clean slate.”

“Ha, I don’t really think so.”

His face deflates, his green eyes narrowing a bit. “Why?”

“I’m having a kid. I know college isn’t in the cards.” As if it ever was. I gave up on that dream a while ago.

His lips twitch and he looks away from me. “That isn’t true. You can still do anything you want, Opal. I’m here to support you.”

I know he’s trying to be nice, but thinking about the fact that I missed out on college is still a sore spot for me. I let go of his hand and begin walking back the way we came. “Let’s go see where we’re staying.”

He catches up to me, but doesn’t say anything. We make our way back to his van in silence, then drive up the road a few blocks until we reach a row of pastel beach houses that sit on tall stilts. They all have silly names like “The Pelican” and “Gilligan’s Island”. The one he finally turns into is baby blue, and the placard on it reads “Blue Skies.”

He gets out and immediately starts loading up his arms with our belongings. I guess it’s a good thing I brought a change of clothes, but I don’t even have a swim suit.

“I didn’t bring a swimsuit. I’m not exactly prepared for a beach trip.”

“I already bought you one,” he winks at me as he grabs a couple of Walmart bags from the back of the van.

“Are you secretly a billionaire or something?”

He chuckles, leading the way towards the wooden staircase that leads to the front door. “No. I used some money that I saved from my last show.”

The house has a little front porch with two yellow lights on each side of the door. There are cacti and flowers in clay pots of all different sizes. He unlocks the door and opens it, revealing a good sized living room and kitchen.

“Did it pay pretty well?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Not bad, but it’s certainly not the same as having a steady year-round job. Some venues would pay a lot, others would offer me pennies.” He sets the bags down on the large kitchen island.

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