Page 24 of Beach Vibes

“Don’t sign anything,” she said. “Don’t loan her money or buy her a car.”

Rick grinned. “You really don’t trust me, do you? Beth, I know what I’m doing.”

If only that were true, she thought wearily. But it wasn’t, and she was all that stood between her sweet, foolish brother and disaster.

6

“Is Beth nice?” Linnie asked as she skipped along at Jana’sside. They’d arrived early enough Saturday morning that there was plenty of parking. It was still ridiculously expensive, but it was available.

“She’s very nice. You’ll like her.”

“But she doesn’t have any kids, right? That’s sad.”

Jana held in a smile. “It is very sad.”

Linnie’s latest thing was a belief everyone’s life would be improved by the addition of children. Just yesterday she’d asked their mail carrier if he had a family and had been delighted to learn he had four sons.

“Sometimes people don’t like to talk about sad things,” Jana added. “So let’s not talk about Beth not having children, okay?”

Her friend had invited her and her daughter out to watch asurfing competition and enjoy a beautiful Saturday morning. Jana doubted Beth was prepared to be grilled on her child-free state by a four-year-old.

“I won’t say anything,” Linnie told her. She pointed to the water. “Look, Mommy. They’re already surfing.”

Sure enough, there were at least a dozen surfers out beyond the breakers. Most were just sitting on their boards, but a couple paddled toward shore, then caught the wave, stood and rode it in.

“Wow! Could I do that?” Linnie asked.

“I have no idea. I’ve never tried to surf. Teddy and Dex used to when they were teenagers. Let’s ask them about it when we get home.”

They walked across the sand toward the lifeguard station, where Beth had said she would be waiting. The early morning was cool, and the fog hadn’t quite burned off yet. Despite the low cloud cover, Jana had slathered both herself and Linnie with sunscreen. Burns happened fast on the beach.

She spotted the red umbrella Beth had told her to look for. Just then her friend saw them, stood and started waving.

“Is that her?” Linnie asked eagerly. “Is that your new friend?”

“It is.”

They quickened their pace and reached Beth. Her daughter smiled broadly.

“I’m Linnie and I’m four. Next year I get to go to kindergarten and then I’ll be in first grade and I’ll have homework. I can’t wait. Oh, and it’s okay that you don’t have any kids of your own. If you get lonely, you can borrow me.”

Jana did her best not to groan at Linnie’s unfiltered introduction. “Hi,” she said as she shrugged off her backpack. “So this is Linnie, who says exactly what she’s thinking.”

Beth laughed. “Hello, Linnie. Thank you for your very generous offer. I appreciate it. So, homework, huh?”

“Magnolia and Atlas already have it.” Linnie settled on the blanket Beth had unrolled under the umbrella. “Orchid doesn’t.”

“Orchid?” Beth glanced at Jana. “Interesting names.”

“My sister-in-law was in finance. She said she spent her whole day making sense with numbers. She wanted the rest of her life to be unconventional.”

“Orchid was the baby of the family,” Linnie added. “Then I came along.”

“I know you were a wonderful addition,” Beth said.

Linnie beamed.

Jana unpacked a small plastic bucket, a shovel and a couple of towels in case her daughter decided to go into the water. She’d also brought water and juice, along with a cut-up apple.

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