Page 88 of Beach Vibes

She went through the line with the kids and helped them place their orders. There was a long and serious discussion of the various drink options. All four children insisted she join them, so she quickly made herself a sandwich, and they walked outside to the tables in the shade. She and Dex pushed two together to give them room. Linnie and Orchid wanted to sit on either side of her, while Magnolia planted herself opposite.

“This is nice,” Beth said. “Thank you for visiting me today.”

“Great view,” Dex said, motioning to the ocean. “You must get a good breeze later in the afternoon.”

“We do. And the fog in the morning. Gotta love the beach.”

She took a bite of her sandwich and realized she was actually hungry. She hadn’t eaten dinner the night before or breakfastthis morning. Hopefully her sandwich would sit all right in her tummy.

Atlas pointed at the water. “They surf here in the morning, don’t they? This is a surfer beach.” There was a wistfulness in his tone.

“You like surfing?” she asked.

“He loves it,” Orchid announced in a tone of long suffering. “He talks about it all the time.”

Magnolia nodded. “He wants lessons, but Dad says he’s too young. He has to wait until next summer.”

“Are you working on your swimming?” Beth asked. “You need to be a strong swimmer so you can fight the tide.”

“Dad takes me to the park pool sometimes,” Atlas grumbled. “And I swim at Dex’s, but Dad won’t put a pool in at home.”

“We live in shame because of that,” Dex said, his expression deadpan.

She tried not to laugh. “A pool’s a really big project.”

“Plus we have to worry about Orchid and Linnie,” Magnolia pointed out. “Because even with a fence around it, they could fall in.”

“We’re older now.” Linnie smiled up at Beth. “I’m four. Next year I get to go to kindergarten and then the first grade and then I get homework.”

Beth smiled at her. “I remember. You’re very excited about it.”

“I am.”

Everyone talked as they ate their lunch. Beth managed to relax enough to enjoy the jokes and laughter, and the ease of just hanging out. She’d deliberately left her phone in her desk drawer so she wouldn’t be tempted to check it every fifteen seconds as she waited to hear back from Rick. While she was desperate to talk to him, she also dreaded the conversation.

When lunch was finished, Dex suggested they cross the street and walk along the beach before heading home. Beth beggedoff, saying she had to get back to work. Magnolia surprised her by asking if they could talk for a second.

Dex nodded slightly, as if he knew what the conversation was going to be about, then ushered the other kids away.

Beth sat back down at the table. “Are you okay?” she asked.

Magnolia sighed before looking at her. “Daddy was mad about the list.”

It took Beth a second to realize she meant the list of questions she’d been asking.

“He said the questions were intrusive and rude and that he was disappointed in me.” Tears filled her eyes. “So I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

Beth felt so bad for her. “I’m sorry about that. I was fine with the questions, and I respected you for taking the time to think them through.”

She paused, not wanting to get between Teddy and his daughter or undermine his authority. Suddenly a simple conversation felt like a minefield.

“I’m going to talk to your dad about this,” she said slowly. “I’m going to explain I was okay with the questions and that you apologized. I appreciate that.”

Magnolia watched her without speaking.

“This is hard,” Beth said with a faint smile. “For both of us. I know when your mom was alive, she was the heart of the family. I know you loved her so much. As the oldest, you knew her the best, and in a way, you’re the keeper of the memories.”

Magnolia brushed away tears. “Orchid doesn’t remember her at all.”

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