Page 62 of Bubbles at the Beach House Hotel

Jessica approached us. “Ryan thinks I’m here to play with him. I do want to do things with him and follow our contract, but he doesn’t understand that for the last ten months, I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep. He thinks because he doesn’t hear the baby cry at night or can leave for work the next day that I should be able to handle it myself. This afternoon, all I wanted to do was sleep. I’m so damn tired.”

“But that’s how it always is,” grumped Ryan.

Trying not to panic, I said, “Why don’t we talk about it?”

“We haven’t been able to talk about it at home with either set of parents. They’re so excited about becoming grandparents until it’s time for them to babysit. Then it’s a different story,” said Jessica. “My parents live four hours away, but Ryan’s parents are in town. However, they’re usually too busy to help.”

Ryan frowned at us. “She’s right. We don’t have the help we thought we’d have. But I’m under too much pressure at work to do much at home.”

“What about the weekends?” I asked.

“I take care of our baby Wade for two hours on Saturday afternoon,” said Ryan.

“While he naps,” Jessica said with an edge to her voice.

“Do you have a friend you can exchange babysitting with?” I asked Jessica.

“Yes, but she and her baby are always sick,” said Jessica. She turned to Ryan. “I’m sorry. I know you wanted this to be a big weekend for us.”

Thinking of how our plan was failing, I said quietly. “We can make this weekend work. Let’s start now. Will you trust me enough to come to the beach with me for a short while?”

Jessica and Ryan glanced at one another.

“Okay,” said Jessica. “What do we have to do?”

“Just come with me. It’s very pleasant. You won’t need your sandals or shoes.”

We left the patio and walked out to the beach.

Jessica stood a moment, feeling the soft sand on her feet. She looked up and smiled at Ryan. “It’s so warm and soft.”

Wearing Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt, Ryan lifted his arms, embracing the sunlight. “I love the smell of the water.”

“Let’s just walk down to the water,” I said. “I’ve found a special way to relax. My husband and I do it to reconnect when he’s home from a business trip.”

As the three of us walked toward the water, I kept watch on the couple from the corner of my eye. Ryan reached for Jessica’s arm to steady her, and after a tense couple of seconds, she allowed him to lead her.

At the water’s edge, I pointed out the little footprints of the sandpipers and sanderlings who ran along the frothy edge looking for food. Above us, seagulls and terns circled and cried out, looking magical as they swooped and swirled.

“Step into the water,” I said. “Feel the sand curl around your ankles as the waves come in and return in a pattern as old as time. Then hold hands and close your eyes.”

Jessica and Ryan did as I suggested.

I stood nearby and spoke softly. “Let the sun warm you and the water anchor you to the earth. Listen to the sounds of the birds and people around you and allow them to block out all other thoughts except for a feeling of gratefulness to be here in this place at this time.”

I remained quiet for several minutes and then said, “When you’re ready, open your eyes and look at one another.”

I felt relief at the looks they were giving each other.

“When I’m stressed, overworked, and tired, I practice this exercise. It works for me every time. And when my daughter, Liz, whom you’ve met, is feeling the need to feel grounded, she and I come together for this.”

“I hear she has triplets,” said Jessica. “How does she do it?”

“She has a lot of help, but she and her husband work out a schedule where they each have time alone with the kids and away from them. It seems to work.”

Jessica gazed at the water thoughtfully.

Ryan said, “Okay, let’s take a walk on the beach. Thanks, Mrs. Sanders, for your help.”

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