Page 80 of Suddenly Entwined

Chapter twenty-seven

Carolina

Natalie’s eyes are laser focused on the television screen, legs tucked beneath her from her spot on the living room floor.

“Natalie,” I call, throwing my arms up when she doesn’t acknowledge me.

I’ve checked the tide charts, I’ve got the cooler packed, and I’m getting these kids out of the house if it’s the last thing I do. We started spring break out strong, with trips to local parks, a couple visits to the swimming pool, and a great BBQ at Ashlyn and Isaac’s place. But the weather shifted in the second week, and we’ve been cooped up and had an ungodly amount of screen time. Today the clouds have burned off, the forecast is great, and the tide is falling. We have to go now if we want to make the most of the day!

“Natalie MacMillan, an alien invasion is coming. Your dad called, and he said we could get a pony. Let’s have ice cream for supper.”

When all that fails, I opt for simply striding over to the television and turning it right off.

“Hey!”

I plant my fists on my hips. “Hey, yourself. We’re going to the beach.”

“Oh! I didn’t know.”

“That’s because you were in la la land. C’mon, go put on socks. I’ve got everything packed.”

Lou wanders into the room behind me. “I’m ready!”

“Oh. Oh, wow, Lou.”

She’s generously applied the tube of lipstick I gave her for her birthday and it’s migrated far beyond the borders of her lips. With a floppy sun hat perched on her head and a pair of shorts pulled high over her swimsuit, it’s quite the look.

“That’s a great colour on you, honey,” I say, pulling a tissue from a box and tidying up her handiwork. “There. Perfect.”

I squish a sweater into my bag for her, not bothering to remind her how cold the ocean will be. Sure, it might be hot in the direct sun, but the wind by the water can feel fierce. Natalie announces that she’ll be right back, and Lou helps me carry out the snacks and beach blanket to my car. We’re almost loaded when Berg’s truck comes rolling up the driveway, an arm sticking out the window to wave.

“Everything okay?” I ask, holding Lou back until he comes to a complete stop.

“I got your text that you were going to the beach. I want to come.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “You have work!”

“They can live without me for an afternoon. I want to come along.”

I’m secretly pleased with the company and for his enthusiasm. As much as we’ve been hanging out in the evenings after the girls go to sleep, it’s rare that we all get to spend time together as a family. Or a group. Couple? My smile fades at the reminder that we might operate similarly to a family, but we aren’t one. Not in that way. Berg walks around my vehicle and lifts the cooler.

“Where do you think you’re taking that?”

“We can take my truck now.”

“No way, I’m already packed! You’re in the passenger seat, buddy.”

When Berg asks us to turn down Shania Twain, we turn it up and sing louder. He’s tagged along on our girls’ trip to the beach so he’ll have to get behind “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.”

His massive shoulders take up a comical amount of space in the front of my subcompact car, pretending to be grouchy when I know he’s actually hiding a smile behind his hand. We don’t have to drive for long before we squeeze into a parking spot near the beach access. If Berg wasn’t here, I’d have grabbed all this stuff in one trip, come hell or high water. But he scoopsmost of our things easily and leads the way down a steep set of stairs. Wind whistles in my ears as we descend, sand crunching between the soles of my shoes and the cement stairs. Natalie and Louisa pick their way over sun-bleached driftwood with ease, abandoning the bags they were holding and running for the shore. I laugh, bending to grab them before the towels spill out. It’s obviously not swimming weather yet, but the girls will probably get wet anyhow. Berg and I take each end of a blanket, lowering it to the sand and securing the corners with the cooler and bags to keep it from blowing around.

“This is one hundred times better than work,” he says, plopping down and stretching his long legs in front of him.

“This is my work.”

Berg looks at me thoughtfully.

“But it doesn’t feel that way,” I add, getting comfortable at his side.

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