The Beach House (7 page)

Truth was he did need to get out so he
kissed Kim, slapped her on the butt and said, “Don’t burn,” before
striding off across the soft sand.

He walked down to the edge of the breakers
where the sand was firmer under his toes and increased his pace,
covering the ground quickly. There was a mile to the point, but it
was good to have Ami bouncing gently against his chest, arms and
legs waving. Her head turned as she gazed around at everything, and
Joe wondered what she saw with those brand new eyes. He hadn’t been
sure about this break – thinking he was going to be away from work
for too long, but now he was here and the first week was ending,
the tension he carried in his shoulders was fading too; the tension
he only became aware of through its absence.

Joe walked along the beach, staying close to
the waterline. As he neared the point where the river cut through
the dunes he noticed a figure sitting among the sea grass. He
thought it was the same woman they had been watching swim, the
woman who used, but did not appear to be staying at, the house next
door. The woman who may have watched him fuck Kim. Despite this Joe
waved, not wanting to appear unfriendly, but whether she didn’t see
him, or simply didn’t want to acknowledge his presence, no return
signal was offered.

On his way back Joe slipped Ami from the
sling and stood her on the sand, his hands around her small chest,
fingers meeting together around her. He walked her to the surf line
and watched as she lifted her feet as a wave came in, placed them
back when the sand uncovered again. Joe went a little further out
and Ami squealed in surprise and delight when foam flecked from a
breaker and rolled across her pudgy legs. She lifted them again and
laughed, and when the next wave came Joe let the water touch her
toes before lifting her high above his head and she squealed even
louder. He repeated the motion over and over again, Ami never
tiring of the game. Joe hugged her back against his chest and
buried his face against the fine hair covering the top of her head,
russet blonde like her mother’s. He smelled the sweet baby scent of
his daughter, smelled the milky aroma. He hugged her against him,
filled with love for this tiny creature that he and Kim had created
between them.

He was still dipping Ami’s toes in the water
and throwing her into the air when a voice said, “Hi, you’re
staying in the Bradley place, aren’t you?”

Joe turned to find the mystery woman
standing back from the water line. He had been so wrapped up with
his daughter he hadn’t heard her approach. Despite the warmth of
the afternoon she wore faded jeans with a tear in one knee and an
old NYU sweatshirt, and she hugged her arms around herself as
though cold. Close up Joe was even more enchanted by how lovely she
was. From a distance she looked good; close to she was remarkable.
Her hair hung back over her shoulders, long, wavy and unruly, pale
brown streaked with almost blonde where the sun had bleached it.
Her eyes were a sharp gray, dark gray edging into blue.

“I didn’t know it was the Bradley place. We
call it the beach house.”

She laughed. “They’re all beach houses.”

“I guess,” Joe said.

“How old is she?” the woman asked,
indicating Ami who was gurgling contentedly as Joe held her against
his chest, her legs kicking up and down.

“Six months, and a bit.” Joe laughed. “It’s
funny. After she was born we knew exactly how many days and hours
old she was, then we went to weeks, now it’s months. I might be
able to work out the days and hours but we don’t need to anymore.
Have you got kids?”

His question was casual, but he caught a
shadow passing behind her eyes as she shook her head. “No, no
kids.”

Joe nodded, not wanting to probe further in
what appeared to be a sensitive area. “Do you live around here? I
guess you must, I think we’ve seen you every day since we
arrived.”

“I live in town on the other side of the
island. I come down to clean the houses when folks leave, keep an
eye on them if they’re empty. I use the Harper’s place – next door
to you – when they’re not staying. They let me change and use their
shower.”

“You swim every day?” Joe said, more of a
statement than a question.

“Every day I can.”

“How about in the winter?”

She nodded. “Then too. I’ve got an old
wetsuit I use when the water turns cold. I like swimming.”

“Me too,” Joe said.

She nodded, standing barefoot on the edge of
the waves, in no hurry to move away.

Joe found himself looking down at her left
hand and said, “You’re married?”

She caught his glance and lifted her hand,
turning it to display the narrow gold band, a slight puzzled look
on her face as though she was surprised to see it on her
finger.

“I’m Joe, by the way,” Joe said, and offered
his hand, tucking Ami under his other arm where she responded with
a loud burp.

The woman laughed and took his hand, her
fingers slim and warm inside his. He held the grip for a moment
longer than politeness dictated but she made no move to pull
away.

“I’m Jenni,” she said. “Jenni Adams.”

“Pleased to meet you Jenni. This disgusting
bundle is Ami, and my wife is Kim.”

“Hello Ami,” Jenni said, leaning down to
stare into the child’s bright eyes. Joe was pleased when Jenni
didn’t put on a childish voice to speak to Ami. He hated when
people reverted to gibberish talking to young kids.

Ami gurgled some more and reached her
miniature, perfect hand out toward Jenni, who allowed the baby’s
fingers to close around hers. Ami laughed and gripped Jenni’s index
finger tight inside her fist.

“She’s got you now,” Joe laughed. “Once
she’s got that grip you’ll never get away.”

“I don’t think I want to try,” Jenni said,
again an undercurrent of sadness in her voice.

“Are you going back?” Joe asked. “Because I
think you might have to if she doesn’t let go.”

“I’m going back,” Jenni said. “Do you mind
me tagging along?”

“Mind? What’s to mind?”

“Well, you don’t know anything about me.
Folks are funny with their kids around strangers. I understand
that.”

“Ami’s got good judgment,” Joe said, smiling
down at his daughter, fist still wrapped around Jenni’s finger.
“Besides, you’re not a stranger. We’ve watched you for a week
now.”

Color flushed Jenni’s cheek and Joe wondered
if he had said the wrong thing. He didn’t want her to think they
had been spying on her, even if that was exactly what they had been
doing.

“I’ve been watching you too,” she said. “You
three are such a perfect unit...”

“I’m going to walk back,” Joe said. “Come
with us.”

Jenni fell into step beside him, her arm
stretched across to allow Ami to continue grasping her finger.

After fifty yards Jenni laughed and said,
“Are we going
all
the way back like this?”

It suited Joe. Jenni was forced to walk
close if she wanted to keep in contact with Ami, and now and again
her leg brushed against his, the unscented smell of her body
drifting over him.

“Do you want to carry her?”

Jenni stopped unexpectedly and Joe skidded
to a halt, but not soon enough to prevent Jenni’s finger slipping
from Ami’s grasp. Ami’s eyes went wide and her bottom lip jutted
out.

“Can I?” Jenni asked, her voice almost too
quiet to be heard above the soft waves.

Ami had started to sniffle, and Joe knew a
crying fit was being worked up, never entirely sure if Ami meant it
or whether she had already calculated the best method of getting
her own way.

“I think you better had if you don’t want to
be deafened.” He held Ami out toward Jenni.

Ami, sensing the movement, looked up into
Jenni’s eyes and the sniffle died as a slow smile spread across her
face. Joe watched as Jenni’s face softened in sympathy and then she
was placing her fingers gently around Ami’s small body and Joe
transferred her across. Ami laughed. Jenni lifted her and laid her
against her breasts and Ami laughed again. Joe saw his daughter
bury her mouth against the soft mounds beneath the sweatshirt and
start trying to burrow in. Jenni watched her squirm, looked at Joe,
embarrassed.

“She thinks you’re going to feed her,” Joe
laughed.

“Oh God!” Jenni said. “What do I do?”

“Lift her on your shoulder, unless you want
to be dribbled all over. She’ll forget about it once she realizes
you’re not going to feed her.”

Jenni lifted Ami to her shoulder, stroking
her back as the sniffle returned. Joe, standing slightly behind,
put his hands over his face and then pulled them apart and said,
“Boo!” Ami laughed, never tiring of the game, and as Jenni started
walking again he fell in behind and repeated the move. Jenni looked
over her shoulder at him and grinned, strode on, and Joe took the
opportunity to admire the way her ass filled her jeans, at the way
it moved in miraculous and wonderful ways. He realized he needed to
be careful. He would never cheat on Kim, but that didn’t mean he
wasn’t incredibly attracted to this woman. He had to take care and
not let slip any hint of those emotions.

Ami was ecstatic on Jenni’s shoulder, her
eyes starting to close, her head resting against Jenni’s neck as
her body went loose. Joe speeded up and fell into step beside this
vision of a woman.

“So what does your husband do?” Joe asked.
“I can’t remember, did you tell me his name?”

Jenni shook her head. “No, I didn’t. His
name’s Mark. He’s got an auyto-shop in town… most of the time.” Her
words lacked emotion, and once more Joe sensed something being held
back. Jenni looked down at the loose little body snuggled against
her shoulder and her face softened. “She’s perfect,” she whispered.
“You are both so lucky.”

“We are,” Joe agreed.

They walked on for a while, Joe comfortable
in Jenni’s presence, admitting to himself he was becoming aroused
just being close to her.

They had gone a half mile when Jenni asked,
“What do you do, Joe? And Kim, does she work?”

“Kim stopped when Ami came along. She’s not
sure if she’s going back. I think we might want a couple more kids
first.”

“You can afford to do that? So what is it
you do?”

Joe hesitated, not sure how much he wanted
to let out, how she might take it. Some people became strange when
he told them who he was.

Jenni slowed and looked at him. “Oh God,
you’re not a gangster or something, are you?”

Joe laughed and stopped. “No, nothing like
that. Worse. I write. Books. Thrillers.”

“I’m impressed.” Jenni’s eyes widened, but
Joe sensed the emotion was forced. He observed the reaction often.
“So have I read anything you’ve written? Do you write under your
own name? What is your last name?”

“Fransiscus,” Joe said. “Joe Fransiscus. You
might have read one of my books.” He made an effort to keep his
voice casual.

This time the sudden flare in Jenni’s pupils
was real. “Oh fuck. Oh my God, I’m sorry,” and she looked down at
Ami, blissfully asleep on her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to cuss in
front of your daughter,” she whispered.

Joe laughed. “It’s okay, she’s very broad
minded.”

“You’re
the
Joe Fransiscus? The
Dead Reckoning
, the
Dark Waters
Joe Fransiscus?”

Joe nodded.

“No wonder your wife doesn’t have to go back
to work. Oh my God, Joe.” She looked at him, and he was
disappointed in her reaction, wondering if he shouldn’t have
followed his instincts and told her he managed a bank.

“It’s only a job,” he said.

Jenni laughed, a little nervousness showing.
“To you maybe.” She looked out over the ocean, looked back and
seemed to be making some decision. “Okay. I’ll try and pretend it’s
only a job. I promise I won’t ask for your autograph or anything
tacky.”

Joe laughed, his shoulders relaxing. “Are we
going to be friends then?” he asked, discovering he was nervous
waiting for her reply.

Jenni looked shy again. “Do you want us to
be?”

“I do. I’d like that a lot. Kim too.”

She looked up into his eyes and he thought
he saw a spark of interest deep inside their steel gray. “I’d like
us to be friends, Joe.”

They walked on, the atmosphere between them
different now, but not uncomfortable.

Another quarter mile went by and then Jenni
asked, her voice casual, “So how long are you staying at the
house?”

“We’re booked for a month,” Joe said.
“Though we might want to stay longer.”

“Fantastic,” Jenni said. “You want to come
swimming tomorrow?” Her question sounded throw away, as though his
reply didn’t matter to her one way or another.

“I’d like that,” he said.

“Will Kim come as well?”

“Kim hates the water. Hates the ocean. I
can’t even get her to get on a boat. I wanted us to go on a cruise
last year and she refused point blank. We almost didn’t come here
because she knew she had to come over on the ferry.”

“It’s only a half mile,” Jenni said.

Joe laughed. “I know. But it’s not the width
that worries her, it’s the depth.”

Jenni laughed with Joe. “I promise not to
raise the subject again then.”

Ami started to grizzle and wriggle on her
shoulder and Jenni slowed and looked toward Joe, raised her
perfectly shaped eyebrows. They had not been plucked or fashioned
in any way, just naturally perfect.

“She needs changing, I expect,” Joe
said.

“Changing? Oh, I see, you mean
changing.”

Joe laughed. “Here, give her to me and I’ll
swap her nappy for a clean one.” He took the waking infant from
Jenni and once more their fingers brushed, the touch electrifying
him. “You might want to look the other way, and maybe step back a
few paces. This is not always pretty.” Joe started pulling baby
changing equipment from the rucksack.