Today is the first day of vacation. 'That means a break from routine and some idle time to myself,' she thinks. She washes and dresses for the day and then does only those chores that must be done. Gathering a change purse and a tote she descends the stairs to the beach.
A light fog hangs over the glassy water this morning. The air is enjoyably cool now; a good time for a walk. The beach patrol have not cleaned the sand yet and she enjoys identifying the shells strewn there. The boardwalk is in sight before she knows it.
There is much early morning activity on the boardwalk with bicyclists and joggers. She climbs the stairs onto the boardwalk and turns left to walk down beach. Pigeons in prettily colored feathers strut along the chevroned boards. They scatter from her path as she walks. There is a coffee shop a block away and she looks forward to the rich café' au lait.
She walks into the shop and selects a newspaper. She orders her coffee at the counter and finds a table in a room full of strangers. Vacationers here for the summer fill the little shop this morning. She opens her paper and the counter woman sets down her coffee and her check. She smiles at the woman and tries to be friendly. Helen usually works in the morning and always has a pleasant greeting. She misses seeing the familiar face. The shop must have put on some summer help to cope with the crowds of vacationers. She glances up to see a man looking her way. Not just looking but openly staring. She smiles and nods and then returns to her paper. When she's finished her coffee she leaves money for a paper, coffee and tip on the table with the check and continues on her way.
Her first stop is the mongers shop. Fresh fish lay gleaming on a bed of crushed ice. She chooses from among them a shiny one with the smell of the sea still clinging to its lifeless fins. She can bake this one and eat it for the next 3 days . She looks forward to not having to heat the stove more than she must. The next stop is a flower shop where she chooses some deep pink miniature carnations. Their scent wafts to her as she tucks them into her tote.
She returns to the beach for the walk home. The sun already has warmth but little wisps of morning fog still dance like ballerinas on the waters surface. Her glance is friendly as she walks past other people on the beach. A man walking toward her stops and smiles. He looks vaguely familiar. ah yes! They met in the coffee shop this morning. She smiles and he falls in step with her and they walk together in wet sand next to the water. He is pleasant company and so they walk and talk of this and that enjoying this time. The time goes quickly and ends much too soon.
The air is now very warm and she invites him to join her for a cool drink. He agrees and she shows him to a roof top garden where he sits in the shade of potted trees. She shows him an entertainment center with CD's and tapes. He chooses some music while she prepares some refreshment. The mood like the music is mellow and they spend the heat of the day enjoying the music together. While they look through CD covers, she studies his face and finds it pleasant. He's tall and lean with an interesting jawline. his eyes have a very direct look as though he doesn't have much patience with the trivial. As the afternoon air cools into early evening they see the beach clearing of families. The gulls return to clean up the crumbs of vacationers and life returns to normal.
They venture onto the beach for a walk. the air is cooler now and they walk close to each other occasionally touching. She can feel his gaze on the top of her head and looks up to meet his eyes. They are smiling into hers. 'he has a lot of confidence, this one,' she thinks to herself. By mutual consent they turn and walk back to the little house
Salt from the sea air and from the afternoons heat cling to her skin. 'Have you made plans for the evening,' she asks?
He nods his eyes laughing into hers again. 'I thought we might spend the evening together.'
'I would like that,' she says 'but I need a shower before anything else.'