Page 44 of Picking Pismo

Kelly held a plate with pie out to him. “You’ll do no such thing.” She gave him a challenging stare. David took the plate of pie from her, placing it in front of himself. Kelly continued, “Besides, I figured it was my Christian duty to offer a place for them to stay. I know money is tight for them. Isn’t that why they moved back to Los Angeles?”

Cutting into his pie with his fork, David took a bite before he responded. If he remembered correctly, it was Kelly who cautioned him about becoming involved with Claire and Alexis. Kelly knew things had ended with Claire before she left Pismo.

“Yes,” David cut another piece of the pie, eating his emotions. “They moved because they didn’t have a choice, and money is tight for them, so I think it’s kind of you to offer them your house as a place to stay. I’m sure they are appreciative.”

Kelly served herself a piece of pie. “I spoke with Claire…” She licked off the bits of pie on her finger. “They’re coming up on Friday for the appointment. Claire has some things to settle with the attorney too, and Alexis wants to hang out with her friends, so I told her to stay till Sunday and drive back in the afternoon.”

Claire and Alexis here for an entire weekend. His lungs burned. Claire away in Los Angeles was one thing, but knowing she was here, in Pismo, was a whole other animal.

David shrugged, taking another bite of his pie. “Okay, thanks for letting me know.”

Kelly hovered her fork over her pie. “I’m…” she paused, biting her bottom lip. “I’m okay with you dating her.”

“What?” David’s jaw dropped. He took a sip of his water. “Too bad, mom. That ship has sailed. Claire moved to Los Angeles. I live in Pismo.” He glanced out at the ocean. “It is what it is.”

Stephen wrapped his arm around Kelly. “Let’s drop this whole thing. David’s a big boy. He can decide who and when he wants to date someone.”

Kelly exhaled, throwing up her hand. “I’ll let it go, but I see I made a mistake in warning you against dating her. I didn’t want to see you hurt when she left.”

David was losing his patience. He gripped his hands into fists under the table. “Too late.”

“I saw how happy you were when Alexis and Claire were in your life.” Kelly glanced away, out at the ocean. For a long time, she didn’t say anything, finally she continued, “And now you’re not. I’m sorry I interfered. I wish I hadn’t.” She exhaled, making her shoulders droop.

When David didn’t speak, Kelly slowly took a bite of her pie. Everything inside of him was a jumbled mess. And David had no idea how to unpack any of it, so he simply finished his pie.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Rolling down the windows two inches, Claire allowed the tangy salt air from the ocean breeze to filter through the car. Driving down the two-lane highway hugging the Pacific Ocean, the tension between her shoulder blades loosened with each passing mile. Los Angeles drew further and further away, and Pismo came closer. Going home, her real home, if only for the weekend, made her smile.

Pulling Alexis out of school at lunch, they beat most of the Friday gridlock traffic from Los Angeles past Santa Barbara. With their current cruising rate, Alexis was going to be on time for her orthodontist appointment.

David.

She sighed.

Her lungs burned and skin itched at the thought of seeing him again. In her mind, she practiced her best neutral responses and vowed to not reveal how she was still hung up on him.

Glancing out her window, the rhythmic crashing of the waves pushed back at whatever was bubbling up. Her mind drifted to Mom. Claire turned down the radio, clearing her throat. “I think we should make time to go by Mom’s grave tomorrow, they finally have the headstone on, and I want to see it before we leave.”

Alexis stopped fiddling with her phone. Her fingers froze on the screen, peering over at her. “I agree, I think I’m ready to go by the gas station too,” replied Alexis.

Gripping the steering wheel tighter, Claire’s chest pinched tight. Her pulse thundered in her veins and with her free hand she swiped at her slick brow. Stealing a glance at Alexis, she asked, “Do you think you’re really ready?”

Claire wasn’t ready, but then again, she doubted she’d ever be.

“We can’t avoid the place forever.” Alexis stared out her passenger side window, rolling down the window completely to let her arm hang out the side. She widened her fingers, letting the air pass between them. “There are only a handful of gas stations,” Alexis spoke loudly over the vibrating sound of the humming engine and fresh flowing air, “it’s starting to get annoying to drive a mile out of the way to get gas.” Her voice trailed off.

Claire found it hard to breathe. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. The air plowed through the car taking with it her last bit of self-preservation. Could she finally return to the place where Mom took her last breath? Was Claire strong enough to replace a horrible memory with good ones? Alexis was ready, Claire was the older sister after all, which meant she needed to follow her lead even if it proved to be painful.

Gritting her teeth, Claire forced herself to respond. “You might be right.” She glanced once more out the window, then concentrated her attention on the upcoming curve in the road. One side of the car hugged chiseled mountain rock while the other side gave way to the ocean. “We’ll see. Maybe we can drive by on our way out of town on Sunday.”

“Sunday,” repeated Alexis. Like it was final.

Alexis pulled her arm back into the car. Claire pressed the window button, closing the windows tight. With the car quiet once more, it gave Claire a moment to clear her head.

“Saturday, Juliet has the entire day planned out for me,” continued Alexis. Her voice oozing with excitement. “She arranged for us to hang out with all my friends at the usual places we love. It’s going to be awesome.”

“And where might that be?” asked Claire, grateful for a change in subject.

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