Page 9 of Picking Pismo

“Sit down already,” someone yelled from behind them.

Shifting around in her seat, Claire craned her neck to see who was yelling. Dr. Clark did the same. She spotted the annoyed patron. The patron glared at her.

Turning back around, Claire leaned in extra close and whispered, “Dr. Clark, you better sit,” she patted the top of his hand on her armrest, “or the person behind us might have a conniption.”

“Oh, you’re right,” replied Dr. Clark. He rose quickly, moving to the free space on the other side of her. “I’m sorry.”

Dumping his blankets and bag on the sand, Dr. Clark opened his lawn chair and placed it next to her. Once settled in his seat, Dr. Clark leaned forward and waved at Alexis. Alexis’s eyes dilated. Slowly, Alexis held up a single hand. Then Alexis and Juliet whispered to one another, though Claire couldn’t hear them, she imagined what they were saying. Finally, the whispering stopped, and the girls went back to eating their ice cream cones and watching the movie.

Leaning far over his armrest, Dr. Clark’s shoulder touched Claire’s. He whispered into her ear, “You can call me David.” The words sent goosebumps down her spine.

“David it is.” Claire’s nostrils flared as his manly scent whirled in the tight space between them. Though it was cold, perspiration smattered her forehead. She gulped. “Thanks for coming.” Her words came out shaky.

David blinked, staring at her, he finally replied, “Thanks for inviting me.” He broke the touching of their shoulders, straightening his position in his chair.

Casually, with an ease Claire wished she possessed; David propped his ankle across his other knee. The sounds from the movie blared, and David gazed up at the screen. Though Claire wanted to continue to stare at him, she forced herself to look up at the screen too.

For a minute, neither spoke.

Then David shifted back toward her, making their shoulders touch again. She welcomed the warmth trickling down her arm. With a face full of earnestness, David asked, “Is this You’ve Got Mail?”

Claire rested her elbow on the arm rest, moving closer to the warmth of his body. Trying her best to keep her voice low, Claire asked, “Have you seen it?”

“Have I?” Playfully, David elbowed her. “My mom had the movie on repeat when I was a kid. She’s what you may call a bit of a romantic.” He smirked, making him a thousand times cuter than seconds prior.

Pulling the old knitted blanket of Mom’s on her lap over her shoulders, Claire snuggled down deeper under its cozy layer. “Smart lady,” Claire grinned. “I like her already.”

David picked up a blanket beside his chair, placing one on his lap. “I have more blankets if you get cold. Do you want another one?”

“I’m okay for now,” replied Claire. “I’ll let you know if I need it.”

With nothing else to say in a hushed tone, Claire reverted her attention back to the movie. With David being so near, Claire couldn’t think about anything but him.

Toward the end of the movie, Alexis crouched down next to her chair. “We’re bored.” She made a pouty face.

Startled, Claire replied, “What?” Peering over at Alexis and Juliet huddled next to her chair, she continued, “Did you already want to go? Juliet’s mom won’t be here for another hour.”

“Can we walk down to the end of the pier?” pleaded Alexis. “We’ll come right back. You’ll be able to see us the entire time.”

Gnawing on her bottom lip, Claire hesitated. She didn’t know any of the acceptable parenting rules for a teenager. Was thirteen too young to wander off on your own? Would Juliet’s mom be upset if the girls didn’t stay right next to her during the movie? Would this wrong parenting move keep Juliet’s parents from trusting her in the future? Her mind spun with the worst-case scenarios.

Leaning over her armrest toward Juliet, Claire asked, “Do you think your parents will mind?”

“My mom lets me walk alone to the end of the pier all the time when she’s shopping at the little shops on Main Street,” whispered Juliet. “As long as she knows where I’m at and when I’ll be back.”

Claire wondered if Juliet was trustworthy. Wringing her hands together, Claire glanced over at David who appeared to be listening to the entire exchange.

“Do you think it’s okay?” asked Claire, shifting her body closer to his, but not touching. “Or do you think her parents will throw a fit when they find out?” She studied him for a reaction.

David shrugged. “I have no clue.” He lightly chuckled. “I’m sure it’s fine. I remember doing things like that at a way younger age than them.”

Mulling it over, Claire shifted back to Alexis and Juliet. “You can walk to the end of the pier and back. I’ll watch from here the entire time. Juliet’s mom will be here in an hour.” She wagged a finger at them. “You better be back in forty-five minutes.”

Alexis grinned. “Promise.” She jumped up. “Thanks, sis.”

Juliet rose too, and the two teenagers took off across the sand toward the pier. Claire watched them until they hit the wooden pier, making sure they were staying in her field of vision.

Leaning close, David whispered into her ear. “I’m sure they’ll obey. They both seem like nice girls.” Then David pushed a pack of licorice in her direction. “Want some?” He pulled one out for himself and started eating it.

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