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I took a moment to catch my breath. The giant dog was happily standing a few inches from my face, tail wagging. The owner was holding his head, still out of breath. “I’m so sorry,” he said.
“I think I’m fine. Nothing hurts,” I said, shocked by the admission and then wondering if I was just in shock.
“I’m so sorry again,” the owner replied, as if we hadn’t heard him.
Leo examined me, stretching out my arms and looking at my legs to see if there was any damage. I grew flustered, not just from the entanglement but from his proximity and his touch.
“Really, I’m fine,” I said. I felt slack in the kite spool and knew it had crashed somewhere on the beach in the mayhem.
“Edmund, bad dog,” the owner scolded. The dog still looked happier than ever about his great escape. He stepped closer, and I patted him on the head.
“He’s beautiful,” I replied.
“He’s terrible,” the owner said. I smiled.
“Well, if I was going to be taken out on the beach, I’d want it to be by a terrible, beautiful giant like Edmund. Really, I’m fine,” I said.
Seemingly resigned that the situation had turned out okay, the owner nodded and dragged Edmund away, whose tail was still wildly wagging. Leo worked on retrieving the kite, and I caught my breath.
“Never a dull moment,” I said, smiling when he returned.
“I thought there was going to be another broken ankle,” Leo said, still looking shaken up.
“I appreciate you jumping in front of me to save me,” I said with a grin.
“What can I say? I’m a bit of a hero.”
“When you’re not shoving waitresses down stairs,” I teased.
“I did not push you,” I said.
“Close enough.”
He shook his head. “Well, have you had enough kite flying for today?” he asked. “Want to get some drinks?”
“For sure. Pirate’s Paddy?” I asked.
“Only if we can do another round of karaoke,” Leo said. “It felt good to be on stage singing, even if it was only for a handful of day drinkers.”
I wanted to groan and tell him no way. But the way his eyes lit up at the prospect of singing made me realize one fact: I couldn’t keep him from his passion.
“Maybe I’ll just watch this time? I’ve had enough heart-pounding moments for the day,” I said.
“Deal,” he said. “But you better clap and cheer loudly.”
“Haven’t you had enough loud clapping and cheering for you in your lifetime? I don’t think I can compete.”
He stopped then, serious. “No, Tillie. I don’t think their clapping and cheering can compete with you.”
My heart was in my throat as I stood still, taking in the sight of him, the beach, his words, and the moment.
It was worth the broken ankle. Definitely.
