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I hung up on her and mumbled, “We are definitely bringing something.”
“Like what?” Charlie asked.
“Maybe something yummy from a café. Come on, you. Let’s go and get breakfast.”
We headed to the car and found Latisha sitting in her usual spot outside her apartment. “Morning, Latisha.”
“Hey, girl! Where are you off to on this lazy Sunday morning?”
“Santa Barbara Beach and somewhere nice for breakfast.”
“Damn, you must’ve earned big on that double shift.”
“Enough to treat my boy to the best Sunday he’ll have in a long time.” I went over and hugged her. “Thank you for looking out for him yesterday.”
She sent me a suggestive look. “You know I’m here for you whenever you need me. Especially if it’s for more adult-inclined activities. So, tell me, did you and this new man do the dirty?”
“No.” Before we could discuss this further, I answered Charlie’s calls and went to the car.
“Hey, you’re not off the hook. We ain’t done here. You’re going to tell me all the juicy details when you get home.”
I sighed. “There’s nothing to tell.”
The look of concern she gave made me want to be swallowed up by the ground beneath my feet.
* * *
After we ate waffles at a beachside café, we walked off breakfast before getting back in the car and driving to Santa Barbara Beach.
“Yeah, we’re here!” Charlie jumped out his seat and climbed out of the car.
I jumped out just in time to catch a hold of his arm. “Not so fast, Charlie.” I lifted him onto the front of the car and dug out my bottle of sunscreen. “We have to smother you in this stuff first.” I squirted the thick white liquid into my hand and slathered my son in the stuff. There was no way I was going to let him burn.
“You want me to do your sunscreen, Mom?” Charlie asked.
“Yes please.” I slipped out of my flip flops and beach dress and let him put sunscreen on my back. “Thank you.”
I straightened his hat and then lifted him back down to the ground. “Who’s ready for some fun in the sun?”
“Me!”
We ran down to the water’s edge and Charlie tried to splash me. I tickled him and we laughed together. We located Rea and her family, where they had set up a card table, folding chairs, a beach umbrella, and a portable barbeque. Lucy and her little sister, Millie, were playing in the sand beneath the umbrella, and Charlie wasted no time in joining them.
“Hi, Olivia!” Rea abandoned the salad she was making and came over to hug me.
“G’day, Rea. This is a nice set up you’ve got here.” I waved my hand around the area. “Don’t be mad, but I bought some crusty bread rolls and some chocolate cake slices for dessert.”
“Oh, thank you. You know you didn’t have to.”
I held my hands up in the air. “I know.”
The blonde man at the barbeque pointed his tongs toward the cake. “I wouldn’t argue with that offering, babe.”
With a laugh, Rea patted his arm. “Olivia, this is my husband Matt.”
Matt stepped away from the barbeque for a moment and extended a hand to me. “Hey, nice to meet you.”
“You, too,” I said as I shook his hand.
