“Come here then,” said Lori from her reclined position on the sun lounger. “Jake, how’d it go at the school?”
“Fine. I’ll tell you about it later,” replied Jake as he set their daughter down on the deck. “Melody, you let your mom put some sunscreen on you too. I don’t want either of you getting burned.”
A few minutes later, Jake came back out to join them wearing his cut off shorts and a vest t-shirt. Immediately, Lori noticed the taped dressing on his chest.
“Someone been to see Danny?”
“I’ll show you later,” promised Jake, lifting his sunglasses from the table. “Ok, who wants to walk into Rehoboth for ice cream?”
“Me! Me!”
“Me!”
“Lori, you coming too?”
“I’ll pass if you don’t mind,” said Lori, seeing the opportunity for an hour or so in the sun to herself. “I’m waiting for a call from Jason.”
“Ok, I hear you,” he called back, getting the hint that she needed some alone time. “If we’re not back by five, do you want to light the BBQ? I picked up some shrimp and chicken on my way home. Oh, and some salad stuff.”
“Sounds good,” replied Lori. “Kids, behave for your daddy. Jesse, no running away!”
“We’ll be fine,” stated Jake, taking the kids by the hand. “I promise not to lose either of them.”
The beach was crowded with tourists, many of whom were hiding in the shade offered by the sea of blue beach umbrellas. As the three of them walked along, they paddled in the shallow waves that swept in over their bare feet. Much to Jake’s surprise, his young son seemed content to hold his hand and chatter about his birthday and his birthday cake. Silently, Jake prayed that Lori had picked up a chocolate birthday cake at the store. Beside him, Melody skipped and danced round them, occasionally running a little way into the ocean to jump over a wave or two.
In the six weeks since he’d returned home, his relationship with the kids had blossomed. It warmed his heart to walk slowly down the beach with his son in particular. Whenever he had returned from previous tours, Jesse had always seemed wary of him. It was a relief to see that look was long gone.
“Daddy,” began the little boy seriously. “How many sleeps till my birthday?”
“One,” revealed Jake, smiling down at the bright smiling face that was gazing up at him. “And we’re going on an adventure tomorrow.”
“What’s an adven….” asked Jesse, his tongue sticking on the last word.
“An adventure,” repeated Jake slowly. “Well, we’ll go someplace really special in the car. You’ll love it when we get there.”
“Where are we going?” asked Melody as she skipped back towards them.
“It’s a surprise,” replied Jake with a wink. “You’ll find out tomorrow. Now, who wants an ice cream?”
There was a queue at the ice cream parlour when Jake and the two little ones arrived. Using bribes of waffle cones and extra sprinkles, he managed to keep them both under control until he reached the counter. As they left the shop with their ice creams, the kids’ waffle cones safely in waxed paper cups, Jake scoured the boardwalk for an empty bench. Their luck was in. Just as they approached, a bench to their right became free. Seizing their chance, Melody ran on ahead and snagged it for them just as a teenage couple had been about to sit down.
“Damn,” muttered the boy as the couple drew level with Jake.
“Becky?” said Jake, recognising Grey’s daughter as the boy’s date.
“Jake!” she squealed, eyes wide with surprise. “Eh…. hi…. never saw you.”
“Evidently,” replied Jake, trying not to smile as Becky squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze. “I take it, if I’m asked, I never saw you today?”
“No,” giggled Becky with a shy smile. “You didn’t.”
“You going to introduce me to your friend?” prompted Jake, conscious that if Grey knew his thirteen-year-old baby girl was walking the boardwalk with a boy who looked old enough to be a high school senior, he’d pitch a fit.
“This is Dorrian,” introduced Becky, her cheeks flushing scarlet. “Dorrian, this is Jake. My dad’s friend.”
“Friend?” echoed Dorrian, instantly star struck. “Rock God more like, Becca!”
“Not today,” laughed Jake, shaking the boy’s hand. “I’m off duty. Today I’m just their dad and Becky’s Silver Lake uncle.”
“Pleased to meet you, sir.”
“So, where are you guys headed to?” checked Jake, trying to subtly determine just what Becky was up to.
“We’re going for pizza then I’m meeting Kola at the daycare place. We’re going to the outlets for a couple of hours. I need clothes for going back to school.”
Nodding, Jake said, “Sounds like a fun afternoon.”
Rolling her eyes, Becky said, “You think?”
“I’ll plead the fifth on that,” laughed Jake. “Go and enjoy that pizza.”
“Thanks, Jake,” replied Becky, giving him a hug. “You’re the best. And remember, you never saw me.”
“Saw who?”
Still giggling, Becky led Dorrian away.
A gentle breeze blowing in from the ocean caused the citronella candles to flicker as Jake sat on the swing set working on his lesson plan. After dinner, he’d called Dr Marrs to check if JJL had any free days during the second week in August. When he explained the background to the request, Jim had offered to shuffle a few sessions around to free up Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Between them, they gauged that would be enough time to pull Jake’s plan together. A lot of it depended on the ability and commitment of the students but Jake felt confident that he could prepare them for the three-day recording session in the time he had available.
“Homework assignment?” quizzed Lori as she stepped out onto the deck carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses.
“Lesson planning,” revealed Jake, closing over his diary.
“You worked out what you’re going to teach
