“I’ll tell you all about it sometime, okay?” Quickly, he stepped back and watched her pull out of her driveway.
While fiddling with the radio, Danny asked, “Where are we going now?”
“First, we’re going to the harbor, then to La Jolla.”
On their way, the children and she didn’t seem to have the energy for small talk. When they arrived downtown, she quickly found a parking space and they headed toward the Harbor Cruise Line. The boy could see Robert and Brent. They were on the other side of the street having coffee in an open-air restaurant. After crossing, he ran to the men and said, “What’re you doing down here?”
“Well, hi, Danny. What a surprise.” Brent said.
When Robert saw Abigail, he stood. “What caused you to come our way?”
“Oh. Hi. I’m trying to put some pieces together.” She pointed. “Is that the touring vessel that followed us?”
Robert turned his head to look, and then faced her. “No. Not that one. That’s ours. We’re heading out soon. Want to come? No charge.”
“Can we?” Lisa asked.
“No, Honey, we’ve had enough sea for one week.”
“Can we go some other time?”
“Perhaps.”
After she swirled to face Robert, she said, “Thank you. Can we take a rain check?” He nodded.
“Do you know anything that might be helpful regarding the investigation?”
“Oh. So, that’s why you came,” Robert studied her. “We’ve been talking. It must have been hard for you, that ordeal. We’re really sorry about your friends -- wish things could have been different.”
“Thanks, Robert, that means a lot.” Abigail stepped closer. “Have you heard anything at all?”
“Well, the FBI questioned our boss, and, after that, Forelli didn’t return to work. What all that means, I can’t tell for sure. Neither of us will ask our boss anything; he and the other men aren’t very congenial.”
“I see.” She glanced away while thinking, and then faced him. “Thank you. I’m glad we ran into both of you.”
As they returned to her car, Abigail was concerned. Although, she thought the men were harmless, she also felt guilty for bringing the children, because no one knows for certain who played a part in the murders. She couldn’t stop feeling responsible for Larry and Sandra’s death. She was determined to, at least, find out who killed them.
Each time Danny changed the radio station, Lisa objected. But, Abigail smiled. She never thought she would be glad to hear them arguing. When they reached La Jolla, she drove to the business district, looking for Jack’s jewelry store. Each time, she passed one, she used her cellphone to call and asked for Jack. One store clerk said, “You mean Jack Oliver?”
“Yes. Does he work there?”
“Well, no, but he does own Real Deal Jewelers around the corner on Prospect.”
“Thank you, that’s helpful.” She drove down Prospect looking for that name on a building. When she saw it, she drove past and around the block. She parked across the street. Her thoughts were reeling with unanswered questions.
Then, Danny asked, while gawking at her, “Why did you stop?”
She pointed. “That’s Jack’s jewelry store.”
“Are we going in?” he asked.
“No. I just wanted to see his place.”
While pulling away, she gave one last glance, wishing she were alone, because she felt brave enough to go in and ask the man some questions. But, instead, she drove on, heading for the ocean nearby.
“I need help finding a parking space,” said Abigail.
After circling twice, Lisa yelled, “There!” She pointed to a spot near the cove.
“Good. We don’t have to carry things too far.”
Swiftly, she and the children gathered things from her trunk. Lisa had the blanket under her arm, Danny grabbed the ice chest and, she, the towels and snacks. They saw a large historical pine tree and decided to spread the blanket under it. From a distance, she could hear the sound of waves crashing and breathed in the ocean air.
After settling in, Danny and Lisa ran off holding a Frisbee. As she watched them, she heard a familiar voice. When she turned, it was Matt standing at the edge of the blanket.
“Hi,” he said, “mind if I join you?”
“Where did you come from?”
“I was at Jack’s store, you drove right past me. I couldn’t miss that strawberry-blond hair of yours.”
When the children saw him, they came running. Lisa said, “Hi. How did you find us?”
“I saw you drive by me.”
Danny lifted the Frisbee. “Want to throw?”
“Later, right now, I need to talk with your aunt. You two go have fun.”
After the children wandered off, Matt observed Abigail. “Do you mind if I sit?”
“If you want,” she said, hoping he couldn’t hear the thump in her heart from excitement.
After he removed his shoes and socks, he placed his jacket over them, and made himself comfortable. Once he faced her, he gazed curiously and said, “Are the kids okay?”
“Yes. Why?”
“They seem different, almost sad.”
Not wanting to cry again, she reluctantly told him what happened to the children’s parents. As she spoke, tears came and she quickly wiped them away.
“My God, Abigail, it’s okay to cry. Just look at all you’ve been through.”
“It’s too painful still, can we change the subject? How did things go with the FBI?”
“Okay, I guess. We weren’t too thrilled about having to return for questioning, but we survived.”
“Are you worried?”
“About being a murder suspect? Of course I am! Who wouldn’t be? Now, I want to change the subject.” They chuckled.
“So, what brings you to La Jolla?” he asked.
When she turned, her eyes faced the grass. “I’m trying to figure out who murdered my friends.” After she glanced at him, she noticed his erect back.
“Since you parked across from Jack’s store, you must think he did it?”
She, too, stiffened. “He might have.”
“You just don’t understand. We didn’t even know they were on the yacht. So it’s close to impossible for any of us to have done it. None of us had a motive or the time to kill them.”
“You would do anything to protect him, wouldn’t you?” Without waiting for a response, she said, “Do they have any leads yet?”
“They certainly wouldn’t tell me. I’m sure the Top Dogs were questioned.”
“Who might be the Top Dogs?”
“They own the Harbor Cruise Line, the one traveling near the yacht, do you remember?”
“Sure. That’s why you abandoned us.”
“Sorry about that.”
“You scared me, Matt. We didn’t know if you were coming back or not.” Abigail saw the children walking toward them, so she became silent.
Once Danny was standing over her, he said, “Where are the cookies?”
After standing, she opened a bag of cookies and gave two to each of them along with a bottle of water.
“Want something to drink?” she asked Matt.
“Sure. Water, please.”
While she handed him water, the children sat on the blanket, leaving no room for her.
“Thanks a lot, you two.”
Lisa giggled while Danny tried to push her off the blanket.
“Stop that, you two,” she said, while taking a beach towel and placing it near the blanket.
When Lisa sat, she wiggled while talking to Matt. “We saw Robert and Brent today. They said we can take a harbor tour for free. Can you go?”
“That sounds nice. I’m flattered you want to include me.” He took out a business card and handed it to her. “Call me when you go.”
Lisa took a while to gawk at it and said, “This is my first card.”
Not wanting to make a scene, Abigail decided to get the card from her later, but it was at that moment that she realized there was a bond between them and Matt.
As he watched Danny gobble down his two cookies, he said, “Are you starving? Haven’t you eaten lunch yet?” After turning to Abigail, he said, “I would like to treat the three of you to lunch. I know a great restaurant nearby. You can follow, if you prefer.”
The boy quickly jumped to his feet. “Yes. I’m hungry.”
Lisa poked his leg. “You’re always hungry.”
“Do you like Mexican food?”
After she saw Danny’s eyes light up with excitement, she was glad a little life had come back to him. So, she decided there wouldn’t be any harm in sharing a meal. The children could use a break from grieving, and she needed a distraction. Spending time with Matt would be a good diversion for them. After gathering their things, they brought them to her truck, started the car and followed him.
While driving, she asked herself, Am I taking too many risks? First, seeing Brent and Robert, then going by Jack’s place of business, and now having lunch with Matt. I think I lost both my alarm and commonsense button along the way.
While sitting next to Matt, waiting for their waiter, Abigail questioned herself again.
Why did I accept his offer for lunch?
But, as she watched the children eating tortilla chips with salsa so contently, she decided she had made the right decision.
After ordering the combination plate, she later regretted her choice.
It’s too much food.
Once Matt stopped people watching, he swiveled to face her. He stared at her for a minute, “What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“You look concerned about something.”
“I’m mad at myself. I just ordered a big meal, but only want a salad.”
“Good grief. Order one.”
“It’s too late.”
“Then, add a salad to your order, silly. Why in the world are you making such a fuss over something so small?”
After thinking for a minute, she said, “I guess, ordering a meal gives me some level of control, unlike everything that has happened in recent days.”
When he saw their waiter, Matt stopped him, “The lady would like to order a salad.”
Their slender, sandy blond-haired waiter was tan and relaxed. He patiently waited for her to select a salad from the menu. She decided on a taco salad.
The children were still busy eating chips, and Matt was back to his people watching, which left her time to think about her sister, brother-in-law, and the Kilgores. She was also concerned about how the children might respond to seeing their father’s dead body.
Matt nudged her, “You’re in deep thought.”
“Yes. That I am.” She quickly changed the subject. “It’s a beautiful day, why aren’t you on your sailboat?”
“Who told you I had one?” She grinned and nodded toward Lisa. “Oh. The little one told you, huh? But, to answer your question, I have plenty of time for sailing.” He waited until she made eye contact, “Frankly, there’s no place I would rather be than sitting here with you three.”
Although she felt self-conscious, she smiled and said, “Thank you, Matt. That’s kind of you.” At that moment, she realized how much she enjoyed his company and found it refreshing that he didn’t probe.
When the waiter came with the food, Matt teased, “Now, who ordered the combination plate?” He grinned when the plate was set before her.
After receiving her salad, she smiled and said to the waiter, “Can you box up my food? I decided I only want the salad.”
The young man nodded and came back later with more food items and her box. “Want me to do it?”
“Yes. Thank you. Looking at it makes me feel full.”
While eating, she picked out the meat and beans and mostly ate only the lettuce. While relaxing, she listened to the children talk about wanting to see three different movies. They couldn’t decide which one to see first.
When Lisa added another favorite movie, Danny glared. “That’s old, it’s already on DVD.”
While leaning back in his seat, Matt looked at Abigail. “Do you have plans this afternoon?”
“No, we don’t. Why?”
“How about the four of us go to movie?” he asked, while sitting upright. “Can I take you to a movie of your choice? Go write down what you want to see on a napkin, two out of three wins.” The children were excited as they asked for a pen or pencil.
“What movie do you want to see?” Lisa asked her aunt.
While responding with a smile, she desperately wanted to get out of the situation gracefully. To say no would disappoint the children and make Matt feel bad. And, to say yes wouldn’t hurt anyone.
How weird is this, going to a movie with him? Right up there with having lunch with him, I guess,
she mused, while smiling. She picked up her purse to search for a pen.
Soon, Matt got to his feet and left. He quickly returned with a newspaper in hand. “Have you decided on a movie?”
“Our aunt broke our tie.”
After telling him their selection, he opened the newspaper to the movie section. It was scheduled to begin in an hour in Mission Valley. He signaled for the waiter.
When Abigail handed Matt two twenty-dollar bills for lunch, Matt’s disgruntled expression caused her to quickly retrieve her money.
After paying, he walked them to her car. But, before she got in the driver’s seat, she insisted on paying for the movie tickets.
“Look, young lady. You and the children have been though a lot. You deserve to be spoiled.” Inwardly, she was grateful to have someone take care of her, even if for a few hours.
While driving to the theater, she started getting her senses back and considered driving home. She couldn’t when she heard the children happily chatting about the movie they were about to see. She had to admit, having him fuss over them felt good. When she was with her friends, there were too many questions and emotions -- making the results of the car accident too real.
The suffering they experienced on the yacht paled in comparison to the anguish of losing David and knowing her sister’s condition. At times, she was like the children and only went through the motions of life. Her thoughts almost caused her to miss the driveway into the underground parking near the theater. While sitting for a minute, she hoped she wasn’t making another huge mistake.
After the boy unbuckled his seatbelt, he asked, “Are we here?”
“Yes.”
Once the children opened the car doors, she slowly got out and put on her best happy face. While reaching for Lisa’s hand, she said, “Let’s go, love bug.”
“I’m not a bug. People step on bugs. I want to be a sweetie pie.”