by Joan Rylen
“Oh, of course!” she laughed, and quickly unbuckled the other clasps. He helped her shrug out of the life jacket and gave it to the guy. Kate handed the other to him, too.
Jon smiled at the three of them. “Ladies, we’ll have to walk to La Vida de Playa from here. It’s not far, though.”
“Thanks for sharing the jet ski,” Kate said. “That was fun!”
“I dunno,” Vivian said. ”When I looked at you, you looked petrified.”
“I had to get used to it,” Kate said. “Usually I psyche myself up for stuff like that. We just jumped on and went! Plus, we all know Wendy drives like a bat out of hell. Who knew what she’d do with a jet ski!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Wendy grinned. “I love speed, what can I say?”
“And what about you, Vivian, did you enjoy yourself-ola?” Jon asked, grinning as he touched her elbow.
She realized she needed to speak but felt breathless. Who knew an elbow had so many nerve endings? She managed to nod her head. I’ve got to pull myself together.
As they walked down the beach there was a bit of an awkward silence. Wendy broke it.
“So where are y’all from?” she asked him.
“Well we know where y’all are from, don’t we?” Jon said jokingly. “Tell me, seriously though,” he paused dramatically. “Who shot J.R.?”
“Ha ha, funny man,” Vivian said. “I could tell ya, but I’d have to kill ya!”
“Yep, it’s an ancient Texas secret,” Wendy said.
“Ah, yes, the Lone Star State! Not surprised. Texas has the most beautiful women. Where’s that big Texas hair I hear about, though?”
Kate did an exaggerated fluff of her hair. “We only pull that out for special occasions.”
“I see. Pierre and I are from Montreal. He is actually from Edmonton but moved to my neighborhood in high school.”
Vivian sucked at geography, so though she did know where Canada was, she didn’t know where to find either of those cities on a map. They were both above the Red River, so she thought of them as ‘up there’ somewhere.
“So how long have y’all been in Playa?” Wendy asked. “You don’t have a tan yet, so not very long, huh?”
“Let me think,” Jon said. “We’ve been here about a month-ola now.”
“Wow, really? I’d have thought you’d have a deep, golden tropical tan by now. Or at least be sunburned.”
“I can’t afford to get burned. I’m an actor. Have to keep my look consistent, you know?”
“Wow! Have you been in anything we might have seen?” Kate asked.
“Probably not. I’ve done some commercial work in the U.S., and I just finished a soap opera, but it only aired in Canada.”
Vivian was finally able to speak without tripping over her tongue. “I thought those things went on forever.”
Jon suddenly pulled Vivian toward him and she gasped. He pointed to a piece of broken glass in her way. “Look out there.”
He stopped to pick it up, then continued. “I just finished up a five year contract and was written off the show.”
“Oh, man, I’m sorry. That sucks,” Vivian said.
He waved off the comment. “No, it’s good. They wanted me to stay on, but I’ve been hoping to branch out. Maybe try to get into film.”
“I’ve seen people written back into soap operas who you thought were long gone,” Kate said. “They can bring you back any time. Even years later!”
“How’d they get rid of you?” Vivian asked. “Did you get blown to smithereens or something?”
“In fact, yes, I was!” he said. “I was in a horrible explosion that wiped out a city block, including my house. I was able to ‘save’ my wife and infant daughter, though.”
“You need to get a movie part so you can be on Ellen!” Wendy said, who watched The Ellen DeGeneres Show every day.
“Wendy is addicted to Ellen,” Vivian said with a laugh. “And hey, if you aren’t upset about the soap giving you the boot, then neither are we.”
“I’m not, my agent already has something new in the works,” he said with a wide smile. His brown eyes held Vivian’s gaze while they walked. “Besides, if I hadn’t been written off I wouldn’t have been able to take this much-needed vacation, and look what I would have missed.”
Her heart pounded and her mouth felt dry. She glanced down at the waves licking her toes to break the moment.
“I feel like we’re in a soap opera right now,” Kate whispered to Vivian.
They were near the hotel and saw Manuel digging an umbrella hole for some new arrivals.
“There’s Lucy, still safely tucked under the umbrella,” Wendy said.
“Yep,” Jon said. “And Pierre is trying hard to share the shade. Is he wearing a bucket on his head?”
They all looked harder.
Pierre saw them and gave a wave.
“Looks like he hijacked her headwear, all right,” Wendy said. “Nice look.”
“I’m parched,” Vivian said. “I’ll go get us a round. We’ve gotta toast to new and improved opportunities for Jon.”
“I second that,” he said and reached his arm around her back and led her toward the bar. “Vivian and I will be back in a jiffy.”
The touch of his hand on the small of her back sent tingles to great places south of the border.
She took a deep breath.
I may be in trouble…-ola.
CHAPTER 9
JON AND Vivian went to the bar while Wendy and Kate went back to their spot on the beach. He ordered a round of shots for all and bottles of water. The bartender told them he would have them delivered. Jon said to put it on his room and they walked back toward the others.
“So you have a soap opera wife, huh,” Vivian said, “but no real one?”
“Nope, never been married-ola. That’s another thing I want to change. I haven’t done a good job of balancing my social life with my work life. I’ve had girlfriends, but things haven’t worked out. The feelings always died off.”
“Relationships can be tough,” Vivian said with a sigh.
They got back to their spot and Jon excused himself. Lucy had eventually woken up so Pierre introduced himself and let her know about the impromptu jet ski excursion. She offered him her bucket since his head had turned a bright shade of pink.
“Sounds like y’all had fun,” Lucy said. “I’m sorry I missed it. However, I’m thinking a bunch of alcohol splashing around in my stomach may have had some bad consequences.”
Vivian agreed.
Lucy looked to her left at Pierre. “Scoot over here, Pierre. I want to look at your other arm. Did I see a tattoo?”
“Yes you did.” He swung his legs off the lounger and showed her his left arm. “I’ve had it for about six years, I guess.”
Lucy sat up and moved her legs next to his. She ran her fingertips over his arm, a little flirtatiously, Vivian thought.
“I’ve never seen anything quite like that. What is it?” she asked.
“It’s Celtic in origin,” Pierre explained. “I had it drawn up in Canada. Took several sessions to get it all finished.”
“I love it. It’s so vivid and unusual.”
The center was a deep forest green with three black, curved prongs that jutted out and wrapped around themselves. The outside edges were blue, which made the prongs look like branches, but also kinda like wings. Groovy, Vivian thought.
Kate weighed in. “I didn’t know you liked tattoos, Lucy.”
“Sure. My dad had one,” Lucy said. “It’s no big deal.”
None of the girls had ink.
Their shots arrived at the same time Jon reappeared. He carried a towel and wore a parrot blue and green tropical shirt with hula girls dancing all over it. Festive.
“You don’t mind if I crash your spot, too, do you?”
“Nope,” Vivian said. “The more, the merrier!”
They grabbed the shots and held them up.
“To new friends and new opportunities,” Vivian
offered.
Jon looked at her and clinked his shot glass to hers.
“To new friends,” he repeated, and slammed back his shot and sucked on the lime.
“Whew!” He yelled and grabbed a bottle of water. “Now, about that sandcastle I so rudely destroyed…”
“Oh, I had forgotten! Yes, I guess you do owe me big-time for annihilating my masterpiece,” Vivian teased. “It was going to be featured in Architectural Digest for its extraordinary design and modern features.”
Kate gawked at that.
“Well, I’m not sure I can top that, but I’ll lend some sandcastle-building expertise that I developed as a child,” he said and reached for Vivian’s hand to help her to her feet.
She tried hard to feel light as a feather as he pulled her up off the lounger. They walked down to the water, leaving the others behind. Vivian felt the girls’ eyes on her.
They picked a spot not in jeopardy of too much wave splashage, but close enough to fill the moat.
Jon crouched down and pushed sand into the pile. “I have to warn you, it’s been a good 20-plus years since I built a sandcastle.”
“What? Just a few moments ago you were touting your expertise.”
“I may have exaggerated a little, you know, to impress your friends.”
“I have more recent experience, so no worries.” Vivian got down on her knees, and tried to suck in her tummy as she helped with construction. Her hair fell into her eyes in total curly chaotic mess. The jet skiing had taken its toll. She tried to push it out of her face, which just added sand to the curls. Great. This looking good business is hard work.
“So you know a little about me and my love life, or lack thereof. What about you?” he asked.
Vivian prepared for his immediate departure after she disclosed her screwed-up situation. She had to do it, though. Honesty being the best policy and all that crap.
“The truth is, Jon, I’m going to be adding to the divorce statistic in about a week or so. It’s one of the reasons we’re on this trip.”
“Wow, sorry to hear that. How long were you married?”
“Almost five years.”
“Geez… That sucks-ola. Are you okay?”
“It’s still pretty fresh. I certainly didn’t see it coming. My friends and family are super supportive, so that helps. In fact, the instant Lucy, Wendy and Kate found out about it they booked this trip. Look at me now!”
Jon moved over and gave her a shoulder-to-shoulder sandy hug. “Look at you now, indeed! I have a feeling you’re going to make a full recovery.”
He let go and got back to sandcastling. “You said that’s one of the reasons you’re on this trip. What are the others?”
“Well, for us girls to get together, of course.”
She packed sand into a mountainous shape. So much for architectural wonders.
“And,” she hesitated. “It’s my birthday.”
“Your birthday! Is today your actual birthday?”
“Yep. Today’s the big day,” Vivian said unenthusiastically.
“This is colossal! Happy birthday, Vivian!” He gave her another sandy shoulder hug but happier this time.
“This calls for a celebration! You cowgirls must meet Pierre and me tonight at the Purple Peacock. Do you remember seeing it when we were on the jet ski? You’ll love it! And I’m sure your birthday will cause quite the stir. What do you say?”
Jon looked at Vivian with eyes that took her breath away. She tried to control her excitement when she responded.
“I’ll talk to the girls, but I don’t see why not. Sounds like…fun!”
Vivian dug a tunnel through the mountain. Jon scooted around to the other side and started a tunnel over there.
“Ouch!” Vivian felt a sharp pain in her hand. She looked down and pulled a broken piece of shell out of her palm. Blood trickled out slowly and slid around the sand on her hand.
“What happened,” Jon asked, looking at her.
“Just got a little cut. It’s fine.”
“I’ll be right back,” he said, and in an instant jogged off toward the hotel.
A wave crept close enough for her to rinse off the blood. The cut stung from the salt water. She took a closer look at the shells on the beach. Many of them were larger than the size of her hand and looked sharp as daggers. Someone could get seriously hurt with one of these, she thought. I’ll have to remind the girls to be careful walking in the water.
A couple of minutes passed before Jon came back with an antiseptic wipe and a Band-Aid.
“Let’s get you fixed up.”
His hands were sand-free, so he must have washed them inside. He opened the antiseptic wipe and placed it on her palm. “This may hurt a bit.”
Vivian flinched as the antiseptic did its job.
He wiped it a little more, then removed it and lifted her hand towards his mouth. He blew on it gently.
“You seem like you’ve done this before.” Vivian felt a tingling sensation that started at her palm and extended to other areas.
“Well, I’m not a doctor, but I’ve played one on TV,” he joked.
He opened the Band-Aid and placed it on her palm, tenderly ensuring the edges were down and sealed.
“I think you’re going to survive, ma’am.”
“Why thank you, doctor.”
He stood, put the wrappings in his pocket and sat down on his side of the sand mountain.
“This is something,” Jon said and smiled at her from across the sandcastle. “Maybe this trip will be the start of new opportunities for both of us. I’ve got a good feeling.”
“I have to admit, I’m kinda glad you obliterated my first sandcastle,” Vivian confessed as she resumed digging with her unbandaged hand.
Their fingers touched as they reach each other within the formation. He interlocked his fingers with hers.
I may be in heaven.
“We have connected-ola!” he shouted. “The tunnel is complete!”
As soon as he said this, the whole structure crashed down on their forearms.
“We may not get into Architectural Digest after all,” he said and tried to pull his arm out.
“I have a feeling Kate would hog my opportunity to make Architectural Digest anyway.” Vivian laughed as she tried to free her arm.
They both tugged free and fell back, covered in sand. Wendy walked up and snapped a picture of them recovering from the collapse of the tunnel-free sandcastle.
“This was fun, Vivian. I should build sandcastles more often.” He reached over and attempted to wipe sand off her face, but only added more.
“You just be sure to let me help if you do.”
“I wouldn’t dream of building one without you.”
Vivian grinned and looked at his handsome face. That totally sounds like a line from a soap opera, but honestly, I don’t freakin’ care!
CHAPTER 10
JON AND Vivian rinsed their sandy selves off in the surf, then walked back up the beach where their friends were having a good time. Lucy giggled at something Pierre said.
Uh oh, she’s drunk and flirting, Vivian thought.
Jon looked at Pierre and pointed to his legs. “You’re starting to resemble a lobster. You ready to call it an afternoon?”
“I’m done with the sun for today,” Pierre said, standing up, “but I am glad to have met you ladies.” He looked directly at Lucy. “I hope we see you soon.”
They grabbed their stuff and turned to leave. “Adiós-ola,” Jon called as he walked away. “And don’t forget the Purple Peacock.” He gave a final wave before they disappeared into the hotel.
Lucy pounced on Vivian’s lounger. “Holy fuckbuckets, Viv! That guy is awesome! He’s a total hottie, and Kate told me about the glass! How sweet!”
“What glass?”
“The glass he saved your poor little tootsies from on the beach, and then picked up and threw away! How dreamy,” she said, then clutched her hands together under her chin and batted her eyes dra
matically.
Vivian gave her a gentle push. “Oh, I had forgotten. Yeah, that was nice.”
“And the sandcastle,” Lucy said. “He helped you build one to replace the one he destroyed. Very nice.”
“Not sure we could call it an official sandcastle, but it was fun building it. Our hands intermingled in the middle.”
“Freakin’ awesome!” Lucy exclaimed. “And he’s my color.”
“He is definitely on the lower end of the pale scale, but I can accept it,” Vivian said. “Like I accept you.”
Lucy gave Vivian’s shoulder a push and got back on her lounger.
Wendy seemed impressed with Jon as well. “He practically swept you off your feet to get you to the jet ski, and he was totally ogling your boobs when he helped you take off your life jacket. He’s love-struck baby!”
Vivian’s connection with Austin made her sing “Love Struck Baby” by Stevie Ray Vaughn. Damn that’s an awesome song.
“Holy crap, she’s love-struck too!” Kate shouted.
“I am not! She just made me think of that song.” Vivian flipped over on her lounger so they couldn’t see her face.
“You are a liar Vivian Taylor,” Wendy said. “L-I-A-R.”
“What’s this about a peacock?” Lucy asked.
“Oh, he invited us to a place down the beach called the Purple Peacock, to help celebrate my smurfday.”
“I bet he wants to lay a big birthday kiss on you!” Kate said.
Vivian ignored her, settled in and pulled the towel up over her eyes. “I told him we’d stop by after dinner.”
“Yeah, for dessert.” Lucy teased.
They were all quiet for a while. The waves rolled hypnotically. Vivian sighed and eventually made it to a semi-conscious, la-la-land place, but then heard a voice.
“Hola. Look, look.”
Vivian blinked, getting use to the sunlight and saw an older local lady had walked up with a large wrap slung over her shoulder. The wrap the small woman carried was so full of stuff it looked like it weighed more than she did. She plopped it down and began to show off the contents — an array of Mexican jewelry, shells and hand-stitched Mayan calendars.
Vivian could tell by the sparkle in Wendy’s eyes that she absolutely loved the calendars. She picked up one. “How much?”
