I played the events over in my mind like a film. Took in every detail. I had been pretty kick-ass, true. Hell, I may be old, but I’m still in the game. I wondered if I would ever need the silver semi-automatics now hidden on a shelf in my closet. I kind of hoped I would.
Once again, I relived every second with my son. The whole thing was just...surreal.
And beautiful.
I love you, Daddy. Words I never thought I’d hear again. So proud of you. I didn’t even pretend the tears were from the bright sun shining through the palm trees.
* * *
Roxi and I leaned back in our beach chairs.
The day was cooling off, the gentle breeze bringing on what Californians consider a slight chill. Feet nestled comfortably in the still warm sand, we watched the sun set behind Santa Monica Pier’s ginormous Ferris wheel. I took another whiff of salty air and watched seagulls scavenge the beach for tidbits of food left behind. Most of the crowd had left and we had the place to ourselves.
We’d spent the night at a motel within walking distance. It was well-earned time off. Last night had rekindled our intimacy. I’d never really treated her the way she should have been treated. Now it was time to make up for lost time. I glanced at my well-satisfied woman. The light wind danced with her hair. Her hand wandered to my thigh, and this time, I didn’t recoil. So, she left it there. It felt good.
Roxi had already picked my brain about every detail of the case. I told her everything. Including my son. Roxi listened intently, knowing it couldn’t be easy to discuss. She didn’t question this, but apparently she wasn’t satisfied about other specifics.
“So, this Natassa.”
“Yes?”
“She’s a vampire slayer? Like Veronica?”
“I suppose so.”
“What does that mean, anyway?”
“It means we’re not in Kansas anymore. Never have been.”
She laughed. I smiled. “But,” she persisted, “I mean why don’t more people know about this kind of stuff?”
Why indeed? I supposed most ordinary people wanted to at least imagine they lived in Kansas. People liked myths and legends. But only for stories told around a campfire light. Where they thought they were safe.
“Watch the sunset,” I simply said. She would figure it out, I was sure.
I reached into the nearby cooler and came out with a beer. I exchanged it for a Diet Coke and popped it open. I took a swig. Next to Roxi, it was the best thing I’d ever tasted.
The end...