Chapter 5

"All right, all right," said Erin, to the golden snout licking her face. "I’m up Atre, I’m up." The dog barked happily as Erin made her way toward the bathroom. "We’re having company today girl. So be on your best behavior." She bent over and kissed the fur-covered head and scratched behind the ears. "But you’re always a good girl, aren’t you?"

Another hearty bark was her answer.

Artemis waited outside the door, until her freshly showered and dressed human reappeared. Erin walked over to the window and pulled back the curtains on the double doors. Her fingers barely reached the handle before Artemis was barreling down the stairs into the fenced in, side yard. Although Erin couldn’t see the sunshine glimmering off the blue water, she felt it’s warming rays on her face. This is going to be a great day! I don’t think I’ve been this excited about something in a long time. I guess I have missed having a friend around. I’ve got some catching up to do.

 

Jamie made the last turn heading to Erin’s house, having called and gotten the directions the night before. The immaculate houses and perfect yards sat side by side as she made her way down the road. While Jamie was never impressed with wealth, she wasn’t beyond perusing the architecture of the area. She soon came to a stretch of road with no houses or businesses. It went on for half a mile before she saw the turnoff that had to lead to Erin’s house. The green mailbox with E. Casey written on the side, greeted her as she turned into the long drive up to the big white house.

The dog’s barking and the sound of tires rolling over gravel alerted Erin that her guest had arrived. She waited until the bell rang, not wanting to seem as overly anxious as she was. The smiling author opened the door. "Hi Jamie, come on in. I’m really glad you could make it today."

"Me too," said the dark haired women, as she stepped in, hesitantly. "I’m always glad to get out of the city for awhile. A little to much noise for me."

"I know what you mean. I practically went crazy in New York, even though I was only there for a few months. But the ocean air and open spaces of this place really make me feel content."

After giving Jamie a tour of the house, she led her down to the private section of beach. A huge blue and red blanket with an umbrella off to one side, waited for them, invitingly.

"Did you bring sunscreen?" asked Erin. "If not, I have about a dozen different kinds. I don’t want to be responsible for you getting a sunburn."

"I put some on before I left, but thanks anyway," Jamie lowered herself down onto the colorful material. "Everybody always teases me about having a permanent tan anyway, but it’s just my natural skin tone."

Erin formed that piece of information into a mental picture that would last a long time. She often thought of herself as a mental voyeur, but it’s really the only way she could get a likeness of the people she couldn’t see.

The next few hours were spent getting to know each other more, although Jamie still wasn’t very forthcoming with information and Erin didn’t want to pry, as least not yet. A delicious lunch of chicken and potato salad was heartily consumed by the sunbathers.

A short while after the meal, Artemis pranced over and dropped a disk of neon orange onto Jamie’s reclining back. "I think somebody is giving me hints," she said with a little chuckle.

"Artemis, what have you got? She didn’t drag out that Frisbee, did she?"

"Yeah, she did."

"No Artemis, Jamie doesn’t want to play. Now go on."

The tall woman picked up the disk and stood, taking a few minutes to stretch. "That’s okay, I miss playing with man’s best friend or in this case woman’s best friend. I’ll play with her... if you don’t mind."

Erin shook her head. "No, of course I don’t mind. I just wanted you to relax and enjoy yourself."

]

Jamie smiled down at the still reclining woman. "Oh, I’m enjoying myself, believe me. But to tell you the truth, I can only take so much relaxation," she said, as she sailed the toy down the beach.

After fifteen or so rounds with the energetic canine, Jamie sat back down and retrieved another cold drink from the cooler.

"I hope you don’t get sand in your cast," said Erin, as she heard the woman next to her scratching.

"It wouldn’t matter. The dumb thing itches all the time anyway."

"When does it come off?"

"In another week, hopefully. The doctor said depending on the x-rays, but I’ve always been a fast healer although in this case, six weeks wasn’t fast. But I remember when I was eight; I was tying out the new pogo stick, the kid down the street got for his birthday. My pogoing was less than stellar. I fell in the bushes and got covered in scratches." She laughed. "I looked like I went ten rounds with all the neighborhood cats. I also broke two fingers on my left hand. Three days later, I ripped off the splints." Jamie heard a small chuckle. "Well, they were in my way, when I was trying to make mud pies...to throw at the kid with the defective pogo stick. Anyway, Mom found out and took me back to the doctor. He took x-rays and was stunned, when the fractures were already healed."

That was the first really personal story Jamie had relayed since they met. Erin was very happy that her new friend was feeling comfortable enough to finally share her memories.

Jamie pulled her watch from the pocket of her jean shorts. "I hate to have to say this, but I’m gonna have to be going in about half an hour. I have to work tonight. Besides I don’t want to wear out my welcome."

"That would be impossible to do. In fact I’m hoping you’ll come back for dinner sometime soon."

"That sounds nice," said Jamie, without a debate from her inner voice.

Erin got up from the blanket and slipped her sandals off. "Could I ask you one favor before you go?"

"Sure."

"I hope it isn’t rude of me since you can’t get in the water, but I haven’t been for a swim in a long time. I won’t go alone, because it’s hard to judge how far out I go and that’s dangerous. So could you kind of keep an eye on me while I take a quick swim?"

Jamie took a deep breath, realizing that she would be responsible for this sightless woman’s safety. If something did happen, she couldn’t go in after her with the heavy cast on her foot, but she didn’t want to deny this woman the small pleasure. "Sure that’s no problem. Go ahead."

"Thanks." Erin proceeded to pull off her shorts and top to reveal her sky blue, two-piece swimsuit.

Jamie sputtered her coke and began coughing at the sight before her.

"Are you okay?" Erin was totally unaware that she was the cause of the mishap.

"Yeah...yeah. It just went down the wrong way."

"Okay, I’ll be right back." Erin ran off to the water’s edge and carefully jumped into the white surf.

"No problem. I’ll keep and eye on you. Make that both eyes," said Jamie for Arte’s ears only. I shouldn’t be enjoying this so much, she thought. Damn she’s a friend. But she’s the one who said to watch her. No she said watch out for her. Don’t nitpick. I have to watch her. But I shouldn’t be enjoying it so much. She sighed as the argument went on, until she saw the vision in blue, rise from the ocean.

"Can you say something so I can get headed back in the right direction," yelled Erin.

Still a little tongue tied Jamie said, "A...yeah. How’s the water?" A couple of strong barks were added to the location beacon.

Erin had only re-emerged a few feet to the right of where she went in. Sandy feet followed the deep voice back to the blanket, where she accepted the towel that was handed to her. "Thanks. The water feel’s great. I wish you could see for yourself. But I guess that’s something else you’ll have to come back for."

Not needing to torture herself anymore, Jamie turned away as Erin dried off her petite, but muscular body. "Yeah, I guess."

They worked together to pack away the beach gear and the cooler, and then headed back to the house. With everything put away, Jamie said, "I have to be going now, Erin. I had a really good time today. I’m glad you invited me."

The blonde gave her a charming smile. "I’m glad you came today. Like I said before, when that cast comes off we’ll have some real fun."

Erin’s exuberant attitude was infectious and Jamie couldn’t wait for that time to come. "Yeah, I’ll let you know."

Erin followed her movements to the door and waited for her friend to reach the bottom of the stairs. "Bye Jamie. I’ll call you during the week," she said with a wave.

Jamie returned the greeting as she got into her car, but without the hand gesture. "Okay. Bye."

With a panting dog by her side, Erin stood in the open doorway, listening to the car drive away. Already, her soul felt a pull in the direction of the departing vehicle.

They talked on the phone three times in the following week, just to share the everyday happenings and job complaints. Just hearing a friendly voice after a long day, seemed to lift any lingering blue moods for both of them.