The Tender Shore: A Matt Ransom Mystery

by Bobby Underwood

  Chapter Forty

  For once darkness is exposed to the light, evil is seen in its true form, a sadness so deep that only heaven can remove it

  The sound of laughter and the smell of meat on the barbecue filled the Miami afternoon outside Stacy's place. Ray brought some lighter fluid he'd made from some chemicals in the morgue. It smelled like lighter fluid of centuries past so I deemed it was safe. He, Pablo, Pedro and Meagan were cooking beef steaks courtesy of Edna and Doc, while the rest of us, including Stacy in her white wedding dress were sitting around relaxing, waiting on the grub. Ray's wife Jennie was a bubbly thing and a real delight. It was a beautiful day, a cool wind coming from the beach and preventing it from being too hot. An hour earlier, we had stood on the sand near the water and watched Stacy get hitched to Pedro. LeAnn and Meagan had been her bridesmaids. Annette had been her maid of honor since she and Pablo hadn't tied the knot yet. I suspected that would be remedied soon. Pablo's transformation was striking. He seemed happy and comfortable in his own skin now, casting doubt on his earlier assertions that he had no soul. Edna had been right.

  I was most of the way back, but I would still need some time. LeAnn promised I would finally get the chance to break in the purple negligee so there was something to live for. We were staying another day before heading back to New Chicago. LeAnn had been away from Summer Dream too long, and was getting antsy. She had a nice little crew holding down the fort but it was her baby and she didn't like being away for so long. Stacy and Pedro were flying out in the morning for a week in Rio at the Copacabana Palace. Edna's wedding gift. Her training would resume after they returned, and Pedro would start classes at Miami University.

  LeAnn was the only one I'd told about seeing Jennie on the ship, and how she'd saved my life. Maybe that was why I wasn't all the way back yet. I had liked the girl and been unable to prevent her from dying. Maybe I just needed closure. I was thinking about it when LeAnn blew in my ear, making me laugh. When no one was looking she licked my cheek and I ran my hand along her leg until it could go no further. She took my arm in both hands and held it tight so I couldn't take it away. It was going to be a wonderful night, and had already been a wonderful afternoon. A couple of hours later, steaks had been devoured, stories had been told, a bouquet had been caught, impromptu dances had occurred, and everyone was happy and relaxed.

  I wanted to be happy. But I couldn't shake some deep sadness for a girl with braces who had lost her way in this life. It was rolling into late afternoon when from the beach the faint sound of Tracey Thorn's lovely voice rendering the melancholy Mirrorball reached us. I hadn't told LeAnn about the song. I looked around to see if everyone else had heard it. I couldn't tell, so asked, trying to sound casual.

  "The beach was cordoned off for the wedding," said Stacy, "but someone probably sneaked in." She smiled, truly happy. "Let them have their fun. We're done down there anyway."

  "It was Jennie's favorite song," commented Edna sadly. "She used to play it while she drove me around."

  I kissed LeAnn, told her I needed to walk a bit, and not to worry. I'd be back in a little while. She squeezed my hand tight, letting me know she understood. There was no one on the beach that I could see. I walked to where the song was most audible and then I saw her. She just appeared out of nowhere, walking towards me. I waited, unsure of what to do. She was a few feet from me and then her arms were around my neck and a whisper between this world and the next said, I'm okay now. Thank you. I tried to put my arms around her but there was nothing there. I felt something moist on my cheek which I knew was a kiss, and then she stepped away. She smiled, her braces gone. Then she walked towards the ocean, turning back briefly at water's edge to wave and smile before vanishing into the sapphire sea.

  The emptiness in me was gone. I walked back towards the best girl in the world, the girl with the purple negligee who was going to let me make love to her. I walked back toward the light, and the living.