from my bed, which hadn’t been slept in, to the settee.
“Yes… I was too tired, and I think better when I’m watching the stars.”
Rachael walked over to the settee where I had slept. Sitting beside me, she took my hand in hers. Her hands were so small. As she looked into my eyes, I wondered what she saw and I wondered how someone so small, held so much power.
“Daniel… Willy told me what happened last night. If I can help you in any way, please, ask.”
I looked into Rachael’s sparkling periwinkle eyes noting how they shined. They had the colors of the universe in them.
“I don’t know what to do Rachael. I prayed that Father would give me an answer, but I didn’t get one. Sometimes, I wonder if he even hears me. Have I displeased him so much!
Rachael had pulled me to her in a tight hug. “Daniel… He loves you… never doubt that. You are his hope.” I still didn’t understand. Suddenly there was a smile on Rachael’s face, like a child on Christmas morning. “Don’t you have a date with some stars?”
“I have time,” smiling back at her.
“Daniel, its six P.M., you’ve slept most of the day.”
Six, I was supposed to pick Hope up at eight. Seeing my distress, Rachael got up and left the room. Not before telling me that everything will be fine. Two hours to shower and get ready. Good, there wouldn’t be enough time to think. Maybe that was my answer.
Two hours later, I was presentable and knocking on Hope’s door. The door opened and all I saw were a pair of green eyes, emerald green, observing me.
“You came… you really came?” Hope seemed surprised to see me, as if I might have disappeared in the night.
“I told you that I would take you to see the stars. Do you still want to see them?” I was one of the stars in her nightmares. Maybe she didn’t want to be near me though the smile on her face told me otherwise. “Are you ready to go?”
“Dad, Daniel’s here,” she yelled through the open door. “Why are we leaving so early, its not dark yet?” I could hear the footsteps of Hope’s father, Robert, as he came to the door.
“We need to be at a place called the cove, before high tide. Otherwise we’ll have to hike in and its tricky hiking the bluffs in the dark.”
“Daniel, I don’t mean to be rude, but where is the cove and how are you getting there?” Hope’s father wanted to know where Hope would be and with whom. I had seen so many fathers who didn’t care. I had to respect him for that, for caring so much for her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Hope’s face, staring down the sidewalk, just now noticing my car was missing. I nodded toward the driveway.
“My motorcycle, its easier to drive down the beach and park it in the cove before the tide comes in. The cove is at the end of the beach at the rocky bluffs.”
“What time do you plan to bring Hope home? I don’t want her out all night.” Every young lady should have a father like Robert. He was noble and I liked that.
“It would be about two. We’ll need to wait till the tide is ebbing. I didn’t check on how high the tides would be tonight. We’ll leave as soon as the cove is clear to get around, sir. My word.” Looking down at Hope, “You ready?”
As we walked to the bike, Robert asked. “Is that a Norton? I haven’t seen one of those in a long time. How in the world did you find it or did you restore it? Must have taken you years, the parts look in mint condition, are they original?” I didn’t say a word. He didn’t know the truth about my bike, how could he? Actually with a little care and attention it looks the same as the day I bought it, New. I just answered back politely, “It’s one I’ve had for a while.”
I gave Hope one of the helmets from the back of the bike. She put it on her head fumbling with the strap. I had to laugh, “Here let me help.” I hooked the strap under her chin making sure it was snug. Then I knocked on the top of the helmet. “You okay in there?” She just rolled her eyes at me. Being around Hope like this felt… easy and natural.
I got on the Norton and with only two kicks brought it to life. Then I motioned for Hope to get on. As she sat behind me, I took her hands wrapping them around my waist and told her to “Hang on”. It was easy to ride with Hope on the back of my bike. She naturally leaned with me as we took the curves. She seemed to enjoy the feel of the fresh air on her face; the salty smell of the seawater, even the cry of the gulls as much as I did. I loved the ride to the cove but most of all it was the feeling of Hope’s arms around my waist, holding me tight, and the feel of her head between my shoulder blades. Hope was bringing out all kinds of feelings in me. Some I had never known. They overjoyed me and terrified me at the same time.
When we arrived the wind in the cove was calm. The bluffs seemed to whirl it around like a soft breath. I parked the bike near the rocks of the bluff well away from the water’s edge. Then I unpacked the saddlebags, removing my quilt, an old blanket, and my charts laying them on the sand near the bluffs rocky foot. I sat down on the old blanket, leaned my back against a rock and watched Hope.
Her socks and shoes were on dry sand up the beach. She was barefoot with her pant legs rolled-up and was standing in the gentle ripples as the sea met the shore. She began running up and down the waters edge, laughing every time the small waves washed over her feet. Hope was having so much fun laughing I had to laugh too. Hope gave me a strange little smile. I couldn’t tell if it was one of a memory, or a personal little joke. She quickly started running up the beach, grabbing her socks and shoes on the way. As she stopped in front of me she didn’t say a word, just smiled.
“Aren’t your feet cold?” I knew the water may be tolerable in August but it was especially cold this time of the year, early summer.
“Yes, but worth it.” A little giggle escaped her lips, “I’ve missed the sand people.”
“Sand people?”
“You’ll just think I’m… nuts.” Her smile softened as her eyes starred into mine, as if she saw something no one else could see.
“The sand people, something my dad taught me when I was little. They are hiding all through the beach and they need the water. It gives them love, and they need that love to be truly happy. They love the water with all of their being. When you walk on the dry sand it squeaks, that’s because they’re crying. They miss the water so much. When the water is near they chase after it. That’s why the sand is always moving in the waves. When you stand at the waters edge, you can feel them running after her, Mother Earth, working to get out from under you. And I just love the way they tickle my feet.”
I didn’t know what to say about her story. I was amazed and drawn to her innocent view on a wondrous world.
“Here,” I held out my quilt to her. Hope took it and wrapped it around herself as she sat between my knees and leaned her back against my chest. As she lay against me, it made me wonder what she was thinking… and what was I feeling?
“O.K. I told you a story, now can you tell me one?” her voice, a whisper, softly pleading.
There
