Coming up for air and feeling the sun on your face as you break the water's surface is one of the greatest feelings I know. The moment only last for less than a second, but over the years I have learned to capture the feeling. Turning on to my back and floating on the ocean's surface is another skill I have developed, with my eyes closed I can feel the sun warming my face and sending that feeling of peace that I have always looked for. This is why I am here, this is what I know is true. Moving my arms in small circles keeping myself a float, if I had the strength this is how I would spend the rest of my life. Unfortunately my body isn't as young as it use to be, and I have that crossword puzzle waiting for me on the beach.
I swim as far as I can onto the coast, only when my finger tips graze the sand below the waterline do I stand and walk the rest of the way. The breeze is warmer than normal today and it feels good. I look up and down the coast, and breath in a lung full of the air. I have never been one to believe in ownership. I don't consider the amount of what one owns as a measure of ones worth. But this beach is mine, it came with the property when I bought the bar and my home. I wonder if this is how the ranchers of the wild west felt as the walked their ranches. The thought is fleeting, there is someone laying in my beach chair, and she has my crossword.
"Afternoon Laticia." I reach down and grab my sunglasses. She doesn't look up. I reach for my towel, she's laying on it. She moves, just enough, to let me retrieve it. "So what brings you down to my neighborhood?"
"We haven't seen each other in awhile. Thought I might come down to say Hello."
Laticia, for as long as I have known her, doesn't come by just to say Hello to anyone. She is the Hotel manager of the five star on the other coast. She is in charge of the Casino as well, at age 36 she is perhaps one of the most influential people in the region. Very little gets done without her knowing about it or being part of the diescion process. I'm told that at age 12, when the hotel was just a tiny hide away for honeymooners, she was just the local flower girl. At age 17 she moved to the states to attend college, she graduated in 3 years. In 5 short years she put the Hotel on the "must stay at" list with all the tourist agencies, and within one year after getting the owners to pay for a casino, she now has most of Hollywood and the French Riviera elite spending there money at her resort. "Laticia, how long have we known eachother?"
"I don't know maybe three years now? Why?"
"In that three years when have you ever come by and just said Hello?" I smile as I throw my towel on to the back of the beach chair, just missing her shoulder. She finally looks up at me.
"I would like it if you would come to the Casino tomorrow night."
"You know I don't like it in there."
"I know, but I would still like it if you would." she smiles a lovely smile and kisses me on the cheek. She stands up and looks down at me as I look up. "Three down is Santamaría."
Laticia is a beautiful woman, and equally strong. Seldom are her request ever ignored, but I can't help but think of a song lyric as she heads towards my bar. "...her walk has a way of making grown men feel underage..."
I pick up my crossword puzzle from the sand, "HEY!!! James!" I look up to see Indie laughing. "You might want to get up her Maria just carried two live chickens into the kitchen!"
I try to think it to myself but it escapes my lips "Oh Hell, this is going to be one hell of a night."