The Pacific Ocean behaved just as its name implied. The water was a mirrored surface with small rolling waves. Just the right amount of foam crested the small waves and tiny amounts of sand rolled beneath each one. The blue sky was a match to the slightly moving water and if you didn't look closely you'd probably not be able to tell where the sea ended and the sky began. The sun warmed the air and held a promise of warmth later in the afternoon.

Not too many people were braving the water. I'd heard that the water here is colder than the northern Atlantic and that water is cold. I know that because I'm from New England and spent a few summers in New Hampshire, at the beach.

A gentle breeze wafted through the palms and kept the sun from becoming too much for the visitors to the beach today. Venice Beach had much going for it and the people were already beginning to enjoy their visit.

It was noon time and a small crowd had gathered on the boardwalk, mostly runners and skaters. The large crowds that would sit on the beach would come later in the day when the games and beach park opened, which would be soon and then all the solitude will be gone. I came out here looking for that solitude. That is why I'm at the beach this morning.

My name is Sara Grandon and I'm in Los Angeles for a vacation. I needed to get away from my life for a while. Six months before I lost my husband, Mark, to a drunk driver. He'd been the best thing that ever happened in my life. While I was here I thought that I'd visit my college friend, Alan, who I hadn't seen in six years and there were so many sights that I hoped to see such as Venice Beach, Hollywood Bowl the Hollywood sign, and the LeBrea Tar Pits. I also wanted to drive the Pacific Coast Highway. So, I know what you're thinking, I'm a tourist. Yep, I am.

I'm sitting on a bench, at Venice Beach looking out over the Pacific towards Hawaii. It seemed like such a simple thing but I'd always wanted to do it. Mark had promised that we would. I wish he was with me and I guess he was, in spirit. I was so enrapt in the moment that I didn't notice someone sit next to me.

He spoke, which woke me up from where ever I'd mentally wandered. "Do you come here often?"

I'm sure there was a loud rattle as I did my best eye roll. "Are you for real? Is that your best pick up line?" I turned and looked at him. I should learn to look first and I definitely should learn to be less flippant. The man was attractive and he wore an aura of confidence like a nice suit. It fit him. When he looked at me I noticed the most amazing emerald/blue eyes I've ever seen. Needless to say those eyes and he, himself, captured my attention.

He laughed and his gorgeous blue green eyes laughed with him and then those eyes met my hazel ones. "Let me try that again?" "My name is Callen and I come here to think, often." He hesitated a moment. "I don't remember seeing you here before." I began to wonder how many times he'd been to this particular bench. "It's my first time here."

He chuckled, watched the surfers in the water and turned back to me. "This bench?"

I laughed at such a silly thought. "No, I mean to Los Angeles, Venice Beach and this bench."

We both laughed at that. I noticed he seemed to be easy to laugh with. I still wanted to hold back and not tell him much.

He still gazed into my eyes. It was getting uncomfortable really.

I was still locked into his eyes and they mesmerized into answering. "Vacationing, visiting college friends and sightseeing. Why?"

He looked out over the ocean. "No reason."

I turn more toward him to get a better view of him and to slide my purse behind me to keep it further from him. He doesn't seem like a crook but a girl can't be too careful. While turning I notice a really big guy leaning on a car watching us. It gave me the creeps. "Is he a friend of yours?"

"Yep, that is my best friend Sam."

"What's your name?" His gorgeous blue eyes met mine and then flicked away to look out over the white sand. "I told you mine." It was almost like his feelings were hurt or he was shy. I really didn't believe either of him. There was that confidence that exuded from him.

I was leery to tell him. There was the feeling that he was questioning me for some reason, but I couldn't figure out why. His eyes met mine again and before I knew it Sara Grandon magically popped out of my mouth. Why was that happening?

"What are you doing on this bench?" He asked.

I must have smiled. I laughed a bit before answering. I realized that to someone else it may sound strange. "I'm looking at Hawaii."

He lifted one brow and looked at me and chuckled and smirked at the same time, if that is possible. "Hawaii is twenty-five hundred miles from here." In those few words were a multitude of emotions. He gave the impression of craziness, the lack of comprehension and concern. I's sure he wondered who let this crazy woman out.

I looked at him and proceeded to explain how I had "seen" California from Hawaii many times with my husband and we wanted to see the reverse. "I had always thought that Mark and I would come here someday together. He died last year." His question had caught me off guard and I felt the tears welling up. The humor in the statement left me because in reality no one but Mark and I would have understood it anyway. Why I shared it with a stranger is beyond me. I looked away and watched the skaters go by on the sidewalk. He must have sensed my reluctance to talk to him about this, so he let the moment pass. We chatted about the weather, the ocean and life in general. Before we knew it, it was time for me to meet Alan and his new wife for lunch. I got up, shook his hand and told him it was nice meeting him and how I'd enjoyed our conversation. We were both startled by the electrical charge that flew between us.

Callen rose as I walked away and called after me, "Sara, let's have dinner, soon."

It stunned me and made me happy at the same time. "Okay." I don't know why it felt right to me. As I walked away I turned to wave and both he and Sam were leaning against the car watching me.

I was so happy that I didn't realize Callen had no way to get in touch: He didn't know where I was staying.