Chapter 3

Braiden's arms pulled angrily against the waves, his legs kicked in frustration. He pulled and kicked until his arms and legs burned from the excursion. Flipping onto his back, he let the sun beat down on his face as he floated along atop the waves. Water filled his head and his mind, finally drowning out the sound of his own voice. Eye's closed, he floated, breathing in and out, feeling the sun on his skin, and tasting the salt on his lips. Time pass, he didn't know how much, but slowly as the tide brought him back to the beach, his anger and frustration slowly seeped from his body into the water around him, leaving his heart with a sliver of peace. Swallowing, he forced his eyes opened and brought his legs down. His feet hitting sand and he lifted his now drained and heavy limps from the freedom of the water around him. He struggled against the waves and his own exhaustion until finally he stood upon dry land. Collapsing onto the sand, he fell backwards, draping an arm over his eyes to shield them from the sun's penetrating rays. With deep breaths, he filled his lungs greedily with air. Slowly he released each breath, until he lay exhausted. His memory slowly resurfaced, but this time with less intensity. He knew this was the best he could hope for, on this the anniversary of the day that had changed his life.

"Scooter?" a soft voice called on the breeze.

Suddenly a wetness covered Braiden's cheek. Pulling his arm from his eyes, he stared up at his assailant, a shaggy black and white mutt of a dog. Braiden brought a weak hand up to pat the dogs head, "Scooter!" a small voice exclaimed. Turning his head to the side, Braiden peered in the direction of small sound and found about four feet away, a small girl staring down at him with her small hands perched on her hips. A bright purple swimsuit shimmered dramatically against her milk chocolate brown skin as she tilted her round cherub like face to the side as she examined him. Long twisted braids clasped in pink and purple barrettes fell over her brow covering one of her large hazel brown eyes. Braiden stared up into the small child's eyes and found himself puzzling over the depth he found in them; they flashed curiosity, wariness, and intelligence at him. She blinked, her brow slightly furrowed, her small button nose scrunched in a scrutiny similar to his own. He couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hi" he offered up with a smile.

At his greeting, her wary expression faded into a large smile, producing to the cutest and deepest set of dimples Braiden had ever seen on a child. She giggled softly and raised one of her hands in greeting. Scooter licked Braiden's face again and lazily wagged his tail. Coming up on his elbows, he smiled and raised a hand to pat the dog on the head, "Is this your doggie?" he asked.

"No, that's Mr. G's puppy…but he let him come to play with me and Sha-Sha today on the beach," the little girl answered.

Braiden nodded, "What is Mr. G's puppy's name?" he smiled.

"Scooter…he's Scooter," she answered, taking a tentative step closer to pat the dog.

"Are you and Scooter having a good time swimming?" Braiden asked, scratching Scooter behind one floppy ear.

She shook her head, sending her braids fly, "No, no…not without Sha-Sha. We only can swim if she is with us," she said with deep conviction.

Braiden held back a smile, "Well, that seems like a good idea to me. The ocean can be dangerous, your Sha-Sha must want to keep you safe," he replied.

Kneeling in the sand next the dog, she bobbed her head, "Yes!" she proclaimed, "Sha-Sha is VERY smart!...'Cept sometime she gets scared about me doing stuff by myself, but she said maybe I could go ride the Ferris wheel all by myself today!" she beamed excitedly.

Braiden grinned, "Now that sounds like fun," he replied, "You and Sha-Sha sound like you have fun day planned."

"We have all day, no work," she said hugging Scooter around the neck. Braiden smiled as she embraced and kissed the dog.

"Besides the beach and the Ferris wheel what else are you going to do?" he asked. Looking up from the dog, her large hazel brown eye's meet his for a brief moment her look thoughtful. Suddenly she stood, and smiled down at him. Without another word, she turned around abruptly, gave him a small wave and ran down the beach, Scooter following at her heels.

A small smile painted his face as he watched her and her sparkly purple swimsuit disappear over the small out cropping of rocks. Shaking his head, he flopped back against the sand and stretched. He replayed the odd conversation with the precocious little girl; there was something about her that stayed with him. It was her eyes, he finally decided. There was wisdom beyond her young years in them. Yawning, he stretched again then flipped onto his stomach, letting the sun warm and dry his back. Closing his eyes he felt sleep slowly seep into his consciousness; closing his eyes he let it overtake him.

Kasha moved forward over the sand, her hand tightly clenched around Isabella's. "What did you find?" she asked as the little girl moved purposely across the beach toward the rocks.

"A nice boy to play with," Isabella stated matter factly.

Kasha nodded, "Ah my social butterfly strikes again," she grinned, "You know you could have invited your new little friend over for lunch. We have plenty of food," she suggested.

Isabella stopped for a moment at the foot of the mound of rocks and looked back at Kasha, "But Sha-Sha I don't know if he's hungry," she replied seriously.

Kasha threw her head back and laughed, "Well maybe you could ask him and his mommy if they are," she suggested, rubbing a finger down her full cheek.

Isabelle tilted her head to one side, "Sha-Sha I don't think his mommy come to the beach today," she stated.

Kasha scrunched her face slightly at the comment, "Oh honey I'm sure his mommy is here somewhere," she replied. Isabella simply shrugged her small shoulders and started climbing the rocks. .

At the top, the pile Kasha paused and looked down at the beach on the other side. Her eyes scanned the stretch of sand for a little boy with a bucket building a sandcastle or maybe playing in the surf. She saw none. "Izzy where's your friend?" she asked.

Hopping onto the sand from a rocks, Izzy looked up at Kasha as she descended the slope to join her, "He's right there Sha-Sha," she stated.

Kasha's eyes followed her small out stretched arm and settled about 12 feet away on the back of a man lying on his stomach, his face away from them. Kasha's heart immediately began pounding in her ears and her knees went soft. Grabbing her hand, Isabella pulled her forward across the hot sand. A few short steps later, Kasha found herself staring down at a freckled back she knew intimately. Panic swept over her, causing her stomach to turn over in a sickly fashion.

Her eyes scanned the muscular expanse she had once mapped with her tongue and mouth, finally coming to rest on the middle of his upper back. She swallowed hard and blinked as if trying to erase the image before her eyes but it stayed, proclaiming what she had known the moment she had laid eyes on him. Centered perfectly between the shoulder blades of the man at her feet, she found a cluster of freckles forming a small but perfect heart shape pattern on the skin just over his spin. Kasha sucked in a breath and stuck her tongue out lick her dry lips, "Izzy…come on," she whispered, "Let's let him be, it looks like he's sleeping," she murmured, taking the little girls hand.

"No, Sha-Sha, he's really nice," Isabella, argued. Pulling her hand out of Kasha's, Isabella ran around his prostrate body to stand near his face.

"Isabella Danijela, Come here," Kasha whispered harshly.

"Sha-Sha, he's my friend!" she said again stamping her foot in the sand.

Kasha circled around Braiden on tiptoes, "Izzy!" she said under her breath.

Isabella ignored her and instead squatted down next to Braiden, "Hey, wake up!" she said, poking the end of Braiden's nose with her finger.

Dakasha felt her heart drop to knees as she watched the little finger touch the top of his sand covered nose. Finally circling his body, Kasha grabbed Izzy by the hand, "LET'S GO," she demanded in a low voice, but even before she could take a single step, Braiden's eye's came open and his face turned up to them. For a moment he squinted again the sun, slight confusion on his face, but as sleep faded from his features, Kasha saw recognition flick in the liquid blue pools of his eyes, recognition and shock.

Braiden's mind drifted the place between sleep and consciousness, as the sun beat down on his wet back. He sighed into the sand, and let sleep take control of his brain. He drifted over the sand of a beach, his feet moving in rhythm to the music of his dreams. In front of him twirled a burry vision in purple, black, and simmering sequence. A smile flashed at him as she spun. He ran across the expanse of the beach toward her, his hand reaching out wantonly, but she moved away from him as if on the wind. He followed, reaching into the stillness before him, begging her to wait for him, to come to him. With all the strength he had in his body he ran, seemingly never closing the gap between them, till suddenly she was directly in front of him, smiling sweetly at him, "I've been waiting so long for you to come," she whispered on the breeze. Breathing hard, his heart pounded in his chest, he raised a hand up to touch her face. His fingertips hovered with slight hesitation just above a caramel colored cheek, "Why did you run from me?" he asked.

Her bright white smiled gleamed at him as the wind blew at her dark curls, "All beaches weather storms Braiden," she answered softly.

Licking his lips he moved his hand in to touch her…"Hey wake up!" suddenly echoed on the breeze.

Braiden lifted his face to the sky, "NO….NO not yet!" he screamed. He looked into her eyes, begging for more time, "No…" he pleaded softly.

Her smile never faded, "Wake up love, it's time for the future," she said backing way from him.

Braiden shook his head, but even as he fought to keep his eyes locked with her green ones, they began to fade.

Surfacing to awareness, he felt a gentle poke prodding the end of his nose. Turning over in the sand, he lifting his eyelids and gazed up into a bright blue sky. Squinting into an intensely shining sun, slowly two dark figures developed over him, one short, one tall.

He blinked and squinted against the brilliant late morning sun; as the features of the figures above him came into focus. His eyes first fixed on the smaller of the two figures; it was the pretty little girl with the braids and shinny purple suit. His lips stirred into a small smile. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a hand pulling at the child's arm. Tilting his head back in the sand a bit, he looked up to make eye contact with the woman pulling on the child. As he took in her features, his mind spun. He blinked in disbelief and his breath caught in his chest. "Kasha?" he whisper.

Her wide green eyes locked with his as her name tumbled out of his mouth. She stood mutely before him, unblinking.

He started in the one set of eyes he had dreamt of every night for over six years, and knew despite her silence and the change five years had had on her appearance that it was she.

Finally, she tore her eyes from his and took a step back, "Izzy…lets go," she breathed quietly. Dakasha blindly reached for the child; grasping her shoulder, she pulled her back a few steps.

"NO, Sha-Sha! You said I could ask him to come to lunch," the little girl demanded pulling from her grasp.

Braiden started numbly up at the pair, as Isabella ran across the sand to him, "Mister, would you like to eat peanut butter sandwiches with me and Sha-Sha?" she asked, capturing his eyes with her sparkling ones.

He blinked at her a moment, then looked back up at the woman standing mutely to his left. Licking his lips, he smiled at the little girl, "Well wouldn't ya know that I love peanut butter sandwiches," he said. Watching Dakasha out of the corner of his eyes he saw her entire body stiffen at his response, "I'd love to have lunch with you," he added.

Isabella jumped up and down in front of him, "Scooter loves peanut butter sandwiches too, but he's funny when he eats them," she said grabbing his hand and pulling him up. Braiden stood, and the little girl took hold of two of his fingers and propelled him forward with a tug.

He looked to Kasha, then down at Isabella, "This must be the smart Sha-Sha you've told me about," he said, giving Kasha as sideways glance.

Izzy bobbed her head, "Yep, this is my Sha-Sha," she said pulling Braiden towards her.

Braiden turned his gaze fully back to Kasha, taking her in. There was no doubt that this was indeed Dakasha Jones, but there were some remarkable differences in the woman standing before him and the one who he had left on this beach five years ago. She was thinner, still curvy but thinner than he had ever known to be. Her hair was long, nearly to her waist, and natural, well with the exception of maybe a relaxer, and it was its natural dark brown. A tiny scare sat just above her lip to the right, where once had been her lip piercing. Her face was more angular than he remembered, but that was probably due to the weight loss. Nevertheless, in spite of all the differences, one thing had not changed.

Her green shimmering eyes still spoke before the words left her mouth. "Braiden…I…had no idea," she stammered looking down at Izzy who was holding tightly to her new friends hand.

Braiden swallowed hard and took a step closer to her, "It's been a long time Kasha," he returned.

She nodded, "Yeah… a long time," she murmured, peeking up at him though her lashes.

"You know Sha-Sha?" Isabella asked staring up at the pair.

Braiden glanced down at the girl, "Once upon a time I did," he said feeling dazed by the surreal experience playing out before him.

Izzy's face cracked in a smile, "Like in a fairytale?" she asked sweetly. Braiden glanced up at Kasha then back down at the child, "Yeah, kind of," he replied quietly.

Dakasha stepped forward and took Isabella by the hand, "I'm sorry if she disturbed you, she can be quite the social butterfly," Kasha said with a small sigh.

Braiden shook his head, "She didn't disturb me at all," he replied.

"See, I told you he was my friend," Izzy said, looking up at Kasha, her free hand on her hip.

Braiden chuckled, "We have had some riveting conversations," he affirmed with a smile, then knelt down in front of her, "But you know what? We have yet to be properly introduced. My name is Braiden," he said sticking out his hand to the child.

Izzy giggle and stuck her smaller hand inside of his, "I'm Isabella Danijela Jones," she proclaimed.

Braiden's smile froze on his face, as confusion crept into his brain. 'Jones?' he wondered. He looked up at Kasha, who simply stared down at them with a blank expression on her face. "It's a pleasure to meet you Isabella," Braiden returned in a hollow voice.

For a long moment the little girl started at him, her head tilted to one side; then with a burst of energy, she sprang to life, running off toward the rocks, "Let's go eat sandwiches," she declared, following Scooter up the side of the rocks.

Braiden and Dakasha remained in place, as if rooted to the earth. Hesitantly Braiden brought is eyes to her face. He took in her profile as she watched Izzy climb over the out cropping. He swallowed hard and licked his lips, "She's delightful," he finally said.

Dakasha slowly turned her face to his, "Thank you," she simply replied. Braiden chewed his bottom lip, and mulled over his next question. He wanted to know everything; what she was doing now, what had her life been like the past few years, who was Isabella to her…did she ever think about him. He shook his head trying to untangle his thoughts, "How have you been?" he finally asked.

Kasha glanced out at the ocean, "Good, things are good," she answered, bring her eyes reluctantly back to his. "I…heard about your movie…and about the...ummmm…the expansion of your studio" she offered, "Congratulations, things seem to be going pretty well for you," she said meekly.

Braiden nodded, "Yeah, I guess...," he returned. "What about you…I mean…you look great. Life must be treating you right. What have you been up to?" he asked lamely.

Kasha cleared her throat, "Ummm…well I opened a dance studio with a friend a few years ago and uhhh…I have Izzy to look after, and she makes life interesting," she smiled and began walking toward the rocks. "How's your family? I hear great things about that little sister of yours," she asked, diverting the integration back at him.

Braiden started at her, 'She hiding something,' he thought. "My dad's great, you wouldn't recognize him. He's lost 60 pounds over the past year or so," he said.

Kasha nodded, "I heard about his bypass surgery. I'm glad he's okay," she said sincerely. "I hear Sophia is planning on following in her big brothers foot steps and take a swing at acting," she added, climbing up the rocky outcropping.

"She starts taping next month. I just hope she knows what's she's getting into," he said following her.

Kasha glanced over her shoulder at him, "Hollywood?" she asked.

He nodded in affirmation, "Yeah, Hollywood. It's not a place for the thin skinned," he replied, descending the other side of the rocks ahead of her. Reaching the bottom, he automatically held a hand out to her.

Pausing mid-step, she stared at his out stretched hand. Lifting her hand slowly she gingerly placed it in it, "Did Hollywood thicken your skin?" she asked breathily.

He shook his head, "No…it just wasn't for me," he returned softly.

She stared at him for a moment, an awkward silence floating between them. "How's Nadia?" she finally asked as she began picking her way down the remaining rocks, "And...ahh…Allison, I hear she's teaching at one of your studios," she asked. Reaching the bottom of the outcropping, she hopped down onto the sand, her hand still in his.

He started down at her intently, questioning her with his eyes. She swallowed nervously and pulled at the hand clasped in his, but he tightened his grip. Letting out a slow breath, Braiden asked the one question at the forefront of his mind, "How's Jakeem?" he probed unblinking.

Mouth falling open in a small 'o', she took in a startled breath. "He's uhhh….he's…," she muttered.

Just then, Isabella appeared at their side. She grabbed Kasha's skirt and tugged on it, "Sha-Sha…Can I have a cookie with my lunch?" she asked.

Pulling her eyes and her hand from Braiden's, Dakasha looked down at the little girl, "You may have one after you eat 2 carrot sticks," she instructed as she followed Isabella back to their picnic spot.

Braiden stood for a moment and watched as she walked across the beach, 'She's defiantly hiding something,' he decided. "You can't hide while looking me in the eye," he muttered softly to her retreating form. Turning he followed the two women across the beach, stopping to pick up his sandals and t-shirt. He looked over at Dakasha as she kneeled on her blanket peering down into her picnic basket. He slowly sauntered over, "Kasha?" he said softly.

Kasha licked her lips, but kept her head down. Silently she dug out two carrot sticks and handed them to Isabella.

He shook his head, "So where is your studio? What kind of dance do you teach?" he asked deciding to change tactics.

Looking out at the ocean, she avoided his eyes. "Isabella, how about we go and get burgers at Michael's instead of eating these old sandwiches?" she asked, giving hime a glace that clearly indicated her feelings about further conversation to him.

Braiden shook his head in irritation.

Izzy jumped up and down, "Over by the Ferris Wheel? Really!" she danced around excitedly.

Taking her eyes from his, Kasha redirected her attention to the little girl, "Yeah, today is our day off, lets eat out and save our sandwiches for lunch tomorrow," she answered.

The little girl ran to her and threw her arms around her neck. Placing her lips to Kasha's ear, Braiden watched as Izzy whisper something into it. "No, honey, I don't think he can. I'm sure he has lots of important things to do," she answered, peering out the corner of her eye at Braiden.

Izzy's bottom lip went out in a small pout, and she sighed. Turning in the sand she looked up at him, "I guess you don't have the whole day off from work like Sha-Sha hu?" she asked.

Braiden looked from her round face, to Kasha's, her eyes were set and flashed warnings at him. He nodded his comprehension to her, then turned to kneel in front of the Isabella, "You're right, I have to work. Actually, I still need to drive to where I need to be, so I can't stay and have lunch with you. But…I really appreciate you asking, and I've very much have enjoyed meeting you Isabella Jones," he said, with a quick glance up at Kasha.

Izzy sighed, "You are my new friend Braiden," she declared looping her arms around his neck in a quick hug.

Braiden froze for a second, but gently placed a hand on her small back in a hug.

"Maybe you will come to the beach again and we can go swimming?" Izzy asked her small hands still on his shoulders. Gazing down into her honey colored hazel brown eyes, his heart melted. "Yeah, maybe," he returned sadly.

Smiling, Izzy placed a small kiss to one of his cheeks. "You and me go swimming next time," she said, then slowly turned to back to Kasha who was busily packing her basket and shaking out her blanket.

Standing up, Dakasha looked down at Izzy and quickly over at Braiden, "You ready?" she asked, latching Scooter's leash to his collar. The small girl bobbed her head and took the dogs lead from her, and with one final wave, she and Scooter took off or the old gray staircase.

Dakasha looked at him out the corner of her eye, "It was nice to see you," she said quietly, "Give your family my best," she added, then turning she picked up her basket and followed after Isabella.

Getting up from his knees, Braiden jogged after her, "Kasha…" he called.

She paused for a second and glanced over her shoulder at him, "Bye Braiden" she breathed softly, then turning she head up the stairs.

He stopped at the bottom and watched her until she disappeared over the crest of the hill. His heart pounded in his ears, and his thoughts tumbled around in his head. He needed to know what she was hiding and why after all this time she was still running from him. "No, Kasha not this time," he muttered into the breeze. "No this time, you are going to tell me the truth," he vowed.

Twirling his keys around his finger, Braiden sprinted up the stairs, dialing his sister as he went. Jogging to his car he listened as her phone ran.

"Hey if it aint my prodigal brother? Where the hell are you?" came a surly voice on the other end. A smile jerked on his lips as he stuck his key into the door of his rented sedan, "I'm in Newport," he told her.

"Newport? Why?" she asked.

"Long story, but I'm on my way now. Hey can you do me a favor?" he asked.

"Only if you bring me salt water taffy," she bartered.

He chuckled, "Alright, fine," he agreed. Pulling open the car door, he climbed in.

"Okay what bidding do you have for me to do?" she asked the roll of her eyes evident in her voice.

Braiden grinned, stuck his key in the ignition and set the engine roaring to life. Rolling down the window he pulled into traffic, "I just need you to get me Norah's phone number…her cell," he declared. There was silence on the other end the line, "Sophia?" he asked glancing down at his phone to see if it was still connected.

"You haven't talked to Norah in years," his sisters stunned reply came.

Braiden rolled his eyes, "Will you help me or not?" he asked avoiding her attempt at prying.

"Okay…fine. I guess it's kind of nice to see you talking to your friends again. I'll call ya back with it," she said and disconnected the call.

Snapping his phone shut, he tossed it onto the seat next to him. "Dakasha Jones, you can run but you can't hide," he muttered. Pulling the sun visor down, Braiden settled into his seat and guided his car down Main St towards the freeway.