This one is a sequel to my Day 1 ficlet. Enjoy! -Akumu
CLAIREMBER 2022
Day 3 - motorcycles
"Well, that was fun." Claire stuffed the gift shop shirt and shorts she'd worn while the lakeside staff dried her and Chris's clothes into her Harley's tank bag. "Now how about that sushi?"
Chris was back in his jeans, blue button-up, and green vest. He had already packed his Lake George tourist attire and was working his fishing rod into the holder screwed to the side of his Aprilia.
"One second. There we go. Alright, a deal's a deal. Let's go get your fancy raw fish."
"I told you there are cooked options."
"Raw, cooked…none of it'll taste as great as that bass would have broiled with a pinch of dill."
"Especially after it slapped you like an ex-girlfriend."
Chris looked at the lake. "Next time we meet, I will have you on my grill. I swear it."
Laughing, they climbed on their bikes, slipped on their helmets, and took off.
Sato's Sushi King was located in the first strip mall (of sorts) on the right. It overlooked the lake and so offered a waterside back deck with tables and chairs for patrons. Claire ordered her usual Spicy Crunch Crab roll and got Chris a simple California roll. They claimed a table by the water.
As they ate, Chris watched the lake.
"Still plotting your revenge?" she asked.
Smiling, he shook his head. "No. I was thinking back when this was Punky's Ice Cream Shoppe. Every time we went to the lake, Mom and Dad stopped by here and got us all ice cream. Remember?"
"Oh, I remember alright. Especially the time you tricked me into throwing mine in the lake. You told me to share with the fish so I could make friends with them like Ariel. Dad was so mad he said, 'Next time I'm gonna share you with the fish!'"
"Hey, I didn't hear you complaining. Probably because you were too busy wolfing down that extra large chocolate sundae Mom got you to replace the small one you gifted the fish."
"I won't lie. It was an amazing sundae. All that extra syrup. Mmm-mm."
"I miss them," he said. "It's been seven years, but every time I go somewhere we used to go together as a family, it hits me all over again: they're gone. They're really gone."
She squeezed his hand. "Me too. But, they'd be proud of us and how far we've come. We've still got each other."
He squeezed back. "Yeah. You're right."
They finished their rolls and walked back to the bikes. As they climbed on and helmeted up, Chris said, "You know what I'm gonna do next time, to make sure I bag that bass?"
"What?"
"Give him a chocolate sundae."
"Oh, shut up."
