Fun at the beach? Or is this an interrogation?
Edit on 24-08-2020 to fix what google translate broke... take it from me don't try cheating. Sorry guys. And thanks to Nanard for pointing out I missed some stuff.
When they arrive at the beach, Molly throws a ball, which she somehow also had with her, towards the water, and Luna jumps into the water after it.
Molly falls into the sand and waits for Jim to sit down too.
"Do you really want to ignore Chris all the time now?" she simply asks into the blue.
"I beg your pardon?" comes the stuttering answer. "I'm not ignoring her, but I'm here to work. And that means being careful and making sure nothing happens to you." Jim is almost a little proud of his, in his opinion, perfect answer.
"And the next time Chris comes jogging with us, that's not a problem?"
"Of course, that's not a problem. She seems to be part of your life, so my boys will be able to deal with that."
"So you're avoiding her. Why?" Jim curses a bit that Molly asks so persistently, and he is desperately looking for a way out, which then happens to fall at his feet in the form of a wet dog.
Luna storms towards the two of them and stops with her ball in front of Street and shakes herself.
At first, Jim looks at Luna in astonishment, but when the young dog drops the ball between his feet and looks at him with wide eyes, he gratefully accepts the invitation and walks with her a little bit across the beach.
He can hardly explain why the situation with Chris went like it did.
Molly watches Jim and Luna in silence for a while, then pulls her phone out of her pocket and records a small video. As soon as she starts the recording, Luna starts to jump for the ball, and Jim loses his balance. Molly laughs heartily and ends the video.
She'll send it to Chris later, who was actually right. Luna would warm up and play with the new personnel.
Molly's thoughts stick with her friend. She had refused to come jogging with them and cited the work in her apartment, but Molly had the dull feeling that everything was not all right between the two of them.
What had happened last year? Her last impression had been that the two were inseparable and best friends.
Molly leans on her elbows and whistles once. Luna comes straight to her, and Jim slowly trots after the dog up the beach.
"You don't happen to have a towel with you?" he asks while using his fingers to keep his wet hair out of his face.
"No, I'm sorry." Molly smiles back. "But we can buy one up there; I'll go quickly."
While she buys a towel at the small beach kiosk, she thinks about how to get the topic back to her questions. And do it as sensitively as possible. An idea has settled deep in her heart what could have happened, but she really can't just ask that. Jim would never answer that directly, especially not if the questions come from her.
"Here," she finally hands him the towel and waits for him to wrap it around himself.
"May I ask another question?" Molly continues talking cautiously.
Jim rubs his hair dry and nods, although he does not know what's coming. A 'no,' however, would be impolite.
"Owen said this morning that he wouldn't let his specialist refuse to come this time. Can you explain to me what he meant by that? Were you too busy or really didn't want to come to LA? "She sees it right on Jim's face. That's not the question he was expecting, but definitely not one that he wants to answer either.
Jim hangs his head and is silent for the time being until a cold nose nudges his hand. When he lifts his head, he can feel Luna's tongue on his cheek and suddenly has to laugh.
"Thank you," he wipes the slobber off his cheek.
"She feels that something is bothering you, and she seems to like you after some initial difficulties," notes Molly and watches intently how Luna behaves. The Labrador curls up in front of Jim and rests its head on his knee.
Street sighs deeply and looks up at the sky.
"I didn't want to come to LA, actually never again," he whispers, almost inaudible while he seems a little desperate and Molly believes he is struggling with tears.
She puts a hand on his arm. "I didn't mean to upset you. You don't have to explain it to me. Sorry."
"It's not your fault that this city doesn't hold the best memories for me. And actually, I still have to apologize to you. You didn't deserve what I did. Can you forgive me?"
He looks at her with big eyes, and Luna nudges his hand repeatedly to collect pats. Unconsciously, Jim begins to stroke the already dry fur and calms himself down.
"Jim, that was over a year ago. I was never angry with you. Would I have wished for more explanation? Yes, but in the end, it was better that way than in a big fight. And I can understand if you don't want to tell me what made you leave in the end. I was just amazed when my father mentioned it. Your friends would surely have loved to be there for you after your mother's death. "
As soon as Molly has finished the sentence, Jim stands up abruptly and says brusquely, "We should go back."
Molly gets up cautiously and tries to calm Luna down. The almost terrified reaction from Jim had also upset the young dog a bit, and now she was jumping back and forth between the two of them, barking.
She briefly ponders whether to protest, but Molly nods and walks back towards the apartment complex in silence.
Just before they reach the park in front of the house, Jim reaches for Molly's arm.
"Molly," he looks down and sees Luna standing next to him, cocking her head. He takes a deep breath. "I, I'm sorry. But I have a hard time talking about that time."
"It's okay, I see. Maybe you can ... with Chris ..."
"No, it would be better not to do that."
Jim's expression is petrified, and Molly realizes that something serious must have happened.
"Ok, listen, I don't want to argue with you, but if you are here longer with your team, you will probably also take on shifts. Chris is part of my life, and I, just like Luna, would miss her if we had to change our routines." Molly sees the grimace, and Jim's shoulders hang.
"You won't have to limit yourself. I'll have to revise the schedule anyway, and then we can also take that into account ."
He says it as professionally as he can and if the solution would be simple, but Chris, the friendly neighbor, has completely jumbled his schedule. How should he solve this without his team having questions?
Today he would have to bite the bullet. But first thing tomorrow, he would write a new plan on the grounds that only accepted bodyguards were allowed to be with Luna and Molly.
Although Jim knew with a look at the Labrador, it wouldn't be difficult. Anyone who does not use the word leash and plays with her a little bit would be the animal's new best friend.
They reach Molly's door, and Luna walks purposefully to the end of the corridor. He searches Molly's eyes, slightly confused.
Jim is amazed that Molly only smiles and doesn't even try to call her dog over.
His wrinkled eyebrows show that very clearly.
"She's going to say goodnight. Normally Chris would have jogged with us, but she still has to say goodbye." Molly explains the situation as if it is the most natural thing ever. "If you don't knock, Luna will do it herself."
While Molly is still talking, Luna jumps to the door and barks twice.
Jim watches how shortly afterward the door opens, and Chris strokes the Labrador's head.
"Well, did you have fun, Luna?" Chris asks and looks for Molly, but her eyes land on Street, whose hair is still sticking out in all directions.
She suppresses a smile and whispers in the dog's ear. "I can see that your mom has opened up. That's a good thing." As she stands up, she says aloud, "Well, let's go home then."
Molly raises her hand in greeting and forms the words "We'll talk tomorrow" before going into her apartment.
Jim stands a little perplexed in the hallway until his employee comes out of Chris' apartment and informs him that everything is ready for the night shift and that a team is already with the client.
Chris leans in her doorway with his arms crossed and waits until the colleague has left.
After Jim has given the last instructions, he slowly walks towards the still open apartment door.