Downstairs Tim got the coffee pot ready to go. He splashed some more cold water on his face in an attempt to wipe the memory of Lucy grinding against him, grabbing his shirt, moaning in his ear. Was she asleep? If she was, then she could've been imagining someone else, and he just happened to be there.
"This is uncalled for" she stated as she walked into the kitchen. "We don't have to go to work, why can't we run at 10 am after we finish a pot"?
"Because everyone will have left for work by then and I want us to get out there and at least be seen by the neighbors". It was Thursday, so he wanted them to have as much exposure as possible before the weekend, hopefully they'll generate at least one invite to meet the neighbors.
Lucy lay her whole upper body down on the counter, arms splayed out.
"Let's go Boot" he smirked.
He was never gonna let that go, and she was just about done her training.
They walked out the back door, down the stairs right to the sand.
"Wow" Lucy exclaimed. The beach was mostly empty, but the sunrise, the cool air, the waves, it was the most beautiful place. They both stood a moment admiring the view, then Tim looked up and down the beach. He pointed up to a small area that jutted out pretty far north.
"Okay, lets go up to that point, turn around, then go all the way to that pier" he pointed south "then back here" and he began running backwards waiting for her to join him. It was an ambitious first run, seemed like 20 miles to Lucy.
Begrudgingly she followed, slow to start, taking in a deep breath of the fresh beach air. As they ran up the beach her pace quickened. They took note of each house, it was still early but as they saw people out in their balconies and decks they waved as they ran. Pretty soon their pace was equally matched. Tim started out slowing down to match her pace but her endurance was greater than his and now she slowed a bit to keep pace with him.
After they ran most of the way Tim slowed down to start walking the last bit back to the house.
"What's the matter old man? Tired"? She playfully ran backwards in front of him just as he'd done earlier.
He shook his head smiling and reached out his hand to her. Lucy's heart rate increased even more than the run had pushed it. She raised her eyebrows meeting his eyes. He flashed his towards the houses on their right and she got it. People would be up now, perhaps having coffee on their porches, decks and at their windows.
She reached out and took his hand, and moved beside him walking to match his pace, still breathing heavy from the run. He kissed the side of her head and interlaced their fingers holding her hand as they walked the last quarter mile or so.
From the outside they would've appeared just like any other couple walking the beach talking.
Tim was able to turn towards her to see the houses, making mental notes of anyone he saw outside as they walked down the beach.
As they got closer to their own home, they could both see the neighbor they'd seen the first night. She was outside throwing a ball for her dog but looking in their direction.
"What'd I tell you" Tim knew she'd be waiting for them. "Too bad we didn't take bets" he smiled.
Lucy laughed "Maybe she does this every day, you don't know".
"No, I know the type, she can't wait to be the first to let us in on all the gory details of the house's history".
"So jaded"! Lucy exclaimed.
"You wanna bet now"?
"Loser makes dinner" Lucy confidently stated.
"For a week" Tim ups the ante.
Lucy hesitated for just a second.
"Unless you wanna admit I'm right" he grinned
"Whatever, you're on, but she has to bring it up right now"
"Deal"!
They both were laughing as they got close to their neighbor. She was probably in her early 70s, she wore khaki capris, and a loose pale blue button down shirt, sweater wrapped around her shoulders. It was still early but she had full makeup on and her hair was perfectly in place. She waved at them, threw the ball for her Golden Retriever then walked towards them as well.
"Well good morning you two" she said, a slight southern accent making morning sound like mawnin. "Didn't get a chance to meet y'all yesterday, I'm Clara Hilbert" Hill-bear was how she said her last name as she held her hand out to Tim first. Lucy felt incredibly underdressed in her sweats, hair in a ponytail and not a lick of makeup on.
"Mornin" Tim said, gesturing to himself and Lucy he told her "I'm Tim Caswell, my wife Lucy". She shook both their hands.
"How are y'all settling in", she motioned to the house "those were the best movers I've ever seen, they had everything in before you even got there"!
"Oh just great" Lucy smiled at her.
Tim spoke up "Thought we'd get a run in before unpacking the rest, and the beach is so beautiful at sunrise".
"Oh yes, the sunrise and sunsets, it's why my husband and I chose this house 30 years ago" she went on "of course he passed away a few years ago and this house is really too big for one person but I can't bring myself to move away, I just love the area too much".
"Oh, I'm so sorry" Lucy turned to her.
Just then the dog brought his ball back, dropping it at their feet. "And who is this" Tim asked picking it up and looked to Mrs Hilbert for permission.
"This is Sam, and be careful" she exclaimed. "Do it once and he will never stop, you'll have a friend for life" she laughed. Tim threw the the tennis ball up the beach. Sam took off after it.
"So tell me, what brings y'all to Malibu" Clara asked.
"Well, we needed a change of pace from the San Francisco weather, I mostly work from home so we thought it would be nice to have some sun". He reached over put his hand on Lucy's back sliding it up and resting it right below her neck. She fought the shiver as his thumb lazily rubbed the space between her shoulder and her neck back and forth.
Mrs. Hilbert watched Tim, smiling. Lucy'd seen that look before on a lot of women when they were on patrol. Tim seemed oblivious most of the time. He acknowledged it once when a fortune teller blatantly came on to him, telling Lucy it was just the uniform. It wasn't. It clearly wasn't.
They chatted a bit about the weather, Tim told her he was working under contract for the military, keeping it vague on purpose as he would if he actually had that job. For a few minutes he began to think maybe he misjudged her, and he was going to have to cook all week and then it happened.
"So I assume the realtor told you what happened here". She began in a hushed voice. Sam came back and lay at their feet holding his tennis ball.
Tim resisted the urge to smile at Lucy, knowing he'd won.
"He told us the family had left and the house was vacant for some time until they'd decided what to do"
"Not left, they disappeared one night". She exclaimed "I had just spoken to them that day and they didn't mention anything about a trip". Before she could go on, the phone at her house rang.
"I'm expecting a call, but why don't y'all come join me for dinner tomorrow night, I'll tell you all about it. I've got a few neighbors coming to make final plans for our Memorial Day neighborhood party next weekend" she started back up to the house, Sam stayed at Tim's feet watching her. "Y'all come by about 7, I won't take no for an answer, come on Sam"!
As she quickly walked up the steps to her house Sam ran after her passing her and running into the house.
"Look on the bright side boot, that's one less meal you have to cook" he grinned at Lucy as she rolled her eyes at him, playfully pushing him. He slid his hand down her back leading her back to the house, this time she let the shiver happen, and leaned into him as they walked, putting her arm around his waist he pulled her closer to him, and they walked that way until they got to their own stairs. Both enjoying the way it made them feel and neither of them admitting it.
