ON THE BEACH

By Deyse

Roma helped Reilly with the last details of the sand castle they had been building up for the last hour; it wasn’t the most perfect sculpture in the world, it was true, but the little construction had all the details of a medieval castle and now mother and daughter were almost finishing their "work of art".

"Do you think uncle Johnny will like it?"

"Yes, of course he will, sweetheart! You did a great job here!" she encouraged her, enjoying the broad smile upon her meek face. And then, holding her straw hat, the actress looked around them a bit worried, "I just wonder if he could find a shop that sells the small flags you wanted to put on the towers..."

But her worries soon vanished as she saw a tall handsome man, with his short blond hair dishevelled by the wind walking towards them. He had a smile on his face and was carrying a small package. Some seconds later, he was together with them.

"Uncle Johnny did you bring my flags?"

"Yes, sweetie! The last detail to your castle is here!" he said, giving her the package containing lots of different coloured flags.

Roma watched her daughter’s excitement and then looked at the actor always moved by the great affection he had for Reilly, "What would be of my little one and me without you?"

Smiling, he winked at her and spoke, "I love you! You’re my favourite girls!"

"We love you, too, don’t we honey?"

"Oh yes. So much that I made a castle for us three!" the girl replied, finally finishing her pleasurable task.

"Wow! And we seem to have 2 princesses in this castle!"

"No, uncle Johnny, we can only have one! And that’s me!"

"Hey, what about your mom?"

"She’s the queen! And you are the king! Then you two can marry!"

They laughed at her conclusion and she straightened her body, "Wait! I can marry you! Uncle Johnny, take mommy’s hand..."

"Ok..." He happily obliged her, placing a tender kiss on the back of Roma’s hand; the couple exchanged an amused glance.

"Queen mommy, do you accept kind uncle Johnny as your husband?"

"Yes, I do..."

"King uncle Johnny, do you accept Queen mommy as your wife?"

"I sure do!"

"Ok, now you can kiss!" she happily announced, pleased to have her initial plan accomplished. The couple inched their faces closer to each other and shared a tiny kiss on the lips. Then, Reilly’s giggles echoed in the air, "Uncle Johnny’s face is red!"

"Yes, you’re right, sweetheart! It sure is!" Roma agreed, also laughing at the expression of her boyfriend’s face.

"Hey, that’s not funny!" John replied, with totally mock indignation. But his annoyance only served to make them laugh even more.

"And you look cute when you’re upset too, Johnny!" the actress spoke.

John crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at them with a serious look, "Well, since you’re so happy, I’ll give you two something else to laugh..."

Still laughing, but now also a bit scared, Roma and Reilly looked at each other and then the actress took the little girl by the hand, "Oh no! We have to get out of here!"

"Quick mommy, before he catches us!" they spoke and then started to run away from him. John stood up and followed the two, pretending to be doing everything to reach them but purposefully giving them an advantage, just for the pleasure to watch them so happy and hear their laugher.

But suddenly, the blond actor grabbed Reilly by the waist and lifted her in his arms, both him and Roma enjoying the little girl’s startled giggles.

"Now it seems that I just got one of them!!" he spoke, in a mock vengeful tone of voice.

Roma also pretended to be seriously worried, "Oh no! He caught my wee one! What am I going to do now!"

"Please, let me go!!" Reilly pleaded, but hardly controlling her laugher.

"Yes, please, let my little princess go!"

Pretending to be seriously considering their pleas, John looked at both of them with a pensive expression on his face. A second later, he nodded his head, "Ok, you’re free to go, little one!" he said, carefully placing Reilly on the sand. Then he stared at Roma mischievously, "Now, you..."

He grabbed the giggling actress by the waist and lifted her in his arms, "Now let’s see who laughs, ‘Miss Wings’!"

Realising that he was carrying her to the water, Roma tightened her hold around his neck, "Oh no! You’re not gonna do it!"

"You know something, honey? I’ve always thought that, if you weren’t an ‘angel’, you could be a mermaid!"

Saying that, he entered the still waters of that almost desert beach, as it was still early in the morning.

"John!"

Carefully, he went further in the water and both soon got wet. Reilly’s giggles were still echoing from behind them.

"Great, John! Now my hair is wet!!!" Roma complained, with a mock indignant tone in her voice, but not really mad at him.

He pressed a tiny kiss on her lips, "You look gorgeous anyway!"

At that moment, Reilly came from behind them and, with a little bucket, she poured all the water she could gather on John’s head, "Now everybody is wet!"

They spent a great time on the beach, and also gave little Reilly some swimming lessons. Roma looked at John’s smiling face and, with her eyes filled with love, she stroked his cheek, "Thank you so much..."

He took her hand and kissed her palm, "Am I forgiven for spoiling your hair style?"

"Well... I love you. Always. So... yes, I guess I can forgive you."

"Thanks, my queen! And... I’m not sure if I have told you this before, but... I love you too! Very, very, very much!"

And, happily, they shared a loving kiss.

The end