Sea Glass and Sea Kisses
A Second Chance Summer Romance...
Seashells. Funny how a such a simple, yet intricate work of nature can evoke such emotion. As I walk along the southernmost tip of the New Jersey shore, I let my grandma reside in my head as she often does. My grandma and I used to walk these very beaches, searching for shells to study. Some we’d toss back on the beach and some we’d scoop up and bring home to place in the large ceramic bowl at her seaside home.
I spot a piece of faded foam green sea glass and reach for it. I run my finger against the smooth, soothing surface and feel the calming energy that can only come from nature course through me.
“It’s something, isn’t it?”
I jump at the sound of a man’s voice coming from behind my left shoulder. “I’m–sorry, you startled me.” I say the words as I turn to face the source of the intrusion.
“The sea glass.” He reaches and gently removes the rounded curves of the glass from my palm. I startle at the feel of his hand brushing against mine.
“Excuse me?” I say, looking up to take in the cool green of his eyes. Funny, the green of his eyes isn’t all that different from the sea glass he holds.
“The glass. What was once rough is now polished, smooth, mature.” His deep voice hugs the last few words and I gulp.
There’s something familiar about this man. Just out of reach, but hanging there, almost close enough to touch.
“Do I know you?” I tear my eyes from the glass he’s still running his thumb across to his full height.
“Do you?” He chuckles softly.
“That’s what I’m asking.” I straighten my back and search my mind for why this stranger on the beach tickles my brain. It’s not his physical appearance so much as his energy, I realize. His presence, if that makes sense.
Before I can weed my mind any further, I feel his warm hand close over mine, the cool glass the only thing between our hands. He presses the glass back into my palm and steps back.
“I didn’t get your name, but it was nice meeting you.” His gaze drifts to the small boy and woman approaching from down near the entrance to beach. The sand dunes dance in the wind and I feel my chest heave. This handsome man is taken, it’s really no surprise. But for a moment, just a brief, beautiful moment in time, I thought the energy between us was contagious.
“Josie, nice to meet you as well.”
“Jacob, but you can call me Jake. Pick some good ones for me, huh?” He nods toward the seashells scattered beside my bare toes.
He waves a hand toward the woman and child and then scurries away. Too bad, I think. He’s not only attractive, but I could have sworn there was something more tying us together. I mentally cut the invisible fragile thread connecting us in my mind.
***
Later, as I fall asleep, I see Jacob’s face just as I’m drifting off to a restless slumber. I know him, I know him, I know him.
Upon waking, I instantly know. He’s Jake Tyrell, the boy I used to crush on when I came down here for a few weeks each summer to visit my grandparents. Jake had lived around the corner from my grandparents. until about the beginning of high school, and then he and his family had moved out of town. I can’t believe I’ve forgotten him.
But I haven’t, I think, not really. The devilishly attractive boy has grown into a rugged, handsome man. But not my man, my thoughts remind me in a taunting way.
I gather my things and shower quickly. I have one more day before weekend is over and ever since I moved to this delicious childhood spot by the sea, I take advantage of every beautiful day by walking the beaches whenever I can.
As I walk down the wooden path that brings me closer to the sound of the crashing waves, I pretend not to sweep the area for Jake. I make it down to the wet sand and freeze. I suck my breath in as I see a man approaching from the beach to the south.
It’s him.
Look casual, I tell myself. Just a girl taking a walk by ocean, searching for shells and sea glass. But I remember that kiss, even though it was decades earlier, I’ll always remember.
The kiss took place, right here on this very beach. I’ll never forget–we stood by the end of the sea path and he pulled my hand down to sit within the tall dunes. Ever so gently, he had placed a hand on my chin and lowered his full lips to mine.
“You okay there?”
Darn, he did it again. “Don’t scare me like that,” I say as I spin around.
He’s close, closer than I thought. I bump right into him and feel the heat claim my neck, my cheeks.
“I remember.” Jake speaks softly and I feel my heart skip. “Josephine.”
It was how he had referred to me back then. He was the only one I had allowed to use my full name. I hated it. He had loved it.
I swallow hard and force my eyes away before they divulge my secrets.
“Yes, I remember too.” It’s all I can manage.
“Can we– can I call you?” He asks, those burning green eyes full of hope and something a bit more sinister.
“I– what about your wife?”
He scrunches his nose and cocks his head to the left. “My wife?”
“Yes, the woman and child yesterday on the beach.”
He laughs. He actually has the nerve to laugh.
I place a hand on my hip and bite down hard on my lip. There are no words.
“That, my dear Josephine, was my friend’s wife and daughter, calling me back to the rental we all share.” He gives me a moment to comprehend his words. “For dinner.” He pauses once more. “I rented a house with friends. I’m single.”
“Oh.” I’m a fool.
“For now,” Jake says with that devilish grin.
I laugh and poke him in the belly.
“Are you?”
“Am I what?” I ask.
“Single? I wouldn’t want to assume anything, you know.” He laughs and I recall the easy banter we shared as kids.
“You could say that, yes.”
Jake glances in the direction of the sea path and then takes my hand. He leads me to the spot that began our journey. I feel the spark of energy and know it’s also the place that will seal a bit of our destiny.
“Do you remember?” He asks.
As if I could forget. I nod, and he pulls me down to the spot by the dunes. I feel his hand on my chin before he even places it there. The past replays itself as I melt into his embrace, his soft lips brushing mine gently at first, but then with more urgency.
I catch my breath and look at him. He looks at me, and I know what he’s thinking. Some things, like a fine wine, and sea glass, get even better with time.
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I love how the present mirrors the past! Sweet story 💞
I enjoyed this short romance very much!