As they drove Cindy watched out the window, her new home wasn’t so different from the one she left. Only here it was all new to her eyes. So many new places and things to see and experience. Suddenly the ocean came into view. The car moved over the sand and she had the sudden urge to bury her toes in it.

Kim stopped with a smile at the expression on her face. The eagerness to explore someplace new, it was very girlish and sweet. Cindy had that way about her sometimes, he wondered how long she had been out on her own. When he opened her car door she nearly jumped out. Taking off her shoes right there leaving them in the car. Shrugging he did the same. Why not enjoy the moment with her?

Side by side they walked toward the water the only sounds the crashing of the waves. Cindy stood at the edge of the water taking in the site of the moon on the edge of the world. Or at least that’s what it seemed like.

The wave crawled back from the beach pulling sand with it. Looking down Cindy saw a shell being pulled back into the sea. Quickly stepping into the water she grabbed it. Rinsing the rest of the grains away she could see it was a soft pink scallop shell.

Moving back to the beach she sat in the cool sand. Kim sat next to her she gave him a soft smile and showed him the shell. "Pretty", he said.

Cindy laughed and he looked at her. "What?"

When she could breathe she smiled at him tugging his tie. "Pretty isn’t a word I imagined you using." She looked out at the moon over the water and sighed softly then grinned as she gave him a nudge. "It’s a pretty view, I’m glad you brought me here. Thank you. Not just for this but for dinner, the gifts, your mom watching Jake. It sounded like he’s taken right to her. This is the nicest birthday I’ve had in a long time."

Kim looked over at her turning the shell in her hands. "You’re very welcome. I kind of liked doing it all for you." Reaching over he took her hand pulling them both to their feet. "I bet we can find a few more of those for you to take home." As he picked up a couple of nice whole shells he found Kim glanced up. "Cindy, you really should get out more. You’re a wonderful mother but you need some time for yourself."

She stopped looking for shells and sat back in the sand. "You’re right. I know you’re right. It is kind of nice to be out and having big people conversation…. Adult conversation."

Sitting next to her Kim snickered. "I like big people conversation better. I think we have the same problem."

Cindy gave him a look. "The same problem?"

"Yeah, the same problem. We both have made one thing our total focus and have been willing to sacrifice everything for it. You it’s Jake. Me…well less my focus has been pretty selfish success, wealth, and all that goes with being a big name. I’ve watched you do without a lot to take care of Jake. You really are a good mum and he’s a great kid."

Cindy watched his expression as he spoke there was a bit of loneliness in his life too. "Thanks, that means a lot. I really do try to my best by him. Jake saved my life. You’re good at what you do, Kim. You have a gift for handling business. You’ll make your goals and I’m glad I get to be there to watch you do it."

A soft smile touched his lips as he realized he was glad she was there too. Something she said though rang in his ears. "How did Jake save your life?"

Standing she took his hand and pulled him up with her. Cindy walked into the water letting it lap her ankles. After Kim rolled up his pant legs he joined her. Taking a breath she looked out as they walked in the edge of the sea. "I was your typical rebellious teen. I would break curfew, go to parties, drink. I had some so called friends that were trouble. Well I was trouble with a capital T."

Absently Kim took her hand as they walked. "I can’t believe that. You getting into trouble?"

Nodding she gave him a sad grin. "Oh yeah big time. We vandalized a few places. Typical stuff painting them up, breaking windows, trashing them basically. One night we were all giggling drunk and broke into a store. Kind of like Barrett’s. Jen, one of the girls, and I tried on some clothes and jewelry. The police showed up arrested us the works. Something you need to know about my family. They are very religious."

With a shrug she looked at him and could see he was trying to picture her doing a bit of B&E. "Not that being religious is a bad thing. I’d like to find a nice church here. I still believe in God and the Bible. I try to teach Jake right. Hoping and praying that he won’t get mixed up with the crowds I did."

Kim stopped a moment to pick up a bit of old coral before it washed away. "I take it they were even angrier with you than the norm."

"Worse, this was the straw that broke the camels back. One of the guys and I were sixteen everyone else was fifteen or younger. So we were seen as the instigators. My parents chose that time to try tough love. They turned their backs and I went to the youth detention center for a year and a half."

"I was so angry at my parents for what they had done. I felt like they had abandoned me, they had. I needed punished but I was scared and alone. They came to see me five times in all those months. Every time was a lecture. I felt more and more abandoned. I tried to tell them and all I got in return was…." She changes her voice mocking her father’s. "Cindy, you didn’t make the right choices and this is where it led you. Now you must deal with the consequences."

Stopping she looked up at Kim. "He was right, I did make bad choices. But right then I needed a hug or a when you get done here it will be better." Shaking her head Cindy turns and starts walking again. "Anyway, the day finally came where I got to go home. Only it wasn’t home. It was another version of jail. I had to ask permission everywhere I went. Then they would take me and pick me up. I couldn’t go out with friends at all. No phone calls with out them listening to part of it to make sure I wasn’t plotting something deviant. I lasted three though three months of that before I left. I packed a bag called a guy I liked and took off. Same things happened I worked, partied, got into trouble. Until I really got into trouble."

Kim looked at her. "Jake?"

With a nod. "Yup, I told his father and he was all happy. Everything will be fine he said. I woke up the next morning to find his drawers and half of the closet empty. I called home. That was the ultimate sin. So I was on my own and have been ever since."

He stopped her taking both her hands not understanding how someone would not want Cindy or Jake. A parent not want their child or grandchild. "You haven’t heard from them at all?"

Tears began to well up but she blinked them back before he could see. It was too late he did see and it hurt his heart to know how alone she has been. Cindy nodded. "I started writing a letter once a month telling them where I was and what was going on. A few times I wasn’t in someplace very long so I didn’t put a return address on those. They never sent anything back or called to the addresses or numbers I gave them. At least not until today. I got a card in the post today, from my mom. She got the pictures I sent of Jake and hoped I would have a happy birthday."

Kim smiled. "Did you?" When she nodded trying to blink the tears away he gently drew her to him. The scent of her perfume and soft skin made him sigh. It was nice to hold her like this, he liked holding Cindy. Walking with her hand in his, the way she laughed at him. Kim admired her strength and courage to raise a child all by herself. He had to admit he liked being around Jake. He was a smart kid with a big heart, like his mother.

When she pulled away just a bit to say something Kim’s lips brushed hers before giving her a soft kiss.

TBC…