Free Summer's Passing by Randy Mixter

sky and faced Beckie. "Let me ask you something. Does it feel to you like we just met?"
    "No, it doesn't," she said without hesitation.
    "It doesn't to me either."
    Now she faced me. "Why is that?"
    "I don't know. Do you really need an answer?"
    "No, I don't need an answer. I will take another beer though."
    I opened one and handed it to her. Rebecca turned to the pastel sky, but I continued to look at her; she was more beautiful than any sunset, seen or imagined.

19
----
    The rent on the pier house shared by Beckie and April had been prepaid through August. According to Beckie, April felt guilty about her departure and paid an advance as a going away present. The gesture also included some cash for food.
    "I guess she felt sorry for me, being between jobs and all," Beckie added.
    I wanted to ask her how she planned to survive the summer, but she beat me to the punch.
    "I had planned on asking for my job back, but then there was the accident. I guess they’ve hired someone else by now."
    "I think any job would be out of the question, right about now," I added.
    "I want to start paying my keep. It's not fair for you to have to support me," she said.
    We were on a blanket on the beach. I had found a large beach umbrella and a couple of canvas beach chairs in the closet. It was a beautiful July afternoon, but this section of the beach was mostly deserted. A good city block away, a woman read a book. That was about it.
    "First off, the food bill isn't much higher than if I had the place to myself. Secondly, my father's footing the bill for the summer; so far, anyhow," I said.
    "But you were probably going to get a part-time job or something, right?"
    "No, I came here to write a book."
    "You must have one great father."
    "Yeah, can't complain. My parents have plenty of money though, and I did well in college. They owe me three months of solitude at least."
    "And you got me instead," Beckie added.
    "Yeah, so much for peace and quiet." I'd no sooner said it than she gently smacked my arm.
    "You're supposed to contradict me when I say something like that."
    "Sorry." I added. 
    Thankfully, Beckie changed the subject. "As soon as my leg heals a little more, we'll go back there and pick up my animals. I don't think there's anything else left behind."
    "Speaking of your leg healing." I pointed to the crutches on the blanket. "It's about time for some exercise."
    "What's with you, anyhow? I should have stuck with Evelyn. That was only twice a week."
    "Speaking of the therapist, I couldn't help but notice you two were on better terms yesterday," I said.
    "We've come to a truce of sorts."
    "And what might that be?"
    "I keep my mouth shut."
    "And her side of it?"
    "It's just me keeping my mouth shut. Now let's get this exercise over with."
     
    We walked in the packed down sand near the surf; it was still hard going for Beckie on the crutches. I discovered after the first few days of my contribution to Beckie's therapy that I'm not cut out for the job. The slightest show of pain and I'd begin to slow things down and go easy. Beckie was undoubtedly smart enough to realize this and laid it on thick, moaning and groaning with even the slightest of physical activity. This was no exception. 
    "Why the sand?" She asked when we were barely a twenty feet up the beach. 
    "As I've told you before, it's either this or the Port Grace Park. If memory serves, the last time we tried the park you complained about the drive, there and back."
    "I'm sorry. I complain. It's a bad habit I'm trying to break."
    "Try harder," I added.
    The rubber tip of her left crutch found my foot as she hobbled along next to me.
    "Ow! Be careful where you're walking!" I said loudly enough to draw the attention of the woman who was reading nearby.
    "Oops. Sorry," Beckie said, but the grin on her face gave me the impression she didn't mean it. "You're falling behind. Monroe. Hup! Hup!"
    I limped behind her as she exhibited a rare and short-lived burst of speed. Not long after,