Dark Beach Read Online Free Page B

in her chair, enjoying the moment. “I could do this every day: warm butter, lobster, ah.”
    “What is it with this creature?” Ron put a juicy forkful of sweet lobster meat into his mouth, savored it, swallowed and then delicately dug for another. “I mean, why on Earth did people think they could ever eat this? Look at its claws and antennae? They look like mini-monsters—devil’s spawn. I guess it explains why this used to be food for the poor. Did you know it was used as fertilizer in some places?”
    Jenny sat up. “I’m eating fertilizer?” she deadpanned.
    “Yes.”
    “Over-priced plant food! Thanks for ruining the moment.” Jenny put her fork down and fixed Ron with an exaggerated frown.
    Ron took an even bigger bite. “Who knows what might be popular in ten, twenty, thirty years—dachshund?”
    “Now, stop.” Jenny pointed her fork at her husband, and he pointed his back, laughing.
    Kip, in the highchair next to her, giggled and went back to drowning her fries in a pool of ketchup.
    “Would you care for another glass of wine, sir?” The waiter stood between them. Disregarding the fork-duel, he gestured to the two half-full wineglasses on the white-clothed table.
    “Yes, yes. Same as before.”
    “And you, ma’am?”
    “Umm.”
    “Oh, honey, come on! Have a glass of wine. Enjoy yourself—we’re on vacation.”
    “Umm … well … okay.”
    “Good, two glasses. She’ll have what I’m having, it complements the crustacean.”
    Jenny sighed absentmindedly, thinking she’d have to pretend to sip it slowly.
    “What?” Ron asked.
    She composed herself. “Nothing.”
    “Come on, I can tell something is on your mind . Out with it.”
    “I have something to tell you.”
    “I knew it. I knew it! You’ve been too quiet today.”
    “I went to the doctor…”
    Ron’s cell phone vibrated. Jenny could hear it buzzing against the chair. She paused, then said, “Go ahead, you can answer.”
    “No. We’re at dinner. I don’t want to interrupt our first date out here.”
    The phone kept trilling, demanding attention.
    “God…” Ron opened it up. “It’ll be quick. I’ll be right back. I promise, honey. Promise.” Ron fumbled in his jacket pocket until he found the fancy electronic nuisance. “Hello?” he said, as he hurried away from the half-empty dining room and his beautifully dressed wife.
    “Wine, ma’am.”
    “Thanks.” She muttered under her breath, “I can’t believe he took the call.”
    “Excuse me, ma’am?” The young, dark-haired waiter tried not to seem interested, but his eyes frankly assessed the attractive, petite woman in striking blue before him. She looked too good to ignore.
    Jenny glanced up at him, thinking he looked as if he were genuinely sorry for her, which actually made her feel slightly better. She smirked slightly.
    “Can I get you anything, ma’am?” He paused a little too long, but waited patiently.
    “Yes. A dessert menu—that’ll do it.” She turned to Kip. “You want something sweet? I need something sweet,” then, under her breath, “with a hint of bitterness.”
    “We only have sweet, I’m afraid,” said the waiter, who must have heard her.
    “Fine, anything.”
    Jenny stared at the swollen girth of the wineglass before her, the light streaming through the clear, yellow liquid. She ran her finger along the edge, sensing the slight imperfection along its lip. Then she knocked it over. It splashed a topaz streak across the table and wine dripped down onto the tiled floor.
    “Oops.”
    No one had even noticed.
    The drive back to the beach house was silent . Ron was too distracted by the phone call; Jenny too relieved that his forgetfulness had prevented her from telling him her news. Kip was asleep in the back. She watched the sun dip down into the sky, sinking in oranges and pinks.
    “Do you want to see the jetty? I love the jetty.” Ron pressed his foot harder on the accelerator.
    “Now? But it’s windy and cold. What