A Day at the Beach

Chapter 1

Nicolette, Dom and their four-year-old son, Jacob, were up and getting ready a lot earlier than they had been on the first six days of their holiday. As Dom worked hard to blink his eyes open whilst looking out the hotel window over the still sleeping town he observed that the morning haze hid any evidence that the coming day was supposed to be "lovely and sunny" as Nicolette suggested.

'Are we sure this is worth it?' he asked, 'It doesn't look promising.'

'That's because you're always asleep at this time of the morning,' Nicolette replied as she packed the beach bag, 'That mist will clear by eight o'clock. You'll see.'

'I'll see if I can keep my eyes open,' Dom yawned.

'Do you want another day like yesterday and the day before?' she asked.

'No,' he replied, with faux spoilt-brattishness. For the past two days he had awoken "early for a holiday day" whilst Nicolette had been entertaining Jacob in the other room as quietly as possible. He then got up, showered, they headed to the breakfast buffet and eventually reached the beach by around 10am, by which time almost every patch of sand had been occupied by tourists and locals.

The need for a new strategy was inspired by a portly family the previous day who had planted a neighbouring towel and eaten hotdogs non-stop. It wasn't the smell that was the problem—that fitted with the seaside ambience—it was the unending sound of lip-smacking mastication. For hours on end, Dom's inner voice was on a loop saying, If it's so much that you can't close your mouth then maybe put in a little less, next time? Hmmm? By the time enough was more than enough, Jacob had constructed a community of sandcastles with his new bucket and the idea of getting up to find another space wasn't an option.

'Then don't complain,' Nicolette said and, with a hint of patronisation, patted Dom on the bottom to encourage a more positive attitude.

'I'm not complaining, just seeking confirmation that I'm breaking my oath to have a solid week of Lying in For Once for a reason!' and, by way of retort, gave her a warning prod in the waist. Nicolette squeaked and jumped and her beautiful, bright smile flooded the room.

Dom loved that smile but the way in which he got it always came with a pang of unpleasantness, ever since the night he and Nicolette had drunkenly shared details of their past relationships. One of the principles they had developed early on, having learned lessons from past relationships, was that openness and honesty were paramount. They never lied to each other. This principle, however, had its pitfalls as he discovered when he asked her who was the best she'd ever had and, in a moment of candid thoughtlessness, she immediately responded, 'Probably my ex. The one with the tickling fetish.' It only took her a microsecond to see the reaction on his face and prompt the caveat, 'But you first! Miles ahead of anyone else! I thought you meant: "after you, who was the best?"...!'

But the damage had already been done. He didn't know, or want to know, anything more about the one with the tickling fetish. All he knew was that, from then on out, he had the in-built compulsion to prove himself at every moment and sex from then on had featured an element of competitiveness with her past. He also felt compelled to be the one to prove that only he could tickle her now but whenever he did, he knew that it didn't come naturally to him and so he probably wasn't doing it right. Whatever "right" is, in that freaky tickling fetish world. Still, he was the one who was married to her! She hadn't done that with anyone before! And now, she was his.

She cocked her head, seeing that he was thinking something that wasn't in-line with the holiday mood. He noticed her concern and his expression softened. She was beautiful. More beautiful than he could have wished for as a younger man: 5'3" and a curvaceous size 10, with long, wavy auburn hair, light brown eyes, Maltese olive skin and that killer smile. Right now, her electric blue bikini was visible through her loose chiffon beach shirt and rainbow sarong.

He was about to get turned on when she asked, 'You okay?'

'Yeah. Just... I love you.'

'Aww!' she was about to kiss him when they were interrupted by an impatient Jacob.

'Beach time!' Jacob demanded.

'Okayyy!' Nicolette said in a manner to match his enthusiasm. She slipped her flip-flops on, picked up the beach bag and turned to Dom, 'Breakfast buffet?'

Dom was in the middle of idly scratching the pale skin of his middle-aged spread and sucked it in. 'No,' he said, 'let's pick something up on the way.'

— — — — —

In the mini-mart next to the hotel, Dom stood at the counter as the young cashier rang up their picnic items. The total was rising faster than at any other supermarket he'd ever been to.

'I want ice cream!' Jacob said.

'No...' Nicolette responded.

Jacob considered. 'I would like an ice cream!'

'Very good! But you can't have ice cream before breakfast!' Nicolette replied.

'Not now. After sandwiches.'

'Maybe later,' Nicolette said, 'We can't buy them now, they'll melt by lunchtime.'

'Maybe later, or promise later?' said Jacob, looking up at her with pupils that seemed bigger than his irises.

'Okayyy! I promise!' Nicolette said.

Jacob twirled and returned to his task of spinning the rotating rack of sunglasses until a pair flew off. Nicolette caught them before they hit the floor.

'Good catch,' said the young man behind the till in a manner that was a little too suave for Dom's liking. Nicolette smiled in response. Although not a flirtatious smile, Dom felt the need to remind the young man of his presence and edged between their eyelines as he pushed his credit card into the terminal and typed his number into the keypad.

He the turned on the spot, said to his family, 'Let's go!' and gave an assured nod to the cashier as they left. The cashier nodded back with a cocky smirk that Dom didn't appreciate.

Nicolette had been correct, the morning mist had made way for the sun. Jacob insisted on standing between them and holding one hand of each parent as they crossed the main strip that overlooked the beach. As they neared the edge of the strip and more of the beach was revealed to them, their walking slowed -- it was more packed than yesterday.

'Do you think everyone else heard your plan?' asked Nicolette, deadpan.

Dom looked at her, slack-jawed.

Jacob was unaware of any reason for pause and dragged them all the way down the stone stairs to the beach. The hubbub of chatter, accompanied by the distorted bass-line of R&B being played on a speaker a little way off was far from relaxing. 'It's not even 9am!' Dom said. At that moment a group of teens switched on a huge bluetooth speaker and blared out inane chart music, apparently oblivious to the level of discord it caused as it competed with the auto-tuned R&B track. Nicolette laughed at the irony of it all but Dom was forlorn. 'I can't do this,' he said.

Jacob tugged them through the obstacle course of towels, parasols and glistening bodies to the shore and Nicolette looked up and down the coastline. She saw some cliffs in the distance. 'What about there?' she said.

Dom followed her gaze, 'Yep!' he replied, without hesitation. They picked up their flip-flops and made a game of the walk for Jacob's benefit as they splashed through the surf and towards the cliffs.

The crowd dissipated as they walked. After about 45 minutes the last group they came across was a bunch of twenty-somethings who were already breaking open cans of lager and listening to their own selection of booming rave music, which seemed to be causing a hyperactive adolescent Rottweiler to bark without pause. One of them wolf-whistled. Dom glanced sideways at Nicolette and felt proud -- as usual, she didn't give it any sign of recognition.

Whilst there was no shortage of space, Nicolette agreed with Dom's urge to keep walking until the music was completely inaudible.

'Let's stop now,' said Jacob.

'Just a little further,' said Dom, 'Maybe round those cliffs there might be a place to find crabs!'

'Yay!' Jacob cried and ran off ahead.

As they rounded the first cliff they found a delightful, picturesque cove. The high slate-coloured walls were topped with trees and long grass. There was the sound of nothing but seagulls and the waves that echoed surreally off the curve of the cliff, which continued into the sea and sheltered them from the strong sea breeze. They couldn't walk any further if they had wanted to. Nicolette and Dom looked at one another and sighed blissfully.

'Crads!' shouted Jacob as he surveyed the rock pools at the cliff edge.

Nicolette smiled at Dom, 'You've got a task, Crad Finder! I'll get the picnic stuff ready.'

Nicolette walked further into the cove, laid down the picnic blanket and three towels then arranged the food -- sandwiches, drinks and fruit salad. She then took some time to observe as Dom and Jacob hunted for crabs in the rock pools. After some time she called 'Food is ready!' in a manner deliberately intended to stoke Jacob's enthusiasm.

His attention immediately switched, he dropped his bucket and hurtled towards her. Dom shrugged as their hard work scuttled out of the bucket and straight back into the rock pools. Nicolette laughed. Dom then strolled up to join them, 'Had enough of crab hunting, then, Champ?'

Jacob nodded, his face full of cheese sandwich. 'Drink lots of water, Jacob,' said Nicolette and encouraged him by racing to drink her own bottle. He tried to keep up but Nicolette's comical expression made him laugh and spurt water everywhere. She kept up the joke, enjoying his amusement, until her bottle was empty. 'I win!' she cheered.

Dom slumped down onto his towel and laid down, pulling Nicolette into the same position. They gazed into each others eyes for a moment. 'Sun cream!' Nicolette said as she recalled that they hadn't put any on since they left the hotel.

She struggled to put sun lotion on Jacob as he ate his sandwich with one hand and used his little spade to dig a hole with the other, sending wet sand high into the air and showering back down onto Dom. Nicolette laughed again.

Dom dusted himself off, 'What's the plan?'

'I want to dig a big hole!' Jacob replied.

Dom stood up, 'That might take a while with that spade.' He stepped over, got down on his knees and helped dig at the sand whilst Nicolette lotioned his back. He winked a thank you. After completing work on her boys, Nicolette sat on the towel, took a drink of water, popped open the sunblock and began lotioning herself.

Dom reached down deep until he'd completed a narrow hole and the sand was so sloppy and wet that it kept falling in on itself. He knelt back and looked at Jacob, 'What now? Want me to bury you?'

Jacob shook his head adamantly and then pointed at Nicolette, 'Mummy.'

'Good idea!' Dom said and looked to Nicolette who had just finished putting lotion on her face and neck and wasn't paying attention.

She caught them looking at her. 'What's that, now?'

'Into the hole, Mummy! Jacob's orders!' said Dom.

'Oh, really?' Nicolette said with mock protest. Jacob nodded enthusiastically. Nicolette tied her hair up into a bun and took off her beach blouse and sarong. She stepped over.

'Get in!' said Jacob.

Nicolette jumped in and the wet sand covered her flip-flops. She found herself only as deep as mid-thigh level. Jacob shook his head, 'Sit in it!'

'Sit? Okay...' she clambered out and analysed the hole, 'It's a bit narrow!'

Dom stood to help her. 'Here,' he said, taking her hands and helping her to lower herself. Eventually they got to a point of no return, Nicolette laughed as Dom struggled to keep hold of her and she slipped from his grasp. She put her hands down and slid awkwardly into the hole, sending her feet up high and accidentally sitting on her hands. Jacob clapped with delight.

Dom smiled as he looked down on his wife, 'Are you okay?'

'Yeah! I specialise in making these things look dignified(!)'

Dom and Jacob knelt down and swiftly filled in the sand on top of Nicolette's body. As Dom watched her blue bikini disappear from sight, he felt his libido kick in and looked her in the eye. She knew what that look meant and responded with a look that indicated he would have to wait until tonight, then felt the surprising weight of the sand as it gradually pinned her into place, with just her head and flip-flopped feet above ground level. Dom packed it down as much as he could and then smoothed out the surface. 'What are we going to do with all that spare sand, Jacob?'

'Sandcastles!' Jacob cried and ran over to get his favourite bucket. Nicolette watched happily as Dom and Jacob got to work building a masterpiece of sand architecture over Nicolette's midsection which was eventually so high that it hid her own feet from her view.

Dom stood back to admire their work, 'We're getting there, I think. This will be one for the Instagram collection when we're done! What do you say, Jacob?'

'Ice creams!' Jacob replied.

'Not exactly the response I was looking for...' said Dom. 'We can't have ice creams now, Jacob. There aren't any shops here.'

Jacob looked to Nicolette, crushed. 'But Mummy promised!'

Nicolette saw the upset in her son's eyes and felt her heart begin to break, 'Yes, I did...' she looked at Dom.

Dom rolled his eyes, 'Well, we'd better pack up then!' He knelt in order to dig Nicolette out of the hole.

'No!' Jacob exclaimed, 'We need to finish! But ice creams first.'

Predicting the impending debate, Nicolette spoke in a low tone to Dom, 'Just take him. I'll be fine.'

'And leave you like this!? That would be ridiculous!'

'Well, we're on holiday, and I feel like being a bit ridiculous! Look, there's no-one about, I'm in the shade of the cliffs and I'm actually quite comfortable.'

'What about the tide?' Dom questioned.

'You can tell by the marks on the cliffs that the tide doesn't come this far up the beach. Besides, the tide's going out. Go on, take my purse and just do it. The quicker you go, the quicker you can come back and finish of your Instagram marvel!' she flashed her perfect smile.

Dom contemplated and looked at Jacob, whose bottom lip was trembling, 'Come on then! But let's be quick!' Jacob skipped in circles as Dom picked up his phone and the purse and they headed down the beach. He turned back to Nicolette and called, 'Are you sure...?'

'Yes!' she called back, 'Just bring me back a Raspberry Ripple!'

She watched as Dom tried to contain Jacob's excitement, having to stop him from running in the wrong direction. Eventually, they turned the corner and were out of sight. Nicolette sighed and relaxed. The warm ocean breeze and the sound of the waves eventually caused her to nod off...

— — — — —

Nicolette woke with a start. She had no idea how long she had been dozing. If it had been five minutes, her husband and son would still be gone a long time. If it was an hour, they would hopefully be back soon.

It occurred to her that she should play it safe and get out. They could always bury her again and build more castles, but she wanted to call Dom to know when they would be back and then she realised why she had woken up so sharply. 'Hmm... Shouldn't have had all that water at once...'

She tried to shuffle but the sand had settled even further and almost felt like it had set. She couldn't move any part of her body apart from her head and feet. Just then she noticed movement at the far end of the cove and felt relief. They were back!

Oh... No they weren't. She began to grow concerned as she very quickly made out the hyperactive Rottweiler from further down the beach. 'Oh, God. Please say he's not on his own...' she murmured to herself.

As if in response, the silhouette of a man rounded the corner and threw a stick for the dog. As the dog chased after the stick the man seemed to stop in his tracks as he noticed the empty picnic setup and started to walk closer. 'Hello...?' Nicolette called, 'Oh, at last! Can you help me please?'

The man got closer -- a fit, handsome man in his late twenties with a jarhead haircut and a healthy tan. He wore a pair of surfing trunks and an unbuttoned white shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

'I thought I was seeing things,' he said. 'What's up?'

'Can you help me please?' she said, squinting up at him and smiling hopefully.

'What happened? How did you end up like this!?'

'Oh, my husband and son thought it would be fun to bury me and build sandcastles on top. But then my son wanted ice-creams so they paused half-way through the project and went to get some.'

'And left you like this!?'

'Yes. I know. A bit silly really but it's my fault -- I insisted.'

'And you can't get out?'

'No,' she replied, wobbling her head and twirling her ankles to emphasise her predicament, 'I've tried but I can't move a muscle. It feels like cement from here!'

At that moment the Rottweiler, who had been kept busy by chasing seagulls, bounded towards them. Nicolette spotted him coming and couldn't help a panicked tone to her voice, 'Oh, can you stop him, please!?'

The young man clicked his fingers. 'Rocco, come here!' Rocco slowed as he approached Nicolette's head, dropped his stick and then circled back to his owner. 'Nervous of dogs?'

'Not usually, but I've not seen one from this position before. Have you?'

'Can't say I have,' replied the young man as Rocco sniffed around at the crumbs left behind by the picnic. 'So, what can I for you?'

'Can you help me get out?'

'It will mean wrecking the sandcastles,' said the young man as he knelt by her side, 'That will be a shame.'

'Yes, well, my husband will just have to do something else that he can show off on Instagram!'

'But if you told them to go, why do you want to get out now?' he asked.

'Because they've been gone a while so I want to call my husband to see where they are. Plus...' she hesitated.

'Yes...?'

'I should have gone to the bathroom before I got in here.' The young man laughed. 'I know, I know. Very funny! I thought it was funny half an hour ago, I'm not laughing now— Yeek!' Nicolette's thoughts were interrupted and her head lurched.

'What's the matter?' asked the young man.

'Your dog...!' she exclaimed, struggling.

The young man stood up quickly and saw the dog sniffing around Nicolette's toes. 'Rocco! Here!' The young man walked a little ways toward the cliff, stuck the stick into the ground and leashed the dog to it. 'Lie down. Relax. Good boy.' He returned to Nicolette and stood by her feet. 'Gave you a fright, did he?'

'No. I'm just a bit sensitive.'

'Sensitive?' the young man repeated with a blank expression.

'Yes,' Nicolette replied.

'What do you mean, "sensitive"?'

As Nicolette watched, she saw one corner of his mouth curl up slightly. She recognised that kind of look and felt like she'd already said too much. 'Oh, you know. Just a bit jumpy because I'm stuck like this.'

'Oh, that's all, is it...?' he said, casually looking around. 'I'm Jim, by the way. What's your name?'

'Nice to meet you, Jim. I'm Nicolette.'

'Nice to meet you too, Nicolette. That's a pretty name.' He paused. 'So, you're married, huh?'

'Yes, I am.'

'Happily?' he asked.

'Yes!' she replied indignantly.

'Okay. Okay. I meant no offence. I've just got a thing for older women. Particularly attractive older women like you,' he replied.

'Ah, well. There are plenty of attractive older women in this town who aren't married, I'm sure.'

'Maybe,' said Jim, 'But not buried in the sand in front of me.'

'No, of course...' as she spoke, Jim looked down and knelt out of view behind the tower of sandcastles. Nicolette waited a moment, 'Are you going to help me?' she asked, impatiently.

'I'm considering it,' Jim's voice replied from the other side of the sandcastle wall.