11 comments/ 27867 views/ 12 favorites Life is Good Today By: woodmanone There are no graphic sex scenes in this story. All constructive comments and criticisms are welcome and appreciated. If you like the story; please let me know. If you didn't like the story please let me know why. Critiques will help me grow and become a better writer. Thanks for reading my work and ENJOY. My inspiration for this story is the song "Toes in the Water" by the Zac Brown Band. I got my toes in the water, ass in the sandNot a worry in the world, a cold beer in my handLife is good today. Life is good today. Life is good today. Six years ago, I wouldn't have said or believed that statement. At that time I thought my life sucked and the world was a place I didn't care to be a part of. Things change with time and maturity. I'm 26 and like to think that I have learned some important things in the intervening years. I'm sitting here with my toes in the water of the Pacific Ocean and my ass in the sand of a private beach on the island of Maui. As the sun sets I think back over the last six years of my life. Whatever it was before, Life is good today. You have no idea what I'm talking about so let me explain and tell you my story. ********************* The back ground for my story starts in my senior year in high school. Oh, I'm William Andrew Riley, better known as Drew. I was a better than average student, in fact I ranked second in my class and was offered an academic scholarship to the University of Missouri in Columbia. It's a good thing because I would have never gotten a full ride scholarship because of my football skills. As a 6 feet and 180 pound tight end, I just didn't have the size or speed to be a top prospect for any school. What I did posses was a lot of "want to". I ran very disciplined routes and had great hands; if the ball was catchable I would usually come down with it. I was also very good at blocking for running plays or protecting the quarter back. Because of these skills, I was offered a partial football scholarship, and coupled with the academic one everything but spending money would be taken care of at college. These two offers made it possible for me to go to the University of Missouri. I was very fortunate to get these scholarships because my parents couldn't afford to send me to U of M for all four years. My folks were and are great people and wanted to help as much as they could. But I had four younger siblings; twin brothers and twin sisters so there wasn't a lot of extra money. I was the oldest of the five children. My brothers and I were planned; although, the folks hadn't planned on my brothers being twins. The twin girls that came next were sort of a surprise package. After my sisters were born, steps were taken. I don't know which one, but Mom or Dad was "fixed". No more surprises, Dad said the Riley clan was large enough. Without the scholarships, my first two years of college would have been at a local junior college and maybe my parents would be able to help me with the last two years at UM. I planned to major in Computer Sciences specializing in Systems Analyzes. I didn't really fit the stereotype of a computer nerd, but that's what I was. Even though I wasn't one of the starters on the team, I still "hung" with the most popular click of jocks, cheerleaders, and groupies. These groupies didn't care that much about football or athletics; they just wanted to be with the elite group of the school. Boy, as a group we were egotistical and spoiled! I was "running" with Jackie Swanson, a voluptuous auburn haired beauty with huge green eyes. She wasn't a groupie or cheerleader but her infectious good nature and her Miss America looks garnered a place with the "in" crowd for her. Jackie was much more than a pretty face though; she was witty and intelligent. To watch her walk across a room was a study of one of God's perfect works. Have you ever noticed that women, especially attractive ones, don't just walk? They sort of glide and I have no idea how they get their hips to move that way. Jackie was a virgin when we met, but after our Senior Prom she lost that label. My fault, or good luck, however you want to look at it. In fairness to me, Jackie was a very willing participant in what we did. After that we were almost joined at the hip. We didn't make love all the time but we did enjoy each other several times. That summer after my senior year was the best two and a half months of my young life. My dad is sort of cool, even though he can embarrass the hell out of me sometimes. Three or four days after the Senior Prom, he called me out to the garage as I was getting ready to go pick up Jackie. He handed me a paper bag and told me not to be stupid or reckless and to think about my partner. As he left I looked into the bag and saw several packages of condoms. See, a cool guy but embarrassing. Jackie and I never really discussed our relationship. It was enough that we were together and we both knew I would be leaving for school in the fall. We both sort of took it for granted that we would continue seeing each other and the future could take care of its self. When I went to Columbia to start college, I left Jackie behind in St. Louis. Her mother was a single parent and she was a lot like my folks. She couldn't afford to send Jackie to a big college away from home because the room, board, and tuition were just too expensive. Jackie went to a local junior college and lived at home. The University of Missouri at Columbia is about a two and a half hour drive from my home in St. Louis. So Jackie and I carried on a long distance relationship. I would come home every weekend after my last class on Friday and stay until early Monday morning. During my visits, Jackie and I would spend as much time together as possible. We had weekend long dates, doing things and going everywhere together. Jackie and I tried to wear out the back seat of my car a few times or any other place that we could get some privacy. Not being together every day during the week made our weekends together special. It was like being on a date and on your best behavior all the time. We were enjoying our lives and each other. That is until football season started. Once the season started, I didn't have a chance to get home very much. There were practices every day and games on Saturday. That left Sunday as the only day I could come home. The physical toll of practice all week and the games didn't leave me a lot of energy. I tried to get home at least half the weekends but it was a grind. If we had an away game, I couldn't get home at all. After a home game, I would clean up, jump in my car and head for St. Louis. By the time I got to Jackie's place I was whipped. The two and half hour drive would give me time to come down off the high of the game and realize how tired I was. I wasn't the best date that night. We tried to make up for it on Sunday, spending the whole day and most of the night together. I would leave for school on Monday morning getting there in time for my first class at 9:00. A few times Jackie would take the bus to Columbia and spend the weekend with me, but she was working to help pay for her education and couldn't get many weekends off. ************************ Jackie and I began to drift apart after two years of our long distance romance. It wasn't that we didn't care for each other but we only saw each other at the most about 2 days out of each month for a period of five months. Few relationships could survive this and ours didn't make it. I thought about quitting football, but Jackie wouldn't let me give up. She reminded me that I needed the football scholarship to complete my education. Jackie was a special person and was willing to sacrifice her happiness for my future. We cared very much for each other, thought we loved each other, but we both needed to let go of the past and get on with our lives. Our last evening together was bitter sweet. We made love for what we were sure would be the last time, cried on each other's shoulders and said good bye the next morning. Jackie and I decided not to spend the off season together. When football started again, it would just make our being apart that much harder. A clean break would be better for both of us, so we thought. It was sort of ironic; six months later at the start of the new season I tore the ACL in my left knee and was out of football for good. The school had to honor my athletic scholarship as I was hurt in a game and all the medical expenses were taken care of, but I wouldn't be able to play again. My dad and mom were at the hospital during the operation on my knee to make sure I was okay. We were talking about things back home and I asked about Jackie. She had kept in touch with my folks because they had sort of adopted Jackie while we were going together. My mom told me that Jackie was dating a nice young man and seemed to be happy. Well damn, there goes my idea of stepping back into my relationship with Jackie. I had thought that without football that we could make our romance work until I graduated; I only had one more year before graduation. Men plan and the gods laugh. The gods are assholes. After the operation I had an intense rehab on my knee, so I couldn't go home for over three months. Going home was sort of a moot point anyway because I couldn't drive. My parents would come up and see me every couple of weeks and we would talk about my sisters and brothers and things at home. Of course I had to torture myself and ask about Jackie. Mom tried to change the subject but I kept coming back to Jackie. Finally Dad answered me and said that Jackie was still dating that same guy and it looked like things were getting serious between them. The news didn't do much to help me keep positive during my rehab. My knee had healed and was as good as ever except I couldn't play football. My parents wanted me to come home for a visit as soon as I could but I decided to stay on campus. I was afraid I would see or hear about Jackie and her new man; I didn't want to face that. Mom and Dad had known all along what I was just now beginning to realize; I loved Jackie. It wasn't being with a beautiful girl or the great sex we experienced together or being comfortable with her. I was in love with her and I had already lost her. Every time we talked or they visited me, my dad told me that I should call Jackie and let her know how I feel, but I was afraid to. I guess I was afraid of her rejecting me. I know it isn't logical; if I called at least I had a shot at getting her back but if I didn't call I would never get her back. Just because I was an "A" student didn't mean that I was the sharpest tool in the shed. I never made the call. ********************* My college career came to an end with my graduation in the top 1 per cent of my class. I wouldn't have any trouble getting a good paying job in my field. This prodigal son returned home to a surprise party staged by his family. It was a very nice welcome home and I enjoyed seeing my sisters, brothers and some of my old friends. I was on the back porch catching a little quiet time and my dad came out to join me. He handed me a glass of Jack Daniels and sat down. "Drew, your mother invited Jackie to the party. I wanted to warn you that she would be here." "Damn, what was Mom thinking? She knows how I feel and seeing Jackie will be like a knife in my gut." "I know, but Jackie is our friend too and your mother thought that if you two saw each other that you might get back together or least get closure for your busted relationship. Anyway I wanted you to know up front that Jackie was coming." "Thanks Dad, but I can't hang around," I told him. "It's time for you to stop acting like a spoiled child. I've never seen anyone play football as hard as you do or work to overcome a problem like you do. But you're screwing the pooch concerning Jackie. You need to talk to her and let her know exactly how you feel. If you don't you'll regret it the rest of your life," Dad lectured me. "Okay Dad, you made your point. I'll tell Jackie how I feel if she shows up and if she doesn't I'll call her." "Oh you'll get a chance to tell her; she's sitting on the front porch talking to your sisters right now. Go say hello and take her for a walk. You guys need some privacy right now." My dad gave me a grim little smile and left me alone. Well that's great, nothing like letting me know at the last minute I thought. If I put it off I would probably chicken out so I walked around the house to the front porch. As my dad said, Jackie was talking to my sisters. I knew how pretty Jackie was but seeing her in person after so many months just took my breath away. She was laughing at something one of my sisters had said and when she saw me she stopped laughing and gave me a sad little smile. Jackie came down off the porch and gave me a sisterly type hug. All I wanted to do was grab her and hang on forever. I suggested we take a walk and she agreed to go with me. The family home sat on over an acre of land and we walked to the back of the lot and sat on a couple of tree stumps. She asked about my knee, how it happened, and about the rehab. Then we talked about other inconsequential subjects, both of us ignoring the 400 pound gorilla sitting between us. After a half an hour of chit chat, we knew that we had to address the subject of "us". I hung my head for a moment then took Jackie's hand gently. "Jackie, I screwed up and I'm sorry. I realize that I love you and want to marry you. You should have come first and I should have quit football when I saw it was causing problems for us. Please, can we start again?" Jackie sort of squeezed my hand and then released it. Her face was flushed with the emotions she was feeling and she took a deep breath before she answered me. "Drew, I can't. You will always be in my heart, but I'm engaged to John Atkins." Jackie held out her left hand and showed me the ring. "When we broke it off, I sat at home for a few weeks hoping you would call me. I called you two or three times and left messages with your roommate, but you never returned my calls so I thought you didn't want to talk to me. John and I work together and he was very supportive and sympathetic to my feelings." She stopped to wipe the tears from her eyes. "John and I started having coffee together and then we started going out. At first it was just as friends but we developed feelings for each other. He asked me to marry him last week and I accepted." Jackie finished with tears running down her cheeks. I sat for a few seconds in shock; I knew she was dating this guy but I had no idea that it had gone this far. If I had made a couple of phone calls when my dad suggested it I might have stopped this romance between Jackie and John. Instead, I had lost any chance with her because I was such an ass. "Jackie, I will always love you and want you to be happy," I said. I tried to keep the sense of loss out of my voice. Leaning over I kissed her on the cheek and then walked away. She called for me to come back but there was no way I was going to sit there and talk about her life without me in it. I had to get away; I couldn't stay there and be around Jackie. My faithful car took me away to an old hangout of mine. The "Stay-a-While Inn" was really just a tavern but it had been one of my favorite places once I reached legal age. Well maybe even before I reached legal age, that's why it was one of my favorite places. Sitting at the bar was Ken Johnson, one of my teammates from high school. Last I heard Ken had went to college here in St. Louis and got a degree in Business Administration. He was one of three guys sitting at a table and looked up as I came into the bar. With a big smile he ordered a shot and a beer for me. I joined the three men at their table and Ken introduced me to his friends. Ken and I caught up with our lives since high school. I learned that Ken was going to Washington University for his MBA in the fall. But before starting school he was going to spend a week in Ensenada, Mexico relaxing, partying and preparing for the grind of the MBA program. We spent about two hours reconnecting and I got to know his friends, Jim and Bob. "Hey Drew, come with us. You deserve some down time before you start looking for a job. All it would cost you would be spending money while you're there and not much of that," Ken said. He turned to his buddies and they nodded to indicate that they wouldn't mind me going along. Ken continued, "One of the guys had to drop out and the fees are all non-refundable so his spot is just going to waste. Our trip is all inclusive so all the airfare, food, drinks, and rooms are already paid for. You should be able to get by for a couple of hundred dollars and the dollar goes a lot farther down there. What'da you say Drew? We're flying out tomorrow night, come with us pal." I hesitated for about a minute before I said, "Yeah, why not? It will do me good to unwind for awhile. Sure I'll go with you guys." I answered Ken thinking that it would be a good way to forget about Jackie. I didn't have a fortune but I had managed to put some money away during college. A word about finances here. The last game of my freshman year on the football team, I caught the winning T D pass against Texas A&M. I went up between two defenders and came down with the ball as time ran out. Needless to say I was a hero for a few days. James R. Nelson, better known as Big Jim, was an alumnus of Missouri and a very wealthy one. My game winning catch gave him bragging rights over two of his business associates who were alumni of Texas A&M. He enjoyed being able to lord it over those two so much that he arranged a part time job for me. I worked three nights a week for three hours a night and earned two hundred dollars a week. It wasn't a tough job; I checked basketballs and other equipment in and out to students using the gym. The first and last 15 minutes were busy but the rest of the time I was able to study for the next day's classes. In spite of not being able to afford the overall cost of college, my folks sent me some money for personal use every month while I was in school. Since I had practice every afternoon, worked three evenings a week and had to study, I really didn't go out that much and I was able to save most of the money they sent and the money I earned at my "job". There were also a lot of perks to being on the football team. I ate at the training table with the team and my housing, books, and tuition were paid for as were all medical expenses. Except for pizza and beer I was almost living expense free. My dad walked into the bar just as I made my decision. He looked around and then came to our table and sat down. "Your mother is worried about you. You ran off without saying anything and she sent me to look for you." Dad's voice held a note of disapproval. "I'm sorry I worried her Dad, but she shouldn't have invited Jackie to the party. I was okay until I saw Jackie and then everything went to hell," I told him with a little heat. Dad ordered another round for the table and himself. He suggested that we go home after that drink and I agreed. I didn't mind drinking but I really didn't want to nurse a hangover all the way to Mexico. I beat Dad home and waited on the front porch for him; I wanted to tell him about my trip and why I was going. After a little discussion he agreed that it was a good idea. He told me not to worry about Mom that he would make her understand why I had to go. I don't know what he said to her but I never heard a word from her other than for me to be careful. The next evening my parents dropped me off at the airport and I met up with the guys and boarded our plane. It was a little over a 4 hour flight and we started to party as soon as we were in the air. When we landed a shuttle from our hotel was there to pick us up. Drinks were provided on the shuttle and we continued the party we had started on the plane. By the time we reached our rooms we were feeling pretty good. Life is Good Today ******************** Well, the plane touched down just about 3 o'clock And the city's still on my mind Bikinis and palm trees danced in my head I was still in the baggage line Concrete and cars are their own prison bars like this life I'm living in But the plane brought me farther. I'm surrounded by water And I'm not going back again For the next six days and nights we enjoyed all that Ensenada had to offer. The mornings were spent going on tours, surfing, fishing, and playing tourists. The afternoons found me sitting by the beach bar watching all the lovelies on the beach. I had a great view and didn't have to worry about sunburn because there was an extended roof over the bar. My favorite bartender was a very pretty young lady from the twin cities of Nogales, a town on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona. Alita told me her father was Irish and her mother was Hispanic and that she was born on the U.S. side of the border. She was slender with long black hair, her body was nut brown, and she had the most startling blue eyes I have ever seen. Aside from being a beautiful woman who took pleasure in teasing me by showing off her body, she knew exactly how I liked my margaritas; a never empty glass was the key. I watched her rub coconut oil on her long legs and tight stomach every afternoon as she started work and fantasized about helping her. I don't know if it was the tequila or the coconut oil that smelled so good. By the second afternoon she and I were the best of friends, I think the tips had a lot to do with our friendship. She showed me a beach lounge chair beside the bar that was the same height as the bar stools and much more comfortable. Alita never let my glass get empty and always had another margarita ready when I was. Don't get the impression that I spent my days drunk, I was never drunk. However I did keep a pleasant buzz on starting every afternoon after the guys and I did our tourist thing. The guys would adjourn to the beach to chase the lovely senoritas and young ladies from the cruise ships that put in at Ensenada twice a week. I had a better plan; I sat at the beach bar and let them come to me. Alita was my ally in my quest for companionship. Ladies from the cruise ship in port at the time would come to the bar and after a drink or two would ask Alita about things to do in the area. They usually had one day and one night before the ship would leave port. She would tell them that I was the expert on having a good time in Ensenada and I would take it from there. ******************** Four days flew by like a drunk Friday night as the summer drew to an end They can't believe that I just couldn't leave And I bid a due to my friends Because my bartender she's from the islands Her body's been kissed by the sun And coconut replaces the smell of the bar and I don't know if its her or the rum All in all, Ensenada was a great place to forget my troubles. I began to think that I would stay for a couple of months, maybe forever instead of going back to what I knew was going to be a lonely life without Jackie. If I stayed in Ensenada I would still be without Jackie but there were other compensations to help a lonely gringo. Our week in paradise came to an end and we packed to leave the hotel. When Ken and the guys got on the shuttle to the airport I told them that I was staying. Ken tried to talk me out of staying but I had made up my mind. He reminded me that the hotel was expensive but I had already found a shack just off the beach to rent. I had written a letter the night before the guys left and asked Ken to give it to my parents. In the letter I told my folks that I didn't want to come back just yet and planned to spend some time in Ensenada. I explained that I needed some time to get myself together and I would call them in a few days. . I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand Life is good today. Life is good today. The money I saved in college was what I would use to stay in Ensenada. It's entirely different being in Mexico as a tourist and being there as an expatriate from the U.S. As long as I had money I was treated relatively well but not with the enthusiasm that I had been as a guest at the hotel. The only one that treated me the same way was my Alita at the beach bar. Of course I was paying and tipping for my drinks. I asked her for a date once and she told me that she wasn't looking for a short term affair. Alita said that I was very sad in spite of the good time Charley act I was putting on and she thought I would be leaving to go back home. She told me she didn't want to get something started that would end so quickly. I didn't try to argue the point with her because I didn't know myself what I was going to do. Never the less, I still enjoyed looking at her in those tiny bikinis that she wore to tease me and the other customers. The same beautiful senoritas walked the beach and the ladies from cruise ships still came to the beach bar so I didn't lack for companionship. During the day I surfed or fished from the pier or took walking tours of the town. I learned about the restaurants and cantinas in town away from the tourist zone. I didn't eat or drink at any of the large hotels, except for the beach bar where Alita worked. While their prices were about 50 to 60 per cent less than they would have been in the States, there were better bargains in town. The American dollar goes further in Mexico if you keep away from the tourist traps so I was able to stretch my money a long, long, way. All and all not a bad life and as long as I had money it would be enjoyable. Once the money ran out so would my life style. The senoritas and cruise ship dollies wouldn't find me so attractive if I didn't have money to spend on them. I thought about getting a job but the locals usually hire locals for everything and I was told not to bother applying for anything other than as a waiter on the beach, running drinks for tourists. Being a waiter isn't what I had hoped for and putting up with some the asshole tourists would be impossible for me. I stayed in Mexico for five weeks and I did call my parents a few times, about once a week. My first call I got a lecture from Dad about acting like a spoiled brat and pouting; Mom just cried and told me I should come home. Dad was right, I was pouting and being a spoiled brat; I was just doing it in a Mexican paradise. The next few phone calls were mostly to Mom; Dad was a little upset that I had "quit on the world" as he said. Again he was right, for a little while I had quit on the real world. I was trying to forget about Jackie and I must admit that looking and talking to Alita or some beach bunny or senorita did take my mind off Jackie for a little while. But she would always invade my thoughts again when I was alone. Finally the time came to think about going home. I figured I had enough money to last for about two more weeks; five if I didn't fly home but took a bus back to the border and then another bus on to St. Louis. I was sitting in my lounge chair watching Alita, wearing the smallest bikini yet, bend over to fill the beer cooler and heard someone say "Nice view. Almost worth coming 1500 miles to see." I turned to see who would say something like that out loud. It was my dad and he was really looking at me. I didn't know if he meant me or Alita. "Hello Drew, can I buy you a drink?" Shocked wouldn't begin to describe how I felt at him being here. Trying to be cool I said, "Alita, dos mas, por favor." When she brought the drinks, I introduced her to my father. The drinks were five dollars but Dad handed her a ten dollar bill and told her to keep the change. "Gracias, the men in your family are very generous Drew," she said with a big smile for my father. She turned and walked back to the cooler swaying her hips in the way that only beautiful women can do. "You might want to put your eyes back in your head Drew before your mother gets here," Dad told me. "Mom too, what are you guys doing here?" "I came to get you to come home and get on with your life. You mom came as back up." Facing my dad as he sat at the bar, I couldn't see the pathway at my back leading to the beach bar. Then I heard my mom say, "There's my baby." I turned to face my mother and got another shock; Jackie was coming down the path with Mom. "Did I forget to mention that Jackie came too?" Dad was chuckling at the look on my face. When Mom and Jackie got to us, I hugged Mom and then looked at Jackie. She smiled and came to me and hugged me. Jackie felt so good in my arms that I sort of lost myself holding her. I felt like I never wanted to let her go. After a couple of minutes my dad cleared his throat to bring us back to the present. "Wha, wha, what are you doing here Jackie? Not that I'm not glad to see you," I said. I had no idea why she would be in Mexico. "I came with your folks to get you to come home. We need to have a long talk," she answered. Seeing my confused look she continued, "Yeah, you and I really need to talk." "What.............." I started and Jackie interrupted me. "Not here, let's go to dinner or something and then we can talk after." I nodded and as we walked away Alita said, "Adios Senior Drew and Senior Papa. Come back to see Alita soon." One last look at her by both my dad and I, a sigh, a wave, and we left. "What was that about dear?" My mom wanted to know looking at my dad. "Never mind Honey, I'll tell you later," Dad answered, smiling in spite of the look Mom gave him. Good luck Dad, I thought. We're both going to need some luck and understanding to get through this night. My parents were staying at the same hotel that I had on my "holiday" with Ken and the boys. It was also the one that had the beach bar where I hung out. I had to get cleaned up and change clothes because the hotel would not appreciate me coming into their fancy dinner room in cutoffs and T-shirt. Of course I didn't have any really dressy clothes at my rented shack but I did put on a nice pair of slacks and a muted Hawaiian print shirt. I had to go past the beach bar to get to the hotel from my shack and Alita motioned me over to her. As I got to the bar she put a large margarita on it. "This one is on me Senior Drew. It's a final drink to say good bye from one friend to another. You will be leaving with Senior Papa and your madre and the young senorita, I think." "Alita, I'm not sure I'm going back with them. Nothing has been settled yet," I informed her. "No, you will go. I saw how happy you were to see your familia and the love in your eyes when you saw the senorita, so you will go. It is what you must do," Alita lectured me. "You must face your demons and your past before you can be happy." "Maybe your right, maybe I will go back with them. Anyway, it's been very nice to get to know you and thank you for taking care of me." "I knew you would be going home; that's why I wouldn't go out with you. If the life back up Norte doesn't make you happy come back please come to see Alita. I will help heal you heart," she said wistfully. "Adios en vaya con dios," was the last thing she said to me. Alita leaned over, kissed me, and turned to go back to filling the beer cooler. One last look at her beautiful behind and I left to meet my parents and Jackie. The hotel dinner room was almost full and I couldn't see my folks. I stood at the entrance looking over the room trying to find them. Then Jackie was at my side to lead me to the table. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder because as stunning and exotically beautiful as Alita was, Jackie made me forget all about her. Jackie was wearing a pale green sun dress that went very well with her auburn hair and green eyes. It hung by two spaghetti straps and left her shoulders bare. We joined my folks at their table and ordered drinks and then dinner. Our talk during the meal was about people and things back home. My brothers and sisters, Jackie's mother, and other socially acceptable things were discussed. The table was cleared and another round of drinks was ordered. The elephant at the table was ignored for the time being. My dad is not the most patient man and when the after dinner drinks were served he couldn't wait anymore. "Okay enough of this chit chat. Are you coming back home with us, Drew?" Mom tried to rein him in and told him to wait a while, but my dad was on a mission. "Wait hell, he's been waiting for the last month and a half. It's time that he came home and quit pouting. Are you coming with us or not Drew?" I had to smile at Dad; he was usually so controlled but my being gone had really affected him. He was worried that his oldest was going to turn into a beach bum. My smile didn't help his temper. Dad started to lecture me some more but I held up my hands. "Yes Dad, I will be going home with you. It's time I got back to the real world. I can't hide out here forever." I turned to Jackie and said, "I can't keep running away and beating myself up for losing you. I hope that we can remain friends; if John doesn't mind that is." Jackie didn't say anything at first and then asked me. "Drew, can we take a walk down to the beach?" I looked at my parents; they nodded and Jackie and I left. We walked down the pathway past the beach bar; thank the gods Alita had already closed down for the night. I don't know if I could have survived those two together. We sat down on the pontoon of a beached Hobie Cat sailboat and faced each other. I waited for Jackie to begin, I had no idea what to say. "Drew there is something I have to tell you. I was going to wait and use it as a trump card to get you to come home, but since you've already decided to return I'll just come out with it." She stopped as if to gather courage to continue. "I want you to come home and see if we can make a life together. You once told me that you loved me, do you still feel that way?" I could see fear and hope in her eyes. Maybe the gods or fate or whatever decided to give me a break. The real reason that I had decided to go home was to fight to get Jackie back, but I couldn't do that living in Mexico. I figured that until she was actually married I had a chance to get her to change her mind. "What about John? You're engaged to him and I don't think he's going to want to share you," I was teasing a little trying to keep my body under control. I wanted to jump up and down and scream because I was so happy. Jackie seemed to understand what I was doing. "John and I aren't engaged anymore; I gave him the ring back before I made the trip with your parents," she said with a very small smile. "I realized that I didn't love John after talking to you at your party. Just didn't know it soon enough to keep you from running off to Mexico. I called the next afternoon but you had already left." "I had to do something, I couldn't stay around and see you with John. Thought once about trying to talk you out of staying with him, but didn't think I had the right to." I admitted. "Drew, I'm sorry I......." Jackie started but I stopped her. "Neither of us handled our breakup very well, especially me. I should have called you at least to say hello or something. We wouldn't have gotten to this point if I had. Let's leave that behind us and go on. Okay?" The rest of the evening was spent walking up and down the beach and holding each other and talking about our plans, our hopes and our dreams for the future. There was also a lot of I've missed you, I love you, and other endearments. I walked Jackie back to the hotel and to her room. We decided to proceed slowly so we said good night and I went back to my shack for the last time. In the morning I met the folks and Jackie and rode to the airport with them. As I boarded the airplane I turned and took one last look at downtown Ensenada. I would miss the beach, the little bar and Alita, but it was time to go home. It was a good way to live if that's all you were looking for but I wanted more. On the flight home Mom and Jackie sat together and talked about female things. I really think they were already planning a wedding. We men don't count when women start making plans for our life. That left Dad and me on our own. Dad turned to me and asked, "Will you miss anything back there? Do you have any regrets?" "I wish I hadn't flaked out for so long, I regret that. The beach and the life style will be missed; it was a good way to live, at least for a while. I guess the only thing I regret was not getting some pictures of Alita." "Are you sure you want them around where Jackie might find them?" Dad asked with a grin. "On second thought, it's best to let Alita live on only in my memories," I answered with a matching grin. "It will cause a lot less trouble that way." ******************* Jackie and I had thought we would take things slow once we got back to St. Louis and we did take it easy; for about a week we tried to date and start all over again. We decided slowly didn't mean we couldn't enjoy each other in every way possible so we skipped to the good stuff. One of our evenings together resulted in Jackie getting pregnant. The best we can figure, it was our first night together. I seriously don't remember if we took precautions or if we were in such a hurry that we forgot. The answer to that question is obvious isn't it? Doesn't matter, we just started our family a little sooner than the master plan called for all of which hastened the wedding plans. Six years have gone by since I came back to the world. Six years that have been the best of my life. So here I sit with my toes in the water and ass in the sand on the island of Maui waiting for my three girls. We are on vacation for the first time since getting married. I look up the beach and here they come. Jackie and our twin girls are walking together along the beach at the water line. I guess twins run in my family. I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand Life is good today. Life is good today. Quote: Life goes on