. the beach .

“Grandfather,” Jodie asked, “Why are mommy and daddy mad at each other?”

He lifted Jodie unto his lap and said, “Well, sometimes your parents don’t agree on certain things.”

“But mommy screamed at daddy because he wanted to take me away. I don’t want to go without my mommy.”

“Your father won’t take you from your mother, Pumpkin,” he said but his brown forehead wrinkled up suddenly and he frowned at the clear, blue sky.

Jodie leaned back against the grandfather’s broad chest and started sucking her thumb with one hand while she tugged on one of two orange-yellow pigtails.

They rocked back and forth as the rocking chair creaked and cracked and watched the solitary beach. The waves twirled back and forth with the beach, each time creeping closer to their porch. A couple next door ran out the back porch and chased each other between the waves. Jodie released her thumb and stared curiously, squinting her eyes, as the man caught the women and embraced her passionately. She leaned forward.

“Does daddy still love mommy?”

He chuckled, “Of course he still loves your mother.”

He coughed suddenly and gently placed her fiery head against his shaking chest.

“But he never plays with her like that.”

“That’s because your mother and father are different. They show their love in their own special way.”

Jodie climbed down from his lap and sat down on the last step of the porch. The couple by now had swum out to sea and were giggling and shouting with each crash of the wave. The grandfather tediously raised himself out of the chair and sat down next to the little girl.

“But what if they don’t love each other?” she asked rubbing her eyes.

“That which is genuine needs no explanation. They love each other and they love you. They would never do anything to hurt you. Believe me when I say this.”

“Do you love me Grandfather?”

“I adore you, Pumpkin.”