Chapter 4

 

Dana held open the car door for Kelsey. After she was settled in her seat, he walked around to the driver’s side, got in, and drove away from the curb in front of Community Memorial Hospital. He turned left on to Telephone Road. A few blocks later, he merged on to the northbound 101.

“When we reach Santa Barbara, rush hour will have started. We’re going to be stuck in traffic for at least two hours,” he said.

“Do you want to stop at Rincon Beach and walk along the shore?” Kelsey replied, “Afterwards we can go to Parmenelis for an early lunch. By the time we are finished eating, the traffic will have died down.”

 “Sounds good, a walk on the beach is a lot more fun than sitting in freeway gridlock. I brought my swimsuit and they have a bath house there at the park.”

They drove along Ventura Highway toward Santa Barbara, both smiling like a couple in a chewing gum advertisement. Dana let the top down on the Mustang as they put on their Ray Bans.  He kept the windows up to block the chilly air.

 “This is the sweetest view in the world. Once, when the surf was way hot, I almost wrecked the car making this drive because I couldn’t take my eyes off the scenery.” Dana said. 

He glanced over at the east side of the freeway, where dry, brown, twisted balls of scrub brush scattered themselves over the slopes of the Santa Barbara Mountains. The rust colored, abrupt, grades ended straight down a few yards from the edge of the pavement and then stretched out level, like a curvy running board on an old truck. On the ocean side of the freeway, the remaining mountain slope separated into giant, brown, curled fingers of rock, sand, and dirt, and dove into the bright, white, and wide beach that stretched for many miles north and south.

The morning sun cleared away the once-thick fog that enveloped them back in Ventura. The black, rocky cliffs of the Channel Islands emerged through the fading fog and into sight, far off in the horizon. They passed by the mouse-grey oil pier that stretched several hundred yards offshore to the man-made Rincon Island. A few more miles up the road, they went by a rustic, wreck of a motel called the Sea Breeze. Less than a mile before the turn off to Rincon, they passed the cozy, crowded, community of La Conchita: several blocks of modest homes tucked in between the ocean and the steep foothills of Rincon Mountain.

“Too bad,” Dana said.

“Too bad, what?”

“Too bad we’re going to Parmenelis, I love the cheesy fries and burgers you can get in La Conchita.”

“There are no restaurants in La Conchita.”

“Yea, I know, but they serve food at the gas station.”

“You’re crazy; I am not eating at a gas station.”

“That’s why I said ‘too bad’.”

A moment later, Dana turned off the freeway exit at the Rincon Point Park and parked in the empty parking lot on the north side. Kelsey instructed Dana to dress first. Once he finished, he stood near the picnic area and waited for her.

“You look nice,” he said as she walked toward him from the dressing room. He took her by the arm, led her to the picnic bench, and sat down next to her. “No waves at the Rincon today, the swell is rolling in from the wrong direction; no wonder the place is deserted,” he said. They sat together for several moments in silence and watched the glistening sunrays bounce off the choppy, grey, waves of the Pacific.

“You miss surfing, don’t you?” Kelsey brushed back her hair from her face, “Maybe, after you’ve had more physical therapy, you can try surfing again for recreation.”

“I am afraid that God you think so highly of fixed it so I will never be able to surf again. I can’t bend my left leg far enough to stand up on a surfboard.”

“So it’s God’s fault?”

Dana shook his head. “No, I guess I can’t blame something or someone I don’t believe exists, at least for me. No, it was just bad luck, that’s all.”

“The God I believe in loves you, Dana and he only wants the best for those who love him. I hope one day you can believe the way I do.”

“So do I, Kelsey.”

Kelsey’s face fell. Silence followed for several minutes. They both looked back out over the ocean. Then she got up and disappeared from his view. He felt her put her arms around his neck, “Once you get used to your work, you’ll have more time. You’ll be able to get back out into the water.”

“I don’t believe I’ll ever be established as a geophysicist. I feel like I have to try as hard as I can just to keep my job.”

Kelsey let out a stifled chuckle.

“You think that’s funny I am clueless at my profession?”

“No… no I don’t. I was thinking about what Kwan told me. She said you were the cleverest analyst she or any of her co-workers had ever known.”

Dana’s face blushed red. “When did you talk with Kwan?”

“Oh, a couple weeks ago. I was at Father’s house, and she was a dinner guest.”

“What else did she tell you?”

“She said you weren’t very sociable at work. She says you never talk to her.”

“Well, I am busy, trying to get my work done. I don’t have time for talking.”

“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think, Dana.”

“Okay, I’ll ask her to lunch tomorrow.”

Kelsey blushed, “You don’t have to be so enthusiastic.”

When she sat back down on the bench, he drew her close, put his arm around her, and kissed her. She kissed him back, and then she pushed him away gently and bowed her head. A slight frown adumbrated her face.

“What’s wrong?” Dana asked.

“I thought for sure you wouldn’t show this morning, after the scruff you had with Mike.”

“How’d you know about that?”

“From Deidra.”

“I didn’t know she was there.”

“She said she was.”

“Huh, maybe she doubled back from her jog. When did you see her?”

“I saw her at the pier yesterday having lunch. She is such a sweet girl, don’t you think?”

Dana took his arm off Kelsey’s shoulder and said, “That’s really weird. I haven’t seen Deidra in four years and now we both see her the same day. Yeah, she’s nice.”

“I remember how mean you were to her when you were in the hospital.”

“I know -I was mean to everyone, even you. Remember?”

“She told me you and Mike fought, or rather Mike fought and you defended yourself. I am sorry you had to put up with his idiotic behavior and thanks for being so patient.”

Dana put his arm over her shoulder again and drew her close, “You don’t need to apologize for Mike. Besides, I wasn’t in any danger. He is not exactly Hercules.”

“I know, but I have got to get this mess between you and Mike settled, especially before you meet my father.”

“You think you can convince Mike to stop being so intense about everything?”

“Well if I don’t, our trip to my father’s house might as well end right now. He’ll probably be there for dinner tonight.”

“I see what you mean. So what’s your plan? Do you want me to quit the oil business and go all out organic? You know, wear Birkenstocks, join Greenpeace and buy a Prius. I already recycle, if that helps.”

Kelsey sat up straight and said, “You do and you can find another girlfriend. Besides, it wouldn’t change Mike, he’d hate you anyway.”

“I don’t get it, what’d I ever do to him?”

“He hates you because he is afraid of you and he is afraid of you because you are everything my Dad wanted him to be.”

“Your brother is a successful man; after all he is the Senior Editor of Ventura’s most popular local paper.”

“Mike is Senior Editor because Dad bought The Messenger after the former Senior Editor threatened to fire him.”

“No way, how am I threat to Mike?”

“Because you are a competent geophysicist, you are an oilman, whether you like it or not. My father and your boss, Kwan Li, talk about your work a lot more than you realize, Dana.”

“What’s that got to do with Mike?”

“He heard Kwan brag about you to my father.”

“So what? Why should that make him hate me? It doesn’t make sense.”

Kelsey hung her head and her face reddened.

“There’s something else, isn’t there Something you’re not telling me.”

She bit her lip and lifted her face towards him, tears sprinkled down her cheeks, “Mike told me the only reason you go out with me is so that you could one day marry me and get my Dad’s oil business.”

 “I didn’t know your Dad owned an oil business.” Dana spoke softly and then embraced her. “I only knew he worked in the oil business,” he continued, “that’s what you told me.”

“You’ve heard of TANOCO, right?” Kelsey wiped the tears from her eyes as spoke.

“Of course, Chevron leases oil rigs from them. I’ve mud logged with their crews a few times. So your Dad is like a VP or something?”

“The TAN in TANOCO is for Tanner, as in Tanner Oil Company. My Great Grandfather founded, and my Dad owns TANOCO.”

Dana shook his head. “You drive a 1974 Volkswagen. You eat lunch at the hospital cafeteria, and you buy the jeans you wear at Wal-Mart. I’ve never seen you go anywhere except to church or to work, except when we go out to dinner or a movie. I should have known you an oil heiress.” 

“I didn’t believe Mike.”

“Then why are you crying?”

Kelsey didn’t answer.

“I think I know what’s wrong?” he said and then reached into the pocket of his baggies with his free hand. Pulling out a small, black, box, he flipped it open with his thumb. In the middle of the box’s white padding lay a gold ring with a large diamond. “I hope this is suitable for an oil baroness,” he said as he knelt down in front of her. “Will you marry me, Kelsey?”

Kelsey cocked her head and stared at the ring. “I’m not sure, Dana.”

Dana’s face fell. “Don’t you love me Kelsey?”

Kelsey put her hands on either side of his cheeks. “I love you more than anyone or anything-except God.”

“Oh him again, I guess I will have to get used to having him in my life.” Dana grinned.

Kelsey smiled back and then said, “It’s not funny, Dana, I’m serious. I will marry you, but you have to promise me something.”

“Anything, sweetheart.”

“You must promise me that you will try to stop being angry at God.”

“Dana looked down. “I am not sure I-”

“Promise that you will at least try.”

He took her outstretched hand, put the ring on her finger and said. “All right Kelsey, I’ll try. I guess I can forgive him, after all, if I hadn’t had the accident I wouldn’t have met you.”

They embraced and rolled over together in the green, mushy, ice plant next to the sidewalk. After several minutes of savoring the moment, she looked at her watch, “We better get down to the beach or we won’t have time to have lunch at Parmenelis.”

Once she sat up, Dana said, “So what is this plan you have for stopping Mike from being a crazy man?”

“I’m going to give him what he wants. I think he’s frightened of me,” she said. She stood up, walked over to the sidewalk, and stood beside the bench.

“Well that’s good, what are you-” The wind picked up again and he would have had to shout his question to her, so he put it away for later. Besides, there was no point in spoiling the moment with talk about her brother.

 “Ready for a walk?” she said and started back toward the car.

“Where are you going? The beach is that way.” He said pointing toward the walkway entrance.

“I’ve left the beach blanket, towels, and my book in the car.”

After she applied the suntan oil to Dana and vice versa, they climbed down the wooden stairway leading to the beach etched into a steep, high, hill. Dana steadied her as they descended.

White foam from the choppy sea sprayed on to the shore and spread clumps of green kelp along the cool sand. As the chilly, salty, onshore breeze picked up strength, he could barely hear the sharp, incessant, bark of a small dog. He glanced northward, toward the end of the beach that met the service road, and noticed the furry source of the barking jumping up and down nervously at what appeared to him to be a large, black, bag washed up on the shore. When he returned his attention to Kelsey, she was pointing toward the mysterious object.

“Maybe it’s a beached seal?” Kelsey said. Dana reached into his backpack and retrieved his windbreaker. She jumped when he draped it across her shoulder,

“I’m sorry, Kelsey I didn’t mean to startle you. I saw you shivering and I thought you might need a hoodie.”  

“Thanks,” Kelsey adjusted the fit of her jacket across her shoulders. “I was just looking at the dog up at the north end of the beach. I wonder what he is barking at… maybe a beached seal?”

“A sick sea animal is unusual for this time of year. We usually don’t get red-tide until summer, but with these devil winds blowing every day for the past week, who knows? Besides, it may not be sick; it could have been bitten by a shark.” Dana replied.

 They trotted toward the unusual scene. When they were a few feet away, the dog scampered off. Dana’s gaze momentarily followed the rat-sized canine to what he assumed was its owner. A young woman lay sleeping on a towel, nearly invisible, close to the steep slopes that dropped down to the sand from the parking lot a hundred or so feet above. She wore a bright red bikini. Gusts of wind scattered her short, brown, curly hair back and forth across her forehead. Her skin, like smoothed out caramel, glimmered in morning sunlight. He turned to point her out to Kelsey, but before he could, she interrupted him with a shout,

 “It’s not a seal, it’s a person! A surfer has drowned!”

She rushed toward the limp body and fell down on her knees beside where it lay face down in the sand. She turned the body’s curly, black haired head around to see the swollen, bluish-grey face of her brother, Mike. She gasped as though she couldn’t breathe and looked upward toward Dana with cracked, crimson eyes.

Dana knelt down beside her. He felt Mike’s wrist for a pulse, nothing. Kelsey hugged her brother’s lifeless body to her bosom and rocked it; tears streamed down her face. The sound of the pain in her sobbing voice sent shivers down his back. He put his arm around Kelsey and with his free hand felt around in his rucksack for his cell phone.

 As he fumbled through his things, he noticed the girl on the towel close to the cliffs wake up. She scooped up the small dog, gathered up her towel and cooler, and headed toward the path leading to the parking lot at a full run. She probably doesn’t want to get involved. He forgot about her as soon as she left.

Dana held Kelsey while she held her brother’s corpse for a few minutes more. Then he got her to gently return Mike’s body back down. They both stood up and embraced one another. Kelsey buried her face into Dana’s chest and cried.

Dana finally found his cell phone, dialed 911, and reported the discovery of Mike’s body. It was then that a troubling thought came to him. What did Kelsey mean when she said she had fixed things between Mike and me?