Broken Star

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Lynn flashed a glimpse of her award-winning smile to the muscular guy behind the counter. She leaned against the bustling hot dog stand and eyed the multi-colored menu behind him. The sounds of playing children filled the humid air with their infectious laughter while a warm breeze lightly kissed her heated skin. “What can I get for you, Ma’am?” the shirtless vendor said while eyeing her lustfully.

“I’d like three hotdogs; two with almost everything just hold the onions, and one with just a weenie and ketchup, no chili.” Lynn brushed a strand of wafting hair behind her ear when she noticed how the vendor stared.

“Yes ma’am,” the teenager replied with a knowing wink. “My girlfriend and I loved your concert last night Ms. Feoras. You were awesome on that stage. Damn, you can put on one hell of a show. You owned it!”

“Thank you,” Lynn replied with a confident smile. “I’m glad you both enjoyed the show. I always love playing in Florida. It’s so peaceful down here.”

“I hear you. My family moved down from Chicago two years ago. The craziness of the city was too much for us all. Folks in this part of the country seem a lot friendlier too.” The sandy-haired young man finished dressing two of the hotdogs and placed them on to a checkered tray. He smiled, grabbing another bun from the bag as he glanced towards Lynn, “Planning to stay awhile?”

“A few days,” Lynn replied in a distant voice as she turned to stare across the vast beach. Even though she couldn’t see Alexis from where she stood, she could not get the attractive officer out of her thoughts. It wasn’t like Lynn to let her thoughts linger on a woman she had only just met, but there was an almost invisible urge to turn her attention to Alexis. Smiling, Lynn took a deep breath, inhaling the salty scent of the roaring ocean.

“Here you go, Ms. Feoras.” The young man finished with the last hotdog and placed all three onto a disposable tray that Lynn could take with her. “Can I get you anything else?” His green eyes flickered with admiration.

“Yeah, give me two bottles of water and one of those boxes of apple juice.” Lynn pulled out a twenty and placed it on to the counter just as the boy sat the drinks beside her. As he was collecting her change, she reached over and gathered a couple packs of pickle relish, extra mustard and ketchup, as well as some forks and napkins. “Oh and I nearly forgot, add three of the small bags of plain chips to that, will you?”

“No problem,” he replied. Lynn glanced up; smiling at the young man whose nametag identified him as Dave. He picked up three of the small bags of plain chips and dropped all three into a plain white bag so that Lynn could carry them easier. “Anything else,” he asked.

“Nope, that’s definitely it this time. Thanks, Dave.” Lynn collected the tray of deliciously aromatic hotdogs in one hand while balancing the bag with chips and drinks in the other. Her thoughts drifted as she walked across the sand, enjoying the grainy texture on her bare feet. Lynn had always loved the ocean and the beach. She could remember when she was a child how she and her sister had raced across the sandy white beaches, playing tag. Shivering, she blinked back the tears when thoughts of her sister crossed her mind. Although the memories of the two on the beach were happy ones, they were also some of the last memories she had of her sister.

These days her thoughts seemed to drift to Evelyn more than ever. Lynn guessed it was due to the loneliness of her life and the fact she constantly wished there was someone she could talk to. Even with all the money in the world, she was still no closer to locating her sister than she was ten years ago.

Lynn pushed the thoughts away, locking them into the internal room she had built within her mind where the memories of her sister lingered. She approached their picnic spot. Calista was cuddled on to her mother’s lap.

“Mommy,” she overheard Calista say. “Can I have a puppy like on the 101 Dalmatians movie for my birthday?”

“Sweetie, you know what I told you about getting a puppy right now.” Lynn stopped a few feet away from the two, eavesdropping in on the conversation. “Mommy can’t afford to buy you one of those right now. They’re really expensive. Maybe by Christmas,” Alexis replied softly as her arms wrapped around the obviously upset little girl.

“Why are they so ex…pen…ive, Mommy?” Calista asked in a voice tinged with a pitiful sadness that nearly made Lynn’s eyes water.

“I don’t know, baby.” Alexis sighed, brushing her hand through the child’s long blonde hair. “I guess it takes a lot for the breeders to raise them.”

* * * *

“I’m back,” Lynn called out in a sing-song voice, as if she had just returned. Lynn plopped down on the sand beside Alexis. Calista grinned and climbed off her mother’s lap while intently watching Lynn.

“And I got yours just the way you wanted it. Come sit down and I’ll hand it to you.” Smiling, she watched as Calista obeyed by crawling across the sand. The little angel sat down next to Lynn Indian style, holding out her tiny hands as her lips curved into a broad smile. There was that sweet gap-toothed smile again. Lynn thought that Calista must be losing some of her baby teeth, but then again, she had no idea at what age a child actually lost their baby teeth.

“I brought you some chips and a drink too. I hope you like apple juice.” Lynn pulled out the small bag of chips and the apple juice box. She pushed the straw into the silver top and sat it down where Calista could reach it, but far enough away so that she did not spill the juice box.

“Apple juice is my favorite!” Calista squealed as she bit down into the plumpness of the oversized weenie.

Turning to Alexis, Lynn grinned while handing the striking blonde her hotdog. “No onions, just as you requested.” She reached into the bag and produced another pack of chips and a bottle of water for Alexis. “I brought you water since I wasn’t sure what kind of drink you would prefer.”

“Water is fine,” Alexis carefully took the food that Lynn offered and stared at the offering for several moments. Her blue eyes rose, intently focusing on Lynn as she exhaled. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know, but I wanted to.” The words died in Lynn’s throat when her hand accidently brushed against the soft skin of Alexis’s fingertips as she handed her the water bottle. Lynn was accustomed to one-night stands and short flings, since her busy schedule did not allow for a real romance. At least that was what she always told herself. The truth of the matter was; she had trust issues, trust issues that caused her to avoid becoming too involved with anyone. Why did she suddenly get the feeling that Alexis was like a dangerous curveball flying into her carefully constructed life? Already, she had acted out of the ordinary with the timidly proud officer, and that petrified her.

Clearing her throat, she quickly looked away and stared down at her own hotdog. “I…” Lynn started but faltered slightly. She shook her head to snap her thoughts back into clarity. “I have some extra packets of mustard and pickle relish if you want some.” She held out the bag, careful not to brush against Alexis as she sat it down and put some distance between them.

“Thanks,” Alexis visibly swallowed as she too seemed to falter with her words. A deafening silence fell over the two as they ate their hotdogs without saying another word.