Nick, his parents and me exit the house in one car. The family was very familiar with the neighborhood, they point out all the tales behind every corner that was written history of when Nick and his brothers were kids.
Nick who was driving, every time his mother laughs about a story of him with me side next to her giggling. He turns to me with a soft smile, I returned the favor and continued to listen to Denise tell me more about Nick.
It was just momentarily when we had arrived at this seafood shack by the beach. Parking was already a hassle, with the line ups for a spot, nearing the seafood shack, the line ups were long for a seat and the people here were very different compare to ones in the city.
The seafood shack was nicely constructed, it was all lumbar built, sides the roof tops. It was a huge flat land, paths opening to different seafood restaurants. But outside of each one were long line ups, impatient customers, sweating in the dreadful line.
Nick lead the way to the one we're heading for, that line up was longer than the rest. It was like waiting to ride the newest roller coaster in a theme park.
Never in my life, have I thought Nick's parents would come to these types of places to eat. It was cluster of people in different line ups to different seafood restaurants. A lot of them were young, girls dressed for the beach occasion, bikini, crop top and denim shorts. Some elderlies that were in line, looked at the girls with a disapproving glare.
But I hadn't notice the beauty of this place until we got to the very end of the seafood shack. Behind this whole dramatical line up and long waits, was a nice patio. The seatings were arranged on a huge patio, nicely ensembled.
The furniture and everything were simple like the rest of the shacks, but the view of the beach was undeniably beautiful. Although it wasn't some spectacular sun rise or sunset, you could still imagine the place when its dark at night with shining stars like diamonds, reflecting down on Earth.
My admiration for this place was unexplainable. I was only back on Earth, when Nick nudges me. We sat next to each other, while his parents were across.
"I'm sorry, but this place is beautiful," I explained, his parents couldn't help but smile. His dad, for almost the first time I've seen him smile realistically.
"It is a beautiful place," his father admits, agreeing with my words, "Joe and Kevin used to water ski by the rocks down there," he points down, far enough that the rocks looked like the size of an ant.
"Oh remember, when Nick first learned, he stumbled and fell off so many times, he just gave up mad," his mother gushes with a small laugh, loving the memories,
"Okay mom, I think today is enough for all the old stories," Nick warns, it was then I realize how Nick was a little bit irritated by how much his parents spoke of him. But he just couldn't see how his parents were just missing their life here when him and his brothers were still kids.
"Well, you do have very interesting childhood," I commented.
Nick turns to me, with that same soft smile, I can't deny it, it was adorable. I just had to give him a little nudge, a clue to soften a bit more.
The waiter comes and takes our order, I didn't even have to order my own plate. Nick and his parents were in no doubt, a VIP here, they knew what to order for a family size.
"Trust me, Selena, you do not want to order one whole plate for yourself," Mr. Jonas tells me, "They have the freshest seafood in the whole town, and their servings are too big for one person."
"Oh yea, we had that experience on our first date here, right sweet heart?" Mrs. Jonas smiles with sweetness, reaching out to hold Mr. Jonas's hand on the table.
I looked at them, so in love still and so supportive of one another after all these years. I'm envious for their love, I wish to have someone like that when I'm their age.
Reminds me of Nick.
