Surrender

chapter 9

Chapter 9

            Sophie paid for her new cell phone. The saleswoman offered her a Bluetooth wireless ear set. Sophie shook her head. She wouldn't be needing that or the car charger or the fancy plastic phone case. She was just fine with the bare minimum. As she waited for her change, she found Chris browsing the tablet section, the bill of his cap bent low over his brow.

            He made her nervous. Nervous, but…safe. She didn’t believe there was a word in the English language that could describe how he made her feel. He'd startled her when she found him holding the picture frame cradling a memory of her and Sammy from two summers ago. He'd peeked into a private moment in her past, and she was angry at him and at herself for this. But she was relieved that he didn't know about Sammy and she cherished the fact that she didn't need to tell him. When she was with him, she didn't dwell on her past. She realized she could start a clean slate, create a new identity, forge a new friendship that was not riddled with painful memories of what had been the greatest and most devastating period of her short-lived life.

            Watching him from a distance, she convinced herself that this could be the start of something new.

            "Here is your receipt. Is there anything else I can help you with today, ma'am?" the saleswoman asked.

            "No, thank you. Have a great day," Sophie said as she tossed the cell phone into her purse.

            Sensing that she was done, Chris turned around and met her by the exit. 

            "All set?" he asked.

            "Yep. Did you find anything you like?"

            His broad shoulders shrugged, looking around at all the technology that surrounded them. "I prefer paper and pen. But that's just me. Being in constant contact with the world can be…"

            "Exhausting."

            "Exactly." He held the door open for her.

            If it hadn't been for her overbearing mother, Sophie would not have bought a new cell phone to replace the one that was now at the bottom of the ocean. If Sophie returned her mother's phone calls and showed up for Sunday night dinners every now and then, she didn't have to suffer through her mother's frantic visits consisting of manicured fists banging on double-chained doors, her mother's shrill voice echoing through the hallway of the third floor of her apartment building, Sophie being bombarded with an interrogation about her well being. Did you eat? How many hours of sleep are you getting? You really shouldn't stay up so late. Why is your refrigerator empty? Do you need money for groceries? How many times have I told you to sell this wretched apartment and move back in with me?

            Sophie had learned this the hard way.

            They started down the boulevard. The Atlantic Ocean rhythmically rolled in waves of shimmering seagreen and turquoise onto the beaches where vacationers and locals alike took part in the summer rituals of beach volleyball, surfing, and tanning. Chris pulled out a pair of sunglasses from his pocket, shielding his eyes from Sophie and the rest of the world.

***

Sophie took Chris to Kenny's Drink Shack. If they were going to visit all of the signature spots in town, they needed to stay hydrated. Kenny's Drink Shack was famous for its smoothies and frozen drinks. It was only late morning but Sophie could already feel the sun's rays beating down on her exposed shoulders.