The Jump

22 Good Friends

As they entered the door to the Riptide, they pretended that they hadn't just spent the last five minutes necking in front of the bar. Chuck greeted them cheerfully, ignoring Lucinda's flushed lips. He served them drinks as they sat down and just as Raif began to bring up his behavior from earlier that day, Chuck waved his hand and told him to forget about it.

"Isabel managed to calm me down and reasoned with me on how everyone is entitled to having a bad day," Chuck explained.

Isabel,who was still hanging around the bar, took a seat by Lucinda to let her tired feet rest. "Raif, you have my permission to knock Chuck silly the next time he mouths off at you."

"I was kind of a jerk to him though," Raif replied.

"Well, smack my husband anyway!" Isabel insisted.

Seizing the moment, Chuck turned around and bent over. "Go ahead, Raif, I've always wanted to be spanked by you."

The four of them burst into laughter and Isabel fanned herself as she said through giggles, "Can I be next?"

They laughed some more, and Chuck began filling shot glasses with tequila. He slid them over the bar to them and on his count to three, they slammed them back. Isabel was the last one to finish, so per the rules, she had to down another shot. She shook her head after swallowing the second shot and held her hand over her chest as it coursed its way through her esophagus. As their laughter settled between them all, Raif decided to explain to Chuck and Isabel what had been going on for the last few weeks.

"Good grief," Chuck said as Raif concluded.

"I always knew that woman was a wacko," Isabel added as she ran her fingers through her long silky black hair. "My grandmother always warned me about people with dark spirits. Which is why I stay away from Eaddie Harlow."

"Well your grandma also said I had a dark spirit, but that didn't stop you from marrying me," Chuck replied and then turned to Lucinda. "Her family is Cree Native American."

"My grandmother never said that!" Isabel laughed. "She said our spirits were connected by an intense force. Which is why at the age of eighteen I left home and married this guy, against my parents wishes," she said bumping Lucinda's shoulder with hers. "Can you blame them? Chuck is six years older than me and I was the typical teenaged Alaskan girl, falling in love with a jarhead stationed at the military base in our town. Dreaming of adventure."

"Well it has been an adventure," Chuck winked to her. "Just a different kind."

"Eventually my parents understood that we were meant to be together. We balance each other out and we created really amazing kids." A glazed, slightly drunk and happy look spread across Isabel's face. "If my grandmother were here today she would agree with me that you and Raif have that same force. I knew it the day I met you."

"Oh boy here she goes again. Don't listen to her Lucinda, she said the same thing to our son's girlfriend and then they broke up two weeks later," Chuck said rolling his eyes. "That 'force' was just teenaged lust."

"Ok, Mr. Smarty Pants!" Isabel placed her hands on her hips. "They got back together during their senior year didn't they?"

"Ugh! Yes, unfortunately." Then he directed to Lucinda. "I don't know what he sees in that girl, but they're in love." He quoted with his fingers.

"Oh hush!" Isabel waved her hands at him. "They make a great couple and I'm happy as long as my kids are happy, so if that girl makes my son happy then that's what matters to me."

Chuck began pouring another shot of tequila. "Woman, you needed another one of these. Maybe it'll put you to sleep..."

"I hope it does! Then I won't have to hear your snoring tonight!"