Building Alliances

A high pitched whine, followed by dainty barking pierces Melody’s ears, startling her awake. Her body shudders, arms flail upward, as Melody’s heart pounds against her ribcage, her chest expands rapidly, then she realizes it’s Pearl. The nine week old English cream Golden Retriever, is sounding off, alerting the whole house, she is here, awake, and needs to go outside. A smile spreads across Melody’s face, her whiskey-green amber eyes, soften and melt gazing at Pearl. “Hi sweetie,” Melody’s voice cracking, softly speaking. She rises from bed, shimmying her feet into some slip on sneakers, and wraps a light long grey sweater over her body.

Pearl is freed from her wire crate, into Melody’s arms, holding her close, her warm body, melts into Melody’s heart. She can feel Pearl’s heart beating against hers. A precious life, to savor and care for.

Melody deactivates the alarm, and latches pearls leash on, the front door swings open with a gentle pull. Melody moves hurriedly down the cement steps to the beach. Pearl’s little paws reach the sand quickly. Melody offers praise and a treat, after Pearl releases her bladder.

“Melody, is that you?” A woman’s southern stern voice is heard to Melody’s left. She smiles, as she steps further from the house.

“Azalea, it is me, It’s been ten years hasn’t it!” Melody walks towards her neighbors house, feet sinking slightly in the sand, with each step, Pearl tagging along, wagging her tail. Melody embraces the familiar woman momentarily.

“Ten years yes it has, How are you doing? Did your grandmother just pass away?” Azalea inquires sympathetically.

A somber nod, from Melody is all Azalea needs for confirmation. “Yes she passed on recently and left me the house. I’m going through a divorce, I picked a bad husband,” Azalea provides a comforting arm around Melody. “I have two children with me, a new puppy and a career as a graphic designer.”

“Well, good news second right! Kids, a puppy, and a career, sounds like you have all you need.” Azalea’s voice produces rolling laughter, which may have been heard a mile awhile over the roaring ocean waves, splashing and crashing at the sea.

Morning, around fifty degrees, a salty breeze moves Melody’s hair, bringing freedom to mind, and makes its way into her lungs, causing a deep inhale. Gazing to her right, a peachy golden sun casts a neon carrot hue, in the sky whilst peaking above deep blue waters, as if cradled by the sea. Melody’s eyes matching the color of grass and mud, rest there, appreciating and admiring. Her feet feel the grit of sand sifting through the grey mesh sneakers. Melody glances at Azalea’s sunflower garden clogs, “I like your shoes, do those help keep sand out, I may need to get some.” Melody asks.

Azalea, exposes more rolling laughter, a woman fifteen years older than Melody, her old vacation neighbor, had on occasion been her sitter, a mentor, and a friend. A trusty confidant.

Her blue-green eyes focus on Melody, softened, humored, her mouth remains in a smiling pose reaching her eyes. “Melody, not really, they’re more for gardening. Sand out of shoes is a trick, barefoot is always the other option.”

Melody, chuckles, observing Azalea’s caramel hinted brown hair, and bronzed skin, still slender and petite. “So how have you been, are you married, and your kiddos, how are they?”

“My kids have gone off to college, my husband is inside reading the paper, watching the waves from the window as he usually does.” Azalea responds. Pearl nudges Melody’s grey sneaker and clamps her little jaw on the top, threatening to sink her sharp teeth into them. Melody quickly scoops her up in her arms, gazing at the deep dark blue and neon carrot horizon. The peachy golden sun, rising a little. Another sandy breeze, flutters Melody’s hair, another reviving breath of the salty sea mist, loosening her lungs, lifting her mood, refreshing her mind.

“What is your puppy’s name?” Azalea asks, her eyes sending adoration to the squirming puppy, which seems to want on the ground to explore and meddle, instead of being held.

“Her name is Pearl! My seven year old daughter; Mia thought of it!”

Azalea reaches for Pearl, “Pearl, aren’t you so precious, are you bored in Momma’s arms, can I hold you? Come see Aunty Azalea!” Melody releases the white pup to her trusty confidant.

Azalea embraces Pearl, gushing and melting just as Melody has, “Look at you, Pearl, you have hazel golden brown eyes, white fur, and a little black wet nose.” Azalea snuggles Pearl, in a rocking motion, like she’s a baby.

Leo appears at the screen door, his figure barely visible through the black netting. “Mom, can I come outside with you?”

A giggle expels from Melody, “Yes you may, thank you for asking first!”

“Oh my goodness, look at this fella here, what a handsome boy! He’s a spitting image of you! What is your name?”

“I’m Leo and you are?” he says, not so trusting, wincing almost glaring skeptically.

“Oh, Leo, my name is Azalea. I’m a old neighbor of your Mom’s, I at some point used to babysit her, I also knew your great-grandmother; Adalee. Are you protective of your momma?” Azalea mentions, her feet grounded in the sand, hip width apart, spine straight and chest open, still bracing Pearl in her calloused gardening hands. Small creases around her eyes, show years of happiness living by the sea, her face mostly smooth. Leo looks the woman over releasing tension in his body, reading her like a book, comes to ease at her presence, and the hinting reassuring approval from his mother’s demeanor.

“Ok, nice to meet you, Azalea, I didn’t know my great grandmother, Our dad is kinda mean and we didn’t see much family or really leave Denver much.” Leo stammers in his words a little, feelings a spite towards his father create a rise in the fella, a burning sensation forms in his chest, a knot in his stomach. His eyes wince until he gazes towards his mom, then a calmness sweeps over him, his frustration dissipates. His mother’s tanned forehead bears stress lines from years of toxic weight and abuse, her once hunched guarded body, stands taller and at ease whilst the peachy-golden sun adds sparkle to her whiskey-green amber eyes. His tender eyes, find solitude in her unconditional unwavering love. Her ability to bring joy and happiness, and fun to his life despite his father’s possessive restricting grip.

Azalea, nods, “I’m sorry to hear that, bud. But you’re here at the beach now, Are y’all just on vacation or are you moving here.” Her focus switches to Melody.

“Yes, this beautiful resilient pastel blue cement dome by the beach will be our home now! I’ve missed the beach all these years while living in Denver but was also preoccupied with life, a career, husband and kids.” Melody replies, her back straight, body in a relaxed but firm stance.

“We’re here full time as well, my kids, will visit sometimes, when they get a chance. Gerald still works, I take care of the home and work part-time. It’s a nice life here except for when the storms hit. Your right that house is resilient, that dome shape enables the hurricane winds to wrap around thus causing less damage, plus it’s cement.” More laughter pours out of Azalea, her happy soul brings peace, and safety to Melody.

The white screen door swings open as four foot Mia bursts out of the house, still in pajamas, no shoes. The screen door slams shut with a squeak and a loud click. She flies down the cement steps. “Mommy, I woke up to an empty house!” Mia runs towards Melody, with a worried expression her face, whilst Melody chuckles quietly to herself, her daughter’s impulsive personality astounds her.  “We’re here darling, we won’t leave without you. This is Azalea, an old neighbor, who sometimes babysat, Aunt Harmony and I, when we were younger.” Melody says kneeling down with a straight back embracing her daughter.

“So, you are Mia, and you’re seven?” Mia’s bright muddy ocean eyes stare at Azalea, who continues her sand rooted open chested stance, Mia rests in Melody’s arms, whilst twisting her lips to the side, and squinting her eyes, unsure of the neighbor lady conversing. “Yes ma’am, and Leo is nine, he’s two years older than me.”

 These kids, their father made them weary to interact with people, as anyone can be their safety net, or escape route.  Not to mention Melody instilling stranger danger.

Azalea giggles, “Well, Mia it is nice to meet you dear. I’ll be here next door. My husband Gerald is inside, he’s a nice trustworthy man, and we have grown children who sometimes visit.”

Mia nods in understanding, “You have Pearl, can I have her! She’s going to be a princess like me!”

Azalea, giving Pearl one last gentle squeeze, smiles to her eyes, before handing her to Mia, “Two princesses, wonderful! Are you sure you can hold her, she’s a little heavy!”

“Yes ma’am, I can, if not I’ll give her back to my Mom.” Mia responds innocently with confidence.

“Yes ma’am, I like that. Good manners, Mia, especially for a princess.” Azalea nods in approval and a sense of pride towards Melody, as if she rubbed off on her, or just proud of Melody for growing up well with respectful children.

“Well, Melody, I need to get back to my gardening and check on Gerald. I’m glad y’all are here, and let me know if you need anything. I can babysit sometimes too.” Azalea, bearing strength for Melody, in a firm stance to be a resource, a friend, someone to turn to, just next door.

“Thank you Azalea, I appreciate you. You what, this is a picture of my soon to be ex-husband,” showing a picture in her phone, tall slick jet black hair, combed back, deep dark icy blue eyes, like the Atlantic in the morning, menacing, in fancy attire. “Let me know if you see him around, he may find us. I have a restraining order against him, and  I’m working to dissolve the marriage. Exterior cameras will be installed tomorrow, just in case. He found us and knows where we our are, he hasn’t come here yet.” Melody begins to tremble, and tears surface on her eyes, she pushes the grief away, focusing on the orange blue horizon, rolling waves, crashing at the shore, as Azalea comforts her. “ Did he look that way, when you met him?” Melody, shakes her head, “No, he projected sweet kindness towards me, charming façade for a few years, sometimes after the kids were born, his dark personality became apparent.”

“Alright, I’m going to show this to Gerald,” Azalea holding Melody’s phone. “You should connect with the police department over here, and let them know what’s going on, so they can look out for him and help you. Especially if you have a restraining order. They could stop him in his tracks.”

Melody, braces tension and fear at the thought of Blaze, her chest tightens, a knot in her stomach, a terrified look in her eyes, “I didn’t think of that. I’ll go tomorrow.”

“Listen, Melody, let’s exchange numbers, and you can send me this picture and I’ll show it around to the other neighbors ok. Some of them are still here from when y’all used to visit. Others are newer! We have a nice community here.” Azalea reassures Melody.

Melody’s chest loosens, the knot disappears, her eyes relax, inhaling the ocean spray, and marveling. She finds refuge, from the sea, the cottage, a quiet known community, a past reliable person, who takes her back in time, and brings her childhood back to her, as well as her own hope for a new life.

“Ok, that is fine,” Melody tucks her hair behind her ears, then types in Azalea’s phone number, sends the photo and saves her number. Azalea gives her a hug, “Stay strong, Melody, you’ve come this far, you already left him, your home now. It will pass, like the hurricanes on the beach.” Azalea’s sunflower garden shoes sink in the sand, as she walks to the grey stone path, to her white door.

“Mom, we’re hungry and ready to eat.” Leo says, groaning a little, whilst speaking for his sister as well.

“Ok, let’s go inside and make breakfast,” Melody says, stroking Leo’s Chestnut locks, “we’ll take it easy today and stay by the cottage. I’m going to have some kites delivered from the store, we’ll come back out, and spend the day on the beach. Maybe barbeque.”

“Awesome, thanks mom, you’re the best.” Leo exclaims, walking hurriedly inside. “Hey, Mia as you come in and outside, I need you to be careful with the door, handle it gently and carefully, it will wear out sooner or break, if it slammed shut often. So, Let’s practice, opening and closing with ease.”

Mia sighs, “Sorry Mom.” Mia opens the screen door, and closes it gently.

Monday morning rolls around like the first wave of a calm sea — unhurried, inevitable, already reshaping the shore before you open your eyes. Today Melody resumes work, the first day working remotely as a graphic designer. The kids have eaten, a schedule has been made to potty train Pearl, she stays in her crate at night, and some throughout the day. An alarm goes off, a bell at the door.  A treat is given, with lots of excitement and praise. Pearl will learn to ring the bell when she needs to go. Melody and the kids spend time outside, she’s on her laptop, Pearl’s chasing after the children. Mia and Leo, hold the plastic handles, throwing their kites up, and run along the shoreline, barefoot. Dissipated waves, spill their way, washing the white sand from their feet. The kites catch the wind, they unwind the skinny white string, providing slack. “Look Mom, our kites are flying.” Leo shouts!

“Way to go kiddos!” Melody cheers on from her hot pink beach chair, then resumes her attention on her computer screen, checking the children frequently, mostly out of the corner of her eye. A second nature behavior, multitasking that occurs for most moms. Focusing on a task, but always ensuring her children’s whereabouts and safety.

Leo’s kite, blue and green, with a green ribbon like tail, fluttering in the wind, whilst Mia’s is pink and purple, with a purple tail. Giggling, running, Pearl chasing, kite flying, Melody captures their ephemeral fun by the Sea.

Aromas of salt, sand, sea and honey suckle float Melody’s way. The sweet and salty east coast fragrance takes Melody back in time, memories at the cottage with her grandmother, she and Harmony did these very same activities as children. Playing at the beach, with Hunter their golden retriever, building sand castles, flying kites, collecting seashells. What youthful bliss. Clouds loom over head, light grey to blue, like it may rain but not yet. The sky light blue to white, rests above the choppy aquamarine waters. No sun, it’s hiding behind clouds. Melody checks the forecast, feeling moisture in the air but that’s normal by the beach and any coastal region. Light to medium rain expected. The kids switch to building sand castles, cool air swoops in. Melody’s eyes like brown and green marbles, resonate on the lap top, creating a design for her company. A logo which will be displayed on a billboard advertising the company and their product. She must finish this, a sense of accomplishment and pride, fills Melody’s soul, fulfillment, I can do all this on my own.

Melody glances at the children, working together, pouring damp sand into the orange, blue, pink and yellow; plastic castle molds. They flip them over, patting the structure down, smoothing rough patches, cracked, or weak spots. “Great teamwork kids!” Melody yells encouraging words!

Mia in a hot pink swimsuit, with a white terry romper, on her knees in the sand, slightly bent over towards the sand castle, wind fluttering her chestnut locks, glances over at Melody, smiling, “Thanks Mom.”

Melody snaps more photos, They only get one childhood. Make it a good one.

The kids’ kites lays on the white sand while Pearl’s curiosity strikes, right here at the kites, fluttering a little, her mouth in a split second moves to Mia’s kite, grasping it, then takes off running away, dragging the kite beside her. The kite appears bigger than Pearl, her lips peeling back a little revealing sharp white puppy teeth, she manages to maintain a hold as wind battles the kite, opposing Pearls direction. “Hey, Pearl, that’s not yours. A princess does not bite kites and run!” Mia briefly placing her hands on her hips, brows furrowing, then quickly chases after the white golden retriever. Leo hops up, to capture the sneaky little puppy. Melody observes the scene and decides she should help. The three quickly reach Pearl, Melody scoops her up, and says, “Drop it!” Pearl tilts her head, tender honeyed coffee eyes, peer into Melody’s. She releases the kite from her mouth, Mia reaches for the kite, rubbing her head, furrowed brows, saddened eyes find Melody’s, “Is it messed up, Can I still use it.”

“We can get you another,” Melody stroking Mia’s chestnut locks, explains “I’m sorry, puppies are mischievous, they like to tamper with our belongings, chew things and get into things. She will make a mess, we need to keep things out of her reach and be patient with her until she learns. Ok.” Melody, snuggles Pearl close, breathing in her puppy scent. Pearl licks Melody’s face, while wagging her tail. She breathes in the ghost of Pearl’s breakfast, a beefy crumb smell, that only dogs should like.

The sky darkens, looming clouds shift around forming a grim appearance, the wind picks up, and Leo’s unattended kite attempts to make an escape in the wind. He quickly captures it like a Frisbee thrown his way. He exhales in relief.

Melody glances up at the sky, seeing changes, “Kiddos we need to go inside, it’s going to rain. Gather your toys please and we will put them in the sun room porch.” Melody had quickly slipped her laptop into its waterproof case, before chasing after Pearl. With Pearl in one arm, she lifts the laptop case with her left arm, turns back towards the kids waiting as they put the sand toys in a  waterproof blue tote. The kids sprint for the pastel blue cement dome cottage and race up the cement steps. Their new home, a sanctuary by the beach, where they can laugh freely and play with a new puppy.

Moments after entering the sun porch, the clouds unleash, some heavy rain, pouring in sideways, against the windows, washing the sand away. “Well we made it inside just in time. Do y’all want some lunch, sandwiches and veggies perhaps, or maybe some macaroni and cheese? Let’s go see what, we will eat.”  Melody motions for the children to head to the kitchen. A light and airy kitchen, featuring white cabinetry, butcher block countertops, like oak, a red brick wall adding warmth behind the oven and stove. A matching kitchen island sits between the fridge and cooking area, and sink. A window creates a view to the sunporch, and through the sunporch is a beach view. The rain outside pours harder, Melody leaves the curtains open, to watch.

Following lunch the rain lightens and dissipates. A knock at the door, the security company has arrived to install the exterior cameras. Stress and fear, from Blaze awaken. Melody, grounds herself picturing a grey rock, and the rushing waves of the sea.

Melody, manages to open a stuck drawer, which holds recipes of her grandmother’s,  Gumbo, coffee cake, and a bread pudding. Part of Tomorrow’s menu.

Tuesday evening, she blows on the soupy mixture on her spoon; rice, chicken, sausage, and broth. She made her grandmother’s gumbo. A favorite growing up visiting the cottage. She is now savoring with her children. Melody spent hours at the stove checking the broth, baking the chicken and sausage, boiling the rice and mixing it together. “What do you kids think? Do you like gumbo?”

“Yes, it’s good, because it’s your grandma’s recipe and you made it.” Mia replies in between bites.

“Mom it’s different than other things you made. It seems good to me.” Leo says calmly.

“Good, I’m glad you like it. We are going to the library tomorrow. It’ll be fun. My grandmother used to take my sister and I.” Meanwhile Pearl under the table, licks Mia’s toe and adds a little nip. Mia shrieks, Melody startled jumps out of her seat, kicking in her flight or fight response, in hyper vigilance. Her heart races, adrenaline pumping, her hunger has vanished. “Mommy, Pearl licked my toe.”

Melody laughs hysterically, “Oh, is Pearl under the table. Melody kneels down, and scoops Pearl up. “ Hi little girl, are you hiding, does Mia’s toe taste good. You two finish eating, I’m going to take her outside. Ok.”

Melody steps outside. Pearl’s pink flower collar Mia picked, remains undisturbed. Melody holds the pink leash with ease as Pearl’s light body has no pull to it. A cool breeze whips around Melody, the warm golden sun sinks midway, not quite time for sunset but nearing. A light blue long beach sweater, falls past her dark blue denim cut offs, her bronzed bare feet plant firmly in the white sand, with each step. Melody can taste salt in her mouth as she breathes in the sea. Her chestnut locks, jostled by the moist sandy breeze, behold hints of sand.

The kids emerge from the cottage just behind Melody, quickly catching up. “Hey Kiddos, do y’all want to join us!”

“Yes!” the pair responds in unison.

Melody and her family, pup included, are in between the houses and moist shoreline, not close enough for feet to get wet, and close enough to see neighbors outside. She looks to her right, noticing a couple, outside a few houses down. She waves and navigates over two them. “ Hi, I’m Melody, my children Leo, and Mia, our puppy, Pearl, and I live in that pastel blue dome, a few house down.”

“Well, Hello, I’m Judy and this is Ed, we’ve been here a few years. It’s nice to meet ya’ll. It is quite lovely here. Did you just move in? Wait, a minute the pastel blue cement cottage. You’re the one Azalea messaged about, the bad husband your hiding from. She sent us a picture, he looks rather mean. We’ll keep an eye out and alert authorities if we see him.”

“Wow, news travels fast. It’s nice to meet you. We’ll be out on the beach quite often throughout the summer. “Do y’all have any children?”

The couple who look in their early thirties, “Yes we have a two year old, she’s already asleep inside.” Just smiling, “We’re out ready to enjoy the sunset. You be careful there.”

“Thank you, have a nice evening.” Melody replies as she and the children stroll on. “Let’s walk closer to the shore!”

“Ok,” Mia moves with excitement.  

“Kiddo, I think it’s important for the neighbors to be familiar with us, we’ve only been here since Friday, but we’ll get acquainted and learn whose safe and who isn’t. We’re not here to be isolated. I’m sure there will be kids for y’all to play with as well. Especially when school resumes in the fall.”

“School, Mom we just finished, I don’t think we need to worry about it yet.” Leo groans a little, as if Melody is wiping out his summer vacation.

“There’s probably a summer reading list, to help prepare you for next year. We can see at the library tomorrow.”

Leo sighs reluctantly, “Ok, I may want to look at science books and weather stuff.”

“Hmm, Are there princess books there. Have you been to the library?” Mia asks, holding Melody’s hand.

“I’m sure there are, I went to the same library over the years when we visited. We’ll see tomorrow.” Melody replies.