Harvey Beach

The waves washed up into the shore, bringing seaweed and seashells to our direction. The sand felt nice on my feet and I dug them deeper into the sand as I glanced to the right. The love of my life looked back. Her blue pearls shone bright in the setting sun. Her hands tightened over my own and she leaned into my shoulder.

I knew she was tired. After a long day of walking and running, I knew she was ready to sleep. Her fiery orange-red hair flowing into rocks behind us. 

Harvey beach was our only escape. The only place where nobody rarely goes, except for one day out of the whole year where the annual carnival takes place. There is no specific reasoning for this Carnival. Maybe to bring everyone together? Me and Astrid gathered here with the rest of our small town almost every year, even when we didn’t know each other. Tomorrow was the big day. 

I looked back to Astrid and her eyes were closed. She had fallen into a light slumber. I pushed the escaped hairs out of her face and pulled her closer to me. 

“Are you ready to go home?” I whispered into her ear and caressed her red hair, playing with the strands. She gave me a slow nod. I stood, pulling her up with me. I gathered the blanket from the white sand and we walked back to the car which was up the big steps and through the many buildings and streets, leaving the ocean blue behind us. 

Our apartment wasn’t nice looking, but it wasn’t dirty either. The paper throughout the halls were peeling off. There wasn’t any mold or Mildew. No rats or cockroaches. Just an owner who doesn't give a shit. 

Inside our apartment it was a little nicer. We had convinced Bill, the owner, to let us redo the walls and which he agreed. Astrid collapsed into bed with a loud groan, “I'm so tired. You made me walk soooo much.” Shegot under the covers with her day close still on. I changed into PJ’s and crawled in next to her. I locked her in my iron grip. 

“We needed it.” I whispered in her ear. 

“Whatever. We could have stayed inside all day and watched Netflix…?” She said annoyed. 

“Well didn't you want to see the beach before it was trashed for the next few months? You know this town barely keeps up with anything.” I pressed. She knew I was right. 

“Ugh your right.” She sighed. She huffed and was silent. 

“Are you really mad?” I asked. I could see a grin play on the side of her face. 

“Very.” 

“How will you ever forgive me?” I said in the saddest voice I could manage without bursting into laughter. I waited for her response, but when I tapped on her shoulder she was already asleep. I quickly fell asleep as well. 

~Next Morning~ 

The scratchy ringing of my alarm clock jolted me awake. The clock read 7am, my usual time. The sun had already risen into the sky and was shining great rays of light through the cracks of the curtains. Astrid stood in the doorway. The light shone on her steady figure. “Finally you're awake.” She smiled and jumped on the bed. I yawned and stretched. 

“The festival is today.” She said excitedly. 

“Yep.” I said. 

“Annnd we are volunteers…” She bit her bottom lip excitedly. 

“Fuck, I forgot about that…” I groaned loudly and stretched. 

“I’ll get coffee ready.” She left the room and I got ready in my “Volunteer” outfit and pulled my sandy brown hair into a ponytail. The only reason I liked this festival was because it was at Harvey beach. That was the only place me and Astrid could be a couple because the town wasn’t really comfortable with lesbian relationship yet. They accepted, but in their own way and some did not accept at all. 

In the kitchen we got our coffees ready to go and we were on our way to Harvey beach. We walked down the same steps as yesterday evening, but today there were adults crowded around tubs and setting up tables. Me and Astrid gathered around one labeled “Bouncy house” and started airing it up. After a few hours of setting up the festival people started arriving. Newlyweds with a child on the way, teens in their honeymoon phase and old couples with children who were watching their children run through the sand and some wadding into the water. It was too cold to swim in the water, but great for dipping your feet in along the shore. I knew that Astrid wanted a child of our own and I knew it hurt her that she couldn’t have any. We’ve tried with many different doctors in many different places but Astrid can’t have kids and sadly neither can I. 

The local grill owner barbecued some dogs and burgers and some of the guests brought chips and bread and trays filled with food. Me and Astrid had changed into our normal clothes (we had brought some beforehand) so we could enjoy the festival as guests and not volunteers. 

“I always loved coming to this.” Astrid said, but she sounded kind of sad. 

“I always love coming here with you.” I stretched my arm around her shoulder. 

At sunset they started a bonfire with toasty marshmallows and melted chocolate. We had a laughing fit when Astrid burnt her marshmallow and it dropped to the ground and collected with the rest of the fire as the wind caught it and blew it in. I started to reach into the bag, but it was empty. 

“Hey, imma get more marshmallows.” I told Astrid and stood, kissing her on the head and walking off to the table of food. The setting sun burned my face and stung my cheeks. I knew I was going to have a nasty sunburn the next morning. I reached for the Marshmallows when a child walked up to me. She was panting and gasping for air, she used the table for support. I just assumed she was a child running from a sibling. 

“Hello.” I murmured, I didn't even look. She was about 13 or 14 and had short black hair. Her eyes were a dark sparkling brown and I knew something was wrong when I looked at her. Her hair was ruffled and twigs and leaves were poking through the knots. Her, what would be a cute uniform, was torn and her whole sleeve had been ripped off and was hanging from small strings clutching onto the rest of the outfit for dear life. 

“Miss I need he-help.” She whispered in a low terrified voice and crashed into me with a hug. I looked around me for any sign a parent was coming my way, but nobody did. What do I do? I don't know how to handle a distressed child? 

“I- Okay.” I patted her back. From the corner of my eye, Astrid was looking at me with a what-the-hell-is-going-on face. I shrugged and mouthed, “Help me.” and she immediately came my way. 

I knelt onto my knees and stared at the girl. There were tears streaming down her face. 

“Th-they l-left m-me.” She cried. 

“Hey, hey hey…” I said soothingly. “What's your name?” I asked. 

“Beatrice Montgomery.” Her voice shook. 

“Okay, I’m Aria. Okay? What happened?” I asked her and she cried harder. Astrid just reached me. 

“What-” She started and I pulled her away. 

“She just appeared and hugged me and I don't know what is going on.” I answered all her questions before she asked them. 

“Okay, uh. What do we do?” She crossed her arms and glanced at Beatrice. I knelt back in from of her. 

“Alright Beatrice. What do you need?” I asked. She tucked a black hair behind her ear and began her story. 

“My parents dropped me off at an orphanage uh 24 months ago a-and they said t-they would be back, but they still haven't come and gotten me. I e-escape to come look for them, but I’m lost in t-this...place and in something called a newspaper I saw that t-they d-died. ” She burst out in sobs. my heart broke for this girl. I couldn’t even imagine what she was going through. 

“O-okay what do you need from us?” Astrid asked next to me. 

“I need somewhere to stay.” She cried. 

“O-okay.” Astrid looked at me with a pleading look. I nodded and took her home and seated her on the couch. She quickly fell asleep after a nice long shower. 

~4 1/2 months later~ 

Beatrice is now our daughter.