The woman frowned, taken aback. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any harm. I didn’t realize I had done that.”
Rather than respond, I stood up and walked outside with Sunny to get some air. She leaned her head on my shoulder, and I kissed the top of it.
My reaction in there was probably a bit overboard; my emotions were out of whack with my impending departure. I guess I felt like I needed to stick up for Sunny now because I wouldn’t be able to do it later.
After I’d grabbed my bearings and walked back inside, the sight of a smiling Carys brought me back to the present. She approached us with her cart full of food.
“This place is great. Sorry I’m taking so long. I just never get to do this.”
“I know. That’s why I gave you space. Take your time.”
“Oh, no. I’m done. Let’s go check out so we don’t miss the sunlight.”
After we got back to the house and put away the food, Carys took Sunny into their room to change.
Carys emerged wearing a sundress that covered the swimsuit underneath. The tie of her swimsuit was knotted around the back of her neck. Sunny wore a little polka dot bathing suit with a hat to match.
I pulled on the edge of Sunny’s hat. “Are you ready for the beach?”
She wriggled her legs and squealed.
While they were getting ready, I’d packed snacks and drinks into a cooler. We loaded the car and headed out. The beach was only a few minutes down the road.
After we parked, we found the perfect spot on the sand, a ways away from the nearest group of people.
We laid down a blanket, and Carys pulled out the beach toys I’d bought.
My attention briefly wandered to a Jack Russell terrier playing in the sand.
When I turned back around to look at Carys, she’d removed her sundress. My heart raced as I took in her bikini-clad body. I’d been looking forward to and dreading this moment at the same time. Immediately, the sight of her pert breasts straining through the fabric of her top reminded me of the way they’d tasted the night I sucked them into my mouth, reminded me how perfectly they’d fit into my palms. My hands tingled with the need to touch the taut, peachy skin of her stomach. Her body couldn’t have been more perfect. I hadn’t ever seen her so undressed in broad daylight. I couldn’t stop staring. When my eyes met hers and she blushed, I realized she knew exactly what I’d been thinking.
“I was gonna put on sunscreen,” she said. “But I don’t think there’s a need, since the sun isn’t that strong right now. I put plenty on Sunny back at the house, though.”
I knew it would kill me to touch her, but the opportunistic side of me couldn’t contain itself.
“Better safe than sorry.” I grabbed the bottle. “Let me.”
Carys slid over, and I began massaging the lotion onto her back. She had the smoothest skin I’d ever touched. My dick immediately stood at attention in my swim shorts. This was not good. After I finished, I turned away to focus on the Jack Russell again, hoping my erection would subside before she noticed.
“Can I put some on you?” she asked.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Now there was no chance of my dick downsizing. The feel of her soft hands rubbing over my back was fucking heaven.
I let out a frustrated breath as she continued.
“Thank you,” I said when she stopped. I didn’t turn around, though, not wanting her to see that I was hard.
Focusing on some seagulls, I worked to distract myself. When it was finally safe to turn around, I noticed Sunny slapping her hands in the sand. She was having a freaking ball.
Over the next several minutes, Carys ran back and forth to the shore to grab water in the buckets.
I couldn’t contain my smile. “I can’t believe this is Sunny’s first time at the beach. I’m so glad she likes it.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna have to find a way to take her more often—not exactly easy when you live in the city.”
After grabbing my bucket, I built a sandcastle that Sunny soon mashed down into nothing. We were having the best time. People looked at us and smiled, probably assuming we were a family. In a way, we are. A pseudo-family. From almost the very beginning, Carys and Sunny had felt like family to me, though I’d tried hard to resist that feeling.
Sunny enjoyed playing in the sand until we decided to take her for a dip before the sun went down and it got too cool. We took turns holding her as she splashed and laughed. I spun her around, her feet grazing the water, and lifted her over the small waves that came in. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had this much fun. Something about being around Sunny made you forget about all the unnecessary bullshit in the world. Her smile and laughter were contagious.
When we got back to our blanket, Carys wrapped Sunny in a towel and sat for a while, cradling her and looking out at the water. An ocean breeze blew her damp hair around. Carys’ strawberry blond hair looked more reddish brown when wet.
While they were chilling, I opened the cooler and cracked open a beer. I continued to watch them as they faced the water. I would never forget this peaceful snapshot in time. I will never forget them.
Droplets of water dripped down Carys’ smooth skin, and I wished more than anything I could lick them off. My dick twitched, and I scolded myself for turning what was supposed to be an innocent moment into something else.
When Sunny resumed playing in the sand, Carys turned toward me, her lean body now facing mine, providing a clear view down her top. My eyes were glued, my ogling obvious. I couldn’t help it. She was so fucking beautiful.
The next thing I knew, a pile of wet sand hit me in the face. I’d been so wrapped up in eye-fucking Carys, I hadn’t noticed Sunny getting ready to propel it toward me. That woke me up for damn sure. Carys and I broke into laughter, and Sunny squealed.
I should’ve been completely content, but there was a tightness in my chest that wouldn’t subside. Pretty sure it was my brain battling with my heart.
* * *
Later that evening, Carys took a shower while I watched Sunny out in the living room. Lately, Sunny had been holding on to furniture and trying to walk. But I never expected to see her take a few steps toward me on her own. She fell on her butt soon after, but it was a valiant effort.
Carys had told me that while many babies walk by the time they’re a year old, there could be a delay with Sunny. Kids with Down’s typically walked later on average, closer to two. At fifteen months, Sunny was apparently ahead of the curve, because she was definitely attempting it.
I turned on the TV and kicked my feet up, never expecting to see her moving toward me again from the corner of my eye. I soon realized she wasn’t holding on to anything. One foot in front of the other, Sunny was walking toward me.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I said, moving my feet off the ottoman.
Struggling to balance, with a wide stance and wobbly legs, Sunny had a huge smile on her face. My heart raced as I reached my hands out to receive her. Her smile grew bigger until she landed in my arms.
Oh my God. Sunny had officially walked. She walked. She was walking. Holy shit. I’d just witnessed her first steps, and Carys was in the damn shower! She’d missed the whole thing.
Lifting Sunny up, I rushed over to the bathroom door and knocked. “Carys!”