The Big Cheese by Andrea C. Neil

Author:Andrea C. Neil [Andrea C. Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 1631 Press, LLC
Published: 2024-01-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

“When can we go to the beach?” asked Roland as he slurped the remains of a green smoothie drink.

“No time for the beach,” said Delphine. It was a true enough statement, but she also didn’t have much patience these days for cross-town traffic. Driving to the airport to pick Roland up had been bad enough, but navigating coastal traffic would be even worse. She’d seen wars, explosions, and had even spent three days in a Swiss prison, but now, LA traffic was the most unbearable form of punishment of all.

“If everything works out, I will take you before you leave,” said Kenji, also slurping a green drink.

“You’ve got beaches in Florida,” said Delphine, grumpy that Kenji would go against her.

“Nuh-uh,” said Roland. “I keep telling you. It’s totally different here!” He placed his empty cup in a recycling bin, looked up at the clear blue sky, and took a deep breath. “This place has got a good vibe. Buena onda.” The last two words were uttered in perfect Spanish and Delphine gasped. “What?” he asked.

“I had assumed you were bad with all languages, but I suppose it’s just French.”

“I guess so,” he said, not seeming to give it as much thought as she was.

Delphine looked around at the booths and throngs of people browsing fresh produce, baked goods, and crafts. “I never thought the Pasadena Farmer’s Market was all that beautiful, but I guess seen in the right light…”

“I meant LA, smarty pants,” said Roland.

“He said you have smart pants,” said Kenji, laughing.

She’d suggested they go to the Farmer’s Market that afternoon, once they’d returned from downtown LA. She needed to be in a different environment to process what had gone on at the UCC, and taking a walk in the mild fall sunshine was just the ticket. Plus, she could pick up some fresh, locally grown vegetables. The drive from downtown had taken over an hour and once they’d collected Kenji, who had insisted on going along because he needed more bok choi, it was so late that some of the produce vendors were running out of things to sell and a few were beginning to pack up to leave.

The crowds were still heavy though, and at one point someone bumped into her, quite hard—enough to make her wobble for a moment. Her balance was still on point, since she practiced so much yoga and lifted weights, but it had been jarring nonetheless.

“Watch it, Grandma,” said the person she’d collided with, from behind them.

“Hey!” yelled Roland, who spun to address the offender. “Don’t talk to her like that!”

Delphine reached for his shoulder to stop him. “It’s okay,” she said. “Let it go. Happens all the time.”

“But that’s so mean!” said Roland, sounding incredulous.

“Old people don’t have feelings, so it is okay,” said Kenji.

Roland looked even more incredulous, if that were possible.

“He’s pulling your leg. Of course we have feelings. We’ve simply become a little more used to being invisible,” said Delphine.

“Sometimes it comes in handy,” said Kenji.

“Absolutely,” said Delphine.

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