Walks on The Beach

Chapter One

"I'll have a Corona, no lime please," Terry said as he set down to the bar.

The bar tender a short Spanish looking man, nodded his head as a yes to his request.

Terry looked around the beach bar. Only a few people setting in the bar, the rest were out on the deck soaking up the sun. It was a beautiful day in Georgetown Grand Cayman, as it always was. A warm eighty five degrees with a slight breeze filtering the sea air into the bar.

"You here on vacation senor?" The bartender asked him as he set his beer on the bar in front of him.

"No, business," Terry replied, trying to keep the conversation short.

"Ahh, very nice. You stay long?"

"Couple a days," Again trying to keep it short, not wanting to divulge too much information, for fear of a setup of some sort. Terry had traveled the Caribbean enough to know the less they know about you the better.

"My name is John," The bartender said with a thick Spanish accent as he held out his hand over the bar.

"Terry," He replied, a little hesitant to give out his name.

"Nice to meet you Tairey."

"Nice to meet you Juan," Terry replied as he shook his hand.

"John," He replied with a smile.

"Yes Juan," Terry replied with a slim smile.

"No senor, John. With a jay, no double-u. As you Americans would say John Wayne."

"J as in John, not Juan," Terry asked, clarifying.

"Yes senor."

"Was you born in America?" Terry asked, noting that it was unusual.

"No senor, I was bone in Me-heco." John responded with a smile.

Terry pondered this for a moment as John stared at him with a patient smile. As odd a name for a Spanish speaking man borne in Mexico it was, Terry wanted to pry farther for a reason, if any for this. Why did this puzzle him so? He had no clue, it really was just a name. He decided to let it go, having no desire to have a conversation as it was.

"John, good to meet you. I'll let you know if I need anything."

"Yes senor," John said as he nodded and walked to the other end of the bar to wait on a tourist.

He pulled a long drink from the bottle. It wasn't his favorite beer but he had tried others that were less than satisfying. This was a safe choice that wouldn't make his stomach churn the rest of the night. He could tell it was the couple's first time here. Probably their first time out of the United States. They were giddy and talkative to John, which still nagged his temporal lobe. Why would a mother name her child - born in Mexico, an American name? It made no sense to him. Maybe there is a family significance to it he contemplated.

He looked at his watch, two hours till his meeting with the sellers. This purchase was important to him. One point six million, the most dollar amount he had ever signed for a client. Not that he was nervous, but the satisfaction of his client would usher more high-end clients in the future. Which meant traveling to other countries more often than he does now. It's what he loved about his job, he travels to exotic places on other people's finances.

John was still down at the other end of the bar talking to the couple. Terry watched as he asked them many questions. How long you two here for? Where you from? Is this your first time etc. The whole conversation made him uncomfortable for them. He wanted to pull them off to the side and give them a little traveling advice – less is better. Just as he was seriously considering it a women set next to him at the bar. She was obviously and American, going by her clothes and her white skin, a little pudgy and very pretty he thought. Not that any of this should matter to him, he hadn't dated in seven years at least. Since his divorce he had become somewhat reclusive. One of the many things that had changed in him. He used to be the nine to five guy. Home every night and would off never thought of leaving the country. Funny how circumstances shift over time. He has been out of the country twice in the last month and some of his clients he is sure are not on the up in up.

He looked at the women and give a partial smile as she looked at him with a big smile and said.

"It's a beautiful day isn't it, I love this beach…

Crap he thought to himself, I should of never looked at her, she's a talker. She must off maundered for a good two minutes before she closed her lips. Did she ask a question he thought? Maybe she's just being nice, if I give her a simple short response she'll leave me to my beer and solitude.

"It is a nice day, pretty much always like this." Terry responded shortly.

"Oh so you've been here before?" The lady asked cheerfully.

Uhg, Terry thought again, I give her an opening. Ok, a short and simple response, briefly look at her, answer and then look away.

"Yes," He said. Can't be any shorter than that he thought, that should do it.

"On vacation or business?" She replied with a hope full expression.

If I answer business, she'll ask what I do he contemplated.

"Vacation." Again short, hoping she will get the message.

"So you like it here? At least enough to come back."

"Yes, it's a great place to find solitude," He said, thinking that should give her the message. If that is possible.

"Hello senorita, what would you like?" John the bartender greeted.

"Hi, I'll have a Pina colada. And, can I see you food menu?"

Definitely a tourist Terry thought, order something original. At least she didn't order a Sex on the Beach, that's like saying I want to get lucky.

"Absolutely senorita, if you're looking for something light may I suggest the crab pecan salad. It goes good with a Pina colada."

"That sounds great, thank you. I'll have that." She cheerfully said.

"Muy bien senorita." John said pulling a glass from underneath the counter.

"So you've been here before," The lady stated, continuing our conversation. Witch Terry did not want to do.

"Yah, I like it here. Everyone's so friendly," He said with slight sarcasm, wishing she would leave him to his beer.

"Yes they are. Oh, I'm Ann."

"Terry, nice to meet you Ann."

"Your Pina-Colada senorita," John said as he set it on the bar.

"Woe - that's a lot of Pin- Colada," Ann replied wide eyed.

"Specially for you, because you are a bright flower in a beautiful sunrise."

"Thank you, that is so sweet."

"You very welcome, and if you need anything else my name is John."

"I will let you know Juan if I do, thank you so much."

"John, senorita."

"Yes Juan, thank you."

Terry grew a smile as he recently had this conversation with John, which he pronounces Juan. This should be interesting he thought, will Ann let it go or will she pursue it as she has a conversation with him.

"No senorita, it is said - John." John the bartender replied.

Ann looked at Terry who had a gentle smirk on his face and then looked back to John.

"Ok, I'm missing something. Your name is Juan, but you want to be called..?

"John, with a jay not a double-u. Like John Wayne," John says with a smile.

"John, with a jay. But you're Spanish, right?" Ann asked inquisitively.

"Yes, from Me-heco." John said still smiling.

"And you want to be called John – with a jay?"

"I am John – with a jay," John stated with certitude.

"I will let you know John with a jay if I need anything."

"Yes senorita."

Ann turned and looked at Terry who was contently smiling.

"So, from the look on your face and that satisfying smile you already had that conversation earlier. So please tell, what is the reason JOHN is John not Juan pronounced with a double-u?

"No clue, I was hoping you would get farther than I did."

"And when he tells you John, he says it with a wa not a ja, so it took me a moment to catch on."

"Yup, his accent doesn't help him pronounce it. And as you, I asked if he was born in Mexico."

Ann looked at Terry and scrunched her face in speculation. He found this an adorable act on her part. Up to this point she annoyed him, but her expression made him smile.

"So the question is why – does John from Mexico called John not Juan with a double-u sound?" Ann posed the question they both pondered.

"That is the question," Terry smiling, "But the answer we may never know," He finished in a mystical voice.

"I will not rest till I have the answer," She replied in kind.

Terry looked at his watch and said, "Well I need to go, don't tipple too many Pina-Coladas on it. See ya around." Terry said as he threw a ten dollar bill on the bar and stood up.

"See ya around, nice talking to you," Ann said with a smile.

Terry's feet sunk in the hot white sand as he stepped of the bar floor. A lady walked by him and he noticed that she sported crocks on her feet. He never understood why people go to the beach and wear any form of shoes. It was one of the things that drew him to the beach. He walked on profiling the tourist and residents. You could always tell the tourist's from the residents. The tourist would most likely have a shirt that would say something about the Caribbean that they picked up at the last port or souvenir shop. Many would have Corona across their chest, confessing their favorite Mexican beer. Himself, he would have a Red Stripe, a Jamaican brewed lager beer. It was smoother with a fine finish, his opinion of course.

He could see his hotel up the beach a little. It was really more like a two story motel. Quaint little fifteen room bed and breakfast, sitting about two hundred yards of the shore line. A winding white sand path with teal clay half cylindrical pieces lining it led to the building. Its faded red roof with matching shutters on white brick walls made it one of the more snug places on the beach. Also one of the more pricey ones. The owners were an older British couple that had lived on the island their whole life. Very charming down to earth people who were also friends of his clients. This meant that their room n board was more than likely free, a favor to a friend.

He glanced at his watch, three o clock. He would have to be in a cab on his way to the house in an hour. Plenty of time to shower and go over the paper work. He pulled his phone out of his blue and green camouflage shorts pocket. Might take a while to retain a cab for the trip.

Terry started up the winding path to the hotel as a man answered.

"This is Alejandro's cab, how may I help you?" A Spanish speaking man answered.

"Seriously Alejandro-you need to come up with a name, Alejandro's cab doesn't work," Terry replied with a slight laugh.

"Tear-de, how you doing, would you like a ride?"

"I would, by four o clock. I'm staying at The Isle's."

"No problem Tear-de. Four o clock at the Isle's, see you then."

Terry swiped end call with his thumb and went on into his room.