Chapter 12: A New Beginning

Sara’s phone chirps and she looks at the incoming text message.

Barry: It’s official. I’m single.

Sara: I’m sorry. No I’m not, not really. Are you OK?

Barry: I’ll be better if you agree to go out on a first real date with me on Saturday.

Sara: I can’t. The kids.

Barry: Thought of that already. You and the kids be ready at 9:00. Wear comfortable clothes and good walking shoes. We’ll be outside most of the day.

Sara: Really?

Barry: Absolutely. I’ve been thinking about this since the day Tammy filed. Send me your address.

At 9:00 on the dot Barry pulls up to Sara’s house and knocks on the front door. A young lady that looks like a smaller, younger version of Sara opens the door.

Barry offers a big smile and says, “Hello, you must be Denise.”

“And you must be Mr. Barry,” she says as she opens the door wider and steps aside. “Come in.”

Barry enters the house and sees a boy peering around the corner.

“Hi,” he waves, “and are you Darren?”

The boy nods.

Denise says, “Mom is almost ready. She said I should offer you some coffee.”

“That sounds great,” says Barry, “lead the way.”

Denise leads Barry into the kitchen and pulls a mug off a hook on the wall. She pours what is left in the coffee pot into the mug and hands it to him before asking, “Cream or sugar?”

“No, thank you. Black is fine.”

Darren is still hiding behind the corner and Denise has taken a seat the table.

Barry teases, “I have something for the two of you. Do you want it now or later?”

Darren’s eyes light up, “Now!”

“Well, come here and take a seat.”

Darren scampers to the table and takes a seat.

Barry reaches into a pocket in his cargo shorts and pulls out two small bags with a small tie holding them shut. He hands one to each child.

They both rip them open and see the contents at the same time. They are sunglasses with a dark blue rim and the Six Flags logo shown on each earpiece. A safety strap connects one ear with the other.

Darren doesn’t understand as he looks between the glasses, his sister, and Barry. Denise sees his look and correctly announces, “I think it means we’re going to Six Flags today.”

Once Darren hears the news he tears off down the hall yelling, “Moooommmmm, we’re going to Six Flags. Look at what Mr. Barry brought me.”

A few minutes later Darren reappears in the kitchen followed by his mother. Barry’s mouth goes dry and even though he is seated his legs turn to rubber. He just stares at Sara as she makes her way toward the table. She is wearing a light blue sleeveless top. It’s not sheer but the material is light enough that he can make out the faint lines of a lacy bra underneath. Her shorts are white and they match the white tennis shoes on her feet. Her hair is pulled back into a pony tail giving no obstruction to her incredible green eyes and ever-so-enticing smile.

“Good morning! I see you’ve met Denise and Darren. And already bribed them to be on your side,” Sara playfully chides.

Barry gathers his wits and stands. He takes a step toward Sara and gives her a hug, feeling the same electricity he felt when they shook hands. She pulls him tightly for the briefest moment before releasing him and backing away.

“Let me clean the coffee pot and then we’ll get going,” Sara says.

The foursome get to Six Flags a few minutes early and are one of the first to enter the park when the gates open. Sara and Barry let the kids choose all the rides that day. The only exception was Barry’s insistence that they have to ride a roller coaster as a foursome.

“It’s why you have the glasses with the safety strap,” he explains. “It’s so you don’t lose them when we go upside down.”

Darren’s eyes go wide in fear.

“Don’t be a baby,” calls out Denise. “We’re all going to do it.”

They get in line for the coaster and the three of them all try to keep Darren’s mind preoccupied so he won’t back out of going on the ride, or worse, make himself sick thinking about what is about to happen.

As the train that they are to board rolls to a stop in front of them Barry says, “Hey big man, why don’t you ride with me and keep me safe during the ride.”