Punta Cana

What it was about the rolling blue waves maybe none of us could quite place. By the look of the beach goers, by the hundreds, that lined this strip along the Punta Cana coast, there wasn't need for questioning it for long. The sun beat down beautifully, like a gift of warmth that caressed your shoulders and fell over you face and made you feel like you were a child again, safe, innocent, warm. Blue was everybody's favorite color. The white sand was a grand blanket. I sat on my new favorite beach couch. It had become my lookout. The girls were bobbing in the surf. I had a Presidente. Miguel hadn't been seen in long enough to let the daddy guard down. I got to thinking about him again. There were few ways that Miguel would know who I was, a sleuth from the states, as you might say, although there was no real good term for observer of human nature and action anymore. Most of the romance in the last good long time had been sucked out of the American soul like a vampire feeding on itself. I got into it for two things, the mechanics and the romance. Why else I'd be sitting on a tropical island with my three beautiful daughters playing games with the casino outfit was a fair estimate how my world worked in general. I remembered being prepared for such things when I was a kid. I'd watch the toughs walk around with scowls and acting like they ran the program. I didn't like the bully types too much. I spent a good portion of my adult life making sure they knew some other folks were around, watching, maybe sticking up for the little guy, if that's the phrase you wanted. There was one person who knew who I was. The sun was heavy on my forehead. A young couple with nothing more than that two slips of white cloth walked by slowly, tan as leather, making sure we all saw the luxury. I took a sip of the Presidente and sent out a quick call to Sabrina. "Hola, Kane family," she said with a burst of both kindness and pep. "Sabrina, this is Jay, how is your day so far?" I asked. The girls would be disappointed if I suspected her of any of underhandedness. It hurt to make the call. "Sabrina, there are two things that I would like to look into for tonight, if you have the time." There was a moment's pause. We were on cellphones, no wi-fi on the tropical beach. "I am wondering if there is any babysitting service in the room, and whether I can book a seat at the casino tonight?" There would be one of two responses. A pause, to think or a strong effort to place me. There was a pause. "Oh, of course, let me look into it Mr. Jay." Just then a beach pan handler stopped out about five feet in front of me waving a box of fine looking cigars. I hadn't had one in a year. At the casino I would probably want to look like I knew how to smoke one.