The Survivors

Chapter 33-Sandcastles

"Daddy look!!"

I quickly look to my side to find Elliot's grinning face. His storm blue eyes sparkle in the sunlight with pure excitement. He points at his red bucket that is filled to the brim with packed sand. Then he spins around, his knees digging deeper into the sand. His sandy hands grip the edges of the bucket as he works hard to tip it over. I smile warmly and reach out, helping him a little bit since the bucket is too heavy.

"Oof," Elliot grunts when the bucket goes over. He throws his body on top of the bucket making sure it stays upright. He glances around still grinning excitedly and giggles as I make a funny face at him. "I'm making a sandcastle!" he tells me excitedly.

"I can see that," I chuckle lightly and lean back on my real hand. My metal one resting safely in my lap. I haven't been using it as much since I felt that tear yesterday. I'm just trying to be safe. Then he jumps off the bucket and carefully pulls it upwards revealing a giant cylinder of sand remaining. He gasps loudly and then tosses the bucket to the side sending sand everywhere.

I blink a couple times from the sand and sit up slowly while crossing my legs. I smile encouragingly at him, "Great job Ellie! That's a really good sand castle, I'm not sure if I can do that." He beams with joy standing up to admire his castle. Well it's not a castle yet, it's just a block of wet sand that's standing up. But who's the judge?

"Hey guys!"

I glance back seeing Jenny standing behind me. I smile at her, "Hi."

She glances down at me with a slightly blush on her cheeks, or that's just the sun's heat. Her blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail with pieces hanging down, framing her pretty face. She changed into a new outfit wearing jeans and a faded white t-shirt that seems a little big on her. Her grey sweatshirt is tied around her waist with the knot in the front.

"Mommy!! Look what I made!" Elliot exclaims and bounces for a second. Jenny's eyes lit up for him, "Wow! That's so good!"

Elliot giggles and bounces up to her, "I know! Daddy told me!"

"Hey Elliot... you say thank you," I remind him smoothly, shooting him a warning look.

Elliot nods quickly at them and turns his head up to Jenny, "Thank you Mommy!" he corrects himself happily.

Then Jenny laughs covering her mouth seeming amused about something. She nods and ruffles his golden angel curls, "You're welcome. Now go make another!" She smiles brightly at him causing him to light up too. He bolts over to the bucket and plops down on the sand. He begins taking large scoops of sand and pours them into the bucket to start again.

I flash her a confused look, "What?" I ask her. Why is she laughing?

She just keeps laughing watching him with a knowing look. "Just that you acted like a dad just then."

"Oh," I reel back a little. I glance over at Elliot who continues to fill his bucket. Embarrassed, I bite my lip and nod a little.

She just laughs at me and settles down next to me on the sand. She flashes me a radiant smile, "Don't be embarrassed Levi, it's a good thing. He needs that right now."

"He needs his real parents," I lament quietly, lowering my head. Honestly, I've been feeling guilty about everything. It would seem that I can blame myself for everything and anything that happens. I shouldn't have let him believe I was his father. His mind replaced his real father with me. I feel like I violated something I should have never gotten close to. The love of his real father.

"I know... but we can't do anything about that now..." Jenny trails off in a sad voice. I look over at her slowly to find her staring down at her legs with a depressed look. I sigh softly and reach out a little, touching her hand that rests on her lap. She blinks a couple times, surprised by my touch. She looks over at me confusedly for a moment.