Ghosts Tummies full. Feet tired. Eyelids heavy. The party had been a smashing success. As little princes and princesses were carried to bed, and the vans loaded and driven away, the lights of the house dimmed. There remained only four by the pool: Derek, Adam, Tyler, and Shelby. Derek and Tyler fell into conversation about a project in Atlantic City that MEL Holdings was in the middle of developing. That left Adam to announce he was going to walk down to the beach. Shelby offered to join him. In silence, they flipped off their shoes, Adam rolled up his pants and they headed for the moonlit water. In all the world Adam was sure he hadn’t visited a more peaceful stretch of sand than that which lay under his feet. The property stretched for half a mile on either side of the house and the privacy was welcomed and appreciated. The water lapped at their feet, occasionally covering them up to their ankles. The water was warm and soothing as the sand gradually collapsed under their toes. It was almost a full moon and even though it was now close to midnight, the beach was light and magical.
