She stared out at the ocean as the waves broke and the sun began to set. She breathed in the deep scent of the salty water and clam chowder from just up the road. She dug her toes into the sand, the heat leaving and the cold taking its place. Fog began to roll in from just up the coast. She got up and slipped on her sandals and picked up the blanket she had brought with her. She shook it off and made her way to the house. It was just up the winding steps. Her father was up there waiting for her. Hopefully he already started dinner. She thought to herself as she walked up the hundred and fifty some odd steps that led to the house.

            She sniffed the air. “Manicotti.” She said to herself as she opened the front door. She walked into the kitchen and saw her dad stirring up four different cheeses.

            “Ashley, dinner will be ready in ten.” He said, looking at her from what he was doing. She smiled at him and took a seat at the bar.

            “You want a drink dad?” she asked, taking out the fixings for a martini. He nodded towards her. “Hey mom? You want a martini?” she yelled. She heard her mother yell something out from her bedroom. It sounded like a yes, so that’s what Ashley took it as. She made three martinis and took out a cold beer and opened it up. She watched her dad as he made dinner. He was the best cook she knew. She loved it when he made Italian. It was her favorite. She let out a low sigh and she noticed her dad look up at her.

            “You okay honey?” he asked, stopping what he was doing and walking over to her. She nodded.

            “Yah daddy, I’m fine. Just tired.” She said, lying to him. He smiled at her and kissed the top of her head.

            “Go get ready for dinner.” He said. As she got up, he patted her shoulder. She smiled to herself as she walked into the room they were letting her stay in. Her mom had bought her a new set of sheets and a comforter for the bed. Her parents had moved up to Pismo when her dad decided to retire. He had enough money to live on for the rest of his life so he decided to retire somewhere pretty, where the sun shines three hundred and fifty one days out of the year. Ashley knew she could run to her parents whenever she needed to, and this time was no different.