" Of course she will, I will make it happen." He said.
Albany smiled at him before he kissed her forehead, he then went to sort out their extend business trip. Drinking the rest of her coffee she got up from the chair and walked towards the doorway, but she stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed a handprint on the glass door. The memories of her nightmare soon came flooding back to her, this is where the cloaked person had been standing in her dream. She rested her hand against the handprint, the handprint was twice as big as her own. The fingers were long, it didn't look human. Her attention was soon caught by Copia's voice calling to her from lounge, he was telling her the telephone was free now. Her hand slipping from the glass she entered the beach house, she saw him with a bucket and spade. An amused expression crept across her features, she was curious about his plans for the day.
" Where did you get those?" She asked.
" I found them, the owner of this beach house has many random things here." He replied before he approached her. " We will have a beach day, just like the ones I had when I was a child. We can build sandcastles and eat ice cream. I will show you the rock pools and the little crabs, but no toe nipping. I don't want to relive that memory."
" That sounds fun, but I'll call Terzo before we do anything." She said.
" Okay, I will be waiting for you outside." He said.
Albany lovingly touched his arm before she passed by him in the lounge, she then went to use the telephone in the hallway. Terzo was fine with the extended business trip, he himself had been on those kind of trips many times in the past. He had already been inform by Sister Imperator about the overtime, but he was suspicious about her being alone with her manager at the beach house. He thought they were staying at a hotel, he was unaware of the changes that had been made before she left Los Angeles. He didn't seem pleased, he was acting like their Father again. She reassured him that she was fine, she told him that Copia was being a perfect gentleman and that the guestroom's had locks on the doors. Terzo seemed more settled when she mentioned locks, he told her they would speak more about this matter when she returned to the Ministry. He then hung up on her without even saying goodbye, she was dreading returning home now. Sighing deeply to herself Albany made her way through the lounge, she took her thin black cardigan from the back of a chair before she joined Copia on the balcony. She closed the door behind her and smiled at her lover, she was now ready for their day at the beach.
Copia led the way down the steps towards the beach, they had left their shoes behind in the lounge. The sand was cool beneath their feet, the seagulls were circling above them. The beach was mostly empty, not many people were around this morning. Albany put her cardigan on, there was a chilly breeze whirling around them. Crossing her arms she tried to keep warm, her hair kept blowing into her eyes which annoyed her more than once. Copia stopped now and again to pick seashells from the beach, he told her the names of some of the colourful shells. She was surprised how much he knew about them, he told her that Sister taught him many things about the ocean. He gave her an orange coloured spiral seashell, but he soon informed her that seashells are often associated with love and fertility. Albany looked down at the seashell in her hand before their gaze met, she was intrigued with his random bit of knowledge.
" How do you know about all of this stuff?" She asked.
" I like reading at night, I don't sleep well sometimes." He replied before rested his hand on her lower back. " Come on now, let's find a place to build some sandcastles."
" Okay." She smiled.
Copia guided his lover along the beach, they spoke about anything that came to their minds. They soon found themselves a place to build some sandcastles, it wasn't too far away from the beach house. Copia seemed more excited to be participating in this activity, his childlike enthusiasm caused Albany to smile. She watched him filling up the bucket with sand, she couched next to him when it was time to see if he had build the perfect sandcastle. He patted the bucket twice with his spade before he revealed his sandy creation, but it crumbled before their very eyes. A sound of disappointment escaped Copia's lips, the sand wasn't firm enough to build anything in their chosen spot.
" It's okay, Copia. At least you tried." She said before she touched his arm. " Why don't you show me how to play the wave jumping game, it sounds fun."
" Yes, yes! We can do that, it's a very fun game." He said.
Albany gave him a  smile before she got to her feet, she then looked around the beach while she waited for him to gather his belongings. She could see someone playing fetch with their dog in the ocean, there was also two joggers in the distance. There was a group of seagulls not far away from them, the sounds of their cries filled the air. Copia soon joined her side, he took hold of her hand and led her towards the ocean. He dropped the bucket and spade along the way, he told her they would collect them on the way back. The ocean's waves soon curled around their ankles, the water was freezing cold. Albany back away from the waves, but more waves found her feet. A soft laugh escaped her lips, her hand slipping from her lover's hand their gaze met. She watched him jumping over the small waves rolling onto the shore, he looked happy. She soon joined him, they jumped over the waves together. It was enjoyable, but he soon pointed towards some bigger waves.
" Let's jump the bigger waves now!" He said.
" I think the little waves are enough for me, it's too cold!" She said.
" But it will be fun, come with me." He said.
" I'm staying here, but don't let me stop you from having fun." She said.
" Please, baby! Play with me..." He said.
" Oh no, I'm staying right here!" She smiled.
" Come on!" He smiled.
Copia playfully pulled her towards the ocean, she shook her head at him and told him no while she dragged her feet along the sand. She laughed when he twirled her beneath his arm, his arms wrapping around her waist he lifted her from the sandy beach. 
" Put me down!" She smiled.
Albany squealed in protest while she kicked her legs, her hands grabbing at his arms she begged him to put her down. But he ignored her pleas, he carried her forward without any hesitations. She partly laughed when he nearly lost his footing, but she soon told him not to carry her any further into the ocean. The ocean was almost to his knees before he stopped. The cold waters washed around them, the waves began to get rougher. She held onto him tightly, her feet couldn't find the ocean floor. One of the waves caused Copia to stumble backwards, but the second wave knocked him off his feet. The ocean engulfed them both, the current dragged them further out before they emerged to the surface. 
Albany coughed and spluttered until she finally found her footing, her arms raising at her side her thin cardigan was sticking to her arms. She was soaked through and freezing cold, her hair was sticking to her face. She could taste saltwater in her mouth, she gasped when another cold wave washed over her. Wiping her hair away from her face she soon saw her lover standing not far away from her. Copia looked panicked, his hands fidgeting he reminded her of a child waiting for a scolding from their parents. His tracksuit was soaked through, his hair was flat and straight. Their gaze met, she splashed some water at her lover before she approached him. She wasn't too pleased about what he had done, she was more shocked than angry with him.
" Oh my God, Copia!" She yelled.
" Ah shit! I didn't mean to do that!" He said.
" I'm soaked through to my underwear, it's freezing!" She said.
" I lost my footing, I'm very sorry. I really am!" He said.
" I guess there's nothing we can do about it now!" She said.
" Oh baby, don't be angry with me..." He said.
" I'm not angry, I'm just cold!" She said.
" We should go back to the beach house now, I don't want you to catch a chill." He said.
" Okay, fine. I think I've had my fill of the ocean now..." She said.
Albany ventured forward, her lover's arm immediately wrapped around her. Copia held onto her tightly while they walked towards the shore, he apologised to her more than once. Her arms slipping around his waist she gave him a side hug, she told him it was okay. A cold breeze caused Albany to shiver, the sunny sky was deceiving. She wiped some of her damp hair away from her cheek, she told him she would run them a hot bath when they got back to the beach house.