Welcome to this completed summer short story! I'm looking forward to your feedback - so feel free to vote and comment and let me know what you think!

Yours,
norafelane

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It was his favourite part-time job during the summer months. Every morning and evening, he was paid to search the beach area of Villers-sur-Mer with a metal detector to find lost belongings of the beach sides' summer guests. That also meant being paid for enjoying the sunrise and sunset every day and knowing the area very well.

Situated at the French coast of the English Channel, more specifically, the Côte Fleurie and the Pays d'Auge in Calvados, the Normandy, Villers-sur-Mer was a popular vacation sport for French people from across the country. Also, foreign visitors enjoyed the coast, notably the Dutch, German, and British.

The small coastal town was inviting with a long sandy coastline, small waves and cliffs, and a flowery countryside. The architecture featured villas built during the Belle Époque.

His searches had been moderately successful in the past three years he had been doing it, but it was worth it for every time he did return something valuable. When the lost item was reunited with its owner, the delight was big, and so was the finder's reward on top of his regular pay.

He remembered fondly the day a year ago when he had returned a lost earring to an older couple. In tears, they had explained at the reception desk that it had been their wedding earrings treasured for many years.

For their silver wedding anniversary, Daphné, the wife, had worn them as a surprise to her husband. Only at the end of their day at the beach did she detect that they were gone. The couple had retraced their every step and searched their place at the beach thoroughly, but it remained missing.

That's when Léon's glamorous moment had come in.

With his metal detector, he had searched the area described by the couple two times. It had taken him three hours: he had found sandals, hair clips, sun glasses, a keychain ...and when he thought there was no chance to be successful anymore, one of the earrings became visible after following the incessant beeping noise and a bit of digging in the sand. In the following half an hour, he searched the area subsequently wider turning circles. But the second earring remained missing.

When he returned with the earring, Daphné had happy tears in her eyes. They invited him to a meal the evening of the next day. When Léon turned up at the restaurant, he had seen that Daphné was wearing the earring as a necklace on a beautiful, filigrane chain. It was a great hook that started a pleasant conversation that continued until the sky turned dark and stars began to twinkle.

He learned that the couple had met at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona 1992 in Spain. They had hit it off instantly - she a volunteer at the sailing site, and he a sailing athlete. They had kept in touch. Then Louis had passed by Villers-Sur-Mer, Daphné's hometown, and they figured out they could never be parted again. They married in 1999. And in 2024 they celebrated their anniversary, where they had decided to tie the knots.

It was only one of many beautiful stories he had come across since he began this summer job.... Maybe it also was a reason why his bar was raised quite high for epic encounters that led to everlasting love.

He himself had been less lucky in his 24 years of life.

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Léon was ashamed to admit it, but for many years, he had been very picky. He knew he had a type: blond beauties with light eyes and gorgeous smiles. In his head, he wanted to meet someone who was all this plus kind-hearted, beautiful, and funny. Here in Villers-sur-Mer in the Normandy, a holiday paradise for French people but also foreigners, he did meet women who were exactly his type.

He himself was easy on the eye, and he knew it. His frequent hours under the sun and regular swim training left him with a nicely shaped body and bronze skin. He knew he once in a while caught looks from women his age based on their shy smiles and second looks - or their evident ignorance. But he quickly learned that character was at least as important.

Summer flirts ended quickly, and some had taken a piece of his heart with them, with fond memories and sometimes heartache remaining. He had enjoyed these brief weeks of companionship.

Three years ago, he had also dated a fellow swimmer, and after a few months, they had amicably called it quits. In the summer of that year, he had started his part-time job to earn some extra money and meet new people outside his swim club and university.

The talks with people had changed his mindset on life and opportunities ...and it did lead to him signing up as a volunteer for the Paris Olympics in 2024 for swimming. But when they asked about his availability aside these few Olympic weeks later on in the selection process, he had not been able to spare the time. Thus, he had been rejected.

Still, he had enjoyed watching the TV coverage, and of course, he had been cheering for Léon Marchand. His swimming buddies always teased him about the identical name and shared passion for swimming. And as this swimmer had secured the fourth Olympic gold medal, their club had experienced a growth in membership. Inspired by the French Olympic champion, many thirteen to eighteen year olds had signed up with the goal to follow in his footsteps.

Life was busy, he thought, as he took his first walk of the summer with his metal detector. Enjoying this morning's sunrise, his mind strayed to the to-do's of the day. He would visit a friend who was helping out today at the sailing club driving the tractor that transported the boats from the water to the hall.

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It was the dog that first caught his eyes. The Golden Retriever was beautiful. He was running into the water with full speed following a ball that had been thrown with force and precision. His golden hair was glistening, and with equal enthusiasm, it was sprinting back to his owner.

Léon could only halt and stare. There was this saying that dogs often resembled their owners: be it in shape or character.

This was true in this case - both dog and owner were beaming, radiating sunshine and warmness. The young woman was of medium height and she wore a long skirt in the colour of the sand. Her top was white with filigree embellishments, and the skirt blew in the sea breeze. She had light brown hair, and from what he could see from the distance, it was a bit curly.

After she had patted the dog, she threw the ball a second time. And the dog ran into the waves, returning shortly after. Léon wished he had taken his camera with him, capturing this moment of serenity and harmony in front of the soft rosé sky of the sunrise.

He was used to dogs out in the morning as, on the seaside, dogs were only allowed on the beaches before 9h00 and after 20h00. Earlier that morning, he had already seen a number of cute dogs. But this one and his playful enthusiasm and love for water really enarmoured him.

This was a first...

Lost in his head, he hadn't seen them getting further away from where he was standing.

It was now or never.

"Salut, desolée, c'est un Golden Retriever?" he called after the girl. The pair stopped. Then she turned around. The dog followed its owners attention and slowly made its way to Léon, sniffing. He looked at the metal detector curiously, and then he returned to the woman.

As she hadn't left, he saw it as an opportunity to come closer. "Puis-je caresser le chien?" he said since he had not received an answer to his first question.

Maybe she isn't French?

He repeated his question in English: Is it a Golden Retriever? Does the dog like to be patted?

She smiled and answered in French with a German accent, then switched to English: "Yes, please, go ahead."

He left the metal detector behind to pat the dog. He liked it and, after a bit, even presented its belly. He laughed.

What a beauty.

"An absolute beauty. What's the dogs name?" he asked while continuing to rub the dog's belly with dedication. "Perle - its German for 'Pearl'. But everyone calls her 'Pearl'," she answered while shaking her head with mock sternness at her dogs behaviour.
"Fitting name. She really likes the water, doesn't she?"

"Very true."

He looked up from the dog and caught her eyes. They were a light brown and looked curiously but at the same time shyly at him.

"Do you have a dog?" she asked him.

"No, but a close friend of mine from my swim club - when I take him out on a walk, he also likes the water. But I've never seen such enthusiasm before," Léon commented with nothing less than awe.

She laughed and stood up again. "Come, Pearl. Let's get you some nice snacks and some water," she said meanwhile.

He understood the wink. He stood up himself and walked back to his metal detector.

"It was nice to meet you both."

She smiled and said "bye" and left with the dog.

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Léon returned with a small bag of findings filled with items he usually found on the beach. He had also cleaned the beaches from the plastic that he stumbled upon on his walk. Protecting the environment and keeping it clean was important to him - especially at his front door.

His encounter with his friend in the afternoon was fun. Henry had his sunglasses on, and his mischievous smile screemed that he was out for trouble. In the end, they annoyed some elders from the swim and sailing club, played volleyball, and to cool down enjoyed the waves in the ocean.

As they sat on the beach, he told his friend about the Golden Retriever. Henry was not surprised since he was a walking book of knowledge about dogs. He proposed that next time, Léon should introduce both dogs - they'd probably instantly click.

In the evening, Léon did not see the pair again ... but the next morning, Léon already saw them from afar. He felt a smile making its way on his face. When they had reached speaking distance, Léon called 'Pearl', and the dog ran to him.

He patted her again. The girl arrived shortly after: "She really likes you. You must give pretty damn convincing belly rubs."

He laughed again. "May I throw the ball once." She nodded and gave him the ball. He threw it in a reasonable distance towards the ocean, and Pearl ran. A minute later, she returned, tail wagging enthusiastically.

"I'm Léon. It's great to know Pearl... and what's your name?" he asked while the girl was patting Pearl.

"Yara," she said after a small pause.

"Hi, nice to see you again, Yara," he said.

"I have to continue working. But maybe see you and Pearl tomorrow? How long are you staying in Villers-sur-Mer?," he asked while standing up.

"Is it that obvious I'm not from around here?" she asked. He nodded but then shook his head.

"Your French is great, but if I heard correctly, with a small German accent. I'm also a local and very often on that beach - and I haven't seen you both before, so adding all that I just guessed you're from abroad," he explained, a bit embarrassed for assumably making her feel insecure.

"Makes sense. I'm actually here for a few more days. I'm visiting my grandmother."

He nodded but didn't dare to pry more. He smiled and winked.

"See you tomorrow," he said and jogged away with his metal detector.

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The next morning, she didn't show up. Léon thought about where he could have messed up.

Or maybe we just missed each other?

Maybe she has taken another route?

After she didn't show up the following morning either, he blamed himself for not having asked for her number at their second encounter.

Later that day and after an unsuccessful swim practice, Henry asked him about his gloomy mood.

"It's nothing big. You remember the dog I've told you about? The one who loves water?" Henry nodded. "They haven't shown up again after our brief talk. I think I messed up."

Henry had a thoughtful look on his face. "Are you interested in her? If you just miss spending time with a dog, I can offer you to take care of Bay tomorrow. He'll love joining you on a walk on the beach."

Léon nodded, thankfully. "It's definitely not just the dog. The girl was beautiful and very kind and thoughtful with her dog. I would've loved to get to know her better."

Henry just nodded.

"Do you want me to join you tomorrow?" he offered.

Léon nodded. "We could play volleyball and then take Bay on a walk while I do my job." Henry agreed.

Maybe they'll turn up tomorrow...