RORY
Rhodes had givenme one hour to take Luke swimming, and I refused to waste a precious second. Maria had him packed with his suit, sunscreen, and snacks; I’d grabbed him, and we’d hustled directly to the pool.
“Wear these.” He handed me a pair of swim goggles.
I put them on and squinted at the little boy. “Like this?”
“Yeah.” He put his own goggles on—his were slightly crooked—and proceeded to run, full tilt, at the pool.
“Luke, wait!”
But he’d already cannonballed in. Maria told me he could swim, but I didn’t know how well. I sprinted after him and jumped in, still wearing my coverup.
Luke bobbed to the surface, doggy-paddling like a pro, watching as I spluttered and wiped the hair out of my face.
“You shouldn’t have jumped in like that!”
“Why?” He swam to the side, hopped out, and then cannon-balled directly at me.
When he surfaced, I scowled at him.
“Because I didn’t know if you were safe!”
“Why’re you swimming in your dress?” he asked, then cannonballed me again.
“‘Cause I jumped in to save you.” I hauled myself out of the pool, took off my soaking wet T-shirt dress, tossed it, and then did a cannonball of my own.
“Wow!” Luke rocked in the wavy aftermath of my splash. “That was a big one!”
“I’m pretty awesome at cannonballs.”
“Splash contest!” Luke declared.
One of the pool attendants was standing nearby at the ready. “Excuse me,” I said. “Can you please judge our splashes? Biggest one wins.”
“Of course, Miss Rory.”
Luke eyeballed me—his goggles were half-full of water—and declared, “Watch this!”
His cannonball was excellent, but I weighed more. Mine splashed higher, I knew it did, but once we’d both reached the side of the pool, the attendant pointed at the boy. “Luke’s the champion! I’m bringing out a popsicle as a prize.”
Luke grinned. “Told you!”
“I still think I’m champion material.” I grinned back. “Maybe I’ll get the ‘W’ next time.”
“Good luck.” Luke hauled himself out of the pool, accepted the popsicle, and looked happy as a clam as the attendant draped an enormous, fluffy towel over his shoulders.
I frowned at him as I got out, then did a shallow dive.
“Can you teach me how to do that?” Luke practically threw down his popsicle.
“Of course, but probably not today.” I swam to the side. “I have to get back soon.”
He stuck out his lower lip.
“How about tomorrow?” I asked.
“Okay.” His smile was like the sun coming out.
