Both boys shrieked, held their arms up and charged at the pool, not stopping at the edge but running right over the side.
Brinnley, relaxing in the pool, dove in their direction, and Draven jumped in without hesitation to help her get both boys.
But they needn’t have worried. Beau and Beck surfaced and immediately went into what can only be called a ‘dog-paddle’ stroke that took them right to Brinnley.
Brinnley laughed, scooping them both up.
Draven was suddenly beside her, laughing as he reached for one of the kids. “And now I feel like an idiot for thinking I needed to dive in. You had it under control.”
Brinnley, still laughing at the boys and their antics, turned her face toward Draven. “I’m glad you’re here anyway.”
His laughter quieted, he just stood there watching the woman who now owned him heart and soul, and until now hadn’t given any indication that she even knew it, or cared if he was around. “You are?” he asked.
Brinnley nodded. “I know I don’t show it, but when you’re not beside me, whenever I turn around and you’re not right there, I miss you.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
She smiled at him again. “You make me feel safe.”
“And you absolutely are. I would never allow you to be harmed at all.”
“’Sim!” Beck started whining, pushing at Brinnley’s chest to get her to let him go.
“’Sim! Sim!” Beau started chanting, pushing at her as well.
“Hey! Don’t push Ms. Brinnley like that. She might drop you and you know what will happen then?” Rance asked, stepping outside to join them, and handing Gwen a Vanilla protein shake filled with vitamins and supplements to help her build up her stamina again.
Beau shook his head.
“Fish! You’ll turn into fish!” Rance teased, walking over to the edge of the pool and stepping off the edge and into the water. “Okay, who wants to hold on while I swim all the way over there?” he asked.
“Me!” Beck said, dog paddling toward Rance when Brinnley let him go.
“Meeeeee!” Beau whined, slapping the water when it became apparent that Beck was going to get to swim to the other end of the pool.
“Come on, then! I got room for both of you,” Rance said.
Beau didn’t even answer, he squealed and clapped his hands as Brinnley helped him get situated on Rance’s back beside his brother.
“See me!” Beck shouted.
“See me!” Beau yelled even louder.
“I want to ride on somebody!” Izzie informed everybody.
“Come on, Hell Cat,” Draven said, swimming over to her and turning his back to her.
Izzie climbed on Draven’s back, grinning excitedly.
“You want a ride, too, Bella?” Draven asked.
“No, thank you. I’m just going to play with my mermaid Barbie.”
“Let me know if you change your mind,” Draven said. Then he lowered himself into the water and pushed off the bottom of the pool with his feet. “Hold on, Hell Cat! We’re going to catch ‘em!”
Brinnley laughed as she swam over to the stairs and sat there, watching the kids, and Draven and Rance having the time of their lives. “He’s going to be such a good dad,” she said, to no one in particular.
“Which one?” Bonnie asked.
