Of course Matt beat him, but as he stood up in front of Joey, Bailey asked him to be the judge. "So who won?"
"Matt won, but you did good too, Daddy," Joey said sweetly.
"He did," Matt told him. "And you'll be ready to race me any day now."
Joey grinned at that like he couldn't wait. As Matt swam away and started diving, Joey looked up at Bailey. "Don't go under the water. It's too scary."
"OK, I won't," Bailey told him. "But it's nothing to worry about. Matt knows what he's doing."
Matt was very athletic, his muscles rippling, water sliding over him. The man was a beautiful sight, but Bailey had to keep himself from staring and focus on Joey.
The day was taking on golden colors and it was time to get out of the water though Joey wanted to keep swimming. "Aren't you hungry? I am," Matt told him.
"I am hungry," Joey said like he only now realized it. He ran ahead to go get his feet hosed off, and Matt walked next to Bailey. "You didn't get to do much swimming," Matt said.
"That's OK as long as Joey got to swim. I can't believe how fast he's learning."
"You're so good with him and patient. And you looked like you were having fun," Matt said like he didn't expect that.
"Of course I was having fun. I love doing stuff with my boy," Bailey said.
"I guess I think of dads being more angry and all that," Matt said with a shrug, and Bailey remembered how Gwen said that when their dad was around she would keep her little brother out as much as she could. That was because their dad had a short fuse.
It seemed Matt didn't turn out like him at all. He was so easygoing and nice. It made Bailey want to help him out though all he could do was give him a little extra work.
After they cleaned up and changed, it was time to go to that restaurant up on the hill. Bailey remembered hiking that way, but there was no restaurant up there when he visited Laurel Beach before. First his grandfather got sick and the only place Bailey visited him was at the hospital. Then he was gone.
"It's a wilderness," Joey said as they took a path between bushes and trees that hid the houses up on the hill and made it look wild.
"That's right. It's a wilderness adventure and then we eat," Bailey told him.
The walk up the hill was nice with birds singing and cicadas chirping. The sun was starting to set behind the hills, turning the sky interesting colors. Joey held Bailey's hand the whole way.
"It's going to be fun walking back down in the dark," Bailey said though their phone flashlights would help.
"We won't go this way," Matt said. "There is a lighted path over there and the hill road too."
"Oh, good," Bailey said. He had never used either one. It was funny how many things there were he didn't know about in a place where he used to spend his spring break.
"I'm not afraid of the dark," Joey volunteered though he was.
"Of course not. You're a brave guy and a good swimmer," Bailey told him.
"I second that," Matt said.
They reached the Spicy Grill. It seemed like a big house that was turned into a restaurant. They were seated outside at a table with a perfect view of the ocean and the horizon. The sun was getting lower now, and the ocean was starting to turn dark.
"Everything looks different," Joey said as he peered around.
Bailey definitely liked the view, but that might be the best part of this dinner if he couldn't find something on the menu that wasn't hot. "I might have to resort to the kids' menu if they don't have anything that's not spicy," Bailey said though they didn't actually have a kids' menu.
"You're a grown up. Is that allowed?" Joey asked.
Bailey smiled at that, but Matt was frowning since it was his idea to come here. "So you don't like spicy food. I guess this wasn't a good place to recommend," he said.
"It was still worth coming here," Bailey told him. "I wanted to check this place out. I already see some stuff that comes in mild varieties for me and Joey."
"I like spicy," Joey claimed, but Bailey wasn't sure if that was true. He was still willing to let the brave little guy try something spicy.
