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“Who wants lemonade and cookies?” she asked.
“Me!” shouted Daphne.
“Me, too,” Sam said, quickly scrambling from the pool to grab a glass before his sister.
“Sam! Watch it!” Tracy squealed. “You’re getting me all wet.” She brushed some errant drops of water from the top of her bikini. I marveled that it was possible for anyone to have such a flat stomach, and made a conscious effort to pull in my own.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Elyse. “I didn’t think you were starting till Monday.”
“I decided to move some of my things over today,” she said. “And when I heard your car pull up, I thought you might like something cold to drink. Is there a problem?” she asked.
“Oh, no. Not with you,” I explained quickly. “A client just called and wants to see me this afternoon instead of tomorrow.”
“Run along, then,” Elyse said easily. “I’ll watch the children until you get back.”
“No! I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t. I volunteered.”
“But…”
“No buts. You don’t have to worry. I’m an excellent swimmer. I’ll take good care of them.”
“You’re sure?”
“Better leave before she changes her mind,” Tracy advised.
“I’ll try not to be long.”
“Take as much time as you need.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much. I’ll be back soon,” I told the kids. “Behave and listen to Mrs. Woodley.”
“We will,” Sam shouted, bits of cookie shooting from his mouth, spraying the air like shrapnel.
“Sam, for God’s sake,” Tracy said, swatting at the crumbs as if they were flies.
“Bye, Mommy,” Daphne called as I hurried toward the back gate.
I turned around to see Elyse Woodley, in her shorts and T-shirt, waist deep in the water, Sam in one arm, Daphne in the other.
