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Did that make my manliness bristle just a little, that a thirteen-year-old was supposed to go easy on me? Just a little. “I’m fine.” I tossed the first ball.
“See, Mom, he’sfine.”Alana mimicked the motion.
Behind us, I heard Harmony leading Colin back from the ball pit, while she told him about the next chapter in her unicorn—previously a pony but now ascended—story.
I couldn’t help a smile at how comfortable this all was. Like it was meant to be this way. I took my next shot.
Once again, Alana and I were evenly matched. We each had one ball left, and were tied, when my phone rang. A glance at the screen said it was the banker Daria had referred us to. The one we’d been waiting on an answer from for an agonizingly long amount of time. “I need to take this. You win.”
“I don’t win until I beat you fair and square. Teach me how to throw left-handed?”
“Practice. You know how it works.” I called as I walked toward the table. “This is Tanner,” I said into the phone.
Daria and Colin both gave me curious looks when I sat at the table. Harmony looked between them, and was silent as well.
“Tanner, hi. It’s Stephen Rodgers. I’m sorry to call so late.”
“It’s fine.” My stomach was tying in knots. Even if he saidnoit would be an answer, but I wasn’t as prepared for anoas I wanted to pretend. “What can I do for you?”
“After some close review of your proposal, your assets, and your expertise, we’d like to work with you on this loan.”
My mind had already jumped ahead towe’ve decided to go in another direction, and I had to backtrack to process what he’d really said. “Wait, what? Really?” Not so professional. “I mean, of course. That’s fantastic news. Thank you.”
Colin’s brows shot up, and Daria’s smile grew.
“I’ll email you the initial paperwork and terms. Once you’ve reviewed, we can start scheduling appointments and moving forward,” Stephen said.
“Yeah. Of course. Thank you.” I was repeating myself. I managed to focus enough to wrap up the important details, and end the call professionally. The instant I disconnected I let out a loudwhoop. “We got the loan. We’re getting our school.”
“I knew you would.” Daria grinned.
“We had someone amazing help us finalize our plans.” I owed her so much thanks for this.
She shook her head. “The best proposal doesn’t hide a shitty idea. You have a great plan, I just put a bow on it.”
Colin hadn’t said anything.
I didn’t like that. “Colin?” Had this changed his mind?
He finally broke into the biggest smile. “It’s about time. This is going to be freaking epic.”
“Freaking epic. Freaking epic,” Harmony sang a tuneless melody.
And Colin was right—like usual. Getting the business loan was amazing, but this dynamic here, this family,thiswas better than epic. This was a better future than I ever would’ve dared imagine.
epilogue
Daria
Eight Months Later
The Grand Reopening sign was a generic banner—something Tanner picked up at a store—but it made me smile to see it decorating the front of the rec center.
The building had been closed for several months, but since a lot of that was over the fall and winter months, Colin and Tanner had already expected the loss in clients. I was amazed they’d pulled together the full remodel in such a short amount of time. And now that they’d fixed up the entire building, not just the pool, they’d be open year-round going forward.
The place had been unofficially open for a month or so, with the new instructors and trainers all getting used to the schedules. Tanner was doing as much swimming as he was allowed, and pretending not to sulk when other trainers had to take on more of the load. But he was healing nicely from the surgery and he’d be back to almost full strength soon enough.
Colin wasn’t teaching much swimming, though he did have one younger class. He was teaching art classes, which Harmony loved since she’d gotten bored with swimming. He had a few after school programs for the younger kids, and they all adored him.
