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“You're doing it wrong.” He calls.
I frown at him and Ares turns in my grasp holding out his arms for Luca. Luca takes his hands and pulls him towards him with a serious expression.
“I’m sorry, when did you become a child development expert?”
He raises his brow at me and lifts Ares so he’s in front of his face. “Mom’s going to go over there and you're going to kick your legs.” He glances at me. “You need to show him what to do.”
I scoff but swim a little further away whilst he holds Ares so he can see. Pointing at me to show Ares. I stand back up on the tiles and hold my arms out for Ares, beckoning him forward. Luca lays him on the surface of the water and my heart jumps. “Don't you let go of him!” I shout.
Luca gives me an exasperated look. “Obviously not.”
I nod and relax as Luca keeps his hand underneath Ares so he keeps him above the surface. Ares gets a face full of water and starts to cough but Luca just keeps moving him forwards. “Ares, legs.” He says firmly as he uses his other hand to move his little legs.
Ares just laughs and holds his arms out for me. I take him back from Luca with an ‘I told you so’ look. Luca pushes his hair back from his eyes and climbs back out of the pool.
“Giving up already?” I shout.
“Never given up a day in my life.” He calls back over his shoulder as he walks back into the house.
I huff a laugh turning to Ares in my arms. “Your uncle’s a psycho. Best you know that now.”
He does an excited squeal and sends a torrent of water to my face making me laugh. Luca comes back with some of Ares’ toys as well as his dummy.
He slides back in. “Bribes are the way forward I reckon.”
I shrug, positioning Ares how Luca had him. “If you say so, child development expert.”
Luca ignores me, holding the dummy out so Ares can see and squeezes the plastic hippo making it squeak. “You want them?” He calls, eyes focused on Ares. “Come get them.”
Ares makes a frustrated sound and actually kicks his legs a little bit. Not quite how you’re meant to but it's a start. I move with him as he starts flailing his little legs and I let out a laugh, chubby little legs kicking up water everywhere. We reach Luca and he gives him the Hippo, taking him from my hands.
“Wait there, I want to get a photo,” I say as I wade to the side of the pool. Luca groans and holds Ares in front of his face whilst I dry my hands and grab my phone.
“Look Buddy, this is a non-negotiable. Swimming is a life skill.” Luca says to Ares. I suppress a laugh as I get the camera up on my phone. Ares makes a frustrated noise and Luca shakes his head, eyes serious. “71% of drowning deaths of children under 15 occurred at a private residence. I won't risk you becoming a statistic, you have to learn before your birthday.”
I blink at him. “Luca? You can’t say that to a baby.”
“Why not?” He asks genuinely.
I open my mouth and close it again, screw my brows together for good measure. “Because it’s morbid!”
He rolls his eyes, turning to Ares. “Don’t listen to her. Being a little bit morbid is a good thing. Means you’re not easily surprised.”
I bark a laugh and Luca’s mouth curves into a smile. He turns Ares around to face me and holds his middle finger up in front of his face, Ares in his arms. I suppress a laugh and I take a quick picture of them both.
Carm comes strolling up the marble steps that lead down to the beach. He’s been awol most of the day, acting a bit shifty too if I'm honest. He keeps speaking Spanish on the phone in hushed tones. I didn't even realise he could speak Spanish. I think I might be the only person on this trip that doesn't.
“What are you doing?” I ask him.
He looks behind him as if there's someone else I’m speaking to and shrugs, avoiding my eyes. “Went for a walk.”
My head pulls back. “You, went for a walk. On the beach. On your own?”
He widens his eyes, raises his brows. “Yeah?”
“What, the guy can't go for a nice walk on his own?” Luca chimes in.
I look between them. Eyes narrowing. Definitely something shifty going on. Carm’s phone goes again and he walks too quickly to be casual into the house. I sit back down on the edge of the pool and Luca holds Ares in the same way towards me. “He’s being weird right?” I ask.
