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My heart stops. While that could easily be Greg, I know deep down that it isn’t, and my lips automatically form a smile. I take a chance, and hope that I’m right.
Lucy: I don’t think you are allowed to look up staff phone numbers for personal use
Unknown: How do you know I haven’t kept it all these years
Because I changed it.
Lucy: I just know
Quickly saving the contact to my phone, I drive out of the lot, desperate for a shower since I never took one at the gym. I’m more sweaty than usual from wearing a three-quarter sleeved top to hide my bruises. But when I arrive home to see three more messages, I abandon that idea.
Wes: Always so smart
Wes: Why’d you run? You can’t tell me it shouldn’t have happened…
Wes: Because I’m finally thinking it should
I drop onto the couch, sweaty clothes and all, and slowly release a sigh. I don’t know what to make of that. Have I thought about a second chance with Wes over the years? Yes. But it was a dream. Something that was never going to happen. I have Katie now. She’s my priority, and I’m not sure if I’m ready to start dating, or whatever he wants. I’m not sure I’ll ever be. But I know he’s impossible to stay away from. And if anyone is going to make me take a chance on a relationship, it’s Wes.
Katie arrives home from her swimming lesson with Dylan as I’m finally getting out of the shower.Perfect timing.He always took her swimming when he came to visit and asked if he could take her to her lessons when he and Summer moved back. At least until the season starts, although obviously we’ll have to change her day so we can go to his games.
“Hi, Sweetie. How was swimming?” I ask, bending down for a hug. Katie runs into my arms before looking over her shoulder at Dylan.
“Uncle Dyl had to dive in.”
What?My eyes flash to his as he grimaces. “They had a new instructor. She hadn’t really worked with three- and four-year-olds before, I’ve since been told. But she kind of ran this activity that had the kids holding a pool noodle to float, with Katie in the middle. And it sank. Four kids on one noodle. Is she insane? I’m so…” His gaze moves to Katie’s when he pauses. “We can talk about it after.”
My eyes flit over Katie’s entire body, checking she’s okay, but since she’s beaming up at Dylan like he’s a hero, with a big smile on her face, I let out a held breath as I nod.
Though, I can see Dylan’s really worked up about it. Understandably. I would have been murderous if I’d been there. I’m a little murderous right now. But she’s okay. The swim school, on the other hand, is in for a tongue lashing.
“You’re okay, right, bug?” Dylan says, kneeling in front of her.
She nods and finally turns back to face me. “I went under the water, Mom.”
That doesn’t really answer Dyl’s question and freaks me out even more.
“Did you cough?” I ask, trying to remain calm.
“Yes, Uncle Dyl made sure I did.”That’s good.
“And did you keep swimming or get out?”
She’s already shaking her head before I finish asking the question, so I make a note to ask Dylan whose call that was. Is she going to be scared of the water? Or was it Dylan that kept her out?
“How about we go for ice cream?” I ask, dropping the topic.For now.
“Yeah!” Katie cheers, jumping up and down at my offer of a treat. I’m not a strict mom, but I try to limit the sweets. It’s how Dylan and I were raised so I’ve kind of just continued it.
Katie’s scare though…definitely calls for ice cream. I just wish I knew how worried I should actually be.
Summer arrives not long after Dylan and Katie, and we spend the afternoon and evening together. After a long wind down period, I finally get Katie to sleep and walk back into the kitchen to find Dylan’s head in his hands and Summerstroking his back with a concerned expression. “What happened?” she mouths when she sees me.
“Dylan?”
He peers up at me with a look of complete exhaustion. Like it’s taken everything he has to keep himself together until now.
“What if she’d drowned, Lucy? What if I hadn’t been there? Two kids went down and the instructor grabbed the other kid.”
