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I wouldn’t.
In the kitchen, I found a very elaborate coffee machine that looked very similar to the ones in cafés. I had no clue how to work it, so instead of trying, I grabbed a banana and decided to go find my daughter.
Once I stepped out back, the sun immediately warmed my face and I tilted it upward, squinting into the brightness before I looked across the yard and found Jaah, with Gracie in his arms, facing a woman in a black one piece suit.
She was smiling animatedly, using her hands as she spoke to Gracie who nodded wildly ever so often. None of them noticed me until I was a few feet away and the woman smiled wide as I stepped up beside Jaasir.
“Mommy, she’s gonna teach me how to swim.” Gracie threw her arms up and leaned to the side with no doubt in her little mind that I wouldn’t catch her. I did and was greeted by the instructor.
“Hi, I’m Madeline or Maddie is fine.”
“Cadence.” I hooked one arm around Gracie and extended the other toward Maddie. “You’re an instructor.”
“Yes. Certified swim instruction, trained in CPR. I have fifteen years’ experience with infants and toddlers. I can provide references if you like.”
“Infants. Wow.” I cut my eyes at Jaah who kept his expression neutral.
“You’d be surprised how much easier it is to teach infants and toddlers over children and adults. Would you like a copy of my references?”
“No…” I shook my head, glancing at Jaah again. “I’m sure he’s done all the heavy lifting.”
“He did. I’ve been fully vetted.”
“So can I swim, Mommy? I’m gonna listen real good and do whatever she says. Ms. Maddie said I have to listen or she can’t teach me.”
Oh goodness, this little face full of enthusiasm.
“You can swim but you have to listen, Gracie. You follow the rules, okay?”
“Okay, I promise.” She clapped her hands, planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek, and then wiggled out of my arms. As soon as she was balanced on her own feet, she stepped in front of Maddie, throwing her head back. “Mommy said you can teach me. I’m ready now.”
“Then let’s get started.” She took Gracie’s hand and my heart constricted.
“I’m going to stay and watch if that’s okay.”
“That’s perfectly fine. I encourage parents to watch. That way you can reinforce what I teach as pool safety.”
Gracie skipped alongside Maddie hand in hand and I watched, smiling at my little caterpillar. She was always so fearless.
But I wasn’t.
“You look like you’re about to toss your breakfast.” The amusement in his voice had me shooting a narrowed stare in his direction.
“That pool is Olympic size. How deep is it anyway?”
“Four feet on the shallow side and twelve on this end.”
“Twelve,” I croaked out. “Who the hell needs a pool that deep? Gracie is barely even three feet. She won’t be able to stand.”
“She’s also not alone.” He turned to face me watching while I watched Gracie. “I can’t believe your kid doesn’t know how to swim.”
“Are you judging me?”
“No, absolutely not but it’s kind of surprising considering her mother is the daredevil who told me a story about diving head first off a pier into a lake that I’m sure is much deeper than this pool and also occupied with snakes and alligators. Not to mention, all the other factors that make swimming in lakes very dangerous.”
That sexy smug grin of his was working against me. “She’s different. She’s mine….”
“And you weren’t your mother’s? Don’t you think she was just as fearful for your safety as you are for Gracie’s right now?”
