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Well, Amber thought, the boat would be good too. She hadn’t been on his Hatteras yet, but she knew it wouldn’t be long before she got an invitation.
“Don’t you like the boat?” Amber asked.
“Oh sure, I like it, but it’s a completely different experience. It needed some work before going back into the water. Should be sometime in late June. We’ll all go out together. Then you can make your own judgment.”
“What’s the name of it?”
“Bellatada,” Daphne answered, her smile holding a touch of embarrassment.
Amber thought for a minute. “Oh, I get it. The beginning of each of your names. Jackson’s three girls.”
“A little silly, I guess.”
“Not at all. I think it’s sweet.” Inwardly she was choking on her words.
“Shall we head back? It’s almost ten.” Daphne looked at her watch and adjusted her visor.
It didn’t take long to reach the beach in front of the house and deposit the kayaks. As they walked up the path to the house, the sounds of laughter and girlish squeals reached them. Bella and Tallulah were splashing around in the swimming pool with their father.
Amber turned to Daphne. “I thought Jackson was coming back tonight.”
“Me too,” Daphne said and picked up her pace.
He looked up and ran a hand through his wet hair. “Hello, you two. Been out kayaking?”
“We have. When did you get home? I’m sorry I wasn’t here, but I thought you were coming in tonight,” Daphne said, sounding strained.
“We finished up last night, so I decided to fly home this morning.” Bella was holding on to his back and splashing with her feet. He turned to grab her, and she squealed with delight as he tossed her back into the water. She pushed up through the water and swam to him. “More, Daddy.”
But he began walking to the shallow end of the pool, wiping the water from his face. “That’s all, sweetie. Time to take a break.”
For once there was no obnoxious complaining from Bella. It had to have been a first.
Jackson handed towels to the girls and started drying himself with his own. It was impossible not to look at his body, wet and glistening, as he stepped closer to Daphne and kissed her. “It’s good to be home,” he said.
Daphne had asked Amber to spend the day, but now that Jackson was home, Amber knew she had to deliver the obligatory I-don’t-want-to-be-in-the-way speech. “I had a great time kayaking, Daph. Thanks a bunch. I’m going to let you have your family time now.”
“What do you mean? You can’t leave yet.”
“I really should. I’m sure Jackson would like to be alone with you and the girls.”
“Nonsense. You know how he feels about you. You’re like family. Come on. We’ll have fun.”
“Absolutely,” Jackson said. “You’re more than welcome to stay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course,” Daphne said. “Let’s go inside and make lunch. Margarita is off this weekend, so we’re the cooks.”
They worked together in the kitchen, but when they finished loading the tortillas with refried beans, veggies, and cheese, they didn’t end up with neat and beautiful burritos like Margarita’s.
“They look pretty sad, don’t they?” Daphne said with a laugh.
“What the heck. They’ll taste good, anyway.” Amber washed her hands and tore off a section of paper toweling while Daphne reached into a cabinet and pulled out two trays. “Here we go. I think everything will fit. We’ll eat outside by the pool.”
“Oooh, yummy,” Bella called as they carried the food out.
They sat, the five of them, under the large umbrella, the reflection of the sun on the turquoise pool water making shimmery diamonds and triangles. A slight breeze sliced through the warmth—a perfect late-spring day. Amber closed her eyes a moment, pretending this all belonged to her. If anything, the last few weeks had shown her that Daphne now considered Amber her closest friend and confidante. Last night, after the girls had gone to bed, she and Daphne had sat at the kitchen table and talked late into the night. Daphne had told her all about her childhood, how much her parents had tried to make their lives seem completely normal despite the illness that crouched in the background, ready to pounce without warning at any moment.