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Her eyes flicker toward my groin with a feeling I know very well, and she quickly looks away, focusing on Robbie instead.
We continue our polite small talk as Robbie climbs up the stairs and runs back around toward me. Water drips from his hair onto his freckled cheeks, and he grins up at me, his orange arm bands slightly askew.
“Did you see, Dad? I jumped in! Like a cannonball!” he says, spreading his arms wide for emphasis.
“I did,” I reply, reaching out to adjust one of his arm bands. “That was a solid jump. Next time, try tucking your knees up more. That’s how you get the biggest splash.”
“Really?” His eyes light up as if I’ve just given him the secret to unlocking superpowers. He turns to Annie. “Did you hear that, Annie? I’m going to make a bigger splash!”
She smiles warmly, brushing wet strands of hair out of her face. “I heard. Want to try again?”
“Yeah!” Robbie bounds back toward the pool, his little legs pumping with renewed energy. He pauses briefly to call over his shoulder, “Watch me this time, Dad!”
“I’m watching,” I assure him, straightening up.
As Robbie clambers onto the edge of the pool again, I glance at Annie. She’s watching him too, her expression soft and maternal. Her laughter a moment ago had been so genuine, so full of joy. It’s not a sound I hear often enough around here.
“Thank you for this,” I say, my voice low enough that only she can hear.
She turns to me, startled, her cheeks flushing again. “For what?”
“For... everything.” I gesture vaguely at the pool and at Robbie, who’s now practicing his cannonball pose before leaping into the water with another splash. “He’s happier than I’ve seen him in a long time.”
Her eyes soften, and for a moment, she looks like she might argue. Instead, she simply says, “He’s agreat kid.”
A small silence settles between us, broken only by Robbie’s delighted giggles as he resurfaces. I take the opportunity to let my eyes wander—just briefly—over her again.
Her bikini clings to her damp skin, the emerald green setting off her warm, tanned complexion. Drops of water trail down her neck and collarbone, disappearing beneath the fabric.
She catches me looking, her lips parting slightly as her flush deepens. I quickly shift my gaze to Robbie, who’s now climbing out of the pool, dripping water everywhere.
“Did you see, Dad? Was it better this time?” he asks, running up to me again.
“It was great,” I tell him. “You’re getting better every time.”
“I’m gonna do it again!” He takes off once more, his boundless energy leaving me both impressed and exhausted just watching him.
“He’s got a lot of energy,” Annie says, her voice light with amusement.
“That he does,” I agree, my tone distracted as my eyes linger on her again. She’s standing in the pool, the water lapping gently at her waist, her hands resting casually on her hips.
Robbie’s splash pulls my attention back to the pool, and I focus on the sound of his laughter as he resurfaces.
I watch them for a little longer before heading back inside, the sound of their joy following me all the way to my office.
Chapter Twenty Four
Annie
Robbie’s laughter echoes in his bathroom as he turns the shower knobs. “I can do it myself, Annie!” he calls, his voice muffled by the sound of water splashing against the tiles.
“I know you can,” I say, sitting on the bench in his room, still in my bathing suit, and keeping the bathroom door slightly ajar just in case. “Just make sure you actually use soap this time, okay?”
“I will!” he promises, followed by more splashing.
I shake my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. Robbie’s independence is growing every day, and it’s both a relief and bittersweet. He insists on doing more and more as his confidence grows, and while it’s a good thing, I can’t help but miss the moments when he’d rely on me for the simplest tasks.
“Done!” he yells after a few minutes, and I hear the sound of the water shutting off.