Page 96 of Like An Animal

THE GHOST

It's been such a long time since Charlotte and I have gotten to spend time together just us girls. It used to be a daily occurrence but that changed the day Jeremy brought us to Newark.

First, we watched her favorite movie,Zootopia, then she decided she wanted to go swimming in the pool. Silva joined us at the pool and brought some light snacks.

“Thanks, Silva.” I offer her a soft smile as Charlotte snatches a cracker off the small tray.

“No problem, miss. The little one is a delight. She has brought life to the compound that the space has been lacking. She’s perfect.” She grins as she takes a single grape off the tray.

Seven guards stand around the pool room as if they are waiting for someone to bust through and take me and Charlotte but luckily, my daughter doesn’t notice. She’s happy as could be splashing about as she sits on the stone steps.

She doesn’t go further without an adult she can cling to. She doesn’t like arm floaties or any other kind, so until she’s ready to learn to swim, this is what she is comfortable with.

“Mrs. Borza, there’s an hour until the little one’s tutor arrives,” Silva offers and I nod.

Technically, Charlotte doesn’t need a tutor since she’ll be starting kindergarten next year and she has been going to a day care that promotes her thirst for knowledge since she was two, which we refer to as school for her. She’s prepared to start school, but she needs a lot to keep her busy and she likes learning.

Charlotte is a kid that watches documentaries, asks questions for clarification, and pays attention. Her speech may not be the best, but she was the smartest kid in her class. That’s not me just saying that because she’s my kid. Her class’s teacher told me that.

“Thank you.” I leave my wrap on the lounge chair before joining Charlotte in the water. “Come on, baby.” Charlotte wraps herself around my body as I walk us out into the water. She shrieks and splashes the water around us before waving at Silva.

Seeing her so happy and carefree makes every single sacrifice I’ve made up to this point worth it. It all comes down to a single smile, a hug, a laugh.

Maybe that’s what it means to be a mom.

“Little miss!”Silva calls out to us as we float around the pool. “The tutor will be here in five minutes.”

“Alright. Let’s get showered off and dressed in dry clothes, Lottie.”

“Aww. Do we haves to?”

Nope. That pout may work on her father, but it won’t work on me. I’m stronger than that.

“Come on, fussy butt.” We make it to the stairs and I walk her over to the shower in the corner of the pool room before getting all the chlorine washed off of her. Then, I look at the guardsand scowl. “Well, what are you waiting for? Turn around, pervs, unless you actually want to watch a four year old change. If that’s the case, you won’t want to see her father’s reaction when I call him in a minute.”

In a flash, all of them turn to face the wall. I hold up a towel to block the view of her as Charlotte takes off her wet bathing suit and pulls on her clothes from earlier.

We leave the pool room and head into the living room where the tutor and Alex waits. I send Charlotte off with the tutor to the kitchen and she waves to me.

“Mrs. Borza, you have a visitor in the lounge,” Alex offers quickly and my eyes narrow with confusion.

I secure my wrap to cover myself. “A visitor?”

“Yes. Mr. Borza is here to see you.”

Jeremy is headed out of state and there is only one other Mr. Borza.

Dimitri.

“Hm. Give me a minute to get dressed.”

He nods. “I’ll let him know.” He turns to head for the lounge and my hand shoots out, grabbing his arm.

“Wait.” Alex looks back at me, confusion in his eyes. “When I go in there, can you come with me? I don’t trust a hair on that man’s head.”

Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I would rather be cautious than be in trouble and not have the help I need when the time comes.

“My job is to protect you, Mrs. Borza. If you feel unsafe, I trust your judgment and I won’t leave your side. You have my word.”