Page 25 of Quiet as Kept
The lesson went about how I would’ve expected the first lesson to go. Destin did her best impression of a fish, doing way too much. At times, I felt like she kind of scared Sanders with her antics. Dakota was cautious but willing to try everything Sanders asked her to do in the water. I was proud of both of my girls and pleased with the results. I helped Dakota towel off while Destin danced beside me to whatever music played in her two-year-old head.
“How did the lesson go?”
I turned my head at the sound of Xarielle’s voice and sort of wished I hadn’t. The sight of her in her bikini caused a reaction in my cargo shorts. She wasn’t a voluptuous woman. She didn’t have a coke-bottle shape. She had a medium-sized body, but she carried a lot of her weight in her ass and thighs. And the two piece swimsuit she wore fit like it was custom crafted to showcase her best assets.
She tossed her towel on the chair next to the one I sat in. I basically forgot all about drying my daughter off as my gaze was glued to the sway of Xarielle’s hips as she made her way over to Sanders. From the look of hunger in his eyes as he watched her and the way he licked his lips, I knew I was going to have to fire dude.
Later that night, I lay stretched out on the sofa on the deck, staring up at the stars. I was thinking about all sorts of stuff—Dakota’s upcoming birthday, the proposal to start building in Atterson, the project I was finishing in Shore Line, and even Xarielle.
I wasn’t out there long before the subject of my thoughts joined me on the deck. Since I was taking up the entire sofa, she sat in one of the chairs that faced the sofa.
“Hey.” Her volume was soft.
“Hey.” I hated to ask. I really didn’t even want to know, but at the same time, I did want to know. “How did you feel about your first swimming lesson?”
“Um…” She seemed to consider the question. “It was okay. We didn’t get very far. I really don’t like putting my face in the water, and I realized quickly that putting your face in the water is one of the main components of swimming.”
I laughed lightly.
“Yeah.” I sighed, then asked, “Were you comfortable with Sanders? Do you think he’s the right instructor for you?”
Her eyes ballooned. “If you like him for the girls, I’m fine with him. I’m sure you researched a gang of possible instructors before you settled on him. I’m fine with him.”
“It doesn’t matter what I did to find him. I just met dude. I’m not loyal to no stranger. The bottom line is that I need you to be able to swim. Do you feel like he’s the instructor to get you there?” It was probably fucked up that I was hoping she said she wanted somebody different, but I didn’t care. I didn’t like the fact that Sanders was obviously attracted to my . . . nanny. If I had to replace Sanders, I was replacing him with a woman.
“Well, I’ve only had one lesson. I’m not ready to judge yet. Let me have a few more lessons.” She paused. “He did ask me out though.”
I had to literally restrain myself from bolting into an upright position.What’s going on with you?I asked myself, but I knew what was going on with me. I was attracted to Xarielle. And that was the last thing I needed. I couldn’t act on those feelings because I couldn’t chance jeopardizing the relationship she was building with my girls. They needed stability. So far, my home had been a revolving door of feminine energy coming in then feminine energy leaving out. They’d already lost their mom, their aunt, and their first nanny. I didn’t want them to lose Xarielle because I couldn’t keep my hormones in check. I couldn’t afford to make things awkward between us.
“Oh yeah? Did you feel like that was unprofessional? I’m saying, dude was on his job.”
“I should rephrase. He offered to take me out and show me around the island.”
I had already shown her around the island. The island was small. What more was there to see? The inside of his apartment? I shook those thoughts from my mind and changed the subject.
“Yo, about Dakota’s fourth birthday party . . .”
“Yes, the birthday tea party. So, I already spoke with the coordinator at the community center. They’ll provide the space in their butterfly garden, the tables, and the chairs. We need toprovide everything else. Also, they do not have a place to store or keep the food.”
“Not a problem,” I told her. I planned to have the party catered. “What about a guests list? Does she have any friends from all of these activities you have her participating in? Because otherwise, she and Destin will be the only kids at this four-year-old birthday party.”
Xarielle laughed. “You’re crazy, and that’s not true. Trinity already texted me that she reached out to some of the women from you guys’ children’s church. In case you weren’t aware, Dakota has friends there. But yeah, there are a few moms that I talk to. I’ll invite them and their children.”
I nodded. “Speaking of next week, the models at Dakota Sky are finished. You want to come out on Monday or Tuesday and see them? They’ll open to the public on Wednesday.”
“Yes.” She beamed at me. “Yes. I can’t wait to see your work in person.”
On Tuesday, after I gave Xarielle and the girls the tour of Dakota Sky, we had dinner atMarshmallow & Biscuit, which was a favorite of ours.
“This is a beautiful restaurant,” Xarielle commented once we were seated at a table.
The restaurant was located right on the ocean, so the view from almost every table was of the water.
“I mean,” she continued. “It’s clearly casual. Almost everybody here is in shorts and stuff. But the vibe and the view . . .”
She tilted her head and looked up at the ceiling. When she brought her gaze down, her smile was shy but radiant.
“It’s so beautiful here. I love Jackson Island. I feel like it’s giving me life. The air, the breeze. Everything is so peaceful.”