Page 16 of SEAL’S Baby Surprise (Lanes #2)
AUSTIN
Austin
I awake to a warm, sleeping presence on my left arm. For a moment I think I’m dreaming. Then, I remember that Julia was on a sleep-over, and I had left Ark on patrol. The warmth by my side, and beginning to be in my heart, is Lee.
Lee.
I turn on my side to look at her. Rounded in all the right places, with only the slightest tummy dome, her hips and thighs bulge with muscles.
Her shoulders and back also have well-defined musculature. By comparison, her hands and feet are small and dainty. No doubt when designing her own clothes as seemed to be the case from her comments, she would have directed attention to her best features while down-playing her robust curves.
My revery is disturbed by dogs barking and the sound of children’s voices. I glance at my clock/calendar/reminder combo on the wall beside my bunk! Oh, shit! It’s past time to pick up Julia and make breakfast.
I ease my arm out from under Lee and am immediately treated to the pins and needles sensation that means returning circulation. I fumble my way into my shorts, stick my head out the door and say, “Be right there!”
Julia is playing hostess and opening the food storage areas she is allowed to use. Betty, being taller and stronger, is pouring milk over cereal. “It’s all right,” she says with child wisdom. “My mom and dad sleep late sometimes after a Big Night.”
I give an inward groan. Now, the whole neighborhood would know, or at least suspect, I was boning my guest. I put the best grace on it I can manage. “Thanks for helping.”
I close the door, no need to disturb Lee, and dash to the bathroom to take care of the bare minimums.
Then I go out, give each of the kids a protein bar and an orange by way of balancing out their light and sugary breakfast. Then I put out kibble, and take out some of Ark’s fresh dog food, giving a share to each dog.
Did I mention that Squeegee had come along, too?
Apparently, she has attached herself to Ark and is feeling safe enough to venture out-of-doors.
When I put the package of dog food back, I hear the shower start up. While it makes sense for Lee to get in a shower, I hope she doesn’t use up all the hot water.
She is out, wearing the little brown wig, just in time to invite each of the kids to give her a hug. They give her a fast, drive-by group hug, and then they are off to Mother Hubbard’s.
We watch until Mrs. Hubbard waves at us and collects the children into the play yard next to her trailer.
“Do you want a cooked breakfast?” I ask.
Lee shakes her head. “Nah, I can have cereal. We had such a big meal last night; I don’t think I need one of your super breakfasts.”
“I’m going to clean up, then. When I get out, we need to take Squeegee home.”
She replies, “Okay. I’ll try to keep her here. But I don’t think it will be too much trouble.” She tips her head toward the two dogs who are busy scarfing down their breakfast.
After I get a hasty shower and am properly dressed in a clean pair of swim trunks under my cargo shorts, and a T-shirt with the sleeves cut off on my top half, I come back out. Lee is busy petting both dogs. Squeegee is on her lap, and Ark has his head on her knee.
“Let’s take your baby home,” I tease. “Before her real mommy gets upset.”
Sure enough, by the time we arrive at the Turner house, Mrs. Turner is frantically checking all around for Squeegee.
“There you are!” she says, embracing the happy little dog. Squeegee wiggles all over, licking Mrs. Turner’s face. “Let me guess, she followed the kids.”
“The kids and Ark,” I say.
“Thanks for bringing her back. The twins would be devastated if she was lost.”
Since the twins had been the ones who had let her follow them, I don’t comment on this. It is pretty clear that their mom would have missed the pup.
After a little more social chatter, (Yeah, I know how to do it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it, although Mrs. T. is good people.) we head back to the van.
When we arrive, Lee asks, “What’s the plan for today?”
I think about it a minute. “My board is getting lonely without me,” I say. “How would you like to learn to paddle board?”
“Sure,” she says. “That sounds like fun.”
I look at her a minute, then I dig through my gear and find one of my old flotation vests.
Paddle boarding is fun, especially for two people and a dog.
And I am good at it and a good swimmer. But even though our little cove is placid as ocean water goes, it still is always a good idea for everyone to wear a flotation device — even the dog.
My old vest isn’t the sexiest piece of equipment, but it will get the job done.
By the time I get the extra gear together and a snack packed in a waterproof box, Lee comes out of the van wearing a black one-piece competition style swimsuit. It fits her perfectly and hugs every curve.
For a moment, I want to just take her back into the van and skip paddle-boarding.
But I had told her I would take her out, and she is ready. So, we walk down to the ocean, her flip-flops going flop, flop as we go.
“My feet sound funny,” she says.
“I think that’s where they get the name flip-flop,” I say. “Maybe after Julia gets home, we should make another trip to the Goodwill store and get you some real shoes.
“These are fine,” she says. “I’m not all that much into shoes anyway.”
Then we are at the water’s edge. I get our snack, the first aid kit, and Ark’s water dish all strapped on. Then, while we are still in the shallows, I get my mermaid and Ark loaded on. Ark doesn’t need the help, but he does a good job keeping Lee calm.
I wade out, checking the board to make sure we haven’t loaded it too heavy. This one is my inflatable since it is rated for more weight than my rigid board. It is more stable for doing yoga on the water, too.
The water is calm this morning, just getting warm on top, and cool underneath.
When the water is up to my waist, and the board is doing well under the combined weight of dog and woman, I hoist myself on and unship the paddle.
I get Ark to scoot back a little to balance me at the front, then I position my feet and begin paddling.
When we are out in the middle of a placid area, I hand the paddle to Lee and show her how to dip it first on one side, then on the other to get the board traveling in a straight line.
Ark gets tired of us messing around, jumps off and goes for a swim before hopping back on. When Lee has the stroke pattern down, I suggest she try standing up and paddling. Either she’s done it before and is humoring me, or she’s a true natural.
When we are all hot and tired, I hop in the water and tow us over to a small island where we can sit on the board in the shade and have our snack.
I pour fresh water into Ark’s bowl, and give him a handful of kibble, while Lee and I have salty crackers and fresh water.
Lee gets the idea to feed me crackers, so I start feeding crackers back to her. Then she snuggles up to me and starts kissing me, so what can I do but kiss her back?
She kisses me like I’ve invented kissing. Like she’s never had anything so wonderful in her entire life.
It’s flattering. But more than that, it gives me a renewed zeal for kissing her back.
I could do this all day.
Ark sprawls out behind me letting the sun dry his fur. It seems right and natural, sitting there on the board, Lee and I feeding each other crackers and kissing the crumbs away while Ark keeps an eye out for anything unusual.
After a while of this, Ark nudges me in the back with his nose, and I look at my wristwatch. I gather Lee into my arms and pat her bottom gently. It’s a nice bottom, well-rounded and firm. It reminds me of what we were doing the night before.
Regretfully, I say, ‘‘All good things must come to an end. We need to head back so we are there to make lunch for Julia.”
Lee gives a little sigh and says, “All right. You are such a good dad, Austin. I wish my dad had been like you. Then maybe I wouldn’t have turned out so screwed up.”
That’s a little more serious than I want to get into right now. I really do need to get back and be at the van for Julia. So, I say, “All parents make mistakes, Lady Mermaid. I suspect I’ll make my share before Julia is old enough to be on her own.”
“I guess,” she says, “but I don’t think she’ll make as many as I have. Julia really is lucky to have you.”
I can’t think of anything to say to that, so I turn the board around and start paddling back in toward shore.
What kind of dad had Lee had that I am so much better?
After all, I’d slept in, and my baby girl and her friends had to serve themselves breakfast. I’m not all that sure I’m father-of-the-year material.