“Really?” I ask as I continue to watch her drift slowly through the water. She looks completely relaxed and I’m jealous.
“I secretly think it’s how she connects with her parents.”
“What?” I ask, her comment piquing my interest.
“Sam almost drowned in her pool when she was seven. Her dad saved her life. Soon after, he insisted that she get proper swim lessons and he hired an instructor. She learned how to stay calm which helped her conquer her fear of the water. She learned that floating on her back will get her out of any scary situation in the water. Now she floats for therapy and relaxation.”
My heart hurts for Sam, knowing that her parents were taken from her. Peggy gave me a brief history on Sam before she came to take care of Kai. I know her parents died when she was sixteen, and Peggy has raised her since.
“She’s a lucky girl to have you,” I say as I watch Sam get out of the pool. She’s wearing a black bikini that hugs her body perfectly. Her curly hair is piled on top of her head. She grabs a towel hanging from a hook and starts to dry herself. I turn from the window, feeling like a voyeur.
“I’m the lucky one, Garrett. She saved my life.”
“Oh?”
“Not literally, of course. But figuratively. When my brother was killed, I felt like I’d lost everything. He and I were so close and we only had each other. When he died, I had a renewed sense of life and purpose. I’d always helped other families. Now I was given a chance to help my own. It broke my heart to see Sam through the rest of her teenage years, but it also strengthened it knowing what I was doing for my brother and his wife.”
“You and Sam have a unique gift. Taking care of other people, the level that you both do, is astounding. Commendable.” They’re definitely both from the same gene pool, that’s for sure.
The back door slides open and Sam enters the kitchen, wrapped in a towel. She’s shivering. “I forgot dry clothes,” she stammers and looks stunned to see me. Her cheeks flush pink and she pulls the towel tighter around her thin frame.
I walk past her to the closet in the hallway and remove a plush white robe and hand it to her.
“Why do you have a woman’s robe in your closet?” she asks then quickly follows it up with, “Never mind, I don’t want to know.” She takes the robe, lets the towel drop and quickly pulls the robe on over her shaking shoulders. She does it so quickly I’m barely able to catch a glimpse of her body. But what I’m able to see is magnificent.
I’m glad she didn’t press me for an answer. Several other women have worn that exact robe. The hot tub is just down the stairs on the deck, and I keep it in the hall closet for emergency use only. Every time Peggy does my laundry, she can’t help herself but comment that these robes should be disposable. That explains why she’s giving me a nasty look now that I’ve given this robe to Sam to wear. I know she doesn’t approve of my extracurricular activities.
Sam walks over to Peggy and Kai. “How is he?” she asks.
Peggy gives her the same answer she gave me, and Sam squeals, quickly throwing her hands over her mouth. “He just ate four ounces?” she asks, and tears form in her eyes.
“Yes,” Peggy says proudly.
“And I missed it?” She sinks into the couch and sighs.
“He’ll be ready for another bottle when he wakes up in about an hour,” Peggy assures her.
I sit on the couch next to Sam and my knee brushes against hers. She quickly moves over, placing a throw pillow between us. I should have found something else for her to wear. One of my sweatshirts maybe. It feels wrong that she’s wearing a robe that other girls have worn. Girls who mean nothing to me. She doesn’t deserve to wear something that groupies have touched. I’m throwing them out tomorrow.
“Can I try feeding him when he wakes up?” I ask without even thinking.
Sam and Peggy both gasp and look at me. “Are you serious?” Sam asks, astounded.
Shit. Now what?