“Nothing, I was just thinking that I could seriously eat pizza every night,” I respond.
Her grin widens and she gets up to begin cleaning the kitchen. We’ve fallen into a bit of a routine and I like it. I place the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
“Hey there.” Peggy’s voice fills the room. “It smells wonderful in here.”
“Sorry, Aunt Peggy. We ate it all. We didn’t realize you’d be stopping by.” Sam finishes washing and drying her hands.
“Oh, it’s okay,” Peggy says. “I ate about an hour ago.”
Sam turns to me. “Do you think I can get a swim in before I need to get him ready for his bath and bed?”
Before I can answer, Peggy interjects. “I’ll get him ready tonight.” She pulls a bag from the pharmacy from her purse. “I have a new bath wash I’d like to try. It’s hypoallergenic and soothing. I’m hoping it will help with his nighttime fussiness.”
“Sounds good to me,” Sam says and steps into her flip-flops. “I’m going for a quick swim. Dinner was great, Garrett.” She’s out the door and across the backyard before I know it.
Peggy lifts Kai from his bouncy seat positioned on the floor next to the table. He sat through dinner making cute baby noises while swatting at the toys hanging over his head. A rare moment for him and allowed Sam and I to eat in peace without the threat of a nuclear meltdown. He looks so content and peaceful right now and I don’t know who to thank for giving me and Sam this nice moment.
“Little dude has been having a good time tonight. I think he likes that seat,” I say.
“It’s a wonderful seat. It helps keep him in an upright position so he doesn’t have any GERD issues. It’s also restrictive, in a comfortable way. He likes to feel safe and protected, and the harness on that seat is perfect in fulfilling that need.” She unsnaps him from the seat and gently lifts him to her shoulder.
“I’m going to take him upstairs to bathe him and get him ready for his last bottle and bed. Can you let Sam know she has about an hour to herself before I’m finished?” She nods toward the pool house and heads up the stairs.
“Sure,” I say and walk outside. It’s a beautiful night. The air is crisp and cool, but I know the temperature inside the pool house is a balmy eighty-five degrees. I enter the enclosure and Sam is already doing her laps, unaware of my presence.
I slip into the dressing room and into a pair of swim trunks. When Sam makes her turn at the close end of the pool, I dive in and join her. She’s mid-stroke and lifts her head from the water briefly, then drives her arms ahead. Her strokes are powerful yet graceful. I keep pace with her as we swim thirty more laps, each one more intense than the last.
When we finally touch the wall, we emerge from the water, lungs burning, hearts pumping. Our breathing is hurried and deliberate as we try to fill our lungs with much-needed oxygen.
“Wow,” I pant. “I’ve seen you swim before, but man.” I suck in air and try to slow down my breathing. “That was intense,” I finish.
She’s breathing hard through her mouth and nose as her chest expands and contracts deeply. “I had no idea you were going to join me,” she says.
“Your aunt sent me out here to tell you she’d be done with Kai’s bath and dinner in about an hour. Then I saw you exercising and thought I should join you.” I pat my belly and say, “You know, pizza and all.”
She smirks. “Your six-pack thanks you.” Her eyes linger a little too long on my chest and abs, and she blushes.
“It’s time for my cool-down,” she says and begins to lie back in the water. “Do you want to float with me?”
I suddenly feel like I’m intruding. I know this is her private time, which she uses to decompress from her day. “I should go inside. Leave you to your… thing,” I say.