Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“That’s great, kiddo. I’m happy for you.” Thankfully Brady was nowhere to be found so we ate a quick breakfast of toast with peanut butter and bananas before getting the day started. “I’m not feeling too hot today so we’re going to stick close to home. Are you a good swimmer?”
She let loose an exaggerated nod. “I’m the best swimmer. I can go almost as fast as my dad.”
“Wow, that is fast.” I searched my brain for other things we could do to fill the time and I settled on another activity that would take time. “But first, let’s pack a picnic lunch and one activity to do after lunch.”
“Okay!” Layla’s excitement was enough for me to push through making sandwiches with diagonal cuts, slicing fruit and cheese and all the other things to make a picnic seem fancy to a little girl. The nausea returned in fits and starts but my stomach managed to hang onto my breakfast until late afternoon.
The pool at Brady’s place was incredible with sun loungers set up on one side and accent chairs on the other side, perfect for sunbathing and relaxing. The pool house was small but well-appointed with drawers full of brand new bathing suits for men and women, a small fridge stocked with expensive sun creams and lotions. Just behind the hot tub was an outdoor kitchen space with a grill, stove and glass door fridge. “Wow, this is great. What do you think Layla?”
Her eyes were wide with shock as she took in the area that we’d both never seen. “Is this ours? We can swim here?”
“It’s not mine but it’s yours and your uncle’s. Ready for a dip in the water?”
“Is it going to be cold?”
I laughed, steadfastly ignoring another wave of nausea. “Probably but the longer you’re in the water the more you adjust to the temperature. Unless you changed your mind?”
“No,” she shouted and then flashed an apologetic expression. “Sorry. I mean no, I haven’t. I just wanted to know.”
“Come on. Let’s do it together so it’s less scary.” We stripped out of our coverups and stood at the edge of the pool.
“One,” Layla began.
‘Two,” I continued with a smile.
“Three,” she said and jumped straight in the water like a cannonball and when she popped up to the surface she was laughing. “It’s not cold at all!”
Layla was right but I still took my time, going into the pool in small baby steps until I was waist deep and then chest deep in the water. I kept an eye on Layla as I floated the length of the pool while Layla swam and kicked and had a good time. The sun combined with the warm water was like the perfect band-aid. The sickness remained but it wasn’t as bad as it had been all morning.
“Watch me, Toni!” Layla stood at the edge of the pool, toes curled over the edge and a determined look in her face as she watched the water.
“I’m watching,” I told her with a smile. I kept an eye on her but the sickness returned with vengeance, making my belly do somersaults as black spots popped up all around my vision. I heard the splash of Layla hitting the water but it was muffled along with her laughter. Everything was muffled and the world started to tilt. “Oh no,” I whispered just before everything went black.
I didn’t know if seconds or minutes had passed when my eyes opened under water, but I swam up to the surface and gasped for air. It was just a dizzy spell, I told myself.
“Toni!” Layla shouted my name and her tone was so full of fear I started swimming before I knew where she was. “Are you okay?” The breathless question was like a kick in the heart.
“I’m fine,” I told her in a soft voice, trying to reassure her with a hand to her back. “I’m a little sick today and I just got a little dizzy. It happens sometimes but I promise you that I’m fine.” I pulled Layla against my chest and hugged her tight. “Don’t you worry about me, little girl. I’m the adult which means it’s my job to worry.”
She was so quiet that I knew she wouldn’t soon forget what she’d seen. How could she when she’d already lost so much? I needed her to think about something else, anything else and I knew just the topic. “You’re really okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good. So good I want you to tell me about what kind of guitar you’re planning to get?”
It was the perfect distraction because she spent the next twenty minutes talking about different styles and colors of guitars, the sounds they produce and even what the strings were made from. I smiled and listened but I made sure my feet stayed on the pool floor where they belonged. The afternoon stretched ahead long and lazy. We swam and I read while Layla drew and the next thing I knew, the sun sank below the horizon and it was time to go inside.