Chapter Fourteen
Jennifer
We have all put on our swimsuits at last. The joyful screams and shrieks of Fletcher's children make my heart swell.
I can tell by his expression that his heart's about to burst too.
His grin encourages me to do the same, and I love seeing him this way.
An adventure at a place like this might change everything for this family---and for me.
Fletcher shakes his head as Josuha sneaks up behind Charlotte to surprise her.
Then Fletcher turns to me. "I've been too standoffish, I can see that now.
But I have no reason anymore to pretend I don't want to leap into the water cannonball style just like my children, and even the grandparents, have done. "
He aims a wicked grin at me, then does exactly what he suggested.
Fletcher Murgatroyd, the always calm single dad, takes a running start toward the pool and launches himself into the air with the most spectacular cannonball I've ever seen. The splash is enormous. Water erupts in all directions, soaking nearby sunbathers who shriek and laugh.
When he surfaces, gasping and grinning like an idiot, the kids are staring at him with their mouths hanging open. "I haven't done that since I was twelve!"
"DAD!" Henry screams with pure delight. "DO IT AGAIN!"
Even Amelia is laughing unabashedly as she wipes water droplets from her face. "I can't believe you just did that, Dad!"
"Your father's gone completely mad," Florence declares, but she's smiling too.
I dip my toes into the water, lingering at the edge of the pool. "That was quite the entrance, Mr. Murgatroyd."
"Oh, I'm just getting started. Try a cannonball, pet. It's invigorating."
His new attitude has infected me too. I scuffle backward, then sprint toward the edge of the pool, leaping into the water to execute my own cannonball.
The cold water hits me like an electric shock, but when I surface, I'm laughing harder than I have in months.
Fletcher has a playful glint in his eyes as he splashes me.
"Not bad for a nanny," he teases.
"I'll show you what 'not bad,' really means." Then I launch myself at him.
Suddenly, we're embroiled in an all-out water war.
Henry trots up beside us and unleashes whooping battle cries as he dunks his father.
Charlotte joins in, ganging up on me with surprising stealth.
Even Amelia wades over, pretending she's too cool to participate while secretly splashing Joshua when he's not looking.
"This is a madhouse!" Patty laughs from the shallow end where she's been watching our antics.
"Absolute bedlam," Robert agrees, but he wades in anyway, making his way toward us with the determination of a man half his age.
The ruckus escalates when Edmund produces an inflatable beach ball. "Water volleyball, anyone?"
"Where did that even come from?" I gasp, treading water beside Fletcher.
"My father is mysteriously prepared for everything," Fletcher quips, his wet hair plastered to his forehead in the most ridiculously attractive way. "I've stopped questioning it."
Henry immediately claims the ball, hugging it to his chest like it's made of gold. "Teams! We need teams!"
"Kids versus adults!" Charlotte shouts.
"That's hardly fair," I protest. "There are more of us."
"Yeah, but we're faster," Amelia exclaims with a smirk that reminds me exactly where Henry gets his mischievous streak.
Fletcher moves closer to me, his arm brushing mine in the water. Droplets cling to his eyelashes. "I'll be on your team, Jennifer."
The sultry tone of his voice sets off a fluttering in my stomach. I clear my throat. "Good. I'm extremely competitive."
"Are you now?" His eyes dance with amusement. "That doesn't surprise me one bit."
Before I can respond, Henry is shouting about positions and rules he's clearly making up on the spot. The pool has become our battlefield, with the inflatable ball flying back and forth over an imaginary net.
Florry hovers at the edge, perching primly on a deck chair, reluctant to join in the madness. "I'll keep score."
"Oh no you don't," Fletcher says, wading over to her. "Everyone plays."
To my shock, he gently but firmly pulls his mother into the water. She exclaims "oh!" and sputters, her carefully styled hair now dripping wet.
"Fletcher Ralph Murgatroyd!" she gasps, but there's laughter in her voice. "You absolute menace!"
I watch in amazement as prim and proper Florry starts to giggle---actually giggle---while she adjusts to the water temperature.
Fletcher's grin is triumphant. "There's the Mum I remember."
Henry seizes the moment of distraction to lob the beach ball directly at Fletcher's head. It bounces off with a satisfying thwack.
"Point to the kids!" Charlotte cheers, pumping her fist in the air.
"That wasn't even a proper serve!" I protest, lunging for the ball as it floats past me.
"All's fair in water volleyball," Amelia declares with teenage authority.
I snatch the ball and hurl it back at the kids' side of the pool. It smacks Henry squarely in the chest, and he lets out an exaggerated "oof!" before dissolving into giggles.
"Jennifer's ruthless!" Fletcher announces with obvious admiration.
"I warned you I was competitive."
"You did indeed." He's watching me with something that looks suspiciously like desire. Water streams down his chest, and I force myself to look away from his hot body.
"My turn!" Florry calls out, surprising everyone. She paddles over with determination, her prim demeanor completely abandoned. When Henry tosses her the ball, she serves it with surprising accuracy.
"Bloody hell, Mum!" Fletcher exclaims as we all scramble to return her shot.
"Language!" she scolds automatically, but nobody believes she's angry.
Our entourage makes the rounds of the best and most fun places in the park. Then we head out to find food, sampling the eats at three of the best vendors. We adults insist on making the children let their food settle before we move on to other exciting places within the water park.
Fletcher's youngest son takes off for parts unknown in this massive park.
"Henry, wait!" I holler after him, but he's a blur of excitement darting through the crowd.
Fletcher sighs beside me. "So much for letting our food settle."
"I've got him," Amelia says, jogging after her younger brother. "Charlotte, come on! You too, Josh!"
The four of them disappear into the throng of wet, sunscreen-scented bodies while Fletcher and I exchange glances with the grandparents.
I gather our scattered belongings. "I suppose we should follow them."
Florence dabs at her damp hair with a towel. "I think I'll sit this one out, dears. These old bones have had quite enough excitement for one day."
"Nonsense," Fletcher declares, taking her hand. "You were brilliant on the Murgatroyd water volleyball team. I'm not letting you quit now."
She protests weakly, clearly, she's secretly pleased. She has a twinkle in her eyes that wasn't there this morning.
We make our way through the maze of attractions toward the Go-Karts. The afternoon sun beats down on my shoulders, and I'm grateful for the frequent misting fans scattered throughout the park. As Fletcher walks beside me, I catch hints of chlorine and something distinctly him beneath the sunscreen.
"Your mother's having the time of her life," I observe as Florry chatters excitedly with Patty about her volleyball prowess.
Fletcher grins. "She is, isn't she? I haven't seen her this relaxed since...well, since before Claudia left."
The mention of his ex-wife creates a brief tension between us. I want to ask more, but I won't push it. This day is too perfect to ruin with heavy conversations. "Everyone's having fun. That's what matters."
We reach the Go-Karts just as Henry is trying to convince the operator he's tall enough to drive his own kart. Fletcher steps in before his son can stage a full-on rebellion.
"You can ride with me, champ," he suggests, ruffling Henry's hair.
The boy pouts for approximately two seconds before excitement takes over again. "Can I steer sometimes?"
"We'll see." Fletcher winks at me in a way that suggests the answer to Henry's query is absolutely not.
Amelia has already gotten in line, playing the blasé teenager but clearly eager to get behind the wheel. Charlotte bounces beside her, while Joshua is eyeing the track with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
"Want to be my co-pilot?" I ask.
Joshua's face lights up. "Really? You'd let me ride with you?"
"Absolutely." I smile at his enthusiasm. "We'll be the dream team."
He high-fives me with enough strength that I nearly lose my balance. Fletcher catches my elbow, giving me a sly wink. His breath tickles my ear. "Careful there, love. Can't have our star driver injured before the big race."
I turn to face him, acutely aware of how close we're standing. "Planning to eat my dust, Murgatroyd?"
"Oh, so that's how you want to play it, hmm?" He lets out a barely audible throaty chuckle. Then he moves toward his eldest son. "Joshua, I hope you're prepared for defeat. Henry and I are unbeatable."
"In your dreams!" Joshua shouts, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the line.
The Go-Kart track unfolds before us like a miniature highway, complete with twists and turns that make my pulse rev up. The smell of rubber and gasoline mingles with the chlorine still clinging to my hair.
"First time?" the college-age operator asks as he helps Joshua and me into our karts.
"I'm an old pro," I fib smoothly, buckling Joshua in beside me. The truth is, I haven't been in a Go-Kart since my university days, but I'm not about to admit that to Fletcher.
Two karts down, Fletcher waging his own battle while trying to get Henry properly secured.
The boy keeps trying to climb into the driver's seat while Fletcher patiently redirects him to the passenger side.
The kids love the Go-Karts, and I wind up playing driver for Charlotte and Amelia too.
At first, Amelia pretends it's all a dumb kiddie thing.
But quickly, she starts having as much as fun as the children.
I might not have known these children for long, but already I adore them. As for Fletcher...Our hot night in my attic room changed things between us in ways I've tried not to think about.
But for how much longer can I ignore the obvious?