Chapter 8
Eight
K ept
I set the swimming lessons for my girls up for Friday afternoons for a couple of reasons. The most important one was that I only worked a half day on Fridays. Since Xarielle couldn’t swim, I wanted to be there while my girls got their lessons in case a second set of hands were needed in the pool.
I also scheduled Xarielle’s lessons on Friday.
Since I was the one requiring her to learn how to swim, I didn’t think it was fair that she should have to take the lessons during her own time.
I considered the swim lessons a part of job training.
And as a business owner, I believed that all trainings should be paid and take place during company time.
The second that I finished getting Destin into her purple floral tankini, she was ready for action.
I watched her dance around on her brand new flip flops, her ponytails bouncing to a beat that only played in her head.
The smile on her face and the movement of her feet made me laugh.
And I had to admit that she looked cute.
Dakota was decidedly less excited as I helped her slip into the soft pink tankini dotted with baby blue bows and ruffled trim.
I wasn’t too concerned because that was normal for my first born.
She didn’t easily take to new things. She had to be coaxed and then warm up to new experiences.
But living on the ocean in a house with a pool made swim lessons non-negotiable.
Destin waddled/ran toward the deck, while I carried Dakota, not allowing negative self-talk to goad me about overindulging my daughter.
I wanted her to understand that she was going to take swim lessons whether she wanted to or not.
But also, daddy would be right there to support and encourage her if she needed it—balance.
From a list of recommended strong swimming instructors, I selected Sanders Gillespie.
When I got to the pool, Sanders and Xarielle were talking.
I couldn’t hear the conversation, but both of them were smiling.
Logically, I knew that shouldn’t make my hands ball themselves into fists, but it did.
Xarielle turned her attention to us, and the smile on her face brightened if that was possible.
“Look at you,” she crooned as Destin took off running and dove into her arms. Xarielle caught her with ease and picked her up, then she peppered Destin’s face with kisses. “You’re too cute.”
It was Destin’s turn to grin big. “Tank you.”
She fiddled with the ruffles on the swimsuit while preening.
“You’re welcome. And my Dakota . . .” She held out her hands to Dakota, and surprisingly, she traded the strong confines of my arms for the warmth of Xarielle’s. “You look too cute.”
She fingered the swimsuit she’d ordered from who knew where.
“And you’re so brave. I can’t wait to see you racing across the pool with your sister one day.” She dropped a loud kiss on Dakota’s forehead. “Go get ’em, Kota.”
I watched Xarielle with appreciation for how she was with my girls. My gaze landed on Sanders. He was watching Xarielle with . . . something else in his eyes.
“This dude,” I mumbled to myself with disgust.
“I’m going to spend some time getting my mind right before I have to get in this pool,” Xarielle told me. “You know I’m nervous about this.”
Before I could respond, Sanders jumped in the conversation, cheesing happily. “I told you I got you. There’s nothing for you to be nervous about, Xari.”
Xari? I hoped he didn’t fuck around and make me fire his ass for harassment . . . or something.
The lesson went about how I would’ve expected the first lesson to go.
Destin did her best impression of a fish, doing way too much.
At times, I felt like she kind of scared Sanders with her antics.
Dakota was cautious but willing to try everything Sanders asked her to do in the water.
I was proud of both of my girls and pleased with the results.
I helped Dakota towel off while Destin danced beside me to whatever music played in her two-year-old head.
“How did the lesson go?”
I turned my head at the sound of Xarielle’s voice and sort of wished I hadn’t.
The sight of her in her bikini caused a reaction in my cargo shorts.
She wasn’t a voluptuous woman. She didn’t have a coke-bottle shape.
She had a medium-sized body, but she carried a lot of her weight in her ass and thighs.
And the two piece swimsuit she wore fit like it was custom crafted to showcase her best assets.
She tossed her towel on the chair next to the one I sat in.
I basically forgot all about drying my daughter off as my gaze was glued to the sway of Xarielle’s hips as she made her way over to Sanders.
From the look of hunger in his eyes as he watched her and the way he licked his lips, I knew I was going to have to fire dude.
Later that night, I lay stretched out on the sofa on the deck, staring up at the stars. I was thinking about all sorts of stuff—Dakota’s upcoming birthday, the proposal to start building in Atterson, the project I was finishing in Shore Line, and even Xarielle.
I wasn’t out there long before the subject of my thoughts joined me on the deck. Since I was taking up the entire sofa, she sat in one of the chairs that faced the sofa.
“Hey.” Her volume was soft.
“Hey.” I hated to ask. I really didn’t even want to know, but at the same time, I did want to know. “How did you feel about your first swimming lesson?”
“Um…” She seemed to consider the question. “It was okay. We didn’t get very far. I really don’t like putting my face in the water, and I realized quickly that putting your face in the water is one of the main components of swimming.”
I laughed lightly.
“Yeah.” I sighed, then asked, “Were you comfortable with Sanders? Do you think he’s the right instructor for you?”
Her eyes ballooned. “If you like him for the girls, I’m fine with him. I’m sure you researched a gang of possible instructors before you settled on him. I’m fine with him.”
“It doesn’t matter what I did to find him.
I just met dude. I’m not loyal to no stranger.
The bottom line is that I need you to be able to swim.
Do you feel like he’s the instructor to get you there?
” It was probably fucked up that I was hoping she said she wanted somebody different, but I didn’t care.
I didn’t like the fact that Sanders was obviously attracted to my .
. . nanny. If I had to replace Sanders, I was replacing him with a woman.
“Well, I’ve only had one lesson. I’m not ready to judge yet. Let me have a few more lessons.” She paused. “He did ask me out though.”
I had to literally restrain myself from bolting into an upright position.
What’s going on with you? I asked myself, but I knew what was going on with me.
I was attracted to Xarielle. And that was the last thing I needed.
I couldn’t act on those feelings because I couldn’t chance jeopardizing the relationship she was building with my girls.
They needed stability. So far, my home had been a revolving door of feminine energy coming in then feminine energy leaving out.
They’d already lost their mom, their aunt, and their first nanny.
I didn’t want them to lose Xarielle because I couldn’t keep my hormones in check.
I couldn’t afford to make things awkward between us.
“Oh yeah? Did you feel like that was unprofessional? I’m saying, dude was on his job.”
“I should rephrase. He offered to take me out and show me around the island.”
I had already shown her around the island. The island was small. What more was there to see? The inside of his apartment? I shook those thoughts from my mind and changed the subject.
“Yo, about Dakota’s fourth birthday party . . .”
“Yes, the birthday tea party. So, I already spoke with the coordinator at the community center. They’ll provide the space in their butterfly garden, the tables, and the chairs. We need to provide everything else. Also, they do not have a place to store or keep the food.”
“Not a problem,” I told her. I planned to have the party catered. “What about a guests list? Does she have any friends from all of these activities you have her participating in? Because otherwise, she and Destin will be the only kids at this four-year-old birthday party.”
Xarielle laughed. “You’re crazy, and that’s not true. Trinity already texted me that she reached out to some of the women from you guys’ children’s church. In case you weren’t aware, Dakota has friends there. But yeah, there are a few moms that I talk to. I’ll invite them and their children.”
I nodded. “Speaking of next week, the models at Dakota Sky are finished. You want to come out on Monday or Tuesday and see them? They’ll open to the public on Wednesday.”
“Yes.” She beamed at me. “Yes. I can’t wait to see your work in person.”
On Tuesday, after I gave Xarielle and the girls the tour of Dakota Sky, we had dinner at Marshmallow & Biscuit , which was a favorite of ours.
“This is a beautiful restaurant,” Xarielle commented once we were seated at a table.
The restaurant was located right on the ocean, so the view from almost every table was of the water.
“I mean,” she continued. “It’s clearly casual. Almost everybody here is in shorts and stuff. But the vibe and the view . . .”
She tilted her head and looked up at the ceiling. When she brought her gaze down, her smile was shy but radiant.
“It’s so beautiful here. I love Jackson Island. I feel like it’s giving me life. The air, the breeze. Everything is so peaceful.”