Chapter Fifteen
R ocky waited by the door. “Can we go now?”
“I’m coming,” Gia answered. “I’m making sure I have everything.”
“What else do you need? You and my mother have been texting back and forth for days. It’s a party. She has everything you could possibly need over there.”
“Do you have your board shorts for swimming?”
“No, I do not.” He headed toward his room.
“What about your bass? Candi and Max said you all might provide some entertainment later on.”
“I think we ended up deciding against that, but I’ll take it.”
“That would be cool if it happened, huh? Shade Blackledge wailing on the guitar at our wedding reception. How many people get to say that?”
He rolled back to the door. He had forgotten both items, but that was the least of his worries. “Not you too.” He adjusted the guitar in his lap.
“Not me what?”
“Shade. Are you celebrity crushing on him too?”
“Not my type. And who’s crushing on him?”
“It’s not every day a real rocker comes to Cornerstone Fellowship. It took a couple of weeks for everyone to calm down and forget we had an internationally famous guitarist in our midst.”
“He is something.” Gia added his shorts to her bag. “Candi’s been giving me the details. I think there might be a holiday wedding. I’ll be big as a house, but I’m already excited. And no, I’m not crushing.”
Sure, whatever. “Do you have your swimsuit?”
“Yes.” She patted the striped tote on her shoulder. “It’s right here. Along with sunscreen and insect repellent and a change of clothes.”
“Is it safe to put those chemicals on your skin? What about the chlorine in the pool?”
“Yes, it is, we had this conversation earlier, remember? In fact, your parents’ pool is going to be my best friend in a few months. Floating in the water is supposed to feel really good to huge pregnant women.”
“That was a test,” he said, embarrassed it had slipped his mind they had already talked about it. “What does your swimsuit look like? It’s not a bikini, is it?”
She perched her sunglasses on her head and dropped the phone in the bag. “No, it’s not a bikini. Not only am I too shy and self-conscious for that kind of exposure, I’ve put on a few pounds. I have a basic one piece and will probably wear a pair of wind shorts over that. Why?”
“No reason.” He looked away, already knowing this was about to be a thing.
“Wait. Do you think I’m too fat to swim at the party? Is that it? Do you not want me to wear a bathing suit in front of your family? I’m already a whale, aren’t I?”
His grandpa had been right. He was dumber than a can of worms. And on top of his inherent dumbness, he’d become dazed, scatterbrained, and eons stupider than he was before they married. Why? Because he was completely bonkers over his wife, and they had yet to connect intimately. Their distance, while living in the same house, had driven him to the brink of insanity and swiftly rolled him over the edge. Every day she kissed him, cuddled with him, scratched his back, and massaged his tired shoulders. Then every night they went to their own beds. She apparently slept like a baby while he banged his head against the wall and read Civil War books until he passed out. He may not be able to experience things the way other men did, but he could satisfy his wife as well as rub her lower back, put lotion on her feet, and hold her as she slept. He wanted to do all that if she would ever get her smooth luscious body into his bed. It was clear by the tears shimmering in her eyes—coupled with his supreme idiocy—that he was never going to get to touch her soft squeezable parts.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That question came out completely wrong.”
“How was it supposed to come out?” She slashed a tear away. “Crazy hormones. I’m not a cream puff. I’m not supposed to be crying, but wait.” She touched her cheek and then rubbed her fingers together. “There’s another one. I have no control over this.”
Rocky smiled and shouldn’t have because he was already in trouble.
“What’s so funny? Why are you laughing at me?”
“I’m not laughing at you. You’re cute and perfect you make me smile, that’s all.”
“But you said I’m a sea cow who can’t wear a bikini to your parents’ pool.”
“Gia, please. I didn’t say that, but I did ask an ill-advised question. I’m sorry. Can we go?”
“Why are you concerned with my swimwear?”
“I’m not concerned with your swimwear. I was curious because we’ve never been swimming together.”
She marched toward the door and took the bass guitar out of his lap. “I’ll carry this. And by the way, you are really lame when you’re pussyfootin’ around the truth.”
“OK, stop. I’m not going to our wedding reception with you if you’re going to keep giving me snark.”
“Snark? Really?”
“Yes, really. The truth is you don’t realize how hard it is to be married to the most beautiful and desirable woman in Texas. I was asking for your own safety and my peace of mind. There could be a hundred and fifty people come and go at my parents’ house today. I have some creepy old uncles and some cousins who think they’re big players with the ladies. Some of my dad’s folks are real huggers, and someone is going to try and grab your butt. I don’t want to have to put a beatdown on anyone at our party. Especially a relative. That’s messy. So. There you have it.”
Now she was laughing. That was better than crying.
“Awww, you’re jealous. Why didn’t you say so?”
“I’m not jealous. I only wanted to be prepared. You in a bikini would make for a long, stressful day. For me at least.”
“There will be lots of pretty women there, Rocky. No one is going to be inappropriate, and I’m sure everyone can handle themselves.” She rested the bass on the ground while she bent to kiss him. It was the perfect combination of warmth and squishiness as she did something near scandalous to his lower lip. “Besides, I only have eyes for you.” She messed with his hair.
“Woman, you are trying to kill me.”
“Oh relax, cowboy.” She opened the door. “If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead.”
GIA SCANNED THE BACKYARD to see if Max had come in, and then she headed for Bev’s kitchen. She emptied crumbs into the trash and opened new bags of chips.
She intended to talk to Max about what she saw in the garage—without actually talking to Max about what she saw in the garage. She hadn’t confessed to Rocky yet about her snooping, and she wasn’t going to compound the situation by saying too much behind his back. But she was going to try and get information out of Max.
Yeah. How was she going to do that?
“What are you doing in here?” Bev asked and swiped her hands across her white chef-style apron. “You should be out there enjoying your party.”
“I am. It’s an amazing party, but these bowls were empty.”
“Have you heard from your parents?”
“On their way. They had a funeral to attend this morning. They didn’t know about it until Thursday but that’s the way funerals are, then they got right on the road.”
“Good. Can’t wait to see them again.”
Gia smiled as she refilled chip and pretzel bowls. As Fourth of July parties went, it was about as Americana as it could possibly be considering it had been turned into a wedding reception with a heavy Greek influence. There were decorations to represent all of the above, and a five-foot-tall stack of wedding gifts in the dining room. She hadn’t expected that.
Everyone had started to gather at noon, but Bev warned her it would go on into the next morning. No one seemed to be in any hurry as old men stood in the shade and watched Nick cook on the pit, while old women sat around the kitchen table and talked about anyone who wasn’t there. Teens alternated between video games and the pool, while younger kids played under the breezeway where Nick had placed an industrial outdoor fan. Gia watched the gate for her new friends from church and for Rebekah, while Rocky checked on her about once every thirty minutes to make sure she was OK and to introduce her to a family friend or relative.
He checked on her again as she returned the bowls to the snack table in the garage. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. According to my app, I’m in between hosting a pink prune and a pink fig. All that growing in there is making me hungry.”
“That’s what’s supposed to happen. Are you having a good time?”
“This is incredible. My parents didn’t party quite like this. Everything was always stuffy. This is relaxed, and people are so connected. Like every person belongs to the next and so on. Like...family.”
“ Your family, Gia.”
“I know. Thanks. I do feel like family.”
“Hey, Gia,” Nick called. “Can you tell Bev I’m ready for more Souvlaki?”
“Sure thing.” She returned her gaze to her husband. “Now I really feel like family. The patriarch is giving me orders.”
“Yeah, well, when the patriarch is done cooking and the sun goes down, there will be celebratory toasting and dancing the Kalamatianos with his cronies. Prepare to be mortified.”
“That sounds like a blast, and it is not mortifying when people celebrate their culture.” She headed for the kitchen.
“Glad to hear you say that,” he called after her. “‘Cause you’ll end up dancing whether you want to or not.”
“I’m not worried,” she called back. She paused at the door, trying to remember exactly how Nick said the word. She was familiar with it, she just couldn’t remember in which order to pronounce the o and the l . “Nick said he’s ready for more Sloo... Souva...”
The old ladies at the table laughed.
Bev pulled an assembled tray of skewers out of the fridge. “Listen. Soo .”
“Soo.”
“ Vla .”
“Vla.”
“ Kee .”
“Kee.”
“ Souvlaki. ”
“Souvlaki,” Gia repeated.
The old ladies cheered.
“Whatever it is, I can’t get enough of it. Especially with those triangles of warm Pita bread.”
“Enjoy, honey. And tell Nick this is the last of the lamb. The next six trays are beef.”
Gia noted the overflowing kebabs on the plastic-covered cookie sheet in her arms. “Six more trays?”
Bev’s eyes got huge. She dropped a wooden skewer on the floor. A piece of onion bounced away from it. “Don’t you think it’s enough?”
“More than enough,” Gia was quick to add, and then she stopped talking to keep from flubbing anything else.
“More gifts came in,” Bev said as she discarded the things she dropped. “If you and Rocky want to, you can come over after work on Tuesday or Thursday and we’ll help you sort everything out and get a proper address list for thank you cards and all that.”
“That would be very helpful. Thank you.”
Gia left the kitchen and passed the tray off to Nick. She’d never seen so much food or so many gifts in her honor and was trying to be as gracious as possible though everyone’s generosity and the July heat was overwhelming.
“Gia!” Someone called from the side of the house.
She spotted the bounce of auburn curls in the crowd. She’d know that rookie’s peppy step anywhere.
“Rebekah!” She called back and rushed to hug her. “I’m glad you could come.”
Rebekah held her at arm’s length. “I’m glad you invited me. You look fantastically happy.” She dropped her massive bag to the ground and fished out a pink foil box with a silver bow. “Where do I put this before it gets smashed?”
“Oh, Rebekah,” she said and dragged her into the house and to the dining room. “You shouldn’t have. She swept her arm across the growing pile. “I mean you really shouldn’t have.”
Rebekah snorted and peeled the sunglasses off her face as she wound her way between mounds of large and elaborately decorated presents. “It’s so big it’s funny,” she said and laughed. “I’m going to put my angel over here on this china cabinet so she doesn’t get squashed.”
“Angel?”
“Yes. To watch over you and Rocky. She’s glass and is holding two wedding bands. I think you’ll like her.”
Gia sighed and pressed her hand against her chest. She’d missed this raucous newbie more than she realized. “I know I’ll love her. Thank you.” She pulled out a chair. “Now sit and tell me everything before someone finds out we’re here and makes us go back out in the sun.”
“No,” Rebekah said. “You tell me everything. And Gia, I’m sorry about what happened to you. I’m still in shock. I knew you didn’t feel well, but who could have guessed what it really was?” She shuddered. “I mean, drugs? Assault? It’s unimaginable.”
“Well, it’s behind me and I’m in good health,” Gia said. “And thank you for your understanding, prayer, and confidence when I first called you. You had a right to know after I acted strangely at work. I wish I had all those letters you caught me burning, but other than that, it’s OK. How are things at camp?”
“Great. Everyone misses you, but no one talks about anything. The story is you were sick, but got well, and moved on. There’s no negative connotation to any of it. Everyone knew it was your last summer anyway.”
“That’s good, I guess. I miss it.”
“I know you do, but hey, you’re a married woman now. And what’s that about? And why is it a big secret?”
“It’s not really a secret anymore, but we basically eloped, and no one needed to know until our close friends and family did. Word’s getting out, but I don’t know if I’ll ever see any of those summer job people from camp again. There’s no need to add a hasty wedding to my already abrupt departure.”
Rebekah’s bright green eyes twinkled as she squeezed Gia’s arm. “I always had a good feeling about you and Rocky, but it did happen fast. One day we were talking about that kiss, and the next you’re married. Wow. No use waiting when you know, I guess.”
“He’s wonderful. The timing was right. There’s more to that story, but I don’t want to go into it now. I promise I’ll tell you more soon, but we need to get you a plate and introduce you to some interesting people.” Gia stood. “I want you to meet Rocky’s best friend Max when he gets here.”
Rebekah pulled her back down. “Are you saying you brought me all the way down here for a hook up?”
“No, I didn’t think about this until yesterday. You’ll like Max. He’s very cute in a shaggy sheep dog sort of way.”
Rebekah made a face. “You really don’t know how to sell this kind of thing do you?”
Gia stood again and headed for the door. “Forget the dog comparison. He’s a great guy. Plays drums in a worship band, out of college, probably going to seminary.” She tugged Rebekah to her side to peek out. “See the garage over there?”
“Yes.”
“That’s where all the food is. They’ve got some kind of portable cooling system in there. It’s heavenly. I’ve been putting pieces of beef from the Souvlaki skewers into pita bread and smearing it with Tzatziki sauce.”
“So really, you’re using a chunk of Souvlaki beef to make a Gyro instead of using thinly sliced lamb.”
Gia met her gaze and swallowed hard. “Is that wrong? Because it feels soooooo right.”
Rebekah burst out laughing. “You can do anything you want. You’re the bride.”
“What are you two doing?”
Rebekah screamed and jumped.
Gia jerked and bumped her head on the door. “Ow!” She rubbed her scalp. “Why are you sneaking up on us?”
“Sorry,” Rocky said. “I wasn’t sneaking. Hey, Rebekah, how you doin’?”
“I’m great. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. Max got here and everyone else from church is arriving. Candi’s looking for you. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Gia said.
“You need ice.”
“I don’t need ice.”
Max came from the kitchen with his hand in a bag of chips. “What’s up?”
“Gia needs ice.”
“I don’t need ice. Max, this is my friend Rebekah. Rebekah, this is Max.”
Max stood there looking like a dork with chip crumbs on his upper lip. He was staring like a doofus, but didn’t bother to take the hand Rebekah offered him.
“Max.” Rocky sent him a disgusted glare. “When a lady wants to shake hands—”
“Potato chip grease,” he said. “All over hands.”
Rebekah smiled because she was polite that way.
Max continued to exhibit monosyllabic dorkiness.
“Gia needs ice,” Rocky said again.
“I don’t need ice,” she insisted. “I don’t have a bump.”
Rebekah shuffled her feet and avoided Max’s continued gaze. “This is funny because didn’t you two meet when one of you got hurt and the other one tried to administer forcible first aid?”
Rocky grumbled. “In a way, yes, but I didn’t need her help.”
Gia blew out a breath. “No, of course he didn’t. It would have been fine to let him leave with that horrible oozing gash on his arm. It didn’t need cleaned or dressed or covered...”
“Max,” Rocky ground out between clenched teeth. “You’re making Rebekah uncomfortable.”
“Sorry.” He dropped the chip bag in Rocky’s lap. “I have to go do something.”
He stumbled off in a daze.
Rebekah raised her eyebrows and let out a long slow whistle. “Boy Gia, when you pick out a sheep dog for a girl, you really find the most charming one in the kennel. Pick of the litter that one is.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” Gia said. “Forget it. Let’s find the others and eat.”
“We’re hitting the pool in a half hour,” Rocky said. “And there’s talk of a girls versus guys volleyball game.”
“I’m in,” Rebekah said.
Gia wanted to participate, but suddenly she was concerned with things like accidental kicks to her stomach and hard collisions in the pool. “I think I’ll referee that one from the sidelines. I need to watch for my parents anyway.”
“Good idea,” Rocky said. “I’ll help you. Volleyball is not my best event. Need to be able to push off from the bottom for that.”
“What is your best event?” Gia asked. “We’ll make sure we do that one.”
“Probably watching you float around on a tube. Or floating around with you. Or rubbing sunscreen on you. Or you rubbing sunscreen on—”
“Stop right there,” Rebekah said. “Not in front of company.”
Gia laughed. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Rocky said. “I’m going to change.”
“Do you have everything you need?”
“Yeah, don’t worry about me. I’ll see you out there.”
“OK. It’s going to be fun.”
It wasn’t fun.
Within an hour the volleyball game had been stopped, abruptly and unceremoniously halted, when Rebekah took a wicked blast to the face with the hard, wet ball. It cracked her sunglasses at the bridge of her nose and sent crimson drops into the water. In a haze of pain, anger, and perceived intentional attack, she’d dived under the net and rammed her knee into Max’s gut.
Game over.
The net had been put away, and the ball was taken into custody by Kevin as evidence. The men stayed at one end of the pool, hurling their bodies off the diving board in preposterous attempts to hurt themselves, while the women floated and lounged around the steps at the other end.
Carol Ann sat on a towel at the edge of the pool with her capris rolled up and her legs dangling in the water. She pushed her straw hat forward.
“Float back over here,” she told Rebekah. “Let’s see how that looks.”
Rebekah was sprawled on her back across a large ring with yellow ducks on it. “Coming.”
Carol Ann pulled away the ice bag. “Ah... Looks good. Swelling is down. That gash will close nicely. Bev has some closures in her first aid kit. I’ll dress it when you get out. You’ll have a little scar, but it will fade.”
Carol Ann sent her spinning back to the center.
Rebekah lifted her tumbler of iced tea as if toasting. “Thank you, Sheep Dog Max,” she said with sarcasm. “It’s a little scar. It’ll fade.” She took a drink.
Kelly backstroked around them and treaded water between Rebekah and Gia. “Max didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know he didn’t,” Rebekah said. “But he was acting weird when we met and then I glanced up and saw him hit that ball right at me and wham! It hurt. I lost it.”
“You sure did,” Candi chimed in from her seat on the steps. She lounged there half in and half out of the water. “One minute you were on our side of the net, and the next you were on the other beatin’ the crap out of him.”
They all laughed. It was funny. Sad, but funny.
“I probably wouldn’t have gotten a piece of him if he wasn’t so close. We’d been crowding each other at the net.”
“Ohhhh...” Carol Ann said. “Is that what you’re calling it these days? Crowding? Looked like good old-fashioned flirting to me.”
Rebekah halfheartedly snarled at her. “Anyway. I think he thought he was going to spike that ball right behind me, but I’d already backed up and—”
“ Wham! ” Everyone said.
Rebekah gave them all a dirty look.
“What?” Gia asked. “That’s the word we’ve heard five times since the incident.” She used big air quotes to highlight the word incident and the others snickered.
“I liked the part where he clutched his stomach and slipped under,” Carol Ann said.
“He was never in any danger of drowning,” Gia added.
Kelly laughed and dipped beneath the water. “Maybe not,” she sputtered when she came up. “But I think he wished he were. He was so embarrassed.”
“Well, I tried to apologize,” Rebekah huffed. “I’m not proud of myself. I thought I had that streak of rage under control. Evidently, I don’t.”
“I think you do,” Gia assured her. “You had a reflex response. Pain and proximity will do that. What’s the first thing you do if a bee lands on your arm and stings you? You swat at it.”
“Or in Rebekah’s case,” Candi cut in. “You knee the little fellow under the ribs until he cries and tries to drown himself.”
Rebekah paddled away from them as they laughed again. “I’m not talking to you anymore.”
“Don’t float into enemy territory,” Kelly warned. “They’re still mad we were ahead by three points at the time of the...” She paused so they could all join her in the word and add the air quotes. “... incident .”
Gia swam to where her friends waded near the steps.
“Look at them down there,” Candi said and pointed. “They’re determined to crack their skulls on that diving board.”
Rocky hung out at the side and watched from the deep end while Shade, Max, and Kevin took turns jumping off the board in scary, yet creative ways, as he entertained the kids with their who could make the biggest splash contest.
“Rocky looks happy, and so do you,” Carol Ann said.
“We are happy.”
Kelly watched the men with a faraway look in her eyes. “Do you think it bothers Rocky that the others are on that diving board and he’s down in the water with the kids?”
“It has to creep up on him once in a while,” Gia said. “He seems to handle everything with grace and humor. I haven’t witnessed a really hard moment. Truth be told, you all have known him a lot longer than I have.”
“We saw him get really aggravated over a grocery store once,” Candi said. “The place has a huge entrance on each side but has only one ramp over the curb to get to it. On top of that, the curbs are higher than usual because the parking lot floods. I know he can pop a curb, but those really high ones are tough because it takes a lot of strength to do that and there’s a good chance he could fall out of his chair. Anyway, the whole design was substandard and not ADA compliant.”
“We all boycotted the store for a while,” Carol Ann said. “We said we wouldn’t go back until they fixed it. As far as I know they did. We need to ask him for sure. They had the best deli.”
“It’s funny,” Gia said. “We met at camp, but I have yet to hear the talk he gives up there.”
“I wouldn’t worry,” Candi said. “We’re launching that new youth service later this month and I think Pastor Charles wants to get him on the schedule to speak there once in a while.”
“He didn’t say anything.”
“Well, he keeps denying he has ministry with the youth and yet he ends up with them every time he turns around.”
“Isn’t Max in charge of that service?”
“Yes. He’s been working hard on it.”
“Hey,” Kelly said and bumped her arm. “Look what’s going on over there.”
“That’s interesting.”
Rebekah had made her way across the pool. Max obviously tried to impress her with that last cannonball and then swam to her side. They both smiled. Then Rebekah inexplicably rolled off her ring with arms and legs flailing as she went.
Her ice bag sank.
“Did he...?”
“Surely not.”
“I don’t know,” Candi said. “It appears he tipped her off her floatation device.”
Kelly snorted.
“He really isn’t the brightest crayon in the box, is he?” Carol Ann asked.
“Look at him,” Candi said. “He’s rushing away as if he did do something wrong.”
Sure enough, Max was high-tailing it out of the pool as Rebekah righted herself and exited the other side.
Gia saw the opportunity she’d been looking for. “I’ll be back.” She grabbed a towel to follow Max.
She found him in the garage, hovering over the food.
“Max, I need to talk to you.”
“I am sorry about Rebekah’s nose. You know I didn’t do that on purpose.”
“I would think not.” She tucked the towel securely at her waist. “But did you make it worse by tipping her into the water?”
“What? No... I touched that rubber ducky ring and she flinched and tipped herself out.”
“Whatever. That’s not what I want to talk about.”
“Is something wrong?”
She waved him to the corner. “This might be a weird question, but do you know why Rocky would have um...like a lot of bicycle parts at the house? I know you guys like to work on cars at your place, but do you also build bikes or something?”
“Nope, never built a bike. Not to be rude or anything, but why are you asking me? What did Rocky say?”
“I haven’t asked him yet. I’m going to, but with us having so much to learn about each other, it hasn’t come up. He obviously hasn’t been able to ride a traditional bike in a while. I was curious about the parts. Thought maybe you guys had a side business.”
Max shoved the last of a brownie in his mouth and dusted off his hands. “Nope.”
“Thanks.” She turned toward the table. “That brownie looked good. I need me one of those.”
“Wait,” he said. “Let me ask you something.”
“No, Rebekah is not pressing assault charges.”
“You’re hilarious, you know that? Rocky went and married himself a comedian.”
“You were saying?”
“Speaking of cycling parts, has he ever mentioned hand cycling to you?”
“No, why?”
“It’s come up in a couple of our conversations but he never elaborates. That buddy of his who helped us put the hand controls in his new truck does it. Rock must have participated in the sport at one time, but he sure avoids the subject now.”
Gia cuffed him on the arm. “Well, duh, Max.”
“What’d I do?”
“Think about it. We’re talking about the same thing. Those aren’t bicycle parts at the house, they’re hand cycle parts. That makes more sense.”
Max scratched his head. “You said bicycle.”
“And you really couldn’t make the leap? Wow. I know Rebekah has you distracted but... Wow.”
“You’re the genius who thought you were looking at bicycle parts.”
“How many times a week do women commit physical violence against you?”
“That’s rhetorical, right?”
“Concentrate, Max. Rocky’s a former competitive athlete and he’s stronger than an ox. Hand cycling must have been a great outlet for him. Wonder why he quit?”
Max looked past her. “Who’s that?”
Gia turned and waved. “Oh hey! That’s my parents. Mom, Dad, over here. I want you to meet Max.”
“Hello, pumpkin.” Her father hugged her tight. He seemed less tense than the last time they saw each other. Maybe she was the one who was less tense.
“This is Rocky’s best friend Max. He’s in ministry too. He’s heading up the new youth service at church.”
Max’s handshake looked too eager. Like he was meeting a superhero. “Good to meet you, Pastor Vincent. Gia gave me your recent book about marketing the modern church. Good stuff.”
“Thanks...”
Gia wanted to listen, but her mother had already dragged her off.
“You look fantastic, honey. Marriage and pregnancy suits you.”
“Shhh... Not everyone knows that yet.”
“I know, but I’m excited. I brought you some maternity clothes. They’re in the trunk. They’re much cuter than they used to be. Baby bumps are far more fashionable today. Where’s Rocky?”
“He’s in the pool. I need to check in with him. Bev’s been waiting for you. She’s probably back in the kitchen.”
“See you in a bit, then.”
Gia found Rocky sitting at the edge with kids all over him. They were taking turns begging him to launch them into the water.
“You’re popular,” she said.
“Yeah, this is a new sport. Kid tossing. Who knew?”
“I was looking forward to playing with you in the water. Guess I’ll have to wait my turn.”
“I have to get out a while, but I’ll meet you back here. Hey George,” he called to one of the boys. “Get my wheels. I gotta go to the bathroom.”
“Is it necessary to yell that out to everyone?”
“Yes. What do you think would happen if I told them I was done for the day?”
“You are a genius,” she said.
“And you have been schooled. Can you believe it? I surprised the camp-counselor-slash-child-psychologist.”
“Not a licensed psychologist yet, but I am impressed. I’ll get you a towel.”
“OK. I’ll meet you back here later.”
“Can’t wait. It’ll be fun.”
It wasn’t fun.
At least not at first.
They’d tried to find some alone time, but as the sun set, the festivities ramped up. Traditional Greek music blared from the patio and there was some beautiful—and not so beautiful—dancing around the pool. Nick and Bev talked to the crowd about their son with tears in their eyes, and Gia was invited to join in the Kalamatianos. Her parents tried too. Candi got pictures of everything, including her and Rocky in the line together, maneuvering his chair to keep up.
It was past midnight before the crowd thinned. Their parents talked quietly in the kitchen while sleeping children sprawled across lounge chairs, and teens crashed the hot tub. Shade, Candi, and the rest of the band headed home to sleep before reporting to church in a few short hours, and Rebekah left with a hug and a near-black eye.
Then Gia and her husband went for a late night swim.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. They floated there together, no chair between them, only water, fluid movement, and his strong embrace. They made their way to the steps where Rocky arranged his legs so she could sit between them on the step below.
It started innocently enough. He gathered her hair to one side and kissed her neck and graze his teeth across her earlobe. His warm breath on her cool skin started little fires inside her. She turned to kiss him too, and soon the chemistry was crackling to the point of shorting out the pool lights.
But what did he want? He seemed to enjoy kissing and cuddling with her, but he also packed her off to her own room every night. He was giving her space, she knew that, but she was ready to close the gap and wondered, how does a wife tell her husband she’s ready to take it to the next level? Was there a marriage handbook for that?
She pulled away to meet his gaze after one particularly steamy kiss. “Uh... Rocky? Do you want to go home and fool around?”
He pushed her forward and started dragging himself out of the pool. “OK.”
She laughed. “Let me see if your mom needs any help before we leave.”
“No. We’ll come back tomorrow. Get in the truck.”
“We at least need to get into dry clothes.”
“Too much trouble for me. I’ll put on a towel and a t-shirt. But you go ahead. Hurry up.”
Gia made sure his chair was where he needed it and slipped through the patio door and to the bathroom. She could hear him saying their goodbyes and agreeing to meet her parents for brunch. It was comical the way he rushed the conversation.
She peeled off her swimsuit and dug in the striped bag for her panties. There was a twinge of a cramp in her abdomen, so slight and insignificant she would not have noticed had she not been alone and naked and hastily trying to get her feet in the proper leg holes of her underwear. She stood and felt nothing else, but a warm trickle on the inside of her thigh.
“No...” she whispered. “This is not a big deal.” She rapidly plucked tissues from the nearby box. “I read this could happen and still be OK.” But as she moved, another large drop of blood splattered onto the marbled tile floor.
She hurried to clean up and dress and left through the front door to wait by the truck.
Rocky soon followed. “I didn’t see you come out.”
“Unlock the door, please.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I don’t know. I need to go to the emergency room.”