CHAPTER EIGHT

Matt stood at the pool beside the crystal clear water amid forty children, some jumping up and down, others racing around him in circles. Where did they think they were going? “No running. You might hurt yourselves.”

Where was Suzie? If she didn’t arrive soon, he’d have to start dry-land exercises with these kids before they killed themselves. Then they’d grumble and ask to go back to the community center and make corn husk dolls, the way they had the first day of practice when he’d instructed them before Suzie came. He was still afraid to allow them in the pool. He had to do something about his lack of lifeguard training.

He cupped his hand above his eyes and peered at the parking lot. The next county in-service day, he’d require everyone to take an elementary water life-saving crash course along with the CPR, emergency medical, and blood pathogen refresher. Suzie pulled in, cut her engine, and hopped out of her car. Relief coursed through his veins like the sun peeking through a cloud. He waved.

She swung open the rustic, wooden gate and hurried inside, the hinges squeaking as it shut behind her. “Good morning, everyone.” She sounded less than enthusiastic.

The children stopped talking, glanced over at her, and stood still. Did they sense an uneasiness about her? He’d not mention her tardiness in front of them and maybe not at all this first time.

“Hi.” Anna patted Suzie’s leg with her small hand.

Matt tapped eight of them on their shoulders. “I believe you are the six-and-unders.”

They snickered.

“Over here with Suzie. The rest with me.” Matt started to walk off with the older children but turned and handed Suzie a baseball cap. “This will keep the sun off your head.”

The first day of practice when he’d kept Suzie late to let her know he’d help with the kids or send someone, she’d appeared drained. The high humidity and heat in Florida in the summer could do that to someone not used to it.

She gazed at the gift. “OPR, Okaloosa Parks and Recreation Department. Neat.”

“The navy color looks good with your blue eyes.” Her orbs drew him in like a pool of water on a hot day. He could swim in them forever.

She touched his arm. “Thank you.”

A warm sensation surged through him as her lips turned up on the corners and grew to the biggest smile. Who knew a cap could thrill someone, especially a person who’d looked as disheartened as she had when she’d trudged over to the children? Or was it the attention he gave her? Maybe he’d once looked for romance in the wrong place. Suzie made Lucy Evers look like a stuffy witch. But now wasn’t the time to explore that, if ever. He was responsible for a bunch of kids, and he needed to entertain them. He glanced over at the young children and teens on the playground.

Bob slung his lanky arm forward and started a game of ultimate Frisbee with the older boys and girls. Bob, like Matt, preferred football, not swimming. This summer, Bob worked as a waiter at the Shrimp House on the evening shift to earn money to buy a car. This fall, he’d enter Florida State University in Tallahassee on an athletic scholarship.

Matt walked to his sporty coupe, snatched a football from the passenger’s seat, and returned. “Hey, Bob, want to throw passes while the kids play?”

Bob’s green eyes widened. “Yeah, man. Swimming’s not gonna be so bad, after all. I’m participating partly to keep in shape.”

Matt tossed him the ball. “Partly?”

“I’m the oldest of six kids. My mom asked me to set a good example by doing something productive this summer.” Bob threw the ball back to Matt.

Matt caught it. “I see.”

Bob reached up for Matt’s pass. “It was either that or babysit. As it turns out, my siblings chose the crafts and gymnastics.” He returned the pass.

“Sounds good.”

Bob turned and ran down the side of the open field. Matt grinned, pulled back his arm, and let the football go.

Jay, a stocky sixteen-year-old, stared as the ball shot like a rocket into Bob’s hands.

If only Matt could’ve thrown it in a professional football game. His spirits fell like a rock in a lake.

Jay whistled. “Why don’t I see you on television on Sunday afternoons?”

“Bad knee.” Matt tapped his kneecap.

“That’s a bummer.” Wrinkles creased Jay’s brow.

Jay had no idea the heartache the injury caused. Or could he? He almost didn’t join the swim team because he wanted to stay home and concentrate on music. When his mom registered him, she told Matt he needed to socialize more, as if Jay wasn’t standing right there. Hopefully someday, Jay would see his dream come true. Matt caught the ball Bob threw back to him.

“Bob, are you gonna play with us?” Several kids hollered from the swings.

“He’s coming.” Matt tucked in the football.

Two little boys raced toward Bob at the same time two young girls ran to Mindy Clouds.

“I want to play with Mindy,” Terri Pointer called out.

A nine-year-old with dark, short, curly hair, Terri seemed to have a difficult time mingling with the rest of the kids. Was she shy or starved for attention? Matt had been told some of the children needed role models.

Seventeen-year-old Mindy was a good one. The Homecoming Queen at Fort Walton Beach High School this past year, she exuded the warm personality Terri appeared to need. With long brown hair, green eyes, and dainty features, she looked like a beauty queen. She held out her thin, smooth hand. “Let’s play ring-around-the-rosy.”

“Yeah.” Terri jumped up and down.

Thank goodness for the seniors. Sweat popped out on Matt’s forehead. He sauntered to a large society garlic bush near the pool and bent over, placing his hands on his knees.

Suzie’s voice rang out. “Six-and-unders in the water.”

The children scrambled down the steps. Matt glanced at Suzie, then he couldn’t take his eyes off her, even after he straightened.

She removed the cap Matt had given her and laid it by the pool. Then she pulled off her shirt and positioned the hat on her head again before she waded in the water with the kids. “First, everyone grab hold of the wall and show me your kicks.” She trekked back and forth, making adjustments for some of the swimmers. “Get those legs up near the surface.”

The children flutter-kicked so hard and fast they threw water all over the pool deck.

“Okay, you can stop. You guys are doing great.”

A couple girls put their hands over their mouths and giggled while the little boys puffed out their chests.

Suzie was great with the children. He was fortunate to have a good coach who cared about the kids. He’d never tell her because he wouldn’t want to give her a big ego, but he wasn’t concerned about the team’s wins and losses.

Someone tugged on his t-shirt. “C’mon. Don’t you want to play with us?”

“Shh. Not today. Bob and Mindy are excited about staying with you. I don’t want to spoil their fun.”

Several taps landed on his arm. “C’mon.”

What was he thinking lurking behind a bush, staring at a woman, and ignoring…who?

Matt peered at the little guy’s pleading brown eyes. “Okay, buddy, let’s go.” Matt leaned down. “Joey, right?”

The boy rose on his tiptoes. “Yes. I want to have free play, but I’m never allowed to do what I want. I always have to do what Jorge says.”

“Who’s Jorge?” Matt asked.

“My little brother. Mom likes him best.”

A pain pricked Matt’s heart for Joey. “Ah, I doubt that. Maybe Jorge’s more needy than you.” Matt curled his arm and made his biceps pop up. “You’re probably her strong man.”

Joey kicked at a clump of grass. “Maybe, but it sure would be nice to do what I want sometime.”

“You’re going to right now.” Matt cupped his hands around the sides of his mouth. “Free play.”

The boys and girls screamed, clapped, and jumped up and down.

Ten children ran across the plush grass to the slide.

“The seesaws. The seesaws.” The words rang through the air as eight youngsters raced to them. Yet more children scurried to the monkey bars.

Matt turned to Mindy and Jay. “Help Bob and me watch these kids. If no one gets hurt, there’s a free soda in it for all three of you.” Matt strode toward the pool. “I’ll be right back. I’m going for the six-and-unders.”

“Yeah, man.” Bob cut his gaze at Jay. “He wants to go to the pool and escort the swimmers. Got any idea why?”

Jay’s lips turned up on the corners. “Man, I don’t blame ’im. Look at her. I’d stay over there as much as I could too if I was a little older.”

Heat crept up Matt’s neck. “Cut it out, guys.” He strolled to the slide and seesaw. “Seven through fourteen, time to practice.” He charged to the teens playing ultimate Frisbee and repeated the announcement. Then he headed across the grass with some of the children skipping along behind him while others plodded.

The sunlight glistening on the pool distorted his vision. What in the world was Suzie doing with the six-and-unders? The kids waded in the water up to their shoulders, took deep breaths, lowered their faces into the water and blew. The area where they stood looked as if it boiled.

Suzie broke into a laugh as she tapped them on their heads one at a time. They stood straight up and gazed at her. “Now, lay flat and kick as hard as you can with your arms out in front. See if you can put your face on the surface of the water.”

Wrinkles creased Anna’s brow. “We won’t be able to breathe.”

“Yes, you can. Turn your head to the side and take a breath. Then lower it and blow the air out.” Suzie turned toward Matt then back to the youngsters. “Time’s up. I’m so proud of you.”

She exchanged a smile with Matt as he handed over the next group of children.

The urge to linger and talk to Suzie pulled at him like a magnet, but he trekked to the play area with eight wet five and six-year-olds. They bounded to the picnic table and dried off, their towels whipping around them. Then they slathered each other’s backs with sunscreen. Some of them stretched the necks of their t-shirts way out as they rammed their arms into them.

Help screamed in Matt’s head.

Mindy walked to him. “I tore out pages from one of my old coloring books and brought crayons for the younger kids. Do you want to use them?”

Matt breathed in and exhaled. “Whew! Thank you. From now on, we can bring pictures from the craft corner at the activity center.”

“You’re welcome,” Mindy said. Then she, Bob, and Jay left for their time with Suzie.

Thanks in part to them, Matt watched a bunch of happy kids today. He waved his hand toward the picnic tables. “Everyone who wants to color over here.”

All of the children, except three who continued to go up and down the slide, meandered over, their little faces red from exertion. A couple of them stopped by the water fountain, wiping their mouths as they joined the rest.

The seven through fourteen-year-olds rushed to Matt. Surprise shot through him when all but three of them wanted to color. Several older boys took charge of the crayon box and doled them out as the kids chattered. Some of the little tykes nearly crawled on the table to reach the tops of their pictures.

“Can I borrow your yellow,” Terri asked Anna.

“Sure, after I make this girl’s hair blond.” Anna colored a few more strokes then handed over the crayon.

Matt heard the bus pulling in. “Time to go.” As he waved his arm toward the parking lot, he peered at the pool.

Suzie took off the cap, dove underwater, swam as graceful as a dolphin, then climbed out, water droplets dripping down her thin body. She dried off, put on her shirt and cap, and slipped her small feet into a pair of flip-flops. They flapped across the pavement as she headed to the bus. Was he a nice enough guy for her? It didn’t matter. He made that pact with himself to stay single, and he was sticking to it.

He herded the children with pictures in hand to the large white vehicle, and Suzie waved at them.

Then he turned to her. “I brought us a picnic lunch.” He was here anyway, and this was a good opportunity to show his appreciation for her extra work, not that he wouldn’t enjoy her company.

Suzie’s mouth gaped. “You did?”

“Yep. I have raw broccoli with a dip for you.” Surely she’d want to eat it. That’s what she’d ordered at the restaurant.

Her eyes widened. “Thank you. Maybe I can return the favor soon.”

“It’s no problem.” Matt jogged to his car to retrieve the red cooler from the trunk. “Let’s sit at the table.”

They sat down under the shade of an oak tree lush with leaves.

“Uh, I only brought water and the food. I didn’t think about plates, plastic silverware, or napkins.” Did he look dumb or what? Heat crawled up his neck.

“Pfff.” Suzie waved her hand. “We don’t need them. I’ll be right back.”

Matt sighed with relief. He couldn’t overestimate her quick answers to problems. She’d brought order to a disorganized swim team in a matter of minutes the first morning the kids practiced. Now, all of the children could swim, some better than others. Nonetheless, they all stayed afloat and kicked hard. He wouldn’t be surprised if she won several meets.

She disappeared into the restroom then returned with paper towels fluttering in her hands in the slight breeze. Suddenly, his oversight turned into a non-event. Suzie had a way of making everything all right, at least for him. He must be careful not to allow her efficiency and kindness to suck him in so far he couldn’t back out, like Dad. He shivered. Putting Dad into an equation with Suzie and him was too much to think about.

Should he say something about her being late this morning? No. He’d stick to the decision he made earlier not to. Anyone could have an unforeseen delay once. If it happened again, he’d let her know he couldn’t contend with tardiness.

He took several faux napkins from Suzie’s small, smooth hand. “Thank you.” He opened the cooler, set the broccoli in front of her, and pulled out a turkey and cheese on rye for himself.

Suzie’s slender fingers grasped a piece of the green vegetable. She reached toward the dip but hesitated and pulled back.

Strange. She’d devoured the vegetable at the restaurant.

All of a sudden she plunged the sprig of broccoli into the dip, scooping up nearly all of the creamy white stuff. Then she dropped it. It almost looked as though she disposed of it on purpose, but why would she do that?

She picked up another piece of broccoli and barely dipped it into the plastic container so only a tiny speck of sauce stuck to it. “Umm. This is delicious.”

Matt swallowed and wiped his mouth with the paper towel. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” As long as she was happy.

“I am. Thank you. It’s perfect timing too. I needed to talk to you about something.”

“Shoot.” Matt brushed his hands together.

“Usually, the parents purchase matching team suits and shirts. If there’s any way for the county to buy them, I’ll ask for sizes and order them.”

Harold already scraped the bottom of the budget like a kid cleaning a plate of chocolate cake. Matt scratched his head. “How much are we talking about?”

“Ballpark, forty or fifty dollars each.”

Matt whistled. “I doubt the parents can handle that.”

“Most teams run a concession stand when they host a meet. We’ll have to organize baked goods, hot dogs, and nachos and cheese for ours. Maybe we could use some of that money and also hold a bake sale at this club. It’s awfully fancy.”

Suzie’s proposal sounded like a good idea, but not enough. “I think it’s time to look for a sponsor. After I find a possibility, would you go with me to call on him or her?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll keep you posted.”

Suzie seemed to enjoy chatting with him while she munched on lunch. She sat back and smiled, and her presence engulfed him like a soothing breeze. How did one hold on to the wind? Impossible? Maybe not in this case. “Also, there’s a concert tomorrow night at Beside the Bay. Would you like to go?” As soon as he asked his commitment not to get involved with anyone popped into his head. But this was only one outing, a reward for all the work she’d done.

A sparkle lit up Suzie’s eyes. “Yes. I’d love to.”

He couldn’t help but grin. “I’ll pick you up.”

“All right. I’m at Gulf Breeze Apartments in unit number seven.”

Matt gulped down the last of his sandwich and gathered the trash. “I’ll see you there.” He pulled back his shoulders as he strolled to his car.

The late thing with Suzie this morning had to be a simple glitch. Every time he interacted with her his respect for her grew. Was his self-imposed duty of taking her out as a reward for hard work leading him somewhere he wasn’t ready to go?