"Do I look like a pool girl?"
***
We found two perfect lounge chairs under a wide umbrella near the shallow end. I clipped our towels exactly the way the staff had shown me, smoothing Mia's twice because she liked things neat now.
Illness had stolen enough control from her. I gave it back wherever I could.
For half an hour, she floated in the pool with her goggles on, laughing whenever water splashed her face.
"I love it here, Mom," she said, her voice brimming with joy.
I almost cried behind my sunglasses.
"I love it here, Mom."
Then she asked for smoothies.
"We'll be quick," I said, more to myself than to her.
We were gone for about 15 minutes.
Maybe less.
When we came back, our chairs were occupied.
We were gone for about 15 minutes.
A woman in a white designer swimsuit stretched across mine, sunglasses pushed into perfectly styled hair. A man, probably her boyfriend, sat in Mia's chair, scrolling his phone like the world owed him shade.
Our towels were in the trash can nearby.
For a moment, I just stared.
Mia's fingers tightened around her smoothie.
"Mom? That's… our spot."
"I know, baby," I muttered. "Let me handle this."
