Chapter 2 - Hiding in the Bathroom

In the guest bathroom, I stood in front of the mirror.

Ashley was right about one thing. I had wrinkles. On my arms, around my knees, across my stomach, at the corners of my eyes.

And what exactly was I supposed to do about that?

Stop swimming? Stop wearing shorts? Slowly disappear so nobody had to be reminded that women get old?

I hated that her words had gotten to me. I'd raised Greg, worked for thirty years, buried my husband, helped bring up my grandchildren, and rebuilt my life more times than I could count. And one sentence had me hiding behind a locked door.

A knock. "Grandma?"

I opened it. Sophie stood there, dripping onto the tile.

"Why aren't you swimming?"

"Soon."

"Did Mom make you sad?"

My stomach tightened. "Why would you ask that?"

"I heard her."

Of course she had. Kids always hear the thing you pray they missed.

I crouched down a little. "Your mom and I had a disagreement."

"About your swimsuit?"

"Something like that."

Sophie frowned. "I like it. It's way prettier than your old flower one."

I laughed. "That flower one lasted twelve years."

"It looked twelve years old."

That got another laugh out of me. Then she went serious.

"Are you too old to swim?"

"No."

"Then why did Mom say you should cover up?"

I didn't have an answer that wouldn't shove a child right between her mother and her grandmother.

"Sometimes grown-ups say things without thinking about how they'll land."

Sophie considered that. "Mom does that a lot."

"Sophie."

"What? Dad says it too."

I bit back a smile. "Go on outside. I'll be there in a minute."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

After she left, I took the towel off. I almost walked out without it.

Almost.

Then I tied it back on. Ashley had planted something I couldn't shake loose.

When I came back to the patio, Greg was carrying food to the table and Ashley was lining up cups by the cooler. She smiled at the towel.

"Better."

I stopped. "Excuse me?"

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"I said it looks nice."

We both knew that wasn't what she meant.