Chapter 5 - An Apology That Had to Be Earned

She seemed thrown that two words hadn't closed the book.

"For what?" I asked.

Ashley glanced around at everyone watching. "For hurting your feelings."

"No."

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, no?"

"That's the apology people give when they want the person they hurt to carry half the blame. My feelings weren't the problem, Ashley."

Carol nodded once.

Greg stayed quiet.

"You told me my old body was something the people I love shouldn't have to look at," I said. "Then the second I covered myself up, you turned around and told my son it was my idea. You didn't just say a cruel thing. You lied about it."

Ashley's face finally cracked. "You're right."

I hadn't expected that.

She took a breath. "I'm sorry I shamed you. There was nothing wrong with your swimsuit, and there's nothing wrong with your body." Then she turned to the relatives who'd heard the whole thing. "And I'm sorry I did it in front of all of you."

Carol crossed her arms. "Better."

Ashley shot her a look. "Please stop grading my apology."

"I've been your mother forty-nine years. I earned grading rights."

That cracked it open. Even I laughed.

Then Sophie grabbed my hand. "Can we swim now?"

I looked at the pool. For the first time all day, I wasn't thinking about my stomach or the loose skin on my arms or the veins in my legs. I was thinking about a little girl who'd been waiting on me for three hours.

"Absolutely."

I dropped the towel on the chair. Sophie whooped.

Carol hustled after us. "Wait for me."

Sophie looked back. "You sure? You're older than Grandma."

Carol gasped like she'd been slapped. "I beg your pardon."

Sophie pointed at her mother. "I'm just checking the rules."

The whole patio lost it. Ashley put both hands over her face. "I am never living this down."

Greg grinned. "You wrote the rules, babe."

We climbed into the pool together, Carol in her yellow, me in my black. The water was cold enough to knock the air out of me. Sophie hit us both with a wall of splash.

"Hey!"

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