3.
The sun was sinking over the horizon as Cindy finally pulled up in front of her parent's house and slid the car into the garage, quietly killing the engine.
"Home, sweet home," Cindy announced, rolling her aching shoulder and pretending that it couldn't possibly hurt as much as it was. What she needed was a warm shower and, as her stomach rumbled to remind her, a dinner to make up for the light lunch she had snacked on in the car on the way up.
"Thank God," Laura groaned, opening the door of the car and almost falling out of it. Cindy had to admit that it was a busy day. Since arriving at the track, unloading the horses had taken far longer than needed and to top it all off Hansea had gotten out of her stall. No one knew how this had happened, but the screams of people on the backside as Hansea had streaked by the barn she was supposed to be safely stalled in didn't need explanation.
Cindy wandered to the trunk of the car and opened it unenthusiastically, hauling out her bags and depositing them on the ground with a loud thunk. She saw Jack climbing out of the backseat and tossed her keys to him, which he deftly caught in the air.
"Hey, could you open the door for me?"
He only shook his head and tossed them back at her, which she didn't expect, missing the catch and watching them fall behind her.
"How about I carry the bags and you open the door," he offered. "Sounds a little more plausible."
Laura only chuckled as she rifled through the trunk, pulling out her things and rolling them across the smooth pavement of the garage. Cindy nodded fleetingly and picked up the keys, following Jack to the door and slipping in front of him to unlock the dead bolt and push the door open.
Cindy walked through the house, turning on lights in the kitchen and family room. She smiled at the memories of her family and her other trips to Saratoga, remembering all the fun that had been had in this old Victorian house. She walked up to the French doors and pulled aside the lacy drapes, flicking on the light to the back porch and pool. The water in the pool rippled from the fountain that ran into it, looking cool and inviting in the heat of the dusk hours.
"Who's up for swimming?" Cindy asked cheerfully, turning around to her friends.
"Oh, me," Laura laughed, raising her hand as she closed the garage door.
"Hey, I just brought myself, here," Jack said, shaking his head.
"Something tells me that wouldn't stop you," Cindy said, laughing at his reaction.
"I'm thinking I'll just watch," Jack said, making himself comfortable on the sofa and turning on the television.
"Well, I want to get some food before I do anything," Laura said. "I'm starved. Cindy, what's in this house?"
"You're guess is as good as mine," she said, shrugging. "I know my parents haven't been up here since last summer."
"Well, cross your fingers," Laura said, marching into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator. Cindy collapsed onto the arm chair next to the sofa and snuggled against a pillow, watching Jack flip through the unfamiliar channels before he fell on Sportscenter.
"Don't you get tired of ESPN?" Cindy asked, watching as he tossed the remote on the coffee table and laid down on the sofa.
"Nope," he answered, putting his hands behind his head.
"You're unbelievable," Cindy groaned.
"And what was it that you called me the last time we were here?" Jack asked. "Oh, male. Isn't that right?"
"Okay, you can just shut up now," Cindy laughed, throwing her pillow at him and immediately demanding it back. He refused, casually sticking it behind his head with a pointed thank you.
"Guys, bad news," Laura called, walking out from the kitchen. "We've got a choice between condiments and pickles. What's it going to be?"
"There's nothing frozen?" Cindy asked.
"Well, yeah," Laura shrugged. "But unless you want expired chicken strips I'm telling you this is it."
Cindy looked at Laura for a second and then looked at Jack, who shrugged.
"I'll pay for pizza," he suggested, and Cindy jumped up to grab the phone.
"Deal," she said. "There's a great place down on Main Street that has take out."
"We'll have to go to the store tomorrow then," Laura sighed, walking back into the kitchen as Cindy ordered the pizza.
Forty minutes later Cindy sat at the edge of the pool next to Jack and Laura, dangling her legs in the water while eating her last slice of pizza and washing it down with the beer Jack had gotten on their way to the pizza place. She swished her legs in the water, dipping them in and out of the pool, happy she had remembered to bring plenty of shorts and tank tops with her. The Saratoga humidity was going to be hard to bear.
"I am stuffed," Laura announced, getting up and stretching. "And I'm tired as sin. I think I'm headed to bed early tonight."
"What?" Cindy asked. "What about swimming?"
"The pool will be there tomorrow," Laura waved her off, turning for the house and carrying the empty pizza box with her. "I'll see you two in the morning."
"Night, Laura," Jack called over the beer bottle, and Laura smirked.
"Be good, Jack," she pointed at him.
"I'm always on my best behavior," Jack feigned.
"And I'm the Queen of England," Laura replied haughtily, before slipping back into the house. "Night, guys."
Cindy drank the last of her beer and set the empty bottle on the flat rocks next to the pool, watching the lights underneath the water shimmer up to the surface.
"Still want to go swimming, huh?"
She smiled, not looking at Jack. "Yeah. I think I might run upstairs and grab my suit."
"Oh, why bother," Jack said, picking up the bottle opener and prying loose the cap of another beer. Cindy turned wide eyes to him.
"Don't you dare," she said, holding up a hand. He regarded her without much interest, taking a big gulp of the beer and setting it down next to him.
"Jack," she said, unnerved that he wasn't saying anything.
"Jack!" Cindy screeched when he suddenly grabbed her and tossed her into the deep end.
Cindy came bubbling to the surface, coughing and peeling clumps of wet hair from her face.
"I swear to God, Jack!" Cindy groaned, swimming to where she could touch and stand up, looking down at herself. "What gets into you?"
"Oh, come on, Cin," Jack said, casually taking another drink of his beer. "Water, plus Cindy, equals wet Cindy. Do I need to say more?"
"You are evil," Cindy pointed at him, suddenly getting self-conscious.
"Yeah, I guess I am," he smiled, and she huffed, putting her hands on her hips.
"Is there any limit?" she asked him, and he shook his head.
"Probably not," he smiled, finishing off the beer and putting it down next to him. Cindy only frowned and made her way to the steps, wringing out her hair as she hauled herself out of the pool. She came up next to him as he was standing up and she put up her hands.
"No," she said, just as he picked her up and dumped her back in the pool.
When she came sputtering back up for air, all she could see was a shirtless Jack diving into the deep end next to her, another splash of water coming her way.
"You are insane," Cindy said, treading water as Jack came up to the surface nearby, shoving his hands through his wet hair. "I thought you weren't going swimming."
"Changed my mind," he said, shrugging. "Besides, it is hot out. And you're in the pool, and what guy in his right mind wouldn't be in the pool with you?"
"You have a dirty mind," Cindy gave him a narrowed look, starting to make her way back to the shallow side, but Jack caught her leg and towed her back.
"Oh, come on," Jack laughed, pulling her back easily. She looked down through the water and realized he was standing and she was still too short to touch the bottom.
"No," Cindy sighed, groaning. "You're probably going to drown me, aren't you?"
"Not if you fight back," Jack suggested.
Cindy considered him for a moment, wishing she was tall enough to touch the bottom. She had absolutely no advantage in a wrestling match with Jack in a pool. Jack smiled at her a foot away in the water and she made a split decision. She was going to fight back. With a swift move, she flung herself at his head.
The wrestling match degenerated into a vicious water fight that Cindy happened to believe she was winning until he grabbed her hands and forced them under water.
"Jack," she complained. "I was beating you. Come on."
"You weren't beating me, Cin," he informed her and she pouted, trying to pry her wrists loose.
"That's not fair," Cindy stated. "Using masculine strength against a poor, defenseless female. You should be ashamed."
"Oh?" Jack asked. "I wouldn't exactly call you defenseless."
Cindy snorted, trying another tactic to get her hands free and failing miserably.
"Okay, I give in," she said, feeling him let go of her. She floated in the water, letting her head tip back and feeling her hair glide like wisps of silk in the pool.
They were silent for a little while. Cindy floated, Jack leaned against the side and watched her. The night was cooling down, but it was still hot outside and Cindy felt perfect immersed in the water, even with her clothes on. She righted herself in the pool and planted her feet on the bottom, looking at Jack. She had a question forming in her head since they had decided to ship to Saratoga, and she decided to ask it while she had Jack stationary in front of her.
"What's your deal with David Hernon?" she asked him, getting a surprised look from Jack.
"What's my deal with Hernon?" he repeated.
"Yeah," Cindy said. "He seems like a pretty good guy."
"You don't know him very well," Jack said, shrugging.
"Maybe, but he seems decent at least," she said.
"Cin, it's just a personal thing," Jack said, dodging the issue. Cindy gave him her patented whatever look and strode up to him in the water, getting his attention.
"What sort of personal thing are we talking about?" Cindy asked, and he shook his head.
"Forget it," he defended.
"No," Cindy replied.
"You know, you're cute when you act defiant," he said, pushing from the wall and knocking her over into the water. This time Cindy had been ready for it and jumped at his neck, clinging to him and making them both fall under the surface. Cindy grinned at him under the water and they managed to come up for air, Cindy's arms still firmly hooked around his neck, his hands on her rib cage.
They both looked a little surprised by the contact, but that faded quickly to something much more uncomfortable. Cindy glanced down, finding it hard to stare Jack straight in the eyes. He didn't let go, and neither did she. Right when she found herself capable of looking back up at Jack the sound of the french doors opening made Cindy jump back.
"Hey, Cindy," Laura said, holding up the cordless phone and freezing when she saw the episode in the pool.
"Yeah," Cindy answered, feeling Jack's fingers brush down her rib cage and away. She untangled her arms and swam to the edge of the pool.
"Phone," Laura smiled, glancing between Cindy and Jack quickly. Cindy hauled herself out of the pool and shook the water off her hands, taking the phone as Laura quickly said she'd get towels and disappeared.
"Hello?" Cindy asked.
"Cindy," Beth's voice answered. "I'm sorry, did I catch you at a bad time? Your roommate answered."
"No, I was just swimming," Cindy said, clearing her throat and looking down at the smooth rock as Jack got out of the pool, shaking his head to get rid of the excess water. Laura came trotting back outside with towels, plopping them on the table and leaving with an elfish grin on her face.
Cindy flicked water at her as she went by. That didn't stop Laura was mouthing, "We are talking right after this."
Cindy rolled her eyes and flicked more water her way before picking up the towel.
"I just wanted to know if you had gotten in yet," Beth said. "You never called."
"Yeah, I'm sorry," Cindy said. "We got so caught up in getting food, and before that we were at the track for what seemed like forever. I was going to call, but I just forgot."
"It's alright, Cindy," Beth said, laughing a little. Cindy smiled, starting to dry herself off over her clothes. Beth seemed much more relaxed since Cindy had taken up permanent residence in New York. Talking with her mother was much more enjoyable now that Beth wasn't grilling her about every aspect of her life.
"How does the house look?" Beth asked. "I don't think there's much food in there."
"The house is fine, and no there isn't any food at all. Laura and I are going shopping tomorrow," Cindy reported.
"Good," Beth nodded. "I was just calling to say we definitely won't be up there this summer. Ian is setting up shop out in California with Adriatic and Wonder of Roma. We might be to Belmont in September for the preps leading to the Breeders' Cup. Has your father called?"
"No," Cindy said, shaking her head even though she knew her mother couldn't see it. "He's at Del Mar now?"
"They shipped out about a week ago," Beth said. "They'll be back in a few weeks and then they'll ship to Belmont if your father and Ashleigh agree. Since the Breeders' Cup is at Santa Anita this year they're having some difficulty agreeing on a schedule."
Cindy frowned, understanding. Her father would want to come to Belmont because of both herself and the stakes opportunities. Adriatic was a dirt horse with stamina, perfect for the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Wonder of Roma was a turf horse, capable of going over a mile and a half. He was the first foal of Ashleigh's Wonder to prefer the turf, and the bay son of Red Roman could run like the wind on it. There were several perfect races for him at Belmont.
"Well, give me a call if you'll be up here in September. You'll have to come up also, mom. You haven't been here since last summer."
"I might come along," Beth said. "I guess it depends on how much room is on the plane."
Cindy laughed, talked for a few more minutes, and said good bye. When she turned off the phone she spun back to Jack and found him sitting on one of the lawn chairs, looking at her easily.
"Um, Jack," she started, but he cut her off, echoing his earlier words.
"Forget it, Cin," Jack said, getting up and walking past her into the house. Cindy blinked and frowned, wondering what the hell she had done to get the cold shoulder.
"Fine," Cindy said slowly, picking up the towel and the cell phone and following him inside. She shut the doors and followed in his footsteps as she turned off lights, setting the phone back on the hook as she went up the stairs.
Later, after Cindy had dried off and slipped into pajamas, she found herself sitting cross-legged across from Laura, telling her the whole story about herself, Jack and the pool.
"Oh, that's priceless," Laura laughed, shaking her head.
"Laura," Cindy groaned, falling on her back and staring at her ceiling. "I don't know what's going on."
"Yeah, I think I got that much," Laura said between giggles.
"This is not good," Cindy shook her head.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Laura said. "You know, did you ever think to just give in and get it out of your system?"
"You're sick," Cindy proclaimed.
"I am not," Laura shook her head, and then turned serious. "Really, he's leaving tomorrow. If something is going on, it will fizzle over the summer. You're not going to see a lot of him."
"What if it doesn't fizzle?" Cindy asked.
"Then you've got an interesting situation on your hands," Laura shrugged. "Either way, I don't think it's bad."
They sat for another minute before Laura proclaimed she was tired and left Cindy to think about her dilemma, staring at the ceiling until she fell asleep.