Learning to Swim

The next morning, I gathered the kids while Dorothy and Emma headed to the spa. "Alright, guys, we are going to do a little photo shoot," I said as we climbed up on a golf cart.

"Photo shoot?" Henry said.

"Yeah, we'll play a round of golf… or pretend. Let's be real, and I'll take a bunch of pictures of us to share with your mom and Dorothy later. So that they can see what a great mom I am."

Hope groaned as I picked her up and set her down on the grass. "I don't want to golf."

"Come on, Hope, we'll have fun."

"That's okay, we don't have fun with our dad either," Henry said and started taking pictures of Hope's frowning face.

"Don't take pictures of that!" I stated, taking the phone from Henry's hand. Okay, the two of you sit together on the golf cart." I took a couple of adorable pictures. Then I took a selfie with them. I took a video of Hope chasing the golf ball, trying to make the hole, and her victory stance after. I took a video of Henry's great swing at the tee. I was kinda proud. When I got enough pictures, I said. "Alright, Hopie, how about we go to the pool and I teach you how to swim?"

The toddler cheered, and we all headed to the paradise in the resort. A lot less dangerous than the beach to teach the little girl to swim.

"It took me the whole summer to learn how to swim," Henry said, coming along with us. "How are you going to teach her so quickly?"

I smiled and spotted Ruby dunking down into the pool. I made sure Hope's floaties were tight and said, "Well, I'm gonna teach her the same way Granny taught me." I picked her up and threw her into the pool where Ruby was. Hope screamed, but once she hit the water, Ruby was there to catch her.

"Don't worry," Ruby said to the little girl. "It took Granny eight hours to teach us how to swim, but there are two of us here, and we're sober, so… you will be just fine."

I stripped my top and shorts to expose my white bikini. I know I had been gawking at Dorothy and Emma the entire time, but I knew I looked good in my bathing suit too, and I couldn't wait for Emma… I mean Dorothy to come out and catch me in mine.

We spent all afternoon swimming. We set up a reward system for Hope, bribing her to swim for toys and other treats. She did very well and was soon paddling like a pro. With every try, we stepped further and further from the ledge until finally, Hope pulled off her floaties. "Are you sure?" I asked her.

Hope nodded.

"Okay, baby girl, I'm proud of you. Go get Aunt Ruby," I said, and I let her go. Ruby made a big fuss on the other side of the pool. Emma chose now to walk out. Her face was terrified.

"She doesn't have her floaties on!" she screamed. "Oh my god," and she began to kick off her shoes.

"Lily, she's got this!" I screamed. And she did; soon, Hope was on the other side and in Ruby's arms.

Emma cheered her baby on, and she stopped and looked at me for a moment. She bit her lip and sort of just stared and shook her head. I came closer and climbed out of the pool, and she watched my body—or was I imagining it? Then Dorothy kissed me. And the spell was broken. I turned to my girlfriend and smiled. "Hi."

"Hi…" she said. "I can't believe you taught her."

"She has to, or there would be no swimming with dolphins," I said.

"What are we looking at?" Someone said beside Emma, and she screamed. "Lily!" She breathed out and in, clutching at her heart. "Oh my god, Lily, you scared me."

"Do you startle easily?" Lily asked. "That's a sign of menopause."

I dropped my arm from Dorothy's waist because I'm supposed to be married to Emma from that bitch's point of view. So I moved in between Dorothy and Emma. Emma looked around like she didn't know what to say.

Dorothy knew, though. "Lily?" She asked Emma about the other woman.

"Dorothy Hale… this is Lily. We went to college together," Emma stated. I turned to Ruby and signaled for her to grab Dorothy.

"Hi Dorothy!" Lily said and turned to Emma trying to be mean. "Is this your daughter?"

"Oh no, I'm actually the girlfriend," Dorothy stated.

"Who's girlfriend?" Lily asked.

Before Dorothy could answer, Ruby got between me and Dorothy, essentially cutting Dorothy out of the conversation, introducing herself as Inga, and pushing Dorothy all the way into the pool. Then she jumped into the pool with her and kept playing dunk.

Just as we suspected, the very self-centered Lily just turned to face Emma and said, "Anyway, our schedule just opened up this evening, and I am just wondering if you and Regina would want to come to dinner tonight."

"Oh, I don't…" Emma started, so I spoke for both of us.

"Sure," I interrupted. Emma looked at me, eyes wide.

"Is it a bad night?" Lily asked. "Are you fighting?"

"Oh no, NO!" Emma said. "We're perfect."

"Tonight. Yes, seven is good," I said.

"Alright, see you later tonight!" Lily said and quickly walked away. Emma let out a deep breath and turned to me.

"What are you gonna tell your girlfriend?" Emma said.

"I'll figure something out." I answered then I turned to Ruby. "Could you let her breathe!"

Dorothy shot up like a rocket and splashed Ruby. "What the fuck is wrong with you!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't… I vas just.." Ruby sputtered. Dorothy got out of the pool and marched away.

I looked over at Emma, " You got them?" I said signaling to the kids, and walked to the rooms behind my girlfriend..