Live to Tell (Live to Tell #1)(72)

“She’s your youngest, right?”

“Is it that obvious?”

The woman laughs. “No—your son told me. Ryan, right? He’s such a sweet kid.”

“Are we talking about the same Ryan?”

“Over there—the one who’s on the diving board ladder?”

Lauren turns her head. “That’s my Ryan. But…sweet?”

“Really, he was.”

“No, I’m just kidding. He can be sweet. But he’s going through a phase. Kind of like her.” Again, she focuses her attention on Sadie. “You have two minutes, Sadie Walsh. Do you hear me?”

“Can I have five?”

“You can have three.”

“Four.”

“God help me,” Lauren mutters, shaking her head.

“What about Lucy and Ryan?”

“They’re staying here. We’ll pick them up later.”

“That’s no fair, Mommy!”

“Sadie…you’re down to two minutes.” She folds her arms.

“It’s too bad you have to leave on such a beautiful day,” the woman with the baby tells her. “I was hoping I could pick your brain a little.”

“You were?”

“Your son told me your daughter used to be deathly afraid of the water, too. How’d you get her over it?”

“Well, she was older at the time. I mean, I don’t think you have to worry. It’s not like your son needs to learn to swim anytime soon, so…”

“No, it’s not just that. He’s terrified of water. All water. Even the bathtub. That’s why I haven’t been coming to the pool all summer, as much as I love it myself. I’m Jessica Wolfe, by the way.”

“I’m Lauren.”

She smiles. “Lauren Walsh. I know. Your son told me.”

Wow, Ryan certainly was chatty. What else did he tell her?

Remembering her conversation with him about losing friends and making new ones, Lauren wonders if her son was trying to network on her behalf. If that’s the case, it’s pretty sweet—and a welcome effort, because Jessica seems a lot more down-to-earth than some of the other moms around here.

“Are you new in town?” Lauren asks.

“Not that new. But I haven’t been out much. First I was pregnant for, like, a year—that’s what it felt like, anyway—and I was sick as a dog with morning sickness 24–7, the whole pregnancy. Then I had him, and trying to get used to being a mom was so insane. I couldn’t get my act together. So I’ve kind of been, you know—hibernating.”

Do I ever know.

“It’s hard when the kids are little,” Lauren agrees. And even harder when they’re older, and your husband dumps you for another woman.

“So where do you live?” Jessica asks her.

“We’re over on Elm.”

“Oh, I love the big old houses there. I was hoping we could buy one of those, but we wound up in a development.”

“Which one?”

“Glenhaven Crossing.”

“Want to trade?” Lauren asks wryly.

Jessica laughs, and her son stirs in her arms.

“Uh-oh—he’s so overtired,” she whispers, stroking his head. “I should probably just take him home for a regular nap but I hate to be stuck in the house on a beautiful day, and it’s supposed to rain later and tomorrow.”

“You can always put him on a blanket in the shade. I used to do that when my kids were little. A lot of people do.” Lauren gestures at the smattering of sleeping babies and toddlers on the grassy area beneath the trees.

“Good idea. Next time I will. I’ll be around here a lot. The pediatrician told me the best thing I can do is keep exposing him to water and eventually, he’ll get used to it. So I guess that’s my only plan for now. Come here every day until he stops screaming—or someone kicks us out.”

“Trust me, that won’t happen. They’re pretty laid back here, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“Not the lifeguards, I hope.”

“No, but—”

“Mom!”

She turns to see Lucy, holding her pink phone. “What’s wrong?”

“I texted Daddy last night and asked him where he is—you know, home or still on vacation. I just checked my phone and he answered.”

“Just now?”

“No…a while ago, but—”

“What did he say?”

“It was kind of weird.”

“Weird, how? Here, let’s see.”

Lucy gives her the phone. The sun glares on the screen no matter which way Lauren turns it.

“I have to go over there into the shade.” She hands over the towel. “Can you please get your sister out of the pool for me?”

“Sure.”

Lauren starts away, then remembers Jessica. “Oh…it was nice meeting you.”

“You too.” The woman smiles and waves.

“Sadie,” Lucy is calling, “come on.”

Hurrying over to the shade beneath several towering oaks, Lauren examines Lucy’s phone.



I’m still on vacation with Elizabeth. I will be back soon.