Chapter 9 - THE POOL Sophie refused to go near the pool.
Nobody forced her.
Rachel covered it temporarily.
Daniel suggested removing it permanently.
Sophie said no.
“Why?”
“Because then she wins.”
Daniel stared at his daughter.
Rachel smiled.
“That sounds familiar.”
Sophie began swimming lessons at a rehabilitation center.
The first week she only sat beside the water.
Second week—
feet in.
Third—
waist deep.
Daniel attended every lesson.
So did Rachel.
Marcus waited outside because Sophie complained that having a bodyguard at swimming lessons was “embarrassing.”
Six months later Sophie swam across the shallow end.
When she reached the wall, Daniel cheered so loudly that every parent looked at him.
Sophie laughed.
“Dad!”
“What?”
“You’re embarrassing me.”
“Excellent.”
Rachel laughed.
It was the sound Daniel thought he had lost forever.
Later that evening they returned home.
The pool cover had been removed.
Sophie walked toward the edge.
Daniel instinctively followed.
She looked back.
“I’m okay.”
He stopped.
Sophie dipped one foot into the water.
May you like
Then smiled.
For the first time, the pool was only a pool.
