Claim
Page 125
“Yes, well, don’t forget that Gilly is a little angel while my boys ought to be nicknamed Lucifer and Satan,” retorted Julia. “Though I have to admit they’ve been good with Lily. After Nathan and I convinced them that she was too little to carry around in a backpack just yet. And thank God it’s summer, which means they spend half the day in the pool and wear themselves out.”
Tessa sighed wistfully. “It’s a great pool. And the weather is just perfect today. We’ve been shrouded in fog in the city for almost a week now. Good thing we’re leaving for Italy in a week for the annual family vacation.”
“You know,” ventured Julia, “there’s a house for sale on the next block. Just went on the market a couple of days ago. I was looking at the online listing, just out of curiosity, and the place is gorgeous, Tessa. Six bedrooms, five baths, an incredible kitchen and family room. It’s less than ten years old, so it’s move-in ready. And it has an even bigger deck than ours, with a great pool. You and Ian should check it out.”
Tessa frowned. “I doubt if Ian would want to move out of San Francisco. And I love our house there.”
“I get it. That place has tons of character, loads of charm. And it always feels so warm and inviting, even though it’s so big. But let’s face it, Tessa. Things change when you have kids. They need a big backyard, fresh air, sunshine. Living in the city is great when you’re single or newly married, but when you start a family your priorities shift. Think about it at least. The school district here is one of the best in the state, and living so close by our kids really could grow up together.”
Both babies were fast asleep by now, so Tessa and Julia carried them inside to Lily’s nursery, which had been decorated in a colorful storybook theme. While Julia tucked Lily into her white wooden crib - the one her father had handmade - Tessa set Liam down gently into the BabyBjörn travel crib they had brought with them. Julia grabbed a handheld device that was linked up to the baby monitor as she and Tessa tiptoed out of the room.
“Now that Liam’s out like a little light, you ought to go for a swim,” urged Julia as they returned to the pool deck. “I wasn’t planning to have dinner for at least an hour, so enjoy yourself for a bit. And if my kids splash you, you have my overwhelming permission to return the favor!”
Tessa eyed the crystalline water longingly. “Maybe. Why don’t you join me, Julia? It’s getting pretty warm outside now.”
Julia shook her head. “No way. I’m vain enough that I refuse to be seen in public in a bikini until I lose the rest of this baby weight. Besides, I need to get a few things ready for dinner. And before you ask - no. You are not helping, especially since you brought over half of the food. How in the world did you find time to make all that stuff anyway? So, shoo. Go swim with your family for a little while.”
Tessa was about to protest further until Julia disappeared inside the house. And then Gilly noticed her, and began to wave and call out excitedly.
“Mummy! Come swim wif us! Pease?” she begged.
Tessa grinned at her daughter, who looked beyond adorable in her tiny two-piece swimsuit of aqua, pink, and purple stripes. Even though Gilly was a good swimmer for her age, Ian continued to insist that she wear little inflatable floaties on her arms every time she got in the pool.
“Yes, Mummy,” Ian chimed in. “We’ve been waiting for you. Time to take that cover-up off and get in the water. Gilly and I are very anxious to see just how yummy Mummy looks in her bikini. Aren’t we, sweetheart?” he asked Gilly, who nodded enthusiastically in reply.
He waggled his eyebrows at her teasingly, and Tessa gave him a look of mock severity, letting him know that she was well aware of his ulterior motive in coaxing her into the pool.
But she still couldn’t help the little thrill that shimmied up her spine as she removed her white gauzy, thigh-length cover-up and saw the way her husband was watching her. Tessa was admittedly one of those very lucky, very rare women whose body seemed to bounce back quickly after giving birth. She’d gained just under thirty pounds while carrying Liam, and had lost most of that without even trying. Breastfeeding, taking care of two small children, and her normal daily activities had been enough to take nearly all of the weight off until she’d been ready to resume exercising. The remaining pounds had quickly disappeared, and she was even a few pounds slimmer than she’d been before getting pregnant with her son.
The bikini she’d chosen to wear this afternoon was more modest than some of her others, the red briefs piped in white cut a bit higher, and the bra top not quite as revealing. Still, she was very aware of her skimpy attire as she eased herself into the pool, especially when Ian’s eyes were glued to her exposed cleavage.
Gilly paddled up to her enthusiastically, her tiny feet splashing happily. “Hi, Mummy!” she exclaimed. “Mummy swim, too!”
Tessa gave her a quick kiss. “Hi, baby. But Mummy can’t swim as good as Gilly does.”
Gilly shook her head stubbornly. “Mummy swim good. Daddy, watch Mummy swim.”
Ian grinned, his gaze traveling lasciviously down the front of Tessa’s body. “I won’t turn down an invitation like that. Go ahead, Mummy. Show Gilly how well you can swim.”
Tessa swam several laps back and forth, luxuriating in this rare opportunity, and loving the feel of the warm sun heating her skin. When she returned to the side of the pool where Ian and Gilly were waiting, her daughter was clapping her little hands with glee.
“Mummy swim fast!” she exclaimed.
Tessa took Gilly into her arms, whirling her around in circles in the water, causing her to squeal with delight.
“But Daddy swims much faster,” she told Gilly.
“Not as fast as my Daddy!” protested Noah as he and Justin paddled over.
Justin nodded. “Our Daddy plays water polo. He has trophies.”
Nathan rolled his eyes. “Those trophies are so old they’re getting rusty by now. Just like Daddy.”
“Race!” screamed Noah excitedly. “Daddy, you race Gilly’s Daddy!”
Ian shook his head. “Sorry, little mate, but I don’t like those odds at all. I’ve seen your father swim before, and he’ll definitely kick my arse.”
Justin wrinkled up his nose. “What’s arse? Is that like a butt?”
Nathan grinned, and rumpled his son’s dark head. “Yes. Except that it’s a British butt. But Ian’s wrong if he thinks I can beat him in a swimming race right now. I hardly ever have time to swim laps these days, mostly just goof around with the boys here in the pool. Daddy is the one who’ll get his arse - I mean, butt - kicked.”
Tessa sighed wistfully. “It’s a great pool. And the weather is just perfect today. We’ve been shrouded in fog in the city for almost a week now. Good thing we’re leaving for Italy in a week for the annual family vacation.”
“You know,” ventured Julia, “there’s a house for sale on the next block. Just went on the market a couple of days ago. I was looking at the online listing, just out of curiosity, and the place is gorgeous, Tessa. Six bedrooms, five baths, an incredible kitchen and family room. It’s less than ten years old, so it’s move-in ready. And it has an even bigger deck than ours, with a great pool. You and Ian should check it out.”
Tessa frowned. “I doubt if Ian would want to move out of San Francisco. And I love our house there.”
“I get it. That place has tons of character, loads of charm. And it always feels so warm and inviting, even though it’s so big. But let’s face it, Tessa. Things change when you have kids. They need a big backyard, fresh air, sunshine. Living in the city is great when you’re single or newly married, but when you start a family your priorities shift. Think about it at least. The school district here is one of the best in the state, and living so close by our kids really could grow up together.”
Both babies were fast asleep by now, so Tessa and Julia carried them inside to Lily’s nursery, which had been decorated in a colorful storybook theme. While Julia tucked Lily into her white wooden crib - the one her father had handmade - Tessa set Liam down gently into the BabyBjörn travel crib they had brought with them. Julia grabbed a handheld device that was linked up to the baby monitor as she and Tessa tiptoed out of the room.
“Now that Liam’s out like a little light, you ought to go for a swim,” urged Julia as they returned to the pool deck. “I wasn’t planning to have dinner for at least an hour, so enjoy yourself for a bit. And if my kids splash you, you have my overwhelming permission to return the favor!”
Tessa eyed the crystalline water longingly. “Maybe. Why don’t you join me, Julia? It’s getting pretty warm outside now.”
Julia shook her head. “No way. I’m vain enough that I refuse to be seen in public in a bikini until I lose the rest of this baby weight. Besides, I need to get a few things ready for dinner. And before you ask - no. You are not helping, especially since you brought over half of the food. How in the world did you find time to make all that stuff anyway? So, shoo. Go swim with your family for a little while.”
Tessa was about to protest further until Julia disappeared inside the house. And then Gilly noticed her, and began to wave and call out excitedly.
“Mummy! Come swim wif us! Pease?” she begged.
Tessa grinned at her daughter, who looked beyond adorable in her tiny two-piece swimsuit of aqua, pink, and purple stripes. Even though Gilly was a good swimmer for her age, Ian continued to insist that she wear little inflatable floaties on her arms every time she got in the pool.
“Yes, Mummy,” Ian chimed in. “We’ve been waiting for you. Time to take that cover-up off and get in the water. Gilly and I are very anxious to see just how yummy Mummy looks in her bikini. Aren’t we, sweetheart?” he asked Gilly, who nodded enthusiastically in reply.
He waggled his eyebrows at her teasingly, and Tessa gave him a look of mock severity, letting him know that she was well aware of his ulterior motive in coaxing her into the pool.
But she still couldn’t help the little thrill that shimmied up her spine as she removed her white gauzy, thigh-length cover-up and saw the way her husband was watching her. Tessa was admittedly one of those very lucky, very rare women whose body seemed to bounce back quickly after giving birth. She’d gained just under thirty pounds while carrying Liam, and had lost most of that without even trying. Breastfeeding, taking care of two small children, and her normal daily activities had been enough to take nearly all of the weight off until she’d been ready to resume exercising. The remaining pounds had quickly disappeared, and she was even a few pounds slimmer than she’d been before getting pregnant with her son.
The bikini she’d chosen to wear this afternoon was more modest than some of her others, the red briefs piped in white cut a bit higher, and the bra top not quite as revealing. Still, she was very aware of her skimpy attire as she eased herself into the pool, especially when Ian’s eyes were glued to her exposed cleavage.
Gilly paddled up to her enthusiastically, her tiny feet splashing happily. “Hi, Mummy!” she exclaimed. “Mummy swim, too!”
Tessa gave her a quick kiss. “Hi, baby. But Mummy can’t swim as good as Gilly does.”
Gilly shook her head stubbornly. “Mummy swim good. Daddy, watch Mummy swim.”
Ian grinned, his gaze traveling lasciviously down the front of Tessa’s body. “I won’t turn down an invitation like that. Go ahead, Mummy. Show Gilly how well you can swim.”
Tessa swam several laps back and forth, luxuriating in this rare opportunity, and loving the feel of the warm sun heating her skin. When she returned to the side of the pool where Ian and Gilly were waiting, her daughter was clapping her little hands with glee.
“Mummy swim fast!” she exclaimed.
Tessa took Gilly into her arms, whirling her around in circles in the water, causing her to squeal with delight.
“But Daddy swims much faster,” she told Gilly.
“Not as fast as my Daddy!” protested Noah as he and Justin paddled over.
Justin nodded. “Our Daddy plays water polo. He has trophies.”
Nathan rolled his eyes. “Those trophies are so old they’re getting rusty by now. Just like Daddy.”
“Race!” screamed Noah excitedly. “Daddy, you race Gilly’s Daddy!”
Ian shook his head. “Sorry, little mate, but I don’t like those odds at all. I’ve seen your father swim before, and he’ll definitely kick my arse.”
Justin wrinkled up his nose. “What’s arse? Is that like a butt?”
Nathan grinned, and rumpled his son’s dark head. “Yes. Except that it’s a British butt. But Ian’s wrong if he thinks I can beat him in a swimming race right now. I hardly ever have time to swim laps these days, mostly just goof around with the boys here in the pool. Daddy is the one who’ll get his arse - I mean, butt - kicked.”
