Page 88 of Mail Order Splash

“It came up a little. It wasn’t the most important thing at the time,” I explained.

“So, this is a marriage of convenience. Will you live in two places?”

“I don’t want it to be that way but it’s bound to happen, especially if she won’t leave the rescues.” I looked around to see where Kleine was. “I’d like to get her to come with me and let someone else do the rescues for periods of time, but she is stubborn about doing it herself.”

“She fits into this family, then. We all think we have to do it ourselves.” He laughed. “Did she really have a knife in her teeth when you met her?”

“Yep, and two more strapped to her waist and leg. She doesn’t play around out there. Honestly, I don’t blame her for wanting to do it herself. She doesn’t give up on them.”

“What’s happening with that dolphin? Is it being aggressive to her?” Asher jumped up, concerned. “Is it going to push her into the wall?”

“Nah, looks like a trick they’ve worked on. Relax, she completely knows her stuff.”

Even I was taken aback when they flew in the air with her on Netty’s snout. They flipped together.

“Hey, guys.” She popped up next to us. “Netty is so talented.”

“I think that was natural for Netty. What I didn’t know was that you could do that.”

“I told you, when this place was open, we did lots of tricks. I was young when I learned that one.”

“I want to ask if I can do it but at the same time I’m scared to do it.” Asher held his head with his hands. “I don’t think I can flip like that, either.”

“The momentum does most of the flip. I can teach you.”

“Like right now?”

“Sure. Can you swim?”

“Who doesn’t swim?” he looked to me then her. “Or do you mean swim, swim?”

“Swim, as in move your arms and legs together to get to the surface,” she teased. “If not, Netty would bring you to me to be rescued.”

“Funny, real funny. Dalt, you do it first.”

“How am I the one volunteered? You wanted to do it.”

“She won’t let you drown, you’re her husband.”

“I wouldn’t let either of you drown.” She winked at me. “It’s more about smashing your head into the concrete.”

“Would that be considered suicide if you knowingly attempted it?” Asher stood on the edge looking down into the pool.

“Nah, might be under the stupidity clause.” I pushed him into the water. “Give Netty the command. Never mind, I got it.”

I grabbed onto her fin like I’d seen Kleine do, then pointed to Asher on his way swimming to the top. Netty zoomed under him close enough that I grabbed him, bringing him to the surface.

“You almost killed me! I didn’t have my nose plugged!”

“You seriously still hold your nose? How did I not know that? Think of the missed opportunity for jokes.” I held onto Netty while he gripped the edge of the pool. “Now are you ready to try what she did?”

“No way. Feeling how fast she swam us up, that was enough thrill-seeking for me.”

“Really, you hold your nose? What do you do when people are around?”

“It’s your fault, you pushed me in the deep end of the pool when we were kids and the water went to my brain.”

“To your brain? Come on, Asher.”

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