Page 104 of Hot Four Teacher
I love my daughter, and I love my life as a mom, but for the first time in I can’t remember how long, I feel like more than a mom. I feel like someone is doing something forme.It’s a little foreign, but I’m learning to enjoy it.
After I get too hot for my tank top, I yank it off over my head and toss it at Dane. It lands on his face.
Chuckling, he removes it and sets it on the dock next to him.
“You’re feisty today, aren’t you?” He asks.
“Yes. Why don’t you hand me one of the fishing poles?”
He stares at me in disbelief. “Youwant to fish?”
“Yes. But you have to put the worm on. Those things are gross.”
I watch as he threads a worm on the hook of the extra pole and then hands it to me.
I take it and say, “Look, I’m a fisherman. Fisher-woman? Fisher-person? Whatever.”
“A woman after my own heart.” He smiles.
I get lost in a trance as I watch the surface of the water. Everything is so calm and peaceful…until it’s not.
All of a sudden, something grabs my hook and starts pulling hard.
“Oh, my gosh!” I cry. “I’ve got something.”
“Okay, baby, just reel it in slow and steady.”
While that sounds like a good idea in theory, this fish on my line has other plans. It’s tugging as hard as it can. I hold on as tightly as I’m able to. It finally dies down a little, and I’m able to reel it in a little with Dane coaching me.
I think I’m making decent progress when without warning, it yanks me so hard it has me flying out of the tube and into the water. My head bobs belowthe surface, and when I come up, I see Dane already in the water beside me.
“Let go, baby,” he says. “Let go of the pole.”
I do and whatever has a hold of it sends it zipping through the water. Moving toward him, I wrap my body around his, holding on for dear life.
“Are you okay?” He asks, effortlessly holding me while treading water.
“Uh, yeah. I think so, but after feeling what was on the other end of that fishing pole, I think I’d like to get out of the water now.”
“Good point. Let’s go.”
***
Dane hands me a steaming cup of coffee and joins me on the couch. We get comfy under a blanket. Between that and the fireplace he just lit, everything is quite cozy.
I look down at the steam rising off the mug. “I’m sorry I’m not very good at all of the outdoor stuff. I guess I’m more of an indoor type of gal.”
“Hey, look at me.”
Slowly, my eyes travel upward to find his.
“Now, I want you to listen to me,” he begins. “I don’t care if you aren’t good at the outdoor stuff. I meant what I said about not caring what we do as long as we’re together. If I want to go fishing, I can do it on a day that you’re with Eve. I’m just sorry you didn’t have a good time today.”
I give him a small smile. “It wasn’t all bad. It was sweet of you to get everything set up.”
We sip our coffee for a few minutes before he asks, “Do you think Eve is having a good time with her dad?”
I sigh. “I hope so, but honestly, I have no idea. I haven’t gotten any frantic calls, so I guess that’s a good sign.”
