Yours Seductively

Chapter 12.2 (Part 1)

   Tyler's house was quiet when he entered it five days later. He was home several hours before he'd planned to be, since he'd managed to catch an earlier flight than he'd expected. He had left immediately when his brother's condition stabilized. His parents encouraged him to get back to his children and leave the care of his brother to them. He had looked forward to being greeted by Jane and the children and was disappointed that they weren't here.

   Running weary hand through his hair, he wandered into the kitchen. Funny how he could almost feel Jane's presence in his home, even though she wasn't here at the moment. During the hellish days that had just passed, he had derived comfort from imagining her here. And he had decided then that he would do everything in his power to put things right between them. He wanted her, and he needed her. Come hell or high water, he was going to get her back.

   He was ready to take the risk of loving her. She is worth the risk, he realized.

   There was a note on the refrigerator, he observed immediately. Only one word was written on it, in bold letters, in red crayon: Pool.

   She had left him a message, he thought with a faint smile. Just in case he came early. Jane Doherty's own special brand of optimism. Only lately had he realized how much he had grown to depend on it.

   He walked the few blocks to the pool. Though it was hot, he needed the fresh air to clear away the memory of hospital scents from his mind. Tension still tightened his shoulders—it would be a while before that eased completely—but it felt good to be home.

   To his relief, there weren't many people at the pool. The young lifeguard, with whom Tyler had had a long, firm talk after Tom's near tragedy, straightened in his elevated chair when he recognized Tyler. Seems the young lad had learned his lesson well and is taking his job seriously now, to Tyler's satisfaction.

   Tyler immediately spotted Jane in the pool, her hand on the molded plastic seat in which Amy floated happily, and she was walking to Tom—who, Tyler was surprised to noticed, was standing waist-deep in the water beside Jane. He was even more astonished when, acting on Jane's instructions, Tom put his face in the water, kicked off and swam three or four feet in exaggerated, splashing strokes. He sank then, but came up laughing, dripping, and wiping water from his face with both hands.

   This from the boy who didn't even like to have his hair washed for fear of getting water in his eyes? He couldn't stop his amazement. It's like he's gazing at a different boy.

   It was Tom who spotted Tyler first. His wet face lit up. "Daddy! Did you see me? I swam."

   "I saw you. You were great, Tom. When did you learn to do that?" He enthusiastically asked his son.

   "Jane taught me. She used to be a lifeguard." said Tom proudly.

   Jane had already lifted Amy out of the floating seat. Holding the dripping baby on her hip, she carefully climbed the steps out of the pool. She approached Tyler with a smile, Tom at her heels.