Hide Your Love Away: book two

Chapter 17

(George)

"George we're all going for a swim before it gets dark, it's to hot to sit in this room all night." Lucy says coming into the room in her polka-dot bikini. She slips on some sandals and goes to the door. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah. I'll meet you all down at the pool in a minute." She smiles at me and leaves the room. I start start humming one of my favorite songs and dig through my clothes to find my suit. As I'm pulling them on I hear a knock on the door. "Come on in!" I turn to see  Prudence, "What's wrong love?" I ask her, she has red eyes. 

"I can't look at these scars anymore... I wan't to go swim with you all but I don't want everyone to keep looking at them and feeling sorry for me." She says with hands on her stomach, "I can't keep wearing t-shirts while I swim they get to heavy in the water." 

"Come with me Pru." I take her hand and lead her to a little shop in the lobby of our hotel that sells swimsuits. "Ma'am do you have any of those high waisted swimsuits?" The cashier smiles at me and takes us to a selection of swimsuits. "Go ahead and pic one out, don't worry about price." She smiles at me and pulls out a teal suit printed with yellow polka dots and white daisies. "You change into that and I'll go pay for it."

"You don't have to do this George."

"Yes I do. You deserve to have fun with all of us without worrying about something you had no say in. I'll go pay, meet me up front when you're ready." 

After a few minute pru is standing next to me shyly, she looks really good in that color. She had her hair pulled back with a white ribbon and a pair of twiggy sunglasses, beautiful has to run in their family. "Can you see them?" she moves her arms and I shake my head. "Thank you George." 

~~~ 

When to many people started showing up at the pool we decided to take our bikes to the beach. We've been out here for a good two hours and we haven't left the water. "We're going to go get sandwiches and bring them back. Who wants to come with us?" Lucy and Anna scream from the sand. John, Ringo, and Dylan all get out of the water. "What about you three?" 

"I'm good here sunflower. I want to take some photos with my underwater camera." She smiles and runs to catch up with the others. I start taking pictures until I hear Paul and Pru arguing. 

"Why did you let him buy you a swimsuit? I could have gotten you one, you should have just told me you didn't want to have your stomach showing. I could have helped you." 

"I've tried talking to you Paul but you seem so hurt about everything, still. I'm sorry I couldn't save our child... I'm sorry. I know you hate me for it, but I couldn't help it."

"You never talk to me Pru... are you scared of me or something? I'm not max."  I hide behind a rock and listen to them fighting. 

"I don't want to fight with you Paul, but you have no reason to bring Max into this." I hear her crying, the sound breaking my heart. "Where are you going" She asks him.

"Just for a walk. I'm sorry Pru, I'll be back after I take a breather, I love you angel." Paul responds, obviously frustrated. 

I swim over to Pru and she starts crying. I hug her and then our faces get closer and closer until our noses are touching. I want to feel her lips against mine but I can't do that to her, Paul, or my little sunflower. "George...."

"I'm sorry Pru. He just needs time to get himself back. You two just need time."

"I know... I love him George I really do."

"And I love Lucy. We need to learn to talk to them don't we?" I can still feel our noses touching 

She nods, I kiss her forehead and pull her into a hug. I look to the beach and see John and Ringo staring at us. Paul and the girls no where in site. "What the hell?" John asks.