Fate Has a Cruel Sense of Humor

Benji's First Swimming Lesson

"Momma!" Benji came running as soon as we opened the door to my mother's penthouse apartment. I picked him up, swinging him around and kissing him on the cheek.

"Hi Baby!" I said, smiling. "Are you ready to swim?" He nodded and dimpled. My mom came in then and my jaw nearly dropped when I saw her. Damn I would be a happy women if I looked as half as good as my mom did at her age. She was fifty-six, but she still had the body of a twenty year old ballerina. Courtesy of good genes and exercise, not cosmetic surgery. She still had her face she was born with, one that looked so much like mine and Layla's, and a head full of dark blond hair, just like my own. Right now her body was in a dark purple wrap dress and her hair was pulled back making her cheek bones more prominent. She barely ever wore makeup, but still she was one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen.

"Hot stuff Isabel!" I cat-called and my mom swatted at me, blushing. "Hot date?" I asked although I already knew she was going out with my father.

"Oh shush." She giggled at me and then her eyes flickered to my side. She looked back at me with a sharp look. "Who's you're friend?"

"Who?" I turned around. "Oh. Mom this is my friend Adam Billings, Adam, Isabel Dalton." I introduced them.

Benji reached for Adam with both hands grasping. "Aggy." My mom's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when I let Adam take Benji from me and I sighed internally, knowing that I would have a lot of explaining to do.

"The swim instructor will be here in fifteen minutes, but I have to go." She shouldered her bag and kissed Benji on the cheek.

"Maw maw." Benji giggled at her and she looked at him lovingly.

"It was nice meeting you Adam." And with that she was off.

"She seems nice." Adam said sincerely.

"She can be." I sighed. But I knew. When she got her claws into me, I was a goner.

~~~~~

"Come on Benji! You can do it!" His first swim lesson was going surprisingly well. According to Benji's swim instructor, a teenage Olympic medalist named Ollie, Benji was following directions better than children older than him. He knew when to hold his breath, when to blow bubbles, when to kick his feet. She said he would be swimming in no time. I was thinking of phase him out of diapers and hoped it would be this easy.

Adam and I sat side by side, at the edge of the pool with out feet in as we took turns cheering my son on. Benji would grin up at us everytime we told him he did a good job.

"You're good with him, you know." His voice made me turn to him.

"What do you mean?" I asked. He turned to me and looked at me with those colorful eyes. Weirdly enough one looked blue and one looked green, but I couldn't think of eyes more beautiful.

"You're the best single mom out there." He said. "You put your needs behind Benji's." I turned to look at Benji as he called my name.

"That's because he's my savior." I said. "I'd do anything for him." I smiled and held out my hands as the instructor brought Benji up to us. She sat him in my arms, I didn't bother getting wet though.

"You did it!" I kissed his hair.

"I deed it!" He cheered.

"You're son will be swimming like a fish in three months if I have my way." I looked up and saw that Ollie was talking to Adam.

"Oh he's not- We're not-" I struggled for words, embarrassed and Ollie got the idea. She blushed.

"Oh I just assumed.... I'm sorry."