My Dad Brought His First Love Back

Fiona didn't move out.

If anything, she was bolder than before.

After Dad signed, it was like he had something to prove.

He moved her things into the room right next to the master bedroom.

At dinner he put her at the head of the table.

Mom sat in the corner, quietly eating her little bowl of oatmeal.

That was all she could keep down anymore.

Rice was too hard to chew. Meat wouldn't go down.

She could maybe finish half a bowl, and only of that.

Fiona made braised short ribs. She set the plate right in front of me.

"Try some, Nina. Your dad said ribs are your favorite."

I picked up my bowl. I finished my oatmeal. I put down my spoon.

"I'm full."

Fiona's face dropped.

Dad slammed his hand on the table.

"Nina. Fiona made this for you. Eat it."

I shook my head.

Mom had told me, don't eat anything she didn't make.

Dad slammed the table again, louder.

"Helena! Look what you're turning this kid into."

Mom set her bowl down and said it flat.

"She's not hungry. Stop pushing her."

Dad glared at Mom, his lip twitched, and in the end he didn't say anything else.

That weekend, Fiona suggested taking me to the community pool.

She said it was hot out, the kid should have some fun.

Dad thought it was a great idea.

Mom said she was coming too.

Dad frowned. "What for? You can't even swim."

Mom ignored him. She got changed and walked out the door behind us.

At the pool, Fiona slid a floatie on me and led me to the shallow end.

Mom sat in a chair by the edge, watching.

Ten minutes in, Fiona's phone rang.

She walked to the other end of the pool to take it. Her voice went all sugary.

"Alex, when are you getting here? I'm dying out here babysitting—"

I was splashing around.

The valve on the floatie was loose.

The air was slipping out, bit by bit.

I started sinking.

Water went over my nose. I thrashed, swallowed a mouthful.

I couldn't even scream.

Fiona had her back to me, still on the phone, still laughing.

It was Mom.

Mom came flying off her chair. She didn't even kick off her shoes, just went straight into the water.

She didn't know how to swim.

She thrashed her way to me, grabbed me, lifted me up above her head.

The lifeguard came running and pulled us both out.

Mom lay on the deck and coughed up a mouthful of water, streaked with red.

Fiona came running over, hand over her mouth, eyes huge.

"Oh my God, Nina, are you okay? How did the floatie deflate? I was only on the phone for a second..."

Dad showed up a few minutes later.

He picked me up and checked me over. Once he was sure I was fine, the first thing he did was go comfort Fiona.

"Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. The floatie was cheap."

Then he turned and looked at Mom, still on the deck, still coughing.

He didn't help her up.

He just said,

"Helena, you can't swim. What were you doing jumping in? You just made it worse."

Mom got up off the deck by herself.

Her clothes were soaked and clinging to her. You could see the outline of her ribs.

When we got home, Mom sat in the bathroom and coughed for a long time.

I crouched outside the door listening.

When she came out, I said one thing. "Mom. Thank you for today."

Mom ran her hand through my hair. She didn't answer.

Her eyes went red, but there were no tears.