Reese admits, “Actually not as far as Sam can.”
Sam brightly says, “That’s because I’m training to swim the English Channel.”
Reese’s expression is a little shocked at that and more than concerned as she asks, “Oh and when are you going to make your attempt?”
Sam brightly says, “When I’m fourteen and ready.” Reese relaxes at that answer.
Chuckling I say, “We’ll not make Sam do anything she doesn’t want to try. But Sam knowing how to float is very important, Kathryn’s father nearly drowned after a boat accident. If Sam happened to be on a boat and it sank more than a mile and a half or more from shore my opinion would be that Sam would make it to shore. She would be able to swim all the way after stopping a few times to float.”
Reese asks, “So if there is only one lifejacket?”
Chuckling I say, “I’ll hand it to you. Kathryn, Sam and I can float without one.”
Kathryn asks, “Did you learn to swim like I did? My Dad just threw me in.” Reese’s expression says it all, if it wasn’t her Dad, it was exactly how she learned to swim.
Sam giggles and asks, “So that’s why you only let Daddy teach me to swim, right Mommy?” Kathryn giggles in just shakes her head yes and takes a bite of grilled cheese.
Reese asks, “You think you guys can show me how to float?”
Sam giggles and says, “Daddy is really good at teaching people to float. He taught me and Mommy and most my aunts in just a couple afternoons.”
Kathryn giggles and says, “Dad learned how to float watching JJ teach Sam and I, my sisters that JJ didn’t teach Dad did copying what JJ did. Dad even taught my Mom finally.”
Sam giggles, “It was fun having Daddy pool me around in the pool as I floated, Daddy can pull six of my aunts around at one time.”
I explained to Reese, “It’s teaching them how to be drowned proved. Once they learn how to float and will trust someone to pull them to safety. There’s very little chance that they would drowned.”
Reese finally sets down beside Sam. I bring her a plate with a grilled cheese sandwich in a bowl of soup. She is just begun to eat when Ron stretching walks into the kitchen, he asked Reese, “I thought you were going to just check on Sam?”
Reese giggles and says, “Apparently four-year-olds don’t follow schedules very well, and Sam woke up early on us.”
Kathryn flashes Ron an expression that says everything without saying a word. Ron seeing it says, “Okay I get it. Sorry for this morning. Did Sam get into trouble?”
Kathryn giggles and says, “No she just woke us up from our nap.”
It’s a good thing Sam has mouthful of food, because she didn’t add the fact she found us nude. I give Ron a plate with a grilled cheese sandwich in a bowl of soup. Despite himself Ron chuckles at how I serve him. He smiles and says, “Thank you JJ.”
Ron taking a bite of my grilled cheese raises an eyebrow and says, “That’s a really good grilled cheese.”
Sam giggles saying, “Daddy does good grilled cheese, but you really need to taste Alyssa’s, hers is great.”
I ask, “Where is Alyssa? She’s normally here this time of day.”
Reese says, “She said she was going to make a quick run to the grocery store and be back before Sam got up.”
I chuckle and say, “Sam you really did get up early from your nap.” Sam just shrugs her shoulders not wanting to make Reese feel any worse.
As if on cue Alyssa carrying a few bags of groceries comes through the garage entrance. As she walks into the kitchen she smells grilled cheese she says, “JJ you were cooking again.”
I stand and walk over to help her with the bags, and give her a peck on the cheek. I say, “Sam woke up a little early from her nap. She was just a little hungry so I went ahead made her a grilled cheese along with everyone else. Would you like one?
Alyssa says, “Actually yes if there’s any of Misty’s soup left.”
With a chuckle I say, “I think we can scrounge up a cup at least.” As we set the bags down on the counter, Kathryn comes over to help with things.
Alyssa sends me out to the car. There are a few bags left in the trunk and a couple of twelve packs of soda. Ron meets me on my way back, and I send him after the two twelve packs of soda that I couldn’t carry. When Ron comes back in with the soda he smiles and says, “I realized that you see more like any other average eighteen-year-old than a multibillionaire. I always expected the ultrarich not to be bothered with day-to-day things.”
With a chuckle I say, “They may be a few more like me that realize money isn’t everything. Your love ones, family and friends should always mean more to you than your money. You can never get the time back you spend away from them, no matter how much money you have.” Looking at Sam I say, “That’s why I’ve been trying to retire myself; now that I’m a father I want to try to spend as much time as I can with my daughter and wife.” Sam and Kathryn smile brightly at me.
Ron asks, “JJ you’re multibillionaire, why can’t you just retire?”
I answer, “I have more or less, and I will teach a class, actually two in self-defense at the high school. I help a few friends make enough money so they can retire as well, and that is something my daughter asked me to do.” I blow Sam a kiss, she giggles brightly. And I continue, “I help with some charities but none of that doesn’t take up a lot of time or keep Sam off my lap. So I guess I have more or less retired, because I’m only doing what I like.”
Reese begins, “I called an hour ago, back to the unit and had them start my separation paperwork. Two weeks after I get back I can start my terminal leave. I have another two months saved after I leave I can come back in two weeks.”
Ron says, “I made a phone call yesterday afternoon, is going to take me a month after I return to separate.” He looks at Reese and deeply into her eyes before he says, “Reese you want to come back here, will be apart for two weeks that I’m really going to hate. But if you stay near where I’m at, I won’t be able to keep my hands off of you.”
Reese says, “The two weeks were going to be there together is going to be hard enough. That’s why I’m coming back here once I can. I can wait here for you, easier than I can be there with you and not be able to be with you.”
Kathryn says, “Reese you’re more than welcome to come and stay, and when Ron can he can join you.”
Ron and Reese move to each other they hug and had a quick kiss before turning to Kathryn. Reese says, “I appreciate that Kathryn, and I’ll help out however I can when I’m here.”
The coach comes over a little later and asks, “JJ you ready for tomorrow. You have to come in on the second with the rest of us teachers. The school board has decided because you are over eighteen and have the necessary education background they can’t simply allow you to teach the two classes a day. They can’t allow you to teach them unpaid too. You’re coming in as an assistant coach, one of my assistant coaches left this summer. You’ll have your two periods for self-defense training, and three others normal gym courses, or economics classes depending on the school needs for the semester. Sorry son but it’s the only way you get to teach your self-defense classes.”
I look at Kathryn as she rolls on the floor laughing, Sam and Reese giggles merrily, Ron chuckles. I throw my hands up and say, “So much for my retirement.”
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