Beck stared at me and I was certain he was checking me out. And for once, I was proud to show off my body. After years of being modest, I liked having him as my audience.

His eyes locked with mine as he ripped off his shirt. Hot damn, this man was fine. His chest was defined but not massive and he had tattoos on his arm. I noticed an angel and wondered if he had gotten that for his wife. He also had a rosary, and I wondered if he was Catholic. I was living with this man and I didn’t know enough about him.

Mónica handed him Sky. I walked in front of him and took my steps into the shallow area of the pool.

Beck had bought some arm floats for Ana María who looked adorable in her Elena of Avalor swimsuit. I looked around the pool and noticed that a few people were staring at us. Did they wonder why we were here? I shuddered, and it wasn’t from the cool water. I was probably paranoid but the sharp feeling that I was completely out of place overtook me.

Beckett placed Sky in a baby floatie and I pushed her through the water. “I’m going to help Ana María for a bit. I’ll be right back.”

Mónica sat next to me and we played with Sky. “Lo, he totally wants you.”

I splashed her. “Stop, he’s just being nice.”

“Whatever. Men aren’t nice unless they want something. Trust me.”

I laughed. “Trust you? What do you know about ‘men’? You are fourteen.”

“I know a lot. I watched Mama, no matter how you tried to shield me.”

Great. I needed Mónica to witness a respectful relationship between a man and a woman. She was too young to remember Papa and Abuela’s relationship since he died when Mónica was Ana María’s age.

Sky was loving the water and seemed to be a natural like her daddy. And Ana María was having the time of her life splashing around in the pool.

Beck then took Mónica for a spin around the pool. He held her body straight as she kicked on the paddle board. I was so impressed by his patience. Mónica kicked her hardest. I glanced up at the sun and couldn’t remember the last time I had been so happy. My belly was as full as my heart.

When Mónica returned, Sky started to get antsy. I took her out of her floaties and took a step out of the pool when Beck grabbed my arm.

“Wait. Your turn.”

What? I shook my head. “No. Sorry. I’m too old to learn. Let me get her out of the sun.”

He turned to Mónica. “Would you take Sky and Ana María out of the pool? I’m going to work with Paloma for a bit. Then we will get ice cream.”

“Sure, take your time.”

Mónica grabbed Sky from my arms and Ana María followed them out of the pool.

I stood in the shallow end staring at Beck, hoping he couldn’t read my mind.

He placed his arms around me and led me a bit deeper into the pool. I could swear all eyes were on Beck and me. I noticed the lady he talked to seemed focused on us, even though she was wearing sunglasses.

“Beck, come on. I’m embarrassed.”

“You want to move to San Diego, right? You need to learn how to swim.”

I was happy just feeling his arm wrapped around me. “Everyone is watching us.”

He pushed back my hair. “They are all just looking at how beautiful you are.”

Did he say I was beautiful? This was a dream.

He handed me the kickboard and lifted my waist up, so I was straight like an ironing board. “Kick, Loma. I got you. Just kick.”

Loma. He had started calling me Loma. It felt illicit, intimate.

I wanted him to be proud of me. So, I kicked as hard as I could as the water splashed on my face. And then miraculously I started moving around the pool. Granted, Beck was guiding me. But even so I felt strong, invincible even.

He finally released me, and I gave him an involuntary hug. Our wet bodies pressed against each other with only the thin fabric separating us. I wanted to stay in this moment and lose myself in Beck’s embrace.

But I quickly realized all eyes were on us at the pool. God, what did these people think? This widower hugging the nanny. How inappropriate.

I raced out of the pool and Mónica handed me a towel.

“Don’t!” I scolded when she opened her mouth.

“What, I wasn’t going to say nothing. Just that you are a good swimmer.”

Her tone was teasing. What kind of example was I setting for them? I wanted to rush back to our place and lock myself in the room, alone with my embarrassment.

But Beck placed his hand on my back and smiled.

“Let’s get ice cream.”

“Yes!” Ana María said, a little too loudly.

We went to the concessions cart and we each ordered a cone of swirl soft serve.

Ana María looked up at Beck, with ice cream dripping down her face. “Beck?”

“Yup, sweetie.”

“Thank you. This is the best day ever.”