Since Leo returned from his business trip everything had been the same, but different. Isla and the children drove him to the train every morning and picked him up at the end of his day. Her heart thumped louder as she turned into the station and scanned the curb for his familiar smile. Some days when he called to tell her which train was taking, he would ask about her day. With the city sounds in the background she imagined him walking down the sidewalk listening to how she and the children made pasta salad.

The difference happened when Leo came home. He included her in his conversations with his kids. When Cody said something cute, Leo looked at Isla and smiled with his eyes or winked. Each special moment as they silently shared their amusement made them a team. When he stayed in the kitchen and helped clean up, they felt like something more than a team.

Thursday night, the day before the last day of school, Isla retreated to her room when Leo went upstairs at Riley's bedtime. One thing which hadn't changed was Leo put his children to bed on his own. Staying upstairs often felt uncomfortable. Leo would talk to her, but it was not like the ease of conversing on the phone. Isla blushed when he looked at her.

She sat reading when she heard a light knocking on her door. Thankfully, she had stayed dressed in her shorts. She opened the door to find Leo with his hands in his pocket looking less assured of himself.

"Hi."

She frowned. Hadn't they had dinner together a couple of hours before? "Hi?"

"I, um. Do you want to come out?" He stepped back from her door.

She nodded. Afraid to speak, as she entered the basement room filled with books. Leo looked around. "I really need to finish organizing these."

"Do you know all these authors?"

He nodded. "Most. But I need to tell you something."

"Is it about VBS? I already texted Helen I could help."

"No. No, I'd never change my mind, when there is no good reason. It's only what? A week?"

Isla nodded. "Thank you."

He laughed. "Don't be so formal. Relax."

He reached out and ran his hand from her shoulder to her elbow and stopped. A voice inside of her said don't stop. His hand on her bare elbow felt better than anytime Paul had touched her. The same voice must control her because she took a tiny step towards him. He smiled and moved his hand down her arm so his fingers could grasp hers. They stood for a long moment hand in hand. When she dared to look at him, his face woke up.

"I." He cleared his throat and sighed. "I just had a text and did something, I regret."

Isla tensed. "Regret?"

He closed his eyes as he nodded. "Ryan's mom texted about the boys celebrating the last day of school together."

"The one you dated?" She looked at their joined hands.

He sighed. "Yes, but it's not about me. Cody likes his friend."

"Celebrate how?"

His eyes pleaded. "I suggested swimming here."

Isla gulped. "Here. Riley won't be happy."

"She'll play with Lucy. It's a half-day. I want it to be memorable. I thought we could go out for dinner too."

"With Ryan's mother?"

"No. With you. Our family."

She looked at him. "Why did you like her?"

He chuckled. "I don't know. Loneliness."

Isla's mouth took over. "Did you kiss her?"

He nodded. "Did your date kiss you?"

"Yes, and he wanted more than a kiss and I." Isla stopped abruptly. Why had she said so much?

He looked at her. "If he knew you, he would know you wouldn't. That you have values."

"Do you?"

He smiled. "I like when you say what's on your mind." He cleared his throat. "Do I have values? Yes. But not the same. I respect your values. I know you don't approve of my divorce."

"I'm understanding why you wanted what you wanted for your wife."

He dropped her hand and raked his hands through his hair. "None of it was easy. It still isn't."

She whispered. "Your nightmares."

He nodded slowly. "I worry about a lot of things. I worry you'll leave us for a man who has never been married."

She shook her head. "You'll find a woman like Ryan's mom and take me to the shelter."

"I would never. I don't want a woman like Reagan. You belong here."

She shut her eyes. "I'm very confused."

He cleared his throat. "Me too. Sleep well, Isla."

She croaked, "Pleasant dreams."

Isla fell asleep thinking of Leo. He used words like: family, values, and belong. She had never belonged anywhere or to anyone. Living in the convent, she always felt on the outside. What did Leo's words mean? Sleep took her before she answered her own questions.

Morning dawned, and Isla groaned as she stretched. Maybe it would rain. Isla couldn't see the weather in her room, but as she entered the kitchen it was sunny and bright. Leo called her family, and she thought of the eat-in kitchen as hers. She put the coffee on and fixed herself a cup before starting breakfast. Pancakes were in order for the last day of school.

Isla's job would change, but she didn't mind spending time with Riley and Cody. Childhood summers were iconic, but nothing in Isla's childhood was ideal. Her grandmother loved her, but never had extra money for splurges. Occasionally a foster family would go out for ice cream. Isla liked the twist cones with hard chocolate coating on the outside.

She sipped her coffee, before shaking her head and putting it on the counter. Breakfast would not make itself.

She jumped when Leo entered the kitchen. "Pancakes. Yum."

She glimpsed his smile in her peripheral vision. "You look like Cody; sound like him too."

"Like a six-year-old?" His pout turned into a smile.

"You have the same smile. Did you wake them?"

"I will." He looked at Isla too long. She reached up and flattened the hair going into the hair elastic. "How d'you sleep?"

She nodded. "Fine." Her eyes narrowed. "Did you have a nightmare?"

"No, thanks to you." He looked at his watch. "I'll get them for the last time."

"We still need to take you to the train."

"Unless... I'll be back."

Unless, what? Isla focused on turning the pancakes and stacking them on plates.

When Leo and Cody appeared, the boy bounced. "Pancakes!"

Isla smiled. After handing the child a plate so he could eat. Then she approached Leo as he poured the coffee. "Unless, what?"

"Unless you don't have to shop and I take the car. I can get in early and take the 5:20 out of Boston, so I can enjoy my summer evenings."

"You could take the car today, since we're having company." The last word tasted sour in her mouth. Leo smiled and chuckled, but she didn't know why.

After Mass, she walked with her friends. "I won't be able to walk or go to church all summer."

Marcia patted her back. "We'll visit so we can keep you up-to-date on the gossip."

Isla bit her tongue, so she wouldn't say gossip was a sin.

Helen said, "Daily Mass is a privilege, but jobs always come first. Don't feel guilty. I have a present for you."

"For me."

Helen nodded. "Stop at my house."

They went around the block to reach Helen's first. She frowned, "Paul's early."

"I don't like him like..."

Helen had reached in her door and pulled out a small book. "Here it has daily reflections to go with the Gospel. When I worked full time, I relied on this."

"Thank you." She hugged the small softcover book. "I have to go. The kids get out at noon, and I have a lot to do."

As she walked away, she thought, if only she could hold back time. Isla felt dread when she thought about the afternoon. Without magical powers like the characters in Riley's favorite books, time marched on, and she sat across from Riley and Cody choking down a few bites of a sandwich. They finished quickly and ran to get their suits on.

Isla cleaned up the lunch mess. She was wiping the table when a knock at the back door made her jump. She turned and breathed when she saw Lucy smiling.

The young girl breezed in. "Hi, Isla. Happy summer! My mom is home today. Since it's hot, can she swim too?"

"Yes! Yes. Tell her anytime. She is always welcome."

Isla imagined a friendship between her and Lauren. She enjoyed having an ally against Reagan. The girl went to the phone on the wall and called home.

Riley and Cody appeared, and Cody pleaded, "Isla, swim!"

She reminded him. "I'm the lifeguard."

Isla might swim with Lauren, as she had with Lilli and Zach. She followed behind with an insulated pitcher of lemonade and plastic cups. She jumped at the sound of tires on the driveway.

Cody ran to his friend, and Isla slowly walked in the same direction. The older woman, Isla had no doubt, emerged wearing a bikini with a scarf wrapped around her waist as a skirt. Beyond her attire, she had makeup caked on her face. Isla feared it would turn the pool brown.

She looked at Isla from head to bare toe. "Another new nanny. What happened to the old maid in wool?"

Isla floundered speechless. She felt a hand in hers and looked down at an angry Riley. "She's our friend, and you're a..."

Isla snapped out of it. "Our guest. Welcome."

Reagan eyed Isla again. "Are you a little young for Leo?"

Isla shrugged. "He hasn't complained."

The woman stormed past Ilsa to her son. "Ryan, sweetie, you need to put on your life jacket."

Isla froze and bit the inside of her cheek. "The pool isn't deep."

"My Ryan can't swim."

Isla said, "In that case since I'm on lifeguard duty." The last thing she needed was her Ryan to drown.

Reagan looked around. Isla didn't like the looks she gave, as she picked up a lawn chair and turned it to the sun. Luckily, Lauren arrived with her younger daughter, Cora.

Boisterously, she announced, "Happy summer!"

Her excitement was contagious. She pulled off her shirt to reveal a one piece suit that flattered her. She leaned close. "Where's your suit? You don't have a mom body." She looked around Isla. "Why is the queen of the PTA here?"

"Cody's friend, Ryan. Leo invited her."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "She'll want to get her hooks into him."

Isla shook her head. "She tried, but he said he didn't want her."

"Good for him. Phew it's hot I'm going in!"

The afternoon flew with laughter and splashes. Reagan moved her chair as the sun moved and eventually faced the pool. Her makeup had begun to melt. Isla didn't feel guilty for her uncharitable thought, because she deserved it.

She jumped when her phone vibrated. Leo texted he would take the early train, and he wanted to take them out to dinner. At five, Isla announced, "Cody and Riley, your dad is taking us out. Everyone needs to get out of the pool. We need to get dressed."

Lauren got out right away, and her daughters followed. Riley and Cody climbed out next, but Ryan kept swimming.

Isla said, "Swimming is over, Ryan."

"No! I wanna swim!"

Reagan didn't move. Isla sighed and turned to her. "We need to go out. Your son..."

"Is a wonderful swimmer."

Isla looked at her frowning. "He can take his life jacket and show his talents in another pool. Ours is closed." Maybe he'll put his face in. The boy whined all afternoon when the other kids splashed him.

Lauren was drying off and smirked. "Hey, bathing beauty, get your kid out. Isla has plans."

She humphed. "It's Leo's house, not hers."

"I'm going to get dressed. Don't let him drown."

Isla picked up the drink mess and walked away. In her room, she brushed her hair leaving it down and put on a summer dress she had recently purchased from the shop Lilli had taken her to.

When she returned to the yard, Leo stood next to Reagan. He had his bag over his shoulder and his keys in his hand. At least her kid was out of the pool, running around with Cody.

When Leo looked up at Isla and smiled, her belly felt funny. Reagan scowled, as he said, "Hey, how was your day?"

She nodded and couldn't hide her smile. "Good. Do you need to change?"

He broke his gaze. "Yes. I do. Nice seeing you Reagan. Kids, we leave in five."

Isla picked up the wet life jacket thrown on the grass. "I'll carry this."

The woman had no choice but leave. Isla wished she could see her reaction when she saw her smudged face.

As Reagan pulled her car out of the driveway, Leo appeared in shorts. It was Isla's turn to stare.

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