Page 113 of Dial L for Lawyer
"Gentlemen," he greets us, clearly surprised. "Didn't expect the whole crew."
"Dom lied to us," Bennett says, settling onto the metal bench. "Said this was a bar."
David chuckles. "Well, there's a concession stand downstairs. They serve beer."
"Seriously?" Dominic grabs Logan's arm. "We're going."
I watch them rush off and settle beside David. "Thanks for saving seats."
"Michaela's got three races," he says. "She's nervous about the butterfly, so cheer extra loud."
"That’s the plan. She said she was immune to embarrassment."
David grins. "That's what she says, but her ears go bright red."
The pool air is thick with chlorine and humidity. Must be ninety degrees in here. The whole building echoes with kids' voices and the slap of feet on wet tile. Parents in the stands scroll phones and sip coffee, looking bored after watching the same races week after week.
I wonder if I'll ever be one of them—someone who gets used to this, who stops being amazed by every little victory. I can't see it. If Michaela's swimming, I'll be the uncle who cheers too loud every single time.
We watch as Michaela lines up for her heat, adjusting her cap. She glances up at us and raises an eyebrow like, 'You ready for this?' I pump my fist and she smirks, then starts windmilling her arms dramatically. She means business.
When the race starts, Michaela is third off the block—her form is part chaos, part genius, all elbows and determination, but she pulls ahead fast. I lose it and start yelling her name. David joins in, then Bennett—who has the voice of a foghorn—and soon even Dominic and Logan are back with their beers, both howling like she's in the Olympics.
Halfway through, she's got half a body length on the next kid, teeth gritted with effort. She powers through the last ten meters on pure will, then slaps the wall so hard she bounces back. When she looks up, her face is red but beaming as she spots us.
“That was actually pretty good,” Dominic admits, grinning from ear to ear.
Michaela gets out of the pool makes a heart with her hands at us. David claims he's not crying, but he's blinking fast, and I might be a little misty too. Bennett's grinning openly for once.
"That was incredible," he says. "She's a beast."
"Runs in the family," I say, nudging him.
"She's going to run the world someday."
"Or at least the legal system," David adds. "She already has a five-year plan for after law school."
"She's seven!" Dominic protests.
"Seven and three-quarters," we all say together.
As we settle back for her next event, my phone buzzes.
Serena:
How's the swim meet?
Me:
Michaela just destroyed the competition. The other kids didn't stand a chance.
Serena:
Of course she did. Kingsley genes.
Me:
How's brunch?
