Page 63 of Falcon

I ducked under Nashoba’s beach ball shot, and it sailed over my head. Mom had bullied Dad and me into watching the children in the pool. Jayes was already in there splashing around. He swam over to me, uncertain of the strangers who’d intruded. Dad’s eyes fastened on Jayes, and greed appeared in them. Damn, Dad wanted to be a grandfather.

“Hey,” Dad called, wading through the water. Jayes nearly climbed me, and I held a hand out to Dad.

“Jayes, this is my dad,” I introduced.

“He is?” Jayes’ eyes went wide.

“Call me Grandpa,” Dad said, and I shook my head. That was too soon for Jayes.

Dad hesitated, and Jayes attacked. “Why?”

“Because…” Dad froze, unready for Jayes’s blunt question.

“Because he’s ancient,” I interjected, and Dad nodded. “I can see that.”

A chuckle escaped me as Dad seemed utterly insulted.

“I ain’t that old,” he complained.

“To Jayes you are.” I grinned.

“Disrespectful shit,” Dad snapped, and caught a ball flying at his head.

“Who are they?” Jayes pointed to the others.

“Those are my brothers and sisters.” I introduced them and asked if he wanted to play.

“No, I want to do laps,” Jayes replied, and Dad’s eyes widened.

“Watch this,” I murmured.

Jayes pushed off the side and started swimming. Dad studied Jayes as he swam a couple of lengths. “Jayes has good form.”

“He couldn’t swim a week ago.”

“Get the fuck out,” Dad exclaimed.

“Yup. Not a single stroke. He’s learned all this in less than seven days.”

Dad watched through narrowed eyes. “He ain’t got your DNA, but he’s your kid. What are the odds you’d find a prodigy?”

“Low. But look at him go. I’m letting him get comfortable with the front crawl before introducing new strokes. Jayes’s form is almost perfect.”

“You got him a coach?” Dad asked.

“Yeah. I reached out to John, and he’s agreed to come and visit. The physio has permitted me to start laps gently. John and Simon were coming to see me about starting my training.” John was my swimming coach, and Simon my personal trainer for general fitness. For Ju-Jitsu, I trained with Uncle Akemi; there was no one better, and Nova and Steel were my practice partners.

“Another Blackelk who’s going to take gold,” Dad said proudly.

I nodded, knowing how he felt. Jayes would become a household name in ten years or so. And I’d be proud to call him son.

Chapter Fourteen.

Myka

“Put on something nice; we’re going out,” Falcon said later that evening.

“Oh?”