“Let’s say it’s twenty-plus years old. I inherited it from my grandma, who wouldn’t have bought a new one unless the old one was on fire or something.”
“Best guess is that it’s the heating element, but I’d have to take a look.” That was what I had picked up from Google, too. Shoot.
“How much do you charge for estimates?” I asked quietly, and bit my lip.
“No charge for an estimate, and for a fellow Shark parent I’d only charge you for parts if I can fix it, not for labor.”
“Wow, really?” I was overjoyed. “Can you come by and check it out?”
Jason the water heater hero took my cell number and promised to be in touch soon. “But the average lifespan of a water heater is definitely less than twenty years, so don’t get your hopes up,” he told me. Too late. I almost skipped back to my chair, I was so pleased with him and myself.
“That’s Jason, and he’s going to give me a free estimate on the water heater!” I crowed to Luke. “And only charge me for parts.” If he could fix it.
“That’s great,” he said, eyeing Jason. “Jason’s Plumbing,” he read off the other man’s hat. Luke stood and stretched and I turned to Charlie.
“Pal, eat up,” I said to Charlie. “You swim soon. Drink some water.”
“Gatorade?” he asked hopefully.
“No, we are not buying Gatorade. Water is just right for humans. Would you like me to tell you why?”
“NO!” he shouted, making me laugh. Charlie was a little over my lectures on human physiology.
Annie’s friend Kyra, whom I recognized from the Athletic Complex, edged up to our chairs. “Luke Whitaker, I didn’texpect to see you here!”
“Hey, Kyra,” he answered. She flashed a huge smile at him.
“So funny that you came today!”
“Not really,” Luke answered briefly. “My niece is swimming.”
“That’s so sweet that you’re so interested! Were you a swimmer too?” she asked, giving him a huge onceover. “You’re so tall. How tall are you?”
“Six-four. I never swam on a team.”
“He did football, basketball, and baseball,” I offered. “It wasn’t like you weren’t athletic,” I told him.
Annie and Kyra stared at me. What? I had known him back then. Everybody knew he was a three-sport varsity athlete. Right?
“I’m walking over to the snack bar,” Kyra announced. “Join me?” she asked Luke, smiling hugely again. Her teeth were oddly gigantic.
Wait, was she flirting with him? Was “join me at the snack bar” some kind of weird swim meet pick-up line? Gag!
“Can I get Charlie a Gatorade for the ride home?” Luke asked me quietly.
“He’ll love you forever if you do.” I started to reach into my pocket for my money, but he took my hand. He was holding my hand.
“I’ve got it.”
Kyra shot me a look over her shoulder as they walked away. I was surprised she could take a deep breath in those skinny jeans and tight top. Good thing they weren’t walking that fast.
“So, where’s Kyra’s husband?” I asked Annie casually. Super smooth.
“Oh, they’re—” she lowered her voice to a whisper— "getting D-I-V-O-R-C-E-D.” I was pretty sure most of the kids at the meet knew how to spell.
“Hey, Emily, Annie.” It was Neil and his devil spawn, Ellis. Ellis looked at me a little fearfully. Good. “Are these your seats?”
I didn’t want them to sit with us.
