Aiden was a few steps ahead of her, carrying life jackets over each of his shoulders, his face white with a layer of sunscreen. “Whoa! Is that your boat!?” he exclaimed, his eyes widening as he took itin.
“Sure is,” I said, standing up to my full height. “Welcome aboard!” Becky waited while Aiden slipped on his life jacket and hopped onto the boat with surprising agility. He strolled straight over to the helm, tentatively brushing his fingers across the steering wheel with a look ofesteem.
“Aiden, you know better than to touch the steering wheel,” Becky reprimanded. He quickly withdrew his hand and flashed me an apologeticsmile.
“Sorry!”
“It’s okay,” I laughed. “Maybe I’ll let you steer it, once we get out on open water—if your mom’s okay withit.”
“Cool!” Aiden exclaimed, flashing a toothy grin atme.
I extended my hand to Becky to help her climb aboard, knowing that she didn’t need it but wanting to provide it anyway. She flushed, gracing me with another secretive smile. “We’ll see how many boats are outtoday.”
Taking the basket off of her, I double checked to make sure that Aiden’s back was still turned before I allowed my hand to brush across her ass as she walked by, giving it a little squeeze before I dropped it to my side. She sent me a look over her shoulders, one that warred between reproach anddesire.
I tucked the basket away securely and inwardly groaned. Touching her had been a mistake, because now all I wanted to do was touch her. Instead, I hopped out of the boat and untied the ropes before I returned to the helm and started the engine. Becky and Aiden were checking out the seats at thebow.
“Sit wherever you want, you can always switch it up if it gets too windy,” I told them as I turned on the stereo. I pulled away from the dock, easing into the speeds I knew it couldhandle.
It was a calm day, and the boat cut smoothly through the wake as I pointed out my favourite areas along Lake Rosseau. I lived a fifteen minute boat ride from the Indian River, which connected Lake Rosseau to Lake Muskoka through a lock system in PortCarling.
Each summer, tourists flocked to the lock system to watch it in action. Becky seemed a little wary of the people gathered around the locks, but nobody was paying close enough attention to who was in each boat. They weren’t looking forcelebrities.
Besides, I’d always felt safe with my anonymity when on thewater.
We dropped anchor just off Rossclair for lunch before continuing to the southwest shores of Lake Muskoka, to Bala. After docking at the public harbor, we walked into town for ice cream. A few people looked at me curiously, as if they found me familiar but couldn’t place where they knew me from, but nobody saidanything.
Ice creams in hand, we strolled through town, toward the falls carved straight out of the Canadian Shield. Bala Falls truly were one of my favourite sights in theMuskokas.
We finished up our ice creams and then started walking back to theharbor.
“Are you my mom’s boyfriend?” Aiden asked as we walked. His question caught both Becky and I off guard. I looked at her for help, honestly perplexed at how she wanted me to respond. Her lips tugged up in an encouraging smile, and she nodded a little, her left shoulder rising in a tinyshrug.
“Would you be alright with that?” I asked instead ofanswering.
Aiden was reflective for a moment, mulling over my question with a serious look on his face. “I think so,” he finally said. “But, only if you don’t do any of that gross kissingstuff.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I winked. “Girls havecooties.”
On our way back I let Aiden steer, taking over again to get us through the locks and back to LakeRosseau.
The sun was just beginning to set when we finally got back to my cottage. I steered us directly into the boat house before turning off the engine and hopping out to tie it to thedock.
“It’s pretty late, did you guys want something to eat before you head home?” I offered, hoping the answer would be a resoundingyes.
She smiled at me. “Thanks, Travis, but we better get going. We had a wonderful day, didn’t we Aiden?” she asked, sending an imploring look to herson.
Aiden nodded hurriedly. “Yes! Can we go out on your boatagain?”
“Whenever you want. Next time we’ll go tubing,” I replied, relieved that they’d both seemed to have a goodtime.
“Really?” Aiden’s face shone with excitement as we all moved toward the stairs. “Can weMom?”
“Sure,” Becky smiled, opening the rear door so he could climb in. She turned to me while Aiden got settled in his seat and pulled the strap across his chest. “If you’re free Thursday night, why don’t you come over fordinner?”
“Sounds good,” Igrinned.
“And you can come to my soccer game tomorrow if you want!” Aiden added, looking up at me with wide blue eyes so much like his mother’s. I glanced at Becky to gauge her reaction. She wassmiling.
