"With all my heart," I promised. "I just have no clue what I'm doing."
Cessily let her eyes run down my body. "You're being pretty, and so far you're doing a damned good job. Just act like you're trying to pick up Violet for the first time. Flex a bit."
I chuckled. "Yeah, I picked up her damned tire with one hand. Fucking shoulder ached for a week, but was worth it." Then I winked at her and lifted my tray, balancing it on one palm like a good little cabana boy. Violet was already stretched out on a towel that had been placed for her, and she pushed down her big sunglasses to peer over the top, making a sultry O with her lips. It was like she'd turned into some punk version of a 1950s pinup girl.
"Where am I supposed to be, Ash?" I asked.
Violet crooked a finger, then pointed beside her. "Just behind me, and the pose is going to feel awkward as hell, but it'll look good." Then she turned. "Faith, you're going to sip on your straw, holding the glass in your far hand, and splash an arc of water at my feet when Ash says to."
My little girl was reclined on the massive unicorn floaty with one leg bent and her hips twisted. Clearly, she'd already gotten a little instruction, but she looked damned cute. She also looked like a kid, so I was ok with this. Yeah, her face was a little plastic, and she had on lipstick and eyeliner - plus eyeshadow! Natural shades, though, so it wasn't like they'd turned her into a woman or anything.
When I got beside Violet, she helped me get into my pose, and yes, it was awkward. My head was aimed down with my hat shielding my face so I was mostly anonymous. Violet had a foot in the air and a cute little expression on her face. Then Ash headed to the end of the pool and pointed his camera at us.
"Lights!" he yelled, and the other three angled large panels of aluminum looking pads at us. "And go, Faith!"
My daughter splashed and the camera clicked. Then we did it again. Ash gave a few pointers, had me change positions, and we did it again. Then Darnell had to wade in and turn Faith's float so she was at a better angle, and we did it again. I had no idea how many pictures Ash took, but it had to have been hundreds. Finally, he told us all to relax and walked back to the table.
Pulling a little card out of his camera, he inserted that in something at his laptop, and then put in another. "Ok, now I want Faith on the towel with Violet. Luke, you're going to walk toward them, carrying both drinks." He paused. "Refills?"
"On it," Cessily said, hurrying over to get Violet's glass and wait for Darnell to pass her Faith's.
Those got refilled, the women reposed, and then I spent the next fifteen minutes walking from the corner of the pool over to them. On impulse, I crouched down at one point and actually let the ladies have a drink, because I had a feeling they were both melting in the sun.
Faith turned to me with a smile and took the glass, but I still heard the camera going. "Nice!" Ash said. "Good improv. Let's have her riding on the other unicorn now?"
"On it," Darnell called.
This was the smaller, inflatable unicorn, meant to be sat on like a real horse. The first one was more like a raft and meant to lie on. Darnell removed the raft version, then pushed the riding version to the edge so Faith could get on from the side of the pool. Once she was on, he towed her out to the very center and left her there. While he made his way out of the shot, Violet pulled up the towel - which had been taped down - and tossed it at Cessily. This time, she was standing at the edge and I was given a beach ball.
"Have a little fun, Luke," Ash said.
"Faith." I lifted the ball, and then tossed it at her.
She reached, managing to hit it back. The thing floated, so Violet stretched out, trying to grab it. I caught her around the waist, stretching over her head to smack the thing back toward the pool. It didn't go toward Faith, but Violet turned in my arms, smiling at me so brightly.
"You're good at this."
I couldn't help myself. I leaned in, bending her back just a bit. "Just acting like I'm trying to impress a pretty lady."
Violet giggled, the camera clicked, and then Violet did the last thing I ever would've expected. She turned and thenpushed!I felt myself going over so made a production out of it, flailing my arms out like some cartoon character. One foot came up, I mocked a shocked expression, and then crashed into the water sideways. Oh, my hat was not going to thank me for that, so I popped up and snagged it as fast as I could, then slung it onto the grass.
"That," Ash said, "needs to be framed."
Faith was laughing so hard. "You're soaked, Dad!"
"Yeah, I am," I agreed. "Gonna take a day to dry my boots out."
"Then push Faith up here," Ash said. "I need a few shots of just Violet."
I did, feeling the water squishing around my feet. If it had been anyone else, I'd be annoyed, but the look on Faith's face made all of this worthwhile. At the edge of the pool, she hopped off and waded out, so I picked up the unicorn and carried it back up to the porch. After setting it where it wouldn't blow away, I heard the camera start going again, and turned.
The sight before me was impossibly perfect. Violet came up out of the water, pushing back her hair as she lifted herself up. Completely wet, her makeup wasn't smudged at all, and her breasts looked amazing. Also her waist - and those tattoos of wild colors made my eyes keep going down. For a moment I completely forgot to breathe.
"Dad," Faith fake-whispered. "Close your mouth. You're embarrassing me."
I did, but I also shot my kid a dirty look. "You are not allowed to do that shot until you're eighteen, you hear me?"
"Ash said no images that sexualize me," she promised. "Is that what he means?"
