At least she wasn’t the ‘When are you getting married?’ type. My mother was the ‘I’m a liberated woman who raised a liberated daughter to do whatever she wants ... as long asshe does it my way, because a sunshine outlook always leads to good things’ type.
“I’ll see you Sunday,” I said when the stream of advice kept flowing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see someone waving at me.
Finn’s son, Max, who sometimes assisted him, waved as he approached.
“Mom, I gotta go. Talk to you later,” I said, hanging up without waiting for a response.
“What is it?” I got up from the short wall I was sitting on and took a few steps forward.
“Walter, he’s not feeling well. My dad called an ambulance.”
I bolted toward the entrance.
Walter was lying on the pool’s stone deck in a puddle of water, and Finn was hovering over him. I could see Finn’s lips move—like he was speaking to Walter—right before I slid to my knees beside him.
“I’m okay, just a little weakness,” Walter said.
I let out a loud, relieved exhale.
“You nearly fainted,” Finn said. “Stay still until the ambulance gets here.” He turned back as one of the ladies touched his shoulder. “Thanks, Sylvia,” he said, taking a small portable defibrillator she handed him. “Just a precaution,” he said, looking at me.
“Rio, you look paler than I do,” Walter said, again trying to lift himself.
Both Finn and I held him down. “Please remain lying, Walter,” I reiterated.
His classmates gathered around us.
“Please give Walter some breathing space,” Finn called out.
They stepped back, murmuring, but curiosity soon reeled them in again. Some looked concerned, but others treated it as a spectacle.
A few moments later, they split aside to let two paramedics rush in.
“Now you’re here? Where were you when I complained about arthritis?” Walter said as the medics checked him and lifted him to a stretcher.
“You have some heartbeat irregularity that we want to check,” one of the men said.
“Nonsense. I swim to help my arthritis, not to star in a medical drama,” he continued complaining as they carried him outside.
“I’ll drop by later to see how he’s doing,” Finn said, resting a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
I walked outside with them.
“Can I ride with him?” I asked.
“You’re his daughter?” one of the paramedics asked.
“No, but I take care of him.”
“Immediate family only, I’m afraid. It’s a small vehicle, too crowded in there,” he apologized.
“That’s your tax dollars in action,” Walter muttered.
“I’ll drive behind you. Don’t worry, Walter.”
“Worried? Me?Theyshould be worried. I can still audit people in my sleep. Did you do your taxes right, young man?” He eyed the paramedic on his left.
