She looked so sad I had to say, “Go ahead, Harabeoji and I got this.”
“No, you first, go for it,” she said. We watched the boys smooth white sunscreen on their arms.
“You know how I feel about swimming. I’ll be right here and make sure the kids stay out of trouble.”
“Hey, we’re not trouble,” Edison said.
I apologized and agreed they were not. Then I sat down on a lounge chair and looked out over sparkling light blue water.
It took her a few seconds, but then Channing relented. I heard her step out of her shorts and walk off to the diving pool. She climbed the tallest ladder quickly, with familiarity, then she stepped out to the end of the board, closed her eyes, leaped up and dove, simple and straight. Like the trampoline, anything to do with athletics she excelled in. I’d never known she’d hoped to be a champion high diver. And for the Olympics no less. She’d loved it that much?
“I want to do that,” Austin said, tugging at my hand and pointing to the small splash Channing had made entering the surface of the water.
“You have to be able to swim to go to that special pool. It’s extra deep,” I told him. He looked so forlorn I had to offer an alternative. I strolled over to the edge of the pool at the shallow end. “Come on,” I waved. Tentatively, I dipped a toe in. The boys followed along. Two other white children already in the pool stared at us. “See, it’s not too cold,” I said, pointing my chin toward them.
Edison followed my example and went even further by sliding his whole torso into the water, announcing loudly that his parents were going to get a pool. He pushed away from the edge before dog paddling back. Austin grumbled but copied his brother. I sat on the edge, dangling my legs in the frigid water and watched Channing climb out and return to the ladder.
It didn’t take long for Minjae to return and spot Channing. I watched them each take turns diving. Channing’s second dive included a somersault with her legs straight. Minjae tried to copy her but couldn’t keep his legs together. As the small pool area began to fill with more people, they moved to our pool but stayed at the deep end, opposite us. I envied them their comfort as they chatted and swam around, oblivious to the rest of us. Land, air, or water, Channing and Minjae moved easily through all. What was it about watching two people fall in love? Objectively you couldn’t say they were anything but friendly acquaintances. And yet something radiated from them. How is it that a feeling can be broadcast that way? How alone they seemed in the whole world even as they were surrounded by the rest of us.
“Hey, Dahee,” Austin called, and when I turned toward the sound of his voice, he swept his arm across the surface of the pool and sent a wide splash of water that drenched my face and torso. It was shockingly cold, especially since I’d been basking in the heat of the sun. I yelled without meaning to. All the children laughed, and even Channing and Minjae glanced over. Harabeoji chuckled and handed me a towel before I could say anything to Austin, and I realized I’d deserved what I’d gotten. I shouldhave been watching them instead of the love story unfolding at the other end of the pool.
I was grateful when Nora invited Edison and Austin to hit a volleyball around with her and her children, who were in the pool now. I collapsed into the lounge chair beside my grandfather and wrapped myself in a towel. Seagulls screeched overhead, flying toward the sandy beach beyond us.
Chapter 14
Soon Minjae and Channing joined us. Minjae chose the lounge chair closest to Harabeoji while Channing sat in the chair on the other side of me, farthest from Minjae, but I could tell she was listening to him even with her eyes closed to the sun. He seemed determined to focus on our grandfather, but his eyes kept wandering over to my cousin.
Minjae told Harabeoji about his work and his family. They spoke in low tones in Korean. I was surprised to hear he had a law degree and a master’s degree in public policy but still didn’t feel he knew what he wanted to do in life. He said he’d come to East End because he and Paul were friends. He sounded like Channing as he talked. He cared about working for a company he believed in, and he didn’t know what he really wanted to do for a career.
In time, Edison and Austin climbed out of the pool and dropped into lounge chairs. I settled in for a couple of hours of pure sun on my skin. I closed my eyes. After a bit, I heard Channing announce she was going to use the restroom and then returned with a plan. She wanted to walk out to the breakwater. There was a gate where the beach club ended, and the sandy beach began. Off to the side was a long pier of rocks that stretched out into the ocean. We could walk right over without going through the building. She insisted we all go together, even Harabeoji.
“It looks far,” Edison said.
“It’ll be an adventure,” Channing replied.
“What if I’m too tired to come back?” Edison insisted.
“Oh, come on, how can you be tired?” she said.
I didn’t understand why it was important to go. But Channing was up and holding her hand out to Edison, and when he reached her she started running, which made Austin run, too, and Minjae followed shouting the words, “Don’t let them win, Austin!”
As I walked, I noticed the large boulders beneath our feet. So flat they looked as if they were sliced in half like bread. Harabeoji took his time, and I slowed to keep him company.
It was exhilarating; the wind was much stronger out there. Have you seen puppies play together? Throwing their bodies at each other? Channing and Minjae were constantly bumping limbs or finding ways to be in contact, egging each other on without taking their eyes off the other. It was risky on that stone surface, but it was wider than it appeared at first, and they had excellent balance.
I took it all in: the air, the smells of salt and sea life, and I could see Harabeoji relax, too. A good moment, I told myself. Eventually, the children slowed and crouched alongside Harabeoji, who pointed to living creatures in the cracks and crevices in the rocks.
Channing waited for me, linked her arm in mine, and whispered in my ear that she had caught sight of Kent in the front hall of the club and thought he had failed to notice her. I glanced toward Leeward in the distance. A lone figure stood on the beach by the gate to the beach club, turned in our direction.
“Looks like he did,” I said.
“If we get off the jetty on the beach and walk across, we’ll reach the parking lot without walking through the building.”
“What about our stuff? We left it by the lounge chairs,” I said.
“Minjae can go back for it. We’ll wait in the car.”
“How did Kent know we were here?” I asked.
