C4 antho - Chamber Four

Pool ~267~
hatching eggs and the words Mother Hen in red, ropey letters.
“Not this one,” Mandy said. “I never wear this one.” She
looked back down at the catalog. “Things don’t stay nice, you
know. You think they will but they don’t.”
Darla moved to the doorway with her Diet Coke perspiring
coldness into her hand. “Don’t worry. Your house is really
nice. This is what people want.”
Mandy said, “Jon’s a really good guy.”
Darla nodded and walked back to the patio.
* * * *
Outside, the sky was losing its harsh whiteness. Darla
could hear a lawn mower a few houses over, the sounds of
cars on Balboa. Shadows of the grill and lawn chairs fell over
half the patio. Jon was on his next beer, which was either
number three or four. Darla never counted but just knew
that later on she’d be the one driving.
“No swimsuit?” Jon swung his arm around Darla’s waist
and pulled her down next to him by the pool. “At least get
your feet wet.” He splashed water on her.
Darla held up her arm and pretended to push Jon into
the water. “I’ll do it,” she said, putting her other hand over
the Diet Coke.
Jon called out, “Officer. The missus is beating on me
again.”
Trevor swam over with the baby, leaned in towards
Darla. “Is this true?”
“Please.” Darla looked down at her legs. “I’m not a missus.”
Trevor said to Jon, “I’ll have to take her away in the
squad car if you two can’t make up.”