Chapter 25

Janice turned to watch her nephew swim. Her thoughts became pure again as she admired that his arms and legs appeared coordinated, albeit lacking the muscles she’d seen on his body when he’d been here two years ago. He’d been younger, but in many ways healthier.

She told herself she should be thankful that he was alive and appeared to be regaining his health. But a part of her really hated what had happened. She’d taken the kids last year and they’d stayed for a few weeks when the attack happened, but after a while, even though she wanted to be there for her sister and their family, there wasn’t anything they could do to help and were really just being a burden.

Elias’ way of helping was to promise that he’d pay any medical bills their insurance didn’t cover. His job really wouldn’t let him get away for more than a few weeks a year, maybe a day or two for a family emergency. They worked him hard, but it paid for the lifestyle they enjoyed, and if they were being honest, Elias loved the work.

Janice heard the doors creak open and saw that Andrew was the first to emerge from the house. He was wearing another pair of speedos almost exactly the same as the ones Jack was wearing. Janice couldn’t help but notice that Andrew’s fifteen-year-old bulge was pitifully small compared to Jack’s. Not that Andrew should be ashamed, he was probably average or above average for his age.

Andrew had a pair of swimmer’s goggles and proceeded to spit and then rub the moisture into them before putting them on and then making a running leap, hopping on the diving board, and making a dive that took him underwater all the way to the infinity edge. Unlike the rest of his family, he spent so much time out here and in other outdoor pools he had a golden tan and he regularly showered after every swim. Andrew would then use a lotion to help fight against all the chemicals in the pools, a lotion that also included sun protection.

Janice smiled proudly at her ‘little fish’. This was mostly an inside joke for her and Elias. As devout Christians, they’d given all their children names that meant something to them and their faith. Jessica Evangaline, because Jessica and Evangaline together means ‘God Beholds the Good News’. Alyssa Ruth, because together they simply mean ‘Noble Ruth’, although really, Alyssa was Elias’ mother’s name, and Ruth was Janice’s favorite woman in the bible.

But Andrew Simon Johansson was named for the two ‘fishers of men’ who were Jesus’ earliest disciples and spent the most time of all the disciples with him. That’s why both Janice and Elias thought it was serendipitous that Andrew loved to swim, and that he was as natural as a fish at it. He was already ranked in the Under 18 division in Texas and he dreamed about going to the Olympics. Janice wondered if it might happen. He would be eighteen in 2028 for the Los Angeles Olympics.

More likely though, he’d be twenty-two and in his prime for a swimmer in time for the ‘32 Olympics in Australia.

Janice couldn’t hear them, but Jack and Andrew were chatting, hanging onto the infinity edge. She heard the doors again and turned to see Alyssa appear.

Alyssa was the closest thing Janice had to a clone. At least one that was thirty-six years younger than her. Alyssa was just a tad over six feet tall, she’d sprouted breasts at an early age and they’d grown proud and large, just like Janice’s. She had the same long blonde hair that sometimes looked almost white in the right light. Their bone structure was very similar, their figure’s slim and naturally athletic.