Chapter 10B: Thomas

“Put your face in the water and blow bubbles, hold on to the edge of the pool.” I instructed my young swim students. “Like this,” showing what I wanted them to do. It was a mixed group of 7-year olds. I volunteered to substitute for their regular instructor.

“Don’t lift your head out of the water. Just turn your head enough to get a breath, then face down again and blow. Yes, that’s it. Perfect.”

“What do you call two birds in love?” I asked the children unexpectedly.

“Tweethearts!” I joked.

The boys groaned in pain and one of the little girls giggled.

“Amanda is my favorite student today!” I declared to the little girl who giggled.

“You only say that because she laughed at your dumb joke. Maybe if you had a funny joke we’d laugh.” Complained one of the boys.

“Logan, just for that, you’re first for the next exercise. Hand me a kickboard please. Everyone else, please sit by the edge of the pool. We’ll take turns. I want you to do the same exercise but hold the kickboard over your head like this.” I stood a short distance away demonstrating the exercise. “I want you to flutter kick as you do it. Kick to me, turn around and kick to the edge and hand it to the next person. Keep your breathing nice and easy.”

“I’ll give you another chance. Why shouldn’t you ever give Elsa a balloon?” I asked the young group as they performed the exercise.

They all shrugged and shook their heads.

“Because she will let it go.” I sang the joke dramatically “Let it go! Let it go! Can’t hold it back anymore!”

No one laughed of course, but Amanda held her hand over her mouth trying to stifle a giggle. “Teacher’s pet” I thought.

It was then I noticed Bree was sitting a short distance away talking with a group of parents. She wore a white sundress and looked like she might have been wearing a swimsuit underneath. It appeared she was here to swim laps and was waiting her turn. She looked like a normal person. As normal as a woman who looks like an Amazonian Victoria’s Secret model could be.

The end of class came, and I spoke to each of the parents separately. Amanda stood by her mom with a towel around her. “He’s fun. I wish he taught us all the time.” She gushed to her mom.

“Anthony, their instructor, wasn’t feeling well and I was just going to swim laps anyway. I don’t mind stepping in.” I told her mom.

“You have a knack with kids. You should consider doing it regularly.” Amanda’s mom suggested in a flirty tone. Her mom was cute and didn’t have a ring on her finger. I heard Logan walking away telling his dad the balloon joke and singing the ending.

“I’ll consider it. Anthony, has things well in hand.” Bree was waiting patiently nearby. A young father was actively flirting with her.

“Bree?” I called out and beckoned her over. I introduced Bree to Amanda’s mom. “Bree? I would like to introduce you to Amanda’s mom...” I cut off the ending.

“Jamie” Amanda’s mom supplied with a forced grin. She did little to hide an envious look to the attractive black newcomer.

“Sorry but I need to run. My friend Bree is joining me to swim some laps. She taught me everything I know. She would be an incredibly good substitute teacher also.” I lied. Bree just snorted a laugh.

Jaime smiled weakly. “Okay, I won’t keep you. Have a nice night.”

Bree turned to me after she left. “Thank you. That man was insisting I see his car.” She complained.

“Was it a nice car?” I asked amusedly.

“I have no idea. Judging from his comments I’m guessing it’s fast. Why did you cut off that woman? Looks like she was interested in you.” She said the latter part without looking at me.

Truth was, seeing the guy flirt with Bree irritated me.

Evading the question, I asked instead. “What brings you to me? If you have a request, you need to offer up payment in advance.”

Bree rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, the joke. I don’t need anything from you.”

It was near the end of the day and the indoor gym pool was empty. Bree sat down by the edge of the pool and swirled her feet in the water. I sat down next to her with a towel around my shoulders.

“Then what brings you by?” I prompted.

She didn’t say anything. Instead she stared into the water. It was odd to see this stoic woman look so nervous.

“How are Isiah and Lauren?” I asked trying to get her talking.

“What’s the phrase? Making up for lost time.” She said it in a deadpan tone.

I laughed loudly. “I’m sure they are. Good for him, he deserves it. I’ve never seen him so happy. When they first returned, I barely recognized Lauren. Her transformation is simply amazing. Isiah didn’t look much different but what was different about him is his presence. I’m not sure how to describe it other than command presence. I’ve been in front of generals who didn’t have a tenth as much command authority. He could tell you to do something and I doubt anyone would ever argue. I wonder if women feel something different. Even when the hospice worker left, she couldn’t stop watching him when she thought he wasn’t looking. Isiah was oblivious to it because he didn’t even say goodbye when she left. Lauren saw it, she even tried to encourage the two to talk to each other. They both refused.” I recalled the events as clearly as I could.

Bree sighed “The command presence you are referring to is the same his father, Michael the Archangel, possesses. He has an added twist of whatever their mother, Eve had. Cain referred to it as Eve’s effect. It’s a gift from God and has a very profound effect on the opposite sex. Isiah is the only one of all their children to have inherited the trait. It must be recessive to some degree because we’ve seen it in the following generations with a much more diminished effect. It’s also like what a succubus or incubus can do.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Does it affect you?”

She coughed uncomfortably and averted her gaze. “I think I’m more resistant to it than most because I’m an angel. However, a human woman in the peak of her sexuality would find him very compelling.”

“That wasn’t a no” I thought.

“We have also pulled everyone from watching them.” She said switching topics.

I was confused. “Why?”

She looked at me neutrally. “Do you really think they need guardians? Our efforts are better served elsewhere.”

“That makes sense I suppose. Is that why you came by?”

She still looked pensive. “I figured you would like to know how they were doing.”

I hopped down into the water and stood next to her legs. Taking both of her hands in mine I looked up at her. “It’s really good to see you. You don’t need a reason to visit me.”

“I had a perfectly good reason.” She objected.

I nodded but we were still holding hands. I glanced down at them and she did too. Realizing it she started to pull them back. I quickly grabbed her wrists, lifted myself out of the water slightly with my feet against the wall and lunged backwards pulling her in. She landed on top of me in the water and at once struggled to get her feet under her and push me away. Keeping her off balance, I kicked her legs out and she went under again. I spun her around, so I was behind her. I allowed us to surface quickly and she struggled in my grip. Pulling us under again, this time I reached for her chin and while submerged, I kissed her. Just that moment, she stopped struggling and softly returned the kiss. As space between us slowly increased she pulled her legs up between us and roughly kicked me away.

We surfaced about six feet apart and when I moved toward her, she moved away. She didn’t look angry, but she didn’t appear to be playing either. Obviously, I pushed too far too fast.

“Why would you do that? I am an angel of the host.” she demanded working her way to the wall.

“You say that as if it should be a disqualifier.” I countered

“It is!”

“Why? Some of your own kin don’t have a problem with human relationships. Isn’t that how seraphim happens?” I was a little frustrated. She was full of mixed signals.

“Yes, but they aren’t relationships they maintain. They’re gone as fast as they become intimate. A female angel has never become pregnant by a human.”