And spent fifteen minutes pretending the shallow end was a coral reef inhabited by extremely demanding sea turtles.
At one point, Ava stopped beside me.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think Mommy would like our new house?”
I smiled.
“She would've loved it.”
Ava looked toward the second-floor balcony.
“Do you think she would've liked my room?”
“She would've helped you decorate it.”
My daughter grinned.
“With stars?”
“Probably too many stars.”
She laughed.
Then became thoughtful.
“Do you think she'd still swim with me?”
My throat tightened.
I reached toward her.
“Sweetheart, your mom loved swimming with you.”
Ava nodded.
Then looked toward the surface of the water.
“Sometimes I can still hear her laughing.”
I felt tears rise.
“Me too.”
For a moment, we stood quietly.
Then Ava smiled.
“Want to race?”
I laughed.
“You're getting fast.”
“I know.”
She kicked away before I could answer.
I followed.
Naomi cheered from the patio.
And for several minutes, the only sounds were laughter, splashing water, and the faint movement of palm leaves beyond the wall.
Then our gate opened.
We didn't hear the latch from the water.
The landscaper had visited earlier to inspect an irrigation valve near the side courtyard.
When he finished, he'd closed the gate but apparently hadn't fully engaged the latch.
I learned that later from the security footage.
Caroline approached the gate shortly after two.
She pressed the intercom button.
There was no answer.
We were all outside.
Instead of leaving or calling the number posted beside the gate, she tried the handle.
The gate moved.
She pushed it open.
Then walked through.
The camera recorded her looking around before proceeding along the paved side path toward the backyard.
She passed a sign reading PRIVATE PROPERTY.
She also passed a smaller security notice indicating the grounds were monitored.
Caroline didn't stop.
She reached the patio.
Saw Naomi.
Then turned toward the pool.
That was when she began shouting.
“You people don't belong here!”
I would later watch the recording many times.
And every time, the part that disturbed me most wasn't Caroline's expression.
It was Ava's reaction.