Swim Lessons || Georgie Cooper ||
AU where George Sr never died • he's a very happy Grandpap • Reader is the rich girl from the last fic • Mom!Reader
The Texas summer sun glimmered across the surface of the pool, turning the water into a sheet of sparkling blue. The Cooper backyard looked a little different these days. The old lawn furniture had been replaced with comfortable loungers, colorful umbrellas, and enough pool toys to stock an entire store. A few potted flowers sat around the deck, a touch of elegance that had followed you from Boston all the way to Medford.
You reclined in one of the lounge chairs, sunglasses perched on your nose and an iced lemonade in your hand. Years ago, nobody would’ve believed the rich girl from Boston would end up here, happily sunbathing in Texas while her husband attempted to teach their daughter how to swim.
In the pool, Georgie was waist-deep in the water, his hair damp and sticking to his forehead. Your little girl, only four years old and fearless in every way except swimming, clung to his shoulders like a tiny koala.
“Daddy, I’m gonna sink,” she declared dramatically.
“You ain’t gonna sink, sugar bean,” Georgie assured her, bouncing her gently in the water. “Daddy’s got ya.”
“I’ll sink like a those rocks at the lake!"
Georgie blinked. “Well… that’s a different problem.”
A snort came from behind you.
Missy sat at the patio table with a glass of sweet tea, laughing openly. Sheldon, who had been forced into wearing sunscreen by Mary, looked utterly offended by the existence of both sunlight and swimming pools.
“Her concern is irrational,” Sheldon announced. “Humans are naturally buoyant.”
The little girl looked over at her uncle suspiciously, her nose wrinkling.
“You’re not helping,” Georgie called.
George Sr. chuckled from his seat beneath the umbrella. The surgery years ago had changed everything. He looked healthier these days, less tired, and there were moments, like this one, when you found yourself grateful all over again that you’d recognized the warning signs and called your father.
He took a sip of his drink and grinned. “Boy, I remember when you were her age. You screamed every time I put you near water.”
Mary smiled softly beside her husband. “You cried so hard you threw up.”
Missy burst into laughter. “Oh my gosh. Dad, please tell me that’s true.”
“It ain’t true!” Georgie protested as he held his daughter tight.
“You threw up?” Missy cackled.
Their daughter gasped. “Daddy puked?”
“Oh, this story’s never dying,” Georgie muttered.
You lowered your sunglasses just enough to grin at him. “You know,” you called sweetly, “I think it’s adorable.”
He pointed at you accusingly. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I’m on your side. I just think baby Georgie throwing up at the pool is cute.”
George Sr. laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink.
Their daughter giggled before turning serious again. “Daddy?”
“If you puked in the pool, I don’t wanna swim in it!"
The entire patio erupted into laughter.
Even Sheldon smiled a little.
Georgie looked betrayed then dropped his shoulders as he gave her a crooked grin. “I walked right into that one.”
You sat up slightly, watching your husband with warm affection. He was patient with her, endlessly patient. Every time she looked nervous, he smiled. Every time she clung to him, he held her a little tighter.
“Alright,” he said finally. “Let’s try somethin’. You’re gonna float."
“I’ll hold you the whole time.”
She considered this carefully. “You promise?”
He softened instantly. “I promise.”
She nodded then very carefully, Georgie lowered her onto her back. One arm stayed beneath her shoulders while the other supported her little legs.
“See?” he said quietly. “You’re doin’ it.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “Am I floating?”
Slowly, one eye peeked open.
A smile spread across her face.
She giggled, the sound carrying across the yard.
You smiled so hard your cheeks hurt.George Sr. looked over at you and chuckled.
“He ain’t half bad at this dad thing.”
You looked back toward the pool where Georgie was smiling at his daughter like she’d just won an Olympic medal.
“No,” you said softly. “He’s really good at it.”
As if sensing your gaze, Georgie looked up.
The smile he gave you was the same one that had stolen your heart years ago.
Then his daughter suddenly sat upright, nearly splashing him in the face.
“I wanna swim by myself!”
You could practically see the internal battle.
His little girl wanted independence.
His little girl was also his entire heart.
Missy smirked. “Oh, he’s panicking.”
“You got the same face Dad had when I wanted to ride my bike without training wheels.”
George Sr. nodded. “Sure do.”
Georgie sighed dramatically. “Fine. You can try.”
She grinned, with both hands under her arms, he let her paddle forward.
She kicked again. “I’M SWIMMING!”
The whole family cheered.
You were already on your feet, clapping.
Your daughter beamed with pride. Then she immediately paddled right back to her father and threw herself into his arms.
Georgie laughed, hugging her tightly. “There she is.”
She wrapped her tiny arms around his neck. “I think I’m the best swimmer ever.”
“You know what?” he said, kissing her temple. “I think you might be.”
She looked over at you. “Mama! Did you see?”
You smiled brightly. “I saw everything, sweetheart.”
She grinned then pointed dramatically. “I deserve ice cream.”
George Sr. nearly choked on his drink.
And Georgie, still holding his soaking wet daughter in the middle of the pool, sighed. “You know what? I think she gets that from your side of the family.”
You laughed stretching your arms above your head as you walked towards the two people you loved most in the world. “Oh, absolutely. That’s pure Boston right there.”
