Downsizing

Maxine, eventually managing to escape, wandered into the house in search of a loo. She came across Noah feeding his baby daughter goo out of a jar. He hadn’t noticed her yet and so she leaned against the door jamb and watched him.
“You’re a natural at that,” she said softly.
His intimate smile caused Maxine to die a little more inside. “I’ve had a fair bit of practise over the years.”
“Here, let me.” Maxine held out her arms and took the baby from him. She drifted off to sleep as Maxine gently rocked her. “She’s a doll.”
“Yeah, isn’t she just.” But Noah was no longer looking at his daughter. “Max, I─”
“There you are, Dad!” Josh burst into the room like a mini tornado. “Come on, and you, Max. We’re going to have swimming races now.”
“Must I?” Maxine asked, hopeful of a last minute reprieve.
“Yes, you promised!” Josh was jumping impatiently from foot to foot.
Maxine ruffled his hair with the hand that wasn’t holding the baby. “So I did. Just give me a minute then.” She laid the sleeping baby back in her cot. “Where can I change?”
“I’ll show you,” Josh took her hand and led her to a guest room. “We’re going to have two teams. Dad’s going to be on Billy’s team, so will you be on mine?”
“If you like.”
Maxine was surprised when she emerged from the house to find that the pool was full of kids and only a smattering of their parents. The hum of a dozen conversations gradually subsided as people noticed her making her way from the house in her emerald bikini. She was aware of their eyes upon her, and of Cassie’s in particular shooting daggers. The last time some of these people saw her in swimming gear had been on that notorious holiday in the South of France. She remembered how they’d made her feel on that occasion, straightened her shoulders and tilted her chin upwards, damned if she’d be intimidated by them again. All the same she was grateful when Greg appeared at her side, wearing an outrageously tight pair of Speedos. He took her hand and they dove in perfect tandem into the deep end. Surfacing, Maxine pushed her hair away from her face and swam toward Josh, who was waving frantically at her. But it wasn’t Josh’s hand that she felt on her thigh. She turned her head, met Noah’s hungry gaze and this time made no attempt to tear her eyes away from his.
“It’s a bloody good job this water’s so cold, Max,” he said, grimacing.