Marie ignored the man calmly sipping Bacardi next to her as she watched Nicole play in the pool. Her daughter's laughter as she splashed with her young, blond haired friend in the water did nothing to lighten her mood. The young girl's playful antics made her melancholy. Her youngest was turning into a grown woman. Nicole fought it with typical teenage determination. Every movement, every squeal, every thought seemed to will childish exuberance to remain. Marie found herself wishing it would, too, envious of the purity allowed the young.

"He's such a jerk. You know that right?" Steve's voice broke her reverie.

"He's just a kid." Marie looked at the blond young man in the pool. Her words were kind, but inside her gut twisted with distrust as she glared in the boy's direction. If there were ever a reason to worry for her daughter's youthful position, he was it. At the moment, Marie didn't have much use for male distraction of any type. She glanced sideways at the man who regarded her with a confused expression. Marie pointed to the boy in the water.

"Richard. Richard is a jerk."

No argument there, Marie thought, but she shrugged and defended her estranged husband even though her will didn't desire it, "he just knows what he wants."

"Bullshit! Nobody wants to be poor." Steve slammed the glass down, and jumped up to leave.