She was the type of girl who laughed until she couldn’t breathe and asked endless questions before the sun was even fully up. Today, however, the child looked like a shadow of herself with her shoulders hunched forward.
Instead of watching the pool games with her usual excitement, Chloe stared fixedly down at the wooden planks beneath her feet. Martha walked over slowly and crouched beside her granddaughter so that she wouldn’t seem like an intimidating adult figure.
“Sweetheart, don’t you want to change into your new swimsuit and jump in with the others?” Martha asked softly as she brushed a stray strand of hair away from the girl’s forehead.
Chloe shook her head rhythmically without ever lifting her eyes to meet Martha’s gaze. “My tummy hurts,” the little girl whispered in a voice that was barely audible over the humming sound of the pool’s filter system.
Martha’s expression immediately softened with maternal concern as she reached out to pat the girl’s knee. “Since when has it been hurting you, honey?” she inquired gently.