At 76, I Was Too Ashamed to Take off My Bathrobe at the Community Pool After My DIL Laughed at My Body – Then My Granddaughter Asked Her One Question That Made Her Go Red

"You're on," I told her.

"Well, this should be interesting."

Amanda stood in my doorway.

***

Amanda had been married to Caleb for nine years. My daughter-in-law was polished, outgoing, and could make friends anywhere.

That morning, she looked me up and down.

"Wow, Linda. You're really cafar  going swimming like that?"

My arms crossed over my stomach again.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing."

She laughed.

"I just hope I'm that confident when everything starts heading south."

Sophie frowned.

"What? I'm kidding, hon."

I forced out a small laugh.

"I thought it looked nice," I said.

"I'm sure it did under store lighting."

That one landed.

"You're bringing your robe, right?"

"I always bring one."

"Good," Amanda said. "You might need it."

Amanda walked out.

Sophie lingered.

"Grandma, are you still racing me?"

I looked at the mirror. Thirty seconds earlier, I'd felt brave. Now I saw everything Amanda had noticed first.

"I'll meet you downstairs, honey."

I pulled on my bathrobe before leaving the bedroom.

I told myself I'd take it off once we reached the pool.

***

Twenty minutes after we arrived, I was still sitting in a plastic chair with the belt knotted around my waist.

"Grandma!" Sophie shouted from the shallow end. "Come in!"

"In a minute!"

Amanda glanced over from the chair beside me.

"You've said that three times," she said.

"I'm waiting for the water to warm up."

"It's 90 degrees."

"Somebody has to watch the towels."

Amanda laughed.

"Don't tell me you're shy now. You were confident enough to wear that thing at home."

Two women at the next table looked over.

I knew them. Yvonne and Jillian were mothers Amanda often met for coffee and weekend lunches.