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The internet says that kids tend to start swimming around three or four years old. JJ’s checked twice. And consulted Pope, which is basically the equivalent of taking advice from Einstein in his book.
Marley decided she wanted to follow in her parents footsteps and start breaking the rules young. As soon as she was up and walking, the toddler ran towards the water every chance she got.
So much so that Kiara and JJ have to keep a vigilant eye on her or she’ll be off getting her clothes completely soaked.
“She gets this troublemaking streak from you, you know?” Kiara tosses out over her shoulder as she grabs Marley from the shallow end of Dargan’s pond.
“Typical you’d want to turn this on me Kie,” he shoots back with a grin and moves to pull Marley in his arms.
“Mama thinks this is my fault, what do you think Mar? I think you have swimming fever. I knew a girl just like you when I was young, she loved the water so much she practically spent all day in it,” he spoke cheerfully to the toddler and bounced her up and down on his hip. Marley’s blue eyes glistened as if begging him to continue.
“She looked just like you too, how crazy is that?!” JJ teased and set his gaze on his wife who was rolling her eyes next to him.
“You are such an idiot,” she laughed and shoved his shoulder.
“I don’t disagree,” he shrugged and pressed a kiss to Marley’s chubby little cheek.
“I think we should teach her how to swim. She’s basically begging us at this point,” he figures easily.
And so they did. True to her inclination, Marley was a natural. She glided through the water gracefully, like it was always where she was meant to be.
She was three years old when JJ finally decided on a nickname for her. It definitely helped him that Marley had recently been on an Ariel kick. Anything that could’ve been Little Mermaid, was. Her pajamas, her blankets, her toothbrush, you name it. It wasn’t a day if they hadn’t watched the movie at least twice.
The Maybank family was spending the afternoon on the beach right near the house when it came to him. He’d been teaching Marley how to hold herself up on a small bodyboard and after a while she got restless and wanted to swim again.
He watched his daughter move around effortlessly under the clear waves and then come up for air, her head and curls bobbing above the surface for a moment before disappearing again. She had on a shimmery aqua and purple bathing suit that reflected the light just right and cast a glow every time she moved.
JJ never got tired of watching his daughter in her element. She was a miraculous thing.
Eventually he leapt out of his beach chair, leaving Kiara to her nap in the sun, and pulled Marley into his arms as he barreled through a group of white washed waves.
“Daddy!!” she shrieked in surprise and let out a sugary giggle.
“Mar, you swim so well I think you might just be a mermaid!!” he teases playfully and opens his eyes wide in shock.
Marley shakes her head and laughs some more, her eyes shining and her wet curls sticking to the sides of her cheeks.
“I’m not silly! I’m a girl like mama,” she reasons and wiggles her toes out in front of him.
“Nah I don’t believe you! You gotta be hiding your tail somewhere,” he jokes, beginning to look around in the water to find the nonexistent tail. “Can I see it Mar, I swear I won’t tell!”
“No daddy,” she laughs and laughs, shrugging her shoulders and gazing up at him. “I don’t have a tail!”
“Alright, alright whatever you say love,” JJ smirks at her.
Marley’s laughter died down and the wide smile that was on her face slowly disappeared, replaced by a small frown. Her eyebrows scrunched together in concentration and JJ couldn’t help but admire her cuteness even as she was frustrated.
“Daddy?”
“Marley?”
“Are mermaids real? We are always swimming and I never see any,” she concludes in a sad tone. JJ did his best not to be amused at the situation. Here they were having an amazing day surrounded by a beautiful ocean, and she was still questioning and challenging the logic of a Disney princess movie. That’s Kiara’s daughter alright.
“Of course they are real! I bet they don’t come this close to the shore though because of all the people. They don’t wanna be seen,” he rattles off effortlessly.
She considers this for a moment and then nods her head.
“That makes sense. I hope I get to see one someday,” she reveals wistfully and looks out towards the horizon. JJ pulls his daughter closer to his chest and revels in her delicate and delightful innocence, pressing a kiss to her wet head.
“You will. But you’re my little mermaid, you know that?”
Marley looked back at him and a small blush rose to her cheeks. Her lips pulled into a wide smile as she let the nickname grow on her.
She nodded her head once more and turned to look over his shoulder at where her mother was resting peacefully.
“Let’s go splash mom so she’ll swim with us,” Marley offered mischievously with a glint in her eyes.
And for as much as he sees Kiara in her, in all of her mannerisms and attitudes he understands why people say now that Mar is just like him.
Marley is the spitting image of his wife and everything that makes her the woman he fell in love with. If it wasn’t for her blue eyes, JJ wouldn’t believe she was his at all. But it’s in moments like this when he sees traces of himself in her. The eagerness for adventure and mayhem.
“You troublemaker Mar! I love that plan,” he grinned back with an equally misbehaving smirk. “Let’s get her,” he tickled her sides playfully and she took off swimming back to the shore.
Safe to say their little idea worked as it pulled Kiara from her chair and out into the water in full retaliation. The family laughed and splashed one another until the sun began setting in the sky casting a blazing golden glow on their skin.
Marley was four and a half when she finally mastered her first wave.
Kiara had been called into work for a restaurant emergency, so she and JJ had taken advantage of the gorgeous Sunday swells and light breeze blowing through the banks to practice.
“What do you say Mar, wanna try a wave today?” JJ asked her as he weaved his fingers through her hair masterfully. After years of braiding Kie’s hair when they were young, it become a skill so second nature to him. One that proved to be useful for his daughter whose curls are just as wild and susceptible to tangling.
Now, he couldn’t do all the fancy styles that Kiara could, but a JJ Maybank braid always stayed after an entire day of fighting with the ocean so that had to count for something.
They did this so often it became their little routine. They’d run out to the beach, set up their towels and umbrella, and Marley would sit on her knees in front of him so he could fix her hair up. And then they’d race each other to the water, JJ always letting her win.
“I think so!” she called over her shoulder and bounced on her legs, energy beyond restless to get into the sea. “Are you almost done?”
“Almost kiddo. Put sunscreen on your face and arms please, remember last time we forgot and mama just about killed me,” he warned lightly.
Marley laughed, remembering the way her mom had lost her mind at the sight of her with peeling skin and darkened cheeks. It had been decidedly less funny when her shoulders started to burn, but Kiara had an aloe remedy for that so it all worked out in the end.
Not that Marley or JJ wanted a repeat experience.
Once hair was braided and sunscreen was applied, Marley was off and running into the ocean. The water was colder than usual causing a chill to run through her body, but she quickly warmed under the blinding light of the sun. The waves were clear and strong, the pattern of rising and crashing towards the shore a familiar and comforting sight. It was the perfect day.
“Ok Mar, I’m going to start you off with a small one. Remember what you have to do?” he asks as he guides her board over an incoming wave, scanning the water for a better one.
“Yep! Turn, paddle fast, and push up to stand.”
“And don’t?”
“Stand too fast or I’ll fall. Crouch low and ride to the sand,” she answers with confidence and a sure nod of her head.
“That’s my girl!” JJ holds up his hand and Marley grins while smacking her hand to his. “I think this is the one! I’ll be right here if you need me ok, you can do this. I believe in you.”
It’s an out of body moment for him. Watching Marley look over her shoulder once last time so her eyes meet his. Blue on blue. Before her, JJ has never had someone look to him for safety. For guidance. Someone that turns to him and relies on him for just about everything. But he’s been hellbent on making sure she never questioned whether he would be here for her. The second he knew he was going to be a father it was all he could think about.
His mind obsessively fixated on how to be the best person possible. How to never let alcohol or drugs or rage poison the love he has for his girls and turn their home into a haunted version of the shack he grew up in. With shaking walls, shattering glass, and bleeding bruises that healed over swiftly on the outside, but lingered for years in his soul.
With Kiara’s soothing words and constant faith in him, he has been able to free himself from Luke’s deathgrip on his mind. As soon as Marley was placed in his arms and her blue eyes met his, everything changed. She curled close to his chest and he knew there wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do for her.
Now here she is, growing up in front of his very eyes and becoming her own person. Paddling out with no fear and looking at the incoming wave just as he taught her. JJ watched carefully as she caught the momentum of the water and pushed herself up. She wobbled for a moment and then caught her footing, sailing smoothly to the sand.
He beamed with pride at her fearlessness. His heart soared and he laughed as she threw her arms into the air and celebrated like she hadn’t known if she had it in her or not.
“You did it baby!” he pulled her into his arms and swung her around in a circle, sweet giggles echoing in his ear and down the beach. “It was amazing! How did it feel?” he asked, holding her up over his head.
“So awesome! I thought I was going to fall but I didn’t! I want to go again!” Marley cheered and clapped her hands. Her cheeks were bright and her heart was racing. Surfing all the way to shore was a feeling she hadn’t known existed, but now couldn’t get enough of. It felt like flying.
“Let’s do it!” JJ called and they swam back out further to catch another wave. And that’s how they spent the day, gliding around the sea and soaking up the sunshine. They fell and they laughed and for a while it felt like they were the only two people in the whole world.
“You know what I think?” JJ turned from his spot on the sand to look at Marley, who still had her eyes closed and was resting on her towel.
“What?”
“We should go out to dinner tonight, to celebrate your first wave! Just you and me, what do you think?”
Marley smiles softly and nods her head. “You don’t think mama will be sad if she doesn’t get to come?” she wonders, pouting her lower lip slightly.
God he loves her so much. Her heart. How much she cares about others.
JJ chuckles lightly and wraps her into his side. “No Mar, she’ll be ok, promise.”
“Ok daddy,” she whispers against his skin and closes her eyes.
He decided to take her to Café Belle, which technically yes was on the Kook side of the island, but they had the best grilled cheese around and Marley loved grilled cheese. Plus it gave them an excuse to dress up all fancy and if that’s what made her feel special, then by god he would pull this tie up to his neck and never complain.
“You look in pain,” Kiara teased as she straight said tie and ran her hands across his shoulders.
“Kie, you know how I feel about ties. Mini nooses ok,” he shakes his head.
“Yeah, yeah I know. But I think it’s sweet. And Marley is so excited. This means the world to her Jage,” his wife smiles and casts a soft gaze onto him.
He shrugs sheepishly at the attention, at the way she can see right to the heart of his intentions. Kiara knows exactly why he is doing this, a product of the decades she’s spent helping him fight his demons and show him the man she sees. With loyalty and steadfast dedication in spades.
“Just thought it would be fun,” JJ shrugs and grabs his keys.
Kiara shakes her head knowingly and stops him from moving around their room anymore. “Hey, you are an incredible dad. You know that? She idolizes you,” Kie beams as she wraps her arms behind his neck. He meets her eyes and hopes with every fiber of his being that she’s right.
“I’m sorry you weren’t here today. To watch her. I’m not trying to cut you out of anything I swear-”
“JJ, I don’t think that. There will be plenty of chances for me to watch her surf. I want you two to have this. Let yourself have this. And then maybe after a while you can feel at peace. You will know that Marley loves you and she knows you love her.”
Kiara presses her lips to his eagerly at the sight of tears beginning to form in his eyes. However long it would take for her and Marley to wipe all traces of Luke Maybank’s words from his heart, she was prepared to spend it. She knew Marley was too.
She pulled away after a few moments, savoring the taste of mint and sea salt as she looked into his eyes. Watched his lips turn upward into a smile as he let her words wash over him.
“Now, your daughter spent an absurdly long time picking out her outfit for a four year old, so be nice.”
“Yes ma’am,” he saluted her playfully as she pulled away and moved to the living room.
He followed her as he had his entire life and turned towards the stairs. “Mar, are you ready to go?” he shouted.
“I’m coming daddy,” she yelled back and bounded down the stairs. She was in her favorite purple dress that had multicolored flowers adorned towards the bottom. Jean jacket on her shoulders and adorably small converse laced on her feet. Kiara had helped tame her curls into a pretty updo and push small butterfly clips all throughout.
“Marley, you look so pretty!” JJ beamed.
“Thanks daddy,” she replied happily and twirled around before running into his arms.
“Where are we going?” Marley asks eagerly.
“It’s a surprise, you’ll just have to see,” he answers with a teasing shrug of his shoulders.
Marley frowns and turns to Kiara. “Where are we going mama?”
“Oh no, I’m not telling little miss. You’ll love it though I promise,” Kie smiles warmly and presses a kiss to her cheek.
“You two better go, have fun!” she says, turning to look at the clock. JJ puts Marley down and looks towards Kiara, intense appreciation glimmering in his cerulean eyes.
“Thank you,” he whispers and kisses her softly.
“Anytime Maybank,” she smiles, her own eyes shining back at him.
Marley grabs his hand and laces their fingers together, pulling him toward the front door. Her excitement is bursting from all her features. The pure joy on her face confirms to him that this is something they will do for years to come.
Little dates just for them, where they can talk about any and everything. So she always feels safe to tell him what’s on her mind. So he can grow comfortable in the understanding that he is a good dad. He isn’t anything like his father. He beat the odds and the vicious allegations thrown on his name in his youth. He has a daughter and a wife, a family who loves him, and the same friends who have always been by his side.
“I love you daddy,” Marley whispers to him at the end of the night when they are swinging slowly in the hammock hung on the oaks in their backyard. The stars glisten brightly above them and the wind blows softly through Kiara’s chimes.
JJ looked down at his daughter and felt her chest rise and fall against him. Her loose curls tickled his chin. Here in the still of the night with Marley secure in his arms he breathes easy. He lets himself relax and drift asleep with the notion that she sees him for exactly who he is. Marley sees him and loves him.
“I love you too Marley Rose. More than anything.”