Jia Li didn’t ask Marie to elaborate. Everyone was different, and she knew that some people had siblings all over the place due to promiscuous parents. Maybe that was Marie’s case, or maybe she just wasn’t very family oriented? Regardless, it didn’t matter, and the discomfort in her voice was a surefire way to keep the dryad from asking for more information.
“I guess so. The grass is always greener, sort of thing. I don’t think I’d want a big family. One sibling would be good enough for me.”It was shame, but Lieven had never found another mate once Jia Li’s mother had passed away. For a long time, she had been very happy to have had her father all to herself, but as she had grown older, she had begun to wonder.
Other kids with just one parent had often complained about having had to deal with new girlfriends or boyfriends their parents had begun to see, but Jia Li had never even thought about such things with her father. Sometimes, she had seen a sad, wistful look on his face when he had thought she hadn’t been around to see. Wouldn’t he have been happier with a new love interest?
Jia Li had asked her father about this, but he had only responded that no one could compare to her mother, Yanlin. She had been the love of his lifetime, and he was content to raise their daughter and to honor her memory. Though the dryad often worried for her father, she had not questioned him again. It was rare that he had ever been angry with her, but this seemed like a touchy subject that could quickly lead him into anger.
“Each person’s body is more in tune with what they are physically best at accomplishing. I think you have a very nice figure, but it’s obvious that it is better suited for swimming than for dancing. I’m not a very strong swimmer, but it’s fun for recreational purposes and the occasional full-bodied work-out.”
A smile moved over her face. “You should, and I will definitely make a point to watch the swim team competitions. There’s just something so mesmerizing about watching the way you swimmers glide through the water with equal amounts of grace and power.” She had never really seen a swim meet, but she had watched professionals swim on television, and she had seen a few people at the pool who looked like they were training for competitions last year with their goggles and swim caps.
The dryad preferred not to wear anything other than a cute bathing suit to swim. She loved the way her hair drifted in the water, and she wasn’t a fan of the constricting feeling of goggles over her face. Plus, they left a highly unattractive red indentation around her eyes that left much to be desired.
“Oh. Well, obviously talent has gotten you really far in such a short time if you guys could win regionals.” Jia Li wasn’t really jealous, but she had been working so hard at dancing for so long that it seemed strange to meet someone with the ability to win without a lifetime of training.
“I’ve been competing since I was a little girl. My mom used to compete, and my dad made sure I started early the way she did. I’ve been at it for about thirteen years though I’ve danced without training almost since I could walk.”