Cynthia whined softly and Rallon laughed. "Alright ya big baby."
And stepped out.
Then returned Cyntha had her own less ecure but serviceable floatation device. She lay on it happily, paddling when she had to to stay close to her mother.
Rallon tickled Rose's back. "You spoil her."
And then dove away before she could respond and tickled her feet, then yanked her under for a lengthy kiss.
Then darted away again.
He was entirely deaf to all discussion of the surprise, pretending not even to hear Rose when asked.
Instead she got kisses, cuddles, and tickled.
After a bit Cynthia began to chase her parents, quite enjoying the ability to stay in the water but keep her nose and mouth fully out, and paddle with all four legs.
Rallon kept splashing her, making her bark and chase him faster.
Anytime she did catch him she got a tight hug and a kiss, then she would chase her mother.
After a couple of hours of play, the babies having been ensconced in a well formed shadow until the play tuckered them out, Rallon announced it was lunch time.
Rallon changed Alyssa, Cynthia stayed in the water a bit longer until Rallon, first handing the snoozing girl to Rose with a kiss, went to call the dog.
Cynthia paddled out and shook, Rallon already taking Tuchesi and the pups to the patio, then sat and brushed Cynthia.
Tia noted this. "What about her hair in the pool?"
"After lunch I will show you."
Cynthia nuzzled her father as she got brushed, then went to her mother and lay her jaw on her lap, her eyes on her own pups, but they slept safely against their father.
Rallon washed his hands then had his own lunch.
And took Tia, and anyone else to the pool side. There in a small little inlet were some rocks filled with holes. And two of them were filled with Cynthia hair.
Rallon carefully fished them out and pulled the hair loose easily, poured some water over them until no more shed remained, then put them back into the pool.
"Rose actually discovered these cleaning rocks when we were younger. We didn't know what they did then. But with other dogs, and a very young Cynthia, we had the same worry. But the pool's spring pushes the fur here and the stones capture it. We just let it go onto the grass, wash the stones out and put them back. They also can clean dirt from water. Also Rose's idea."
He kissed Rose's temple. "My brilliant bride."
And then it was naptime.
He stole Rose for a makeout and long cuddle while Alyssa slept beside her parents and Cynthia returned to her post with the pups.
Rallon ran his fingers through Rose's hair. "So beautiful."