"Oh please, daddy. Can we go. It would be so much fun. Besides, it would do you good to get out. You never leave the house."
I was listening to Bobbie, short for Roberta, my thirteen year old daughter beg me to take her on a cruise. You know the one, with all cartoon characters as the theme. I thought about what she said about me never leaving the house. I guess it was true. Ever since my wife had passed away I had pretty much shut myself in. Bobbie's mother had been the love of my life and her death had nearly destroyed me. If it hadn't been for our daughter, God knows where I would be. She was the reason I had continued on.
Two years after my wife's death I was still in mourning. Whenever Bobbie was around I would put on a brave face and pretend everything was okay but some nights I would still cry into my pillow. I owned my own company. We designed customized computer programs for large businesses. Even though I'd had to let a couple programmers go due to the downturn in the economy, we were still able to stay afloat. It wasn't like I needed the money if we did fail. I had made a lot when things were booming and had wisely invested it.
As for getting out of the house, I would go into the office a couple times a week. The rest of the time I worked from home. What with the internet and web cams, I could always talk to anyone that needed me from my home office. Other than that the only times I went out was to attend Bobbie's school functions and her soccer games. I made sure I was always there for her. For the first year after her mother's death we were both pretty much a mess but during the last year she had seem to come to terms with it and was coping quite well. It was me that was still a mess emotionally. I realized that I hadn't taken Bobbie anywhere other than maybe the mall when she need clothes since my wife died.
Bobbie was going to be out for summer vacation in a couple weeks and I decided she was right. It might be fun to go on a cruise together.
"Okay, sweetie. Let me see what I can do. I'll go online and make reservations."
Bobbie squealed with glee and wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed hard.
"Thank you, daddy. I love you so much."
"Yeah, it's funny how you always love me when you want something," I said teasing her.
"Uh uh, I always love you daddy."
"I know, baby, and I love you too. But, tomorrow's a school day and you need to get your little behind in bed."
"Yes, daddy."
Bobbie skipped off happily to her room to get ready for bed. She was the sweetest child, never giving me any problems. I thanked God everyday that she had been born. She was a part of her mother. I gave her time to get in bed and then went in to tuck her in and tell her goodnight. After I turned her light out I returned to my office and kept my word to her. I booked us passage on a seven day cruise in a two bedroom suite. It wasn't cheap but I could afford it and wanted the best for Bobbie. When I told her at breakfast that our trip was in four weeks, she was ecstatic. I swear she was walking on air when I dropped her off at school.
Needless to say, the cruise wasn't the only expense. Oh no, Bobbie dragged me to the mall as she said we needed new clothes for our trip. I let her pick out enough new outfits for the week and even allowed her to chose some new clothes for me. She may only be thirteen but I must admit she does have good taste.
Wanting to make sure there were no last minute surprises we flew to Florida on Friday and spent the night in a hotel prior to our boarding the ship on Saturday. Right on time we went aboard the next day. Our first priority was to get settled into our room. Bobbie was so excited the she had her own room and that we had a balcony looking out over the water, I thought she was going to burst. It wasn't long before she was dragging me out of the room to go explore. She oohed and aahed at all the things she saw that were directed towards entertaining kids.
We ate dinner in one of the family dining rooms that evening and then attended the welcome aboard gathering where they explained about all the things there was to do. There were a lot of planned activities for kids depending on their age. Bobbie and I talked it over and she wanted to participate in one of the supervised activities for kids her age the next morning and then for me to take her swimming in the afternoon.
My daughter was up bright and early the next morning, literally dragging me out of bed to get going. I took her for breakfast and then walked her to where the kid's club met. Having the rest of the morning to myself I decided to be adventurous. I went back to our suite and sat out on the balcony and read one of the books I had brought with me. At lunch time I went and collected Bobbie for lunch. She wanted to go the on board pizzeria. I'm not the biggest fan of pizza but this trip was for her so I agreed.
We took another stroll around the ship just checking things out. Around two Bobbie pulled me back to the room to change into our swim suits. The were three pools on board and we went to the one that was for families. The other two were for either adults only or kids only. I took my book with me and found us a couple loungers. Bobbie took off for the water while I read. I glanced up often to make sure she was okay and wasn't surprised to see her playing with a cute little girl around five years old. Bobbie loved little kids and was very good with them. I took note of the slim brunette sitting on the edge of the pool with her legs in the water. She was obviously the little girls mother.
-------Bobbie and Amy
Bobbie had a lot of fun during her morning activities but she was determined to get her dad out of their rooms. She loved her father very much and she worried about him shutting himself off from life. She knew her father had loved her mother so much that he still hurt. She wished he would meet someone his age to be friends with, if not more.
At least bringing him to the pool got him out around other people. Once her dad had settled in his lounger Bobbie hopped into the pool. She had only just got in when she saw a pretty lady with a little girl walk to the water. The mom got in and reached out and picked her daughter up and set her down in the shallow end. Bobbie waded over to them.
"Hi, I'm Bobbie," she said to the little girl.
"Hello. My name's Kerry," the little girl said smiling. "And that's my mommy."
Bobbie introduced herself to the little girl's mother and then started to play with the five year old. Amy Wilson smiled as she watched her daughter, Kerry, having fun and enjoying the attention of the older girl. She hopped on to the edge of the pool and sat with her legs in the water. She did notice the guy in the lounger looking their way a few times. Having just been divorced six months earlier, men weren't high on her list. Sure, he's fit and good looking but she bet he was a pig just like her ex-husband.
"Are you out here alone?" Amy asked Bobbie.
"No, I'm here with my dad. That's him over there," she said waving to him.
"Oh, Amy," said realizing that was why he kept glancing their way. "Is you mom here, too?"
A look of sadness crossed Bobbie's face. "I don't have a mom anymore. She died."
"Oh honey, I'm so sorry," Amy said.
"But I do have daddy. He's the best dad in the whole wide world," Bobbie said, brightening up. "Would you like to meet him?"
"That's okay, Bobbie. He looks like he's comfortable with his book," she said, not really interested in meeting men.
"He would spend all his time reading if I let him. Wait, let me get him."
Before Amy could think up an excuse for her not to, Bobbie had climbed out of the pool and was pulling at her father's hand urging him to get up.
------David
"Come on, dad. Don't just sit here like a bump on a log all day. Get in the pool with me," my daughter said pulling at my hand.
I chuckled and let her pull me to my feet and hopped into the pool with her. As soon as we were in she pulled on my hand again leading me over to where her little playmate was.
"Daddy, this is Kerry. Isn't she cute?" Bobbie said as we reached the shallow end of the pool.
"Hello, Kerry," I said smiling down at the youngster.
"And this is Kerry's mom, Ms. Wilson," Bobbie said.
"Hello, Ms. Wilson," I said politely.
"Hello, Mr.?" she answered obviously not knowing my last name.
"David Johnson, just call me David."
Up close I noticed that Ms. Wilson was very attractive. She was wearing a rather conservative one piece swimsuit but I could tell from her slim waist and well toned legs she obviously kept herself fit. I made a couple comments about the cruise and the weather and she just nodded not hardly looking at me. Obviously she wasn't inclined to have a conversation with me which was fine. It wasn't like I was trying to pick her up or anything. Not wanting to intrude into her personal space I excused myself and returned to my book. If her husband showed up, he might get the wrong idea and I wasn't looking for trouble.
-----Amy
Amy watched as Bobbie pulled her father to the pool and over to where she was watching her daughter play in the water. She was a little irritated at the intrusion. When Bobbie had introduced David to her she purposely didn't give him her first name, letting Ms. Wilson suffice. And the couple times he had made comments she kept her responses to a curt nod. What she couldn't help notice was that he was really handsome up close and obviously worked out. His chest and abs were well defined. His dark hair with just a touch of gray at the temples complimented his deep blue eyes. After a few minutes he had returned to his chair. Amy thought he was at least perceptive enough to know he wasn't going to get lucky with her.
