My daughter announced she was getting married. I had been expecting it for a while now. Mark was a great kid. Well, I guess young man is more accurate.
He and Abby had been dating for almost three years. They had finished school, he passed the bar exam, and now was working in his father's firm. She had just come in from dinner with Mark and his parents, Robert and Louise. They have a membership in a very nice country club.
"Daddy, Mark proposed tonight!" She said excitedly.
It wasn't unexpected as I had said, but somehow, I thought I might have been invited to be there for the proposal. I had gotten fairly friendly with Mark's parents, and I was a little hurt that they didn't invite me. I had been raising Abby alone since her mom passed away when Abby was only eleven.
"That's wonderful dear! When's the big day?" I had to act excited for her even though I was hurting inside. I would have liked to see the expression on her face when he got down on his knee and asked for her hand.
"Mark wants it to be pretty soon. I don't know how I'm going to get everything done." She said as she exited. Obviously already making plans in her head.
Thank god Abby's mom had insisted on saving for a big wedding. The day we brought our newborn home, Helen was changing her diaper, and said "You know she is going to want a big wedding."
I must have had a question mark tattooed on my forehead, because she added "We need to start saving for it." So, I did.
I'm not an attorney, I make a decent living, but not loads. But, every week I put a little aside for Abby's wedding, and in her college fund. Abby's a smart girl, and got a full scholarship, so her wedding fund was enough to pay for just about as big a wedding as she wanted.
About an hour after the news from Abby, the phone rings. "Hey, Mark. Congratulations. Hold on a sec, I'll get Abby."
"Actually, Sir, I called to speak to you." Mark said.
"Ok, Son. What can I do for you?"
"I called to apologize for not having you there when I proposed."
"It's alright, Don't worry about it." I told him. Though I was grateful he thought enough to call.
"You see, Sir, I had picked up the ring for Abby today. Then rushed home to pick up my parents for our dinner. On the way to the club my mom told me she had been to the doctor and today got results of tests he had done. She has pancreatic cancer."
"Oh Mark. I'm so sorry." This was truly sad to me because my own father died of the same thing. Only about five percent last a year after diagnosis.
"Thank you, Sir. But, anyway, I had that on my mind when I suddenly realised that my mom may not be around to see me get married. I had the ring with me, so, I just proposed tonight. Totally spur of the moment. My parents didn't know, hell I didn't even know I was going to do it."
I could hear through the phone that he was pretty choked up. To be that upset, and still take time to call me, was touching.
"I totally understand. Really, don't give it a second thought." I hope I sounded genuine, because I really didn't blame him under the circumstances.
"I asked Abby to rush things a bit. Mom doesn't want to tell Abby yet and put a damper on her wedding. If you could, we would appreciate your help."
Amazingly Abby got the venue she wanted through a cancellation. The florist she had to take what she could get. Caterer was a friend of Robert's so he agreed to work it into his schedule. All in all, it was a wonderful wedding. Abby, If I do say so myself, was the most beautiful bride ever. In three months time they were on their honeymoon.
She didn't spend even half the money I had saved for her, so I gave them the rest to use as a downpayment on their house. Robert matched it. They bought a nice house in a good neighborhood.
While they were away on their honeymoon, Mark explained to Abby the reason for the rush. When they returned, Abby spent a lot of time with Mark's mother, learning all the family history and cute stories about Mark. She really became close to Louise toward the end. We were all by her side when she passed.
One thing she learned was that Robert's father started the firm, and when she got pregnant, Louise moved in with Robert's parents until the baby came. Robert and Louise were only nineteen when Mark was born. Robert finished law school, and became a member of the firm, and eventually took it over.
I had assumed that Robert just looked very good for his age. Turns out he isn't as old as I had thought. In fact, he was my age of 45.
The summer following Louise's death, Robert invited Mark and I for a 'guys only' weekend at their cabin on a nearby lake. As I said earlier, I do alright for myself, but their 'lake cabin' is much nicer than my house.
Three bedrooms upstairs all with 'en suite' baths, game room, and library. Master suite downstairs along with a den with a huge fireplace, kitchen, sunroom, dining room.
The back of the house was nothing but huge windows, providing panoramic views of the mountain lake. The pool and cabana also had a kitchen and outdoor grill. A brick path led to the long dock and boathouse.
After the long drive up to the lake we all decided to just relax on the deck with cool drinks.
"It's absolutely gorgeous up here, Robert. I'm envious. If I had a place like this, I'd spend every minute I could here." I told my daughter's father in law.
"I get up here most weekends during the summer, and some during the rest of the year as well. We all used to come here weekends and sometimes a whole week at a time. Of course that was before Mark got all grown up. Huh Mark?"
"Yeah, I haven't been here since I started law school. Mom loved it here too." Mark said with more than a little sadness in his voice. "I guess those family trips are a thing of the past." He noted.
"Bullshit. Pretty soon you and Abby will have a bunch of rugrats running around here. And now, John can join us too. We're still family, just different." Robert informed him.
I was touched that Robert wanted to include me in their family outings. I took a long sip of my drink to conceal my emotions.
"It's still early. Do we want to do some fishing or take the boat out for a spin?" Robert said trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"I think I just want to take a dip in the pool. Too hot for fishing anyway. We can get up early tomorrow and go out." Mark replied.
We all agreed and went to change into our swimsuits. I had brought a regular shorts style suite because I'm really not a showoff in any manner, though I am quite proud of my physique. Years of construction work have kept me in good shape.
I was the first one out by the pool, and took it upon myself to set up some deck chairs and get towels from the cabana. As I was stepping out of the cabana, Mark arrived on the patio wearing a speedo that could barely contain the monster inside.
The mental image of Mark hosing my daughter with what appeared to be quite a slab of meat, sent tingles straight to my cock.
Abby and I had always been close, and she would cry on my shoulder when the boy of the week would break up with her, or they'd have an argument. But she never shared any intimate info with me. I have no idea when she lost her cherry, if it was Mark or some other lucky lad who had that privilege.
If she wasn't a virgin when she and Mark finally did the deed, I can see why she would be swayed into marrying him.
When Robert appeared, he wasn't wearing a speedo, but it was evident there was something moving around in his shorts. Like father like son I suppose.
