Sethp 2011
All rights reserved.
(This story was inspired by and written for "Jen", who won my biggest fan competition. Congratulations Jen! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it! This is actually the second story that Jen has inspired. She is a true muse. Thanks again to the amazing PennLady for her editing and coaching. Without her my writing would have stalled and staled months ago. Enjoy!)
"Yes, Mom. I'm going to go. I agree that I need the break."
"You know that I would go if I could take the time off work, but I can't."
"I know."
"He's going to be so excited. He's had those tickets for over a year. Just relax and enjoy the sun. You'll probably even meet some cute young guys there."
"Oh, Mom, would you stop before I change my mind. I know it's the Bahamas, but you owe me."
"Talk to me after you get back. I think you're going to have the best time ever. Give him a chance. He's not as old, washed up and boring as you think he is,"
"Okay. I'll be nice to him, and make the best of it."
"Do me one favor hon?"
"Sure Mom. What?"
"Take the pearl necklace that grandma gave you. I think he would get a kick out you wearing that one evening."
"I will. I'll meet him at the airport next Saturday and yes I have his cell number. Bye"
"Bye."
Jen smiled as she sat down next to her Grandpa on the airplane. He had invited her to go with him for a two week vacation at a luxurious resort in the Bahamas. Jen had accepted the offer with some hesitation, and only after a long discussion with her mother. After all, how much fun could going to the beach with her Grandpa be? What had finally convinced her to go was the fact that she had the time off from college, and she might never get the chance to go again. She had never been anywhere outside of her hometown and she did love her Grandpa. She had always been close to her Grandparents and it was a shock when her grandma had died the year before at the age of sixty-two.
A young woman smiled back at Jen as she stowed her bag in the overhead bin and got into her seat. It seemed like everyone on the plane was happy and excited. Jen certainly was. She was determined to make the most of this trip, get an amazing tan, and catch up on some reading.
"Thanks for coming with me Jen," her Grandpa said, adjusting his seat belt.
"Oh, Grandpa!" Jen said. "You don't have to thank me. We're going to have a blast and you better believe that I need the break. I can't believe that I'm actually going to the Bahamas!"
The plane lifted off only a few minutes late, and everyone seemed to relax when they hit their cruising altitude. It was a good flight and they talked the whole way, catching up on lost time. This was the happiest that her grandpa had been in over a year.
"I'm sorry that I haven't been around much, Grandpa. College has been keeping me so busy."
"I understand completely, Jen." He patted her leg, letting his hand linger there just second too long. "It'll be nice to have some time to spend with you, just the two of us."
He was surprised how much Jen had matured; she had grown into a stunning young woman.
"I found this in my blazer pocket as I was packing last night." He pulled out a photo and handed it to her. It was a picture of the two of them together at the last family reunion, two years ago.
"That's one of my favorite pictures. I have it in my photo album at home." Jen handed it back to him. "Aren't you excited to finally be going to your dream vacation, Grandpa?" she asked.
"Call me Ted," he replied. "I...well it's just hard on me when you call me Grandpa all the time...it reminds me..."
Worried, Jen looked over at him. She felt that this was a really odd thing to ask of her but she knew that he had taken her grandma's death hard; maybe being called Grandpa was just more than he could handle at the moment. "Okay, Ted, you have a deal," she said smiling over at him.
"Thank you, Jen." He looked relieved.
"You know I'd do anything for you, g...Ted." They both laughed out loud.
"It has always been a dream of mine to go to the Bahamas and go snorkeling and...well...just thank you for coming with me." His eyes watered. "Your grandma and I had been planning this trip for years and I... "
"It's okay." Jen reached over and squeezed his hand. "I'm glad you invited me, and we are going to have the most fantastic vacation ever."
The view was breathtaking as they flew over the beaches and down into the airport. Jen's Grandpa was more energetic and excited than she had ever seen him. He bounded down the stairs to the baggage claim and she had to run to keep up with him. He was in remarkably good shape for his age, she thought, and looked quite a bit younger than his age.
Ted talked non stop all the way to the resort about everything that he was planning to do. Jen hardly noticed when the taxi pulled up in front of the resort.
"Here we are!" Ted grinned as he stepped out of the car.
"You go check in and I'll grab the bags, Ted." Jen laughed at his excitement.
"Okay, I'll meet you in the lobby," he said over his shoulder, heading towards the front door.
Jen got their bags onto a cart and wheeled it into the lobby. She gasped when she got inside. It was one of the most luxurious, amazing places she had ever seen. She had to crane her neck back to see the ceiling. It was like one of those high class hotels in Las Vegas. that she had seen on the Travel channel, except better, since she was here in person.
"Over here, Jen!"
Jen looked over and saw her grandfather walking towards her with the keycards in his hand. "Hey, gr...er Ted." She stumbled over her words. "How come there aren't any kids here?"
"Oh, I don't know. I'm sure they're around somewhere. Let's head up to the room." He grabbed the cart and started pushing it toward the elevators, leaving Jen standing there shaking her head wondering if he was serious.
"Yes, let's get changed and head down to the beach!" Jen caught up with him and they made their way to the elevator. "This is one amazing place. Those tickets must have cost a fortune."
Ted pushed the up button on the elevator. "They did."
The door opened and Ted pushed the button to the top floor as two more couples entered. One of the couples was younger and looked like they were there on their honeymoon. They couldn't keep their hands off of each other. The other couple was older, around Jen's Grandpa's age, and they both looked at Jen in disgust.
Jen was about to open her mouth and tell them off. She had never been so offended by a look. Before she had a chance, though, the elevator opened and the older couple stepped off. The younger couple got off on same floor as Jen and Ted, and as they were headed off down the hall, the man turned to Jen's Grandpa, gave him a knowing smile and winked at him.
"I'll get the cart." Ted put a hand on it and stood back, allowing Jen to exit first.
"What was with those two couples?" Jen asked as they walked to the room.
"Oh, I don't know." Ted shrugged. "They were probably just drunk or something. There are always a lot of fruitcakes at these places."
Jen put her keycard in the door and held it open for her Grandpa. "Oh, my God! Look at this room!" she said as they stepped inside.
"It is impressive." Ted walked over to the balcony. "Well, I did tell them to give me the best room they had."
"They certainly did that." Jen turned to him with a puzzled look. "But this is a honeymoon suite."
"Oh...um....well..." Ted stumbled. "Nah.." He looked extremely uncomfortable.
"Look at this," Jen said picking up a brochure from a table and handing it to Ted. It described the room as a secluded, lover's paradise. The sheets on the bed were all adorned with hearts and there was a bottle of champagne chilling in ice on the counter.
"I guess you're right...wait till you get a load of the heart shaped Jacuzzi in the bathroom!" He forced a laugh.
"It's okay." Jen said and walked over and gave him a big hug. "I love it and we'll make the most of it. Just look at the bed. It's huge and we can share it. It will still be the best vacation ever."
"You're right, Jen," he said. "It's perfect, although it might raise a few eyebrows."
"I'm sure it won't even come up," Jen replied. "Let's get changed and get down to the beach." She grabbed her bag and ran into the bathroom.
Ted was changed and packed for the beach by the time Jen came out of the bathroom.