In One Year

On the water

Glancing at Jaiden who moved to sit in the back I gave my dad a quick hug.

“Look at you two! Just like models.” They both had also gotten changed at some point and were now looking at each other in agreement.

Christine, in a lighter color yellow that only she could pull off, nudged Jaiden over so she could sit closer to my dad who was getting ready to drive. Not feeling like being crowded I made my way to the front fishing my glasses out of my bag. I looked out on to the water and sighed in content the sun felt good and there was a light breeze just cool enough that I almost didn’t need sunscreen but decided to spray some on quick anyways.

Just as I was completing my task I was covered by a shadow. Looking up I saw Jaiden standing next to me. Looking back down I finished spraying my legs waiting for him to speak first. He took a seat just as dad started the boat and maneuvered out onto the water, the engine was loud enough that if he was any quieter, I wouldn’t have heard him.

“So, I’m going to guess that you know?” He started. “Know what?”

I was intentionally being coy, but he has shot down any conversation I tried to start so why should I engage?

“About your dad proposing to my mom.” He said leaning back. Offering him the sunscreen I just nodded and focused on the water.

“You don’t talk much do you, anyways, how do you feel about it?” He was fishing but I only latched on to the first part. “That’s not true. I was trying to talk to you earlier.” I huffed.

“Yeah, I wanted to say sorry about that, and about the greeting earlier. That was not cool of me, I was a bit…preoccupied.” Studying him he was looking away embarrassed. “You are forgiven, and I get it. I do not like meeting new people either. And to answer your previous question, I do not know.”

“I mean I am happy that they are happy, but it will be different.” He glanced at the couple who were holding hands looking comfortable. Turning to face him I studied his expression he looked resigned. Happy but sad at the same time.

“I agree. For the longest time it was just my dad and me. I mean your mom is awesome but its weird. I’m not used to having someone who I can look to as a female figure.” I wonder why he looks so sad.

“True, same for my mom and I, though your dad seems dorky it’s kind of amusing.” Laughing at that I could not help but agree.

“Yeah, he’s pretty easy going.”

“Well, I imagine you don’t rock the boat much, so he’s never had to be hard on you.”

“What do you mean by that?” I feigned offense. I mean he was not wrong, but I was not going to admit it out right.

“Hey, I wasn’t meaning to offend you, it just seemed like you prefer a quieter life, that’s all.” He defended, raising his hands in surrender. Giggling I gave myself away. He gave me a small smile and continued.

“Oh, I see, pay back huh? Anyways, my mom is pretty laid back herself and I suspect she secretly always wanted a girl, so I am cool with it if it makes her happy. She had a rough first marriage.”

“Really what happened? She seems so young.”

“My dad is a douche and manipulated her into a marriage for her money. When he figured out that my grandfather would only allow the marriage with a prenup since she was only 18 and he was 25, grandfather did not trust him. The only reason he even contemplated it was because they found out she was pregnant. He agreed and all was well the first three years, but she was having trouble keeping her pregnancies and things got rough. He stepped out, the i***t though that there was an expiration date to the prenup and when he realized that my grandfather made it for the length of the marriage he just left. Didn’t know about mom being pregnant with me until I was born.”

Taking in the story I was sad to hear what she went through. But she was such a sunny and strong woman I would not have had a clue. My respect for her immediately increased. She may be more extroverted than me, but I renewed my mission to try and meet her at least halfway.

“Hey, were did you go? It is fine she is open about it and would not want your pity.  We have made the most of it and I have had a fantastic life.”

All I could do was stare at him; he was not as spoiled as I first thought. He just had a problem with people skills. I could work with that.

“Other than that, what about school and your friends? It sounds like your pretty popular.” He just grinned at me. My god his smile just made him 110 times more charming. Looking back to the tree line I saw we were approaching a public beach and dock.

“Yeah, you could say that.” He said with a chuckle.

Great, just my luck. What I do for my dad, I am not a people person. He is going to owe me.