Or at least he did until Eliza balled up her shirt and stuck it in the duffel bag.
Shes twelve! Adam wanted to scream. Rather than do so, Adam settled for a dark glower in the punks direction.
Geoff and Eliza both went immediately for the waterslide, but Morgan was more tentative. She got in the water slowly, step by step, seeking frequent reassurance that her dad would stay close. Once shed made it all the way into the pool, she wanted him to help her practice floating on her back. She made swift progress with that and had moved on to a clumsy but solo backstroke when she announced in a panicked whisper that she needed to go potty.
The nearest restrooms were in a bathhouse midway between the pool and a river dock. Geoff, Eliza! Ill be right back, Adam called.
The nearest restrooms were in a bathhouse midway between the pool and a river dock. Geoff, Eliza! Ill be right back, Adam called.
Morgan slid on her shoes, then tucked her hand in his. Im having fun, she told him. You should come on trips with us and Mommy and Daddy Dan.
Or maybe you can just alternate. Take turns, he clarified. Go somewhere with them, then somewhere else with me. That way you get twice as many vacations.
Okay. Hey, know what I want for my birthday? She kept up a running commentary for the duration of their stroll, and Adam realized he didnt even miss the hospital. He hadnt thought about any of his patients today or wondered how his eminently qualified colleagues were doing filling in for him. Waiting by a restroom door while his preschooler cheerfully called out the name of every My Special Puppy in the Puppydale toy collection, he wouldnt want to be anywhere else in the world.
It was a nonsensical, trivial moment-except that it was a moment in Morgans life.
On their return trip to the pool, Morgan suddenly shrieked, Kitty! and darted off the path. Daddy, did you see it?
He caught her elbow before she stumbled over a rock. Cant say that I did. Remember what we talked about, that animals are scared by loud noises?
Her face puckered into a worried scowl. It shouldnt be here with the river down the hill and the pool. Cats cant swim.
They can, he told her. Most of them just prefer not to. Im sure the cat will be fine.
She hesitated, unconvinced, but ultimately resumed her pace. It took Adam two tries to unlatch the gate because his attention was zeroed in on his other daughter. That punk lifeguard had climbed down from his elevated chair and stood entirely too close to Eliza.
Bionic-father hearing kicked in and Adam eavesdropped, only missing a few words here and there, while the kid boasted of how hed had his drivers license for months and planned to buy a second generation Camaro from a family friend at the end of the summer. Eliza-who usually rolled her eyes whenever Geoff waxed rhapsodic about automobiles-morphed into a Devoted Car Enthusiast, all oohs and ahhs and big brown eyes.
Geoff took Morgan to play on the waterslide, so Adam sat down and tried to relax. He noticed the brunette sunbather in the halter-top suit smiling in his direction; reflexively, he smiled back and she gave a coquettish little finger wave. She was attractive, he noted objectively, but she was no Brenna Pierce.
He frowned, recalling Elizas indignation that he might try to steal time from their family vacation to make room for romance. Definitely not. Hed unintentionally made his children feel as if they werent a top priority, and this trip was a major step in reversing that. Ironic, though, that Eliza had lectured him less than twenty-four hours ago when she clearly had no qualms about abandoning her family to chat up a bronzed man-child whose smirk bordered on predatory.
Reminding himself that Eliza was in plain sight and therefore perfectly safe, Adam dug a medical journal out of his bag. He even made a halfhearted attempt to read an article about the rise of robot-assisted cardiothoracic procedures. Mostly he skimmed while keeping one ear on his daughter and the punk. Minimized trauma, reduced risk of infection.
So, have you ever, like, saved anyone? Eliza asked.
Sure. Just last week I jumped in to rescue a lady with a cramp in her leg. And this kid who panicked and was flailing like crazy.
Faster recovery time, wave of the future, blah, blah, blah.
But Ive never given mouth-to-mouth, Punk added smarmily. At least, not in the line of duty. During my off-hours-
Adam shot out of his chair, tipping it sideways with his sudden movement. It clattered against the pavement, drawing the notice of just about everyone-including his daughter and the punk lifeguard at whom he happened to be glaring. Now what, O Father of the Year?
He hadnt really leaped up with any sort of plan. It had simply been an instinctive reaction. But judging from the mingled horror and fury settling across his daughters face, that explanation was not going to mollify her. Especially since it would involve him admitting that hed been listening to her private conversation in the first place.
Uh The lifeguard glanced from Adam back to Eliza, his earlier smirk gone. Looking pale beneath his tan, the kid jerked his thumb up at the elevated seat. Id better get back to work.
Yeah. Nice talking to you, Eliza said through gritted teeth. She ducked her head, her shoulders slumping slightly as if she was curling in on herself in hopes of becoming invisible, and stalked toward her father.
Adam assumed she was making a beeline for confrontation, but her gait never slowed as she neared. Instead, she strode past, exiting the pool area. He experienced a stab of indecision so intense it was almost panic. Should he give her space? For all he knew, she was excusing herself to go to the bathhouse for an adolescent cry. That you caused. Then again, did he know for an absolute certainty that she wouldnt do something dramatic like run away? Try to hitch back to Tennessee?
This was excruciating. In the O.R., he didnt second-guess himself. He took decisive actions and saved lives.
Geoff, keep your sister in the shallow end until I get back, he called over his shoulder. Giving a girl space might sound like a sensitive, insightful parenting move, but Adam rejected it after a moments thought. She was twelve. While she might have the right to be angry with him, she did not have the same right to storm off alone into the forest or down toward the river.
Eliza! Though she didnt overtly speed up to evade him, she didnt stop, either. Hey, I know you hear me. Slow down so we can talk about this.
When she actually did stop, he released a tense breath. He hadnt known if she would-or what hed do in the face of direct disobedience.
She whipped her head around, and his heart clutched at the sight of her watery eyes. I dont want to talk to you. I dont even want to be here! I could have stayed with friends while Mom and Dan are away.
Adam tried not to take her words personally. Didnt all children go through an I hate you phase as an automatic part of growing up and wrestling with independence? This trip wasnt about your mom needing a babysitter. It was about me wanting to spend time with you guys.
Do you even care what we want? Geoff was freaked out when you said you were taking us away for so long. Hes worried Gina will meet someone else before we get back. And Morgan-
-is having a blast. She told me so herself. I think if you give this vacation a chance, we could all have fun.
I was trying to! I was making a new friend. A cute friend who probably wants nothing to do with me now that you practically lunged at him from across the pool.
IHe was too old for you.
She snorted. Oh, I didnt know there were age limits for who I was allowed to talk to!
Im sorry I upset you, but Im still your father. Rein in the sarcasm.
When she opened her mouth to retort, he braced himself, but no scathing reply came. Her tears brimmed over, escalating quickly to actual sobs. She covered her face with her hands.
What can I do? Adam asked softly. Were together for the next eighteen days, and I dont want it to be miserable for you. What can I do to make it better?
She sniffed. Just give me the room key. Please? I want to go lie down.
All right. He handed over the key ring bearing the Chattavista logo-no modern key cards here. Lock the door behind you, though. Ill get a spare from the front desk later.
Fine.
When he turned back toward the pool, he was surprised to find Geoff and Morgan watching through the fence, both their faces apprehensive.
You guys tired of swimming? he asked, heading toward them.
Morgan held up her hands. Im getting wrinkly. The lady who gave us the checkers game said she had coloring books, too.
Fifteen minutes later, she was happily coloring pictures of farm animals back on the lodge porch. Adam and Geoff sat at a nearby table, setting up a game of backgammon.
Geoffwhen I told you guys about this trip, did you want to come?
The teenager flinched. Th-this trip?
Adam got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Its okay, son. You can tell me the truth.
Geoff looked away. I like fishing. And it would be really cool to go rafting.
Do you miss Gina?
Well, yeah, I guess. He seemed surprised by the question. But, jeez, its only been two days. Its justmost of the other guys are like that bozo back at the pool, working summer jobs to save up for a car. Not to mention cash for the movies and music downloads and stuff. Mom lets me cut lawns and stuff in the neighborhood, but she wont let me apply for any real jobs during the school year.
And Adam had thoughtlessly wiped out three weeks of prime earning potential. Hell. I guess youre at an age where I cant say Im sorry with ice cream?
Geoff eyed the backgammon pieces. Do you mind if I take a rain check on this? I think Im gonna go back to the room and catch the Braves game on TV.
Sure. Dont turn it up too loud, though. Your sister might be taking a nap.
And then there was one.
Deflated, Adam joined Morgan and helped her polka-dot animals. Shed started with a dalmatian and decided to continue the theme with a green-speckled cow and purple-spotted sheep.