Introduction: Daughter & her friends think Daddy’s been alone long enough!
Enjoy…
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“Daddy?”
I looked up from where I was working at the computer. It was pretty much all I did most evenings. “Yes, sweetie?”
“You know how you said I could take one friend on vacation, and I invited Tina, and her mother said she couldn’t go?”
Yes, I was fully aware. Tina was my daughter’s best friend. Two peas in a pod. Twins separated at birth. She lived directly behind us and had been a fixture since the kids were four years old.
“Yes, and you invited Donna instead.”
My daughter had walked over, and she was standing in front of me, hands behind her back, rocking back and forth. I knew the look, she wanted something.
“Well … Tina got straight A’s, and her father paid up his child support, so her Mom says she can go now.”
“That’s nice, but you already invited Donna, and I’ve met with her parents. You can’t change your mind now. We’ve already paid for the tickets, in her name.”
“I know, Daddy, but Tina really wants to go. She’s been working on her mother for weeks. Can’t she come too? It’s our last summer. Please?”
I wanted to remind Wendy that it was our last summer as well. It had been just us two since her mother passed away four years earlier. I had hoped we could spend some time together, one last family vacation. Then she had begged to bring a friend along, and I had folded. Now she was asking for two. I figured I’d never see her for the whole week.
She noticed my hesitance. “Please, Daddy! Pretty please? With sugar on top?”
What can I say? My daughter has me wrapped around her little finger. She’s been my lone beacon of light for four years. She takes care of me, cooks, cleans, does the laundry, and more. Still maintained good grades. That first year, after losing her mother, when I felt like rolling over and dying, she was the strong one, when no fourteen year old should have to bear that burden. She made sure I ate, got me off to work, stopped me from drinking when all I wanted to do was crawl inside a bottle and die. She even scheduled and made me attend therapy. When I was well enough to handle things, the guilt was overwhelming. I had failed my daughter when she needed me most, and swore never to do it again. She became my raison de vivre. I’ve been doing my damnedest to make it up to her for the last four years.
“Of course, darling. If that’s what you want. I’ll see what I can do to get another ticket, and to add her to our group. The three of you will have to share a room, and I don’t want you ignoring Donna, once you and Twin-Tina get together.”
Her excited squeal, and big hug was enough to make me happy.
* * *
The last minute addition was pricey, but we could afford it. Hell, once she went off to college, I had nothing to spend money on. I had a great job, and my wife’s life insurance had paid for Wendy’s college, and paid off our mortgage. Even spoiling my daughter rotten, I was able to bank a few grand every month. This was our last hurrah, and I’d pulled out all the stops, booking a top of the line all-inclusive resort, with two adjoining suites. All activities and amenities were covered.
I was looking forward to relaxing by the pool, taking advantage of the unlimited adult beverages and the views. I hadn’t dated since my LeAnne had died. I was quietly anticipating testing the waters once my baby girl left for Rice.
The girls squealed like little kids when the stretch limo arrived to take us to the airport. It was silly, but Wendy had always wanted to ride in a limo, and it was my last chance to spoil her. The three girls were chattering like magpies, standing up through the sunroof and laughing. It made me feel good.
On the plane, they sat three across, my baby in the middle, talking about all the things they were going to do. They had a list of the resort activities that must have been a mile long. Tennis, snorkeling, beach volleyball, wind-surfing, water-skiing, para-sailing, pool games, an in-house disco, the list went on and on. From the sounds of things they were planning on doing all within one short week.
Me, I sat on the aisle of the row opposite, next to a young couple that were more interested in each other than anything else. I figured that was how the week was going to be. I was a fourth wheel, but that was fine. As long as Wendy was happy. I could take care of myself.
The courtesy van picked us up, and the suites were everything I had hoped for. Spacious, with large bedrooms, a casual living area, and a broad balcony seven stories up that overlooked the beach. The girl’s side had two queen sized beds, while mine was a single king. Both opened to the same balcony, where all of us gathered once we’d done our minimal unpacking. It was already past noon. “Lunch, ladies?”
Wendy was their spokesman. “We thought we’d go to the pool. They have a snack bar there we can eat at.”
I nodded. I’d eat alone. “Girls, I don’t want you getting trashed. They’ll serve you alcohol since you’re all eighteen, but don’t overdo it. I promised your parents I’d take care of you. So I don’t want you separating, or getting drunk. Watch out for each other, Ok?”
The girls giggled, and promised they’d be good. Twenty minutes later I was still waiting in the living area, to head downstairs with them. I figured it might be the last time I saw them for a while.
Tina was the first to come out, and I was surprised when she came over and gave me a big hug. “Thanks Mr. Z, for letting me come on this vacation with you guys. You’re the best.”
I gave her a short hug in return, and drew away before she could notice what the effect of her postage stamp bikini was having on me. It had been four years after all, and rosey-palm only went so far. Tina was gorgeous. “Couldn’t leave one of the twins behind, could I?”
She rose up on tippy-toes and gave me a peck on the lips, which I hadn’t expected. Not when it was the first one in fourteen years. “We’re gonna take care of you, Mr. Z., I promise.”
Any hope I had for hiding my appreciation of her assets was lost after that little kiss, and her innocent promise. Especially not when Donna and my daughter came bursting out of their room, laughing. Donna jogged up to me, and gave me a huge hug, squishing her over-sized and under-covered breasts against my chest, and dropping a lip-lock on me that almost knocked me over. “Thanks Mr. Z.,” she sighed, still squeezing. “This is going to be the best vacation ever!”
Then my daughter was taking her place, giving me a hug, and politely ignoring the wood her friends had given me, poking her in the belly. “Daddy, I want you to make me a promise,” she said.
I’d been had by the little fiend too many times. “Not until I know what it is.”
She giggled. “It’s not a bad one, I swear.” She was grinning to beat the band. “This is your vacation too,” she said. “It’s been four years, Daddy. I want you to talk to some of the ladies. Maybe you can get lucky. It’s about time, don’t you think?”
I know I was blushing. “Wendy-”
“Promise me Daddy! We’ll make sure you have your privacy. We’re all adults now. So I want you to go out there and try.”
Tina moved up next to me, and rubbed my arm. “She’s right, Mr. Z. You’re going to be the best looking man out there. All you’ll have to do is smile, and you’ll be beating them off. So take care of yourself, we’ll be fine.”
I was getting nervous about their intentions. “Uh … you all aren’t planning on bringing any boys back to the room, are you?”
Wendy laughed. “Daddy! What happens in Aruba, stays in Aruba. We’ll be good, I promise.”
Tina was quick to add, “And if we’re bad, we’ll be careful.”