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With it decided to join them, we all find our scavenger hunt cards in our rooms. We’re supposed to go to various spots on the ship, get the card stamped, and then turn it in to possibly win a prize. We don’t win anything and Jamie still has no sense of direction on the ship, but it does waste some time. When we return to our rooms, my and Jamie’s luggage has arrived.
Jamie and I are able to quickly unpack a few things before we have to grab our lifejackets. We step outside of our room and I knock on the kids’ room. Gregory is the first one out. He was my main reason for knocking; I wanted to make sure he was back and ready to go.
“What do you want to do for your birthday?” Jamie asks while we wait for the other two.
I wrap one arm around her and pull her close. “Well, we’ll be at sea all day. We’ll have to look and see what things we can possibly do.” I lean down and whisper very quietly, “I expect time with you.”
She laughs as Kayla and Logan finally join us. “Good luck with that.”
Luck isn’t needed. It’s my damn birthday. How hard will it be to spend some uninterrupted time with Jamie? Lock the door and close the curtain to the glass door. Ignore anyone who knocks. Tell the kids to leave me alone. It’s as simple as that.
This trip is a good thing because I’m already learning more about Jamie. She doesn’t like to think about possible disasters. She didn’t like listening while on the plane and she seemed a little freaked out after the muster drills. I also think it’s adorable that at any given time, she has no clue where we are or how to get back to where we just came from.
After the drill, we return to our rooms to put our life jackets back in their place and to change for dinner.
“You’re going to love eating on the ship,” Gregory says as we make our way to the dining room. “Best food of your life!” A second later, he says, “I wonder if the workers eat the same food we do because if they do, I might need to work for a cruise line. Would you let me do that, Dad?”
“If that’s what you want to do,” I reply with a shrug. I don’t think he could last longer than a week on a ship, but he can dream about working on one and eating all the delicious food for now.
It’s our turn to be seated. A man in black slacks, a white dress shirt, and a white suit jacket smiles widely at us.
“Hello! How are you lovely people? Where are you from?”
“North Carolina,” I answer.
“Oh, I love North Carolina! I have cousins who live there.” He glances over his shoulder and then claps his hands together. “Well, let’s get this father and his children seated at a table. How does that sound?”
Jamie and Gregory immediately crack up. My first thought is about how I’m holding Jamie’s hand, and if she’s my daughter, she’s too old for me to hold her hand.
“Actually,” I say, feeling the need to correct him as he leads us through the large dining room, “I’m with my girlfriend, my son, my daughter, and who will likely be my future son-in-law.”
The man glances back at me. “Oh, I see. What a lucky man you are! Here you go. A window table! If you get here early every night, I’ll get you this table, okay?”
“Thank you very much.”
We’re seated and I look over at Kayla. Her gaze flicks back and forth between Jamie and me.
“Doesn’t it embarrass you that he thought you were my dad’s daughter?” she asks.
Jamie shakes her head. “It’s just something we have to deal with and it’s better to laugh about it than be embarrassed about it.” And I totally agree.
Our waiters come to our table to lay napkins across our laps, take our drink orders, and talk a little about the menu. Gregory wasn’t lying when he said the food on a cruise ship is some of the best you’ll ever eat. Personally, I think cruises are the best vacations. There’s nothing to worry about and plenty to do, plus fantastic food. Not to mention, the workers are always so nice and friendly.
When our first course has been served, Kayla makes me proud by asking, “So, what are you going to do now that you’ve graduated, Jamie?”
My little girl is making an attempt to get to know Jamie! Has hell frozen over? Is it raining cats and dogs? I glance out the window next to me to confirm that it’s not. Jamie gives me a quick look full of skepticism; I nudge my knee against hers. She needs to play along. Kayla is trying. Now is not the time to reject her.
“I’ll be looking for an apartment in Raleigh and moving to a full-time position at my job,” she answers.
“There’s openings at plenty of places,” Logan tells her. “There’s probably even one in our building.” Based on Logan’s wince, Kayla likely kicked him under the table. That’s not such a good move for Kayla, but even I can’t say I exactly want her living in the same building as Kayla.
“Do you have any siblings?” Kayla asks, clearly wanting to change the subject.
“An older sister. She’s getting married next year and will make me an aunt, too. We have a relationship about like yours and Gregory’s, I guess.”
“Sounds like an annoying sister,” Gregory says, making her laugh. “I’m sorry, Jamie.”
“Now, now, children,” I hurry to say before Kayla can fire back. “Let’s keep the peace.” That’s all I want on this trip. Peace. And with how Kayla is being right now, I think I might get it.
