Rising Tide

Chapter 2

Standing on the docks looking at the cruise liner that will be his home for the next month, Harry reaches down and picks up the little girl holding onto his pant leg. Tia is the cutest little 3 year old girl, with straight brown hair, currently pulled up in a ponytail, that he was lucky enough to call his honorary niece. His best friend Louis and his fiance, Amy, asked Harry if he wanted join them on this family vacation and since their band was on a year long break anyway Harry was quick to agree.
Harry and Louis has been best friends since grade school and formed a band right out of high school. Lucky enough to get discovered shortly after its birth. Their rise to fame was quick, Harry being the lead singer and Lou the guitar player and backup singer they were both the target of a lot of people vieing for their attention. In the early day both Harry and Louis were eager to give their fan the attention they wanted. Soon they figured out though it was empty promises and they both started looking for the real thing.
Louis was lucky and found Amy, they have been together 4 years and had the beautiful Tia, making Harry one happy uncle. Lou and his family was all Harry had left in his life when his parents were killed by a drunk driver on the way to see them in concert a few years back.
At 26, Harry was beginning to wonder if he was going to find that one special person to make him want to give everything up like Lou was thinking about doing.

"Uncle Curly, do you think there will be other girls my age on there for me to play with?" Tia asks Harry as they make their way slowly up the ramp onto the huge ship.

Kissing the cute girls cheek. "I'm sure there will be, Bug. But if there isn't Uncle Harry will play with you, how's that?" He says, lifting the small child so she could sit on his shoulders, causing her to giggle. Lou and Amy looked over at the pair with a smile.

Tia grabs two hands full of Harry's long curls. "Okay, I love playing with you." She giggles leaning over, knowing Harry was keeping her safe and kisses his cheek.

"Good, I love playing with you too." Harry tells the small child, causing the people around them to smile.

"You do know we didn't ask you to come with us to entertain our daughter for us, don't you Harry?" Amy laughs. "We want you to enjoy yourself and relax some to. Not spend all you time with a 3 year old."

"Bite your tongue, miss." Harry says in mock horror. "This beautiful girl is my date for the next month. I wouldn't dream leaving her alone. Isn't that right Bug?" Harry says as he bounces the girl on his shoulders.

"Yep, Uncle Curly and I have it all planned out. You and daddy do your thing we do ours." Tia quotes what Harry had said in the car earlier. "I bet we have more fun than they do anyway. Ain't the right Uncle Curly." Tia giggles when she used his nickname.

Harry chuckles at the adorable sound, he loved this child so much. "That's right, Bug. I'm sure we will." He says.

All the passengers grew quiet when the captain approached and started his speech, but Harry barely heard a word he said. His focus was fixed on the amazingly beautiful girl standing to one side holding a cute child that looked to be a year or so younger than Tia. She was tiny, to his 6 foot 4 height, she barely reached his sternum, and her hair was a white blonde that hung well past her small hips and half way to her knees in wild curls, Harry was surprised at the feelings he was having, wanting to tangle his fingers in that mess, he couldn't see her eyes due to the sunglasses she wore but he bet they were amazing too. For some reason Harry wanted to know everything about this beautiful girl, then his heart dropped when the captain stopped talking and turned to the girl and put his arm around her and they walked off together.
Harry was so disappointed, that guy looked to be at least 10 years older than her, and the little girl looked to be about 2 years old. Maybe the girl was one of those gold diggers that got pregnant and stuck with the older guy. Harry decided he would stay away from her. He didn't need people like her in his life.

Louis nudged Harry. "Ready to find our rooms and get this vacation started? Maybe you will get lucky and find that one special someone this time. If not hopefully we can at least have fun." Louis teases him.

"I'm here for fun, Lou. And family time with you, Amy and Tia. I'm not looking for anything else and you know it." Harry tells his long time friend as they make their way to their rooms.

"Just keep an open mind and heart, Harry. You never know when that one special someone can come up." Amy says as she takes Tia from him. "It can happen when you least expect it."

"I'll keep that in mind, but promise me you two won't try and fix me up with all the single girls on this giant boat." Harry says.

Amy shrugs. "We'll see." She says as she slips into hers and Louis room.

"Don't worry, Harry. She won't try to fix you up with anyone." Louis tells him. "She knows you need the rest, now go change and get ready for dinner we'll send Tia over when we're ready."

Harry nods and goes to his own room.