Bears Know Best

Chapter 19: Preludes

THE NEXT MORNING Mom woke me up, and I dressed in a pair of short khaki shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top. I'd thought about wearing a sundress, but Alyssa was wearing shorts and it seemed like a better idea for a day that I didn't know what our plans were for certain.

"Are you about ready?" Mom asked from behind me as I was using a mirror in the main room to do my makeup. It was kind of dark so it was taking me even longer than normal.

I glanced up again at my face, and replied, "I think so," as I closed the lip gloss that I'd just put on.

"Alyssa?" Mom asked, knowing she was already.

"Yep!" she said cheerily.

"Well let's go downstairs and meet Jake and Rachel," she said.

Alyssa and I grabbed our purses, and Mom grabbed an additional tote that she'd brought along that was loaded with sunscreen and water. Dad was already sitting at a table in the hotel restaurant, sipping on a cup of coffee. "Morning!" He said to me and gave me a big hug. He greeted Mom and Alyssa too, while Rachel just smiled and said something that seemed to approximate a 'hello.'

The five of us ordered breakfast and participated in some idle chit-chat. I decided to ask the question I was dying to know the answer to, "Daddy, what are we doing today?"

I watched him smile, calling him Daddy was something I hadn't done for about three years – it just wasn't cool as a boy. As a teenage girl though, it felt comfortable, and I knew I could do it in front of friends even without problems. Alyssa even called her mom 'mommy' frequently around me. Usually, it was when she wanted something though... I smiled as I realized that.

"Well, I know you like animals... and won't be able to walk around much for a week or so... so how about going to the zoo?" He suggested.

I smiled, "That sounds like fun!"

"I think so too," he said with a smile.

"Honey, I think I'm going to stick around here today and maybe go do some shopping around some shops today. If you don't mind, I'd like to take a pass at the zoo," Rachel said.

Inwardly I was jumping up and down saying, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!'

Dad frowned a bit, "I thought we came up to see Taylor though, he... I mean she..." he was flustered for a second.

I smiled at him, "Trust me, I understand, I get just as confused!"

He smiled at me sadly, he felt bad. "She isn't living around anymore, and it would be nice for you to spend some time with her."

"Dad, it's okay," I said, "I can completely understand Rachel wanting to go shopping!"

"Would you rather...?" He started.

"No, I'd like to go to the zoo, it sounds like fun!" I assured him. "But I can understand if Rachel just wants to do some shopping today." I added.

Rachel gave me a fake smile, "I'll meet up with you guys for dinner tonight?" She suggested.

"Sounds good!" I told her.

Dad looked at me a little bit weird, looked at my mom, and shrugged, "Whatever floats your boat sweetheart."

We finished eating our food and went out to pick-up Mom's car from the valet. We were leaving Dad's rental car with Rachel so she could go shopping, 'That was the best break I've caught in months!' I thought to myself. I hadn't been looking forward to spending time with her! Dad climbed into the front passenger seat and I saw Alyssa giggle a bit as she watched him have to duck his head to sit in the seat. At least he'd been smart enough to push the seat back before he sat down. Given that I was its last occupant, there was no way he was going to fit otherwise!