young man released a snicker. “Be serious for a minute. Take a look at
his background and...”
“I need to go swimming,” Sam suddenly interrupted,
racing upstairs. Rich followed her with his eyes.
“Swimming? At this time of night? It’s chilly out
there.”
“She likes the cold water. Are you all right, honey?”
Dr. Quimby asked, as Sam came back down, wrapped in a towel.
“I will be, Daddy. Don't worry. Sorry I interrupted;
Uncle Scott, I...”
“Yes, darling, I know. Turn on the floodlights and do
NOT dive off the rail. Be back in thirty minutes. No later, young lady,” Scott
ordered, pulling her into his arms to kiss the top of her head.
“Yes, sir. I'll be right back. Rich? Will you still
be here?”
“Yes, but...” Rich frowned as she blew everyone a
kiss and ran out the back, bypassing the swimming pool. Her destination became
obvious to him and he turned to her family. “You are allowing her to go into
the ocean at this time of night? Alone? Without a wetsuit or gear? It's none
of my business, but...”
“Another worrier for poor Samantha. Relax, Richard.
She needs to do that. Let me explain,” Dr. Quimby said, sharing the story once
again. Rich’s jaw hung open as the story unraveled.
“I’m back. It’s cold tonight. Let me dry off and I’ll
be back down,” Sam said upon her return, fifteen minutes later. She was
shivering.
“This is unbelievable. Most of us would be blue with
that temperature.”
“True. And it isn't the water that makes her cold, it
is the air temperature. My question now is - do you still want to date my
daughter? This quirky family is part of the package, along with her little... uh...
issues.”
“It wasn’t much of a date tonight, more like friends
hanging out. I would like to continue to get to know her, as well as the rest of
you. So my answer is, yes sir, I would. With your permission.”
“Granted. My only concern is that if you guys date
and you have problems, you might find that working together could be
difficult. Samantha can be a little obstinate at times, like her uncle.”
“And everyone thinks that I'm a delight. You need to
ease up, Joe. You and I have worked together for centuries and have our share
of disagreements. She'll be fine.” Scott snorted, earning him a stern look
from his friend.
“It's true, Dad. Plus, she doesn’t hold grudges and
I’m always there to mitigate. Word of warning, Rich, when she and I fight,
it’s not very pretty,” Michael warned him with a grin.
“The earth starts to shake, floods happen and
everything goes dark,” Scott mumbled. Rich made a face, confused.
Dr. Quimby laughed, “Not exactly, but we do have some
fallout if Ton gets agitated. Ah, here’s my little mermaid. Feel better, my
love?”
“Yes, Daddy. I haven’t been in since I got my pretty
ring.” Sam said, sitting next to her father on the couch and snuggling under
his arm. “I'm surprised I hadn't had the urge prior to tonight. The dunk was
long past due. I had to go down to at least 200 before I felt normal.”
“200 feet? Free dive?” Rich raised an eyebrow, “Are
you guys pulling my leg?”
“Not at all. I'm assuming you explained things to
Rich.”
“We did,” Dr. Quimby responded softly, stroking her
arm as he drew her warmly against him. “And he hung around. Scott is already
deciding to keep him for himself.”
“Wow. You must have impressed them! Are you okay
with this? I know it's odd, but...”
“It will take some getting used to, but I adore
challenges. It's getting late and I do need to get going. Sam, would you walk
me out? Gentlemen, Michael, it was a pleasure. I’ll see you in the morning,” Rich
said, standing and firmly shaking the hands of the older men. He looked
surprised when Scott gave him a bear hug.
“This is a hugging family, so get over it, boy. Plan
on staying
his background and...”
“I need to go swimming,” Sam suddenly interrupted,
racing upstairs. Rich followed her with his eyes.
“Swimming? At this time of night? It’s chilly out
there.”
“She likes the cold water. Are you all right, honey?”
Dr. Quimby asked, as Sam came back down, wrapped in a towel.
“I will be, Daddy. Don't worry. Sorry I interrupted;
Uncle Scott, I...”
“Yes, darling, I know. Turn on the floodlights and do
NOT dive off the rail. Be back in thirty minutes. No later, young lady,” Scott
ordered, pulling her into his arms to kiss the top of her head.
“Yes, sir. I'll be right back. Rich? Will you still
be here?”
“Yes, but...” Rich frowned as she blew everyone a
kiss and ran out the back, bypassing the swimming pool. Her destination became
obvious to him and he turned to her family. “You are allowing her to go into
the ocean at this time of night? Alone? Without a wetsuit or gear? It's none
of my business, but...”
“Another worrier for poor Samantha. Relax, Richard.
She needs to do that. Let me explain,” Dr. Quimby said, sharing the story once
again. Rich’s jaw hung open as the story unraveled.
“I’m back. It’s cold tonight. Let me dry off and I’ll
be back down,” Sam said upon her return, fifteen minutes later. She was
shivering.
“This is unbelievable. Most of us would be blue with
that temperature.”
“True. And it isn't the water that makes her cold, it
is the air temperature. My question now is - do you still want to date my
daughter? This quirky family is part of the package, along with her little... uh...
issues.”
“It wasn’t much of a date tonight, more like friends
hanging out. I would like to continue to get to know her, as well as the rest of
you. So my answer is, yes sir, I would. With your permission.”
“Granted. My only concern is that if you guys date
and you have problems, you might find that working together could be
difficult. Samantha can be a little obstinate at times, like her uncle.”
“And everyone thinks that I'm a delight. You need to
ease up, Joe. You and I have worked together for centuries and have our share
of disagreements. She'll be fine.” Scott snorted, earning him a stern look
from his friend.
“It's true, Dad. Plus, she doesn’t hold grudges and
I’m always there to mitigate. Word of warning, Rich, when she and I fight,
it’s not very pretty,” Michael warned him with a grin.
“The earth starts to shake, floods happen and
everything goes dark,” Scott mumbled. Rich made a face, confused.
Dr. Quimby laughed, “Not exactly, but we do have some
fallout if Ton gets agitated. Ah, here’s my little mermaid. Feel better, my
love?”
“Yes, Daddy. I haven’t been in since I got my pretty
ring.” Sam said, sitting next to her father on the couch and snuggling under
his arm. “I'm surprised I hadn't had the urge prior to tonight. The dunk was
long past due. I had to go down to at least 200 before I felt normal.”
“200 feet? Free dive?” Rich raised an eyebrow, “Are
you guys pulling my leg?”
“Not at all. I'm assuming you explained things to
Rich.”
“We did,” Dr. Quimby responded softly, stroking her
arm as he drew her warmly against him. “And he hung around. Scott is already
deciding to keep him for himself.”
“Wow. You must have impressed them! Are you okay
with this? I know it's odd, but...”
“It will take some getting used to, but I adore
challenges. It's getting late and I do need to get going. Sam, would you walk
me out? Gentlemen, Michael, it was a pleasure. I’ll see you in the morning,” Rich
said, standing and firmly shaking the hands of the older men. He looked
surprised when Scott gave him a bear hug.
“This is a hugging family, so get over it, boy. Plan
on staying
Similar Books
