Dad came home the next day, looking somewhat relaxed, healthy and tan. Gazing between him and Amanda, she had a feeling that the situation between the two of them was tense.
Amanda made them lunch, and before he locked himself in the study, he wanted Mia to go with him for a walk.
They walked outside, heading across the road toward the bike trail which ran past the Dragonfly Pointe Inn and around the point.
After several minutes of silence, her dad said abruptly, “I hear you have a boyfriend?”
“Yes. His name’s Noah,” she answered, walking with her Dad along the trail.
Dad growled, “I hope it’s nothing serious?”
Mia gave him a side glance, evading the question. “He’s going into the Air Force at the end of the summer.”
“You’re too young to be committing yourself to one person,” he muttered.
Mia sighed heavily. She should have figured Dad would have this reaction. He was obsessed with her future, more than she was herself, and she had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the fact that she wanted a career in music.
“Truthfully? How serious can it get with him leaving for boot camp at the end of the summer?”
He nodded approvingly. “When does your music camp begin?”
“At the end of the week,” she answered.
“I guess we can forego any vacations this summer, since you’ll be busy?”
Mia answered, “Yes. I’m really looking forward to camp.”
Mia breathed in a sigh of relief. She used to love vacations with Dad, but all he seemed to care about anymore was business. She thought about bringing up the subject of her career, but her dad didn’t seem to be in a very good mood right now, so she’d leave it alone.
Arriving just short of the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, they turned around and headed back home, remaining quiet for the rest of the walk. There was a lot of activity on the lake today, Mia thought, and even though the temperature was only in the low seventies, she saw a few water skiers racing through the choppy water.
Amanda seemed to have disappeared once they returned home. There was a note on the table saying she’d gone into town to do some shopping.
Dad locked himself in the study to work, while Mia danced and practiced her vocals along with the piano for the remainder of the afternoon. The rest of the time she just thought about Noah.
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Mia had planned on taking Dad to the park where there was a Memorial Day weekend celebration taking place, along with a craft fair and petting zoo for kids. There would be live music all day, with Noah’s band playing this evening.
But of course Dad had made other plans, and Mia found herself having dinner alone with him at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn.
And Noah didn’t have a phone. He’d mentioned he’d had to choose between a computer and internet access or a phone, and the computer had won out—even though their internet access was awful, he’d mentioned he spent a lot of time at the local library. He did have a disposable phone, so his grandparents could call him in case of an emergency.
Dad asked abruptly, “What would you think about me getting married again?”
Mia’s jaw dropped.
Until finally, she spoke. “You mean with Amanda? I think that would be great.”
But looking at the obvious shock on her father’s face, she realized she had it all wrong. Of course that was why he’d been traveling so much—he was seeing another woman. It was probably why he and Amanda were barely speaking.
Wonderful.
He growled, “Whatever gave you that idea?”
“The way you two used to be together, when I was younger. We went so many places back then and had a lot of fun. I just always hoped…” Mia shook her head resignedly.
“In my position, I need someone who can help me manage my career,” he muttered.
Mia looked at him oddly. Isn’t that exactly what Amanda had been doing for him during the last fifteen years?
Dad added, “I’m bringing Monique here for a visit in a few weeks.”
Oh, boy. Mia could hardly wait.
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After their conversation at the restaurant, Dad seemed a little more agreeable, so Mia talked him into dropping by the park for a while.
Although Dad wasn’t too enthused, he walked around with Mia, checking out the crafts.
When Mia heard the chords of a familiar song echo through the speakers, she looked toward the platform set up for the performers, and saw that Noah’s band, Blue Moon, was up next.
“That’s Noah’s band. I’m going to go watch for a while, if that’s alright?”
Her father grunted.
But when Mia turned toward the pavilion where her dad was staring, she saw Amanda sitting at a picnic bench, obviously out on a date with a man Mia had never met. It’s funny how Amanda hadn’t mentioned anything to Mia. But then again, she’d been a little more secretive lately.
So that was why he wasn’t as intent about giving Mia the third degree about Noah, she realized, glancing at his face. It was a great time to make an escape, so she did.