Part 3 - Chapter One

“Not again,” Chrissie groaned as her father won yet another round.

“Yes, again,” Jason laughed. “Come on.”

“Player,” Chrissie murmured, focusing intently on the cards.

“Et voila!”, he shouted as he won yet again.

“I'm done,” she declared, getting up to her feet.

“Okay. We continue tomorrow a...”

“No. Not tomorrow. Not ever. You're a sharper.”

“And you.. are a sore loser.”

Chrissie had not heard him. She was standing at the window, watching the rain as it beat softly against the glass. Like him, when something was on his mind, she had that faraway look in her eyes and he sighed as he recalled the reason for it. She had just broken up with Clyde. Although he didn't know the details, neither did he want to know since he always knew that it was going to happen, but he was determined to help her get past it. He had no much experience with heartbreaks and the sort, but as her father, he considered himself most eligible to help her get through this tough time. He was sure of success, even though so far, there had been no sign of any. Going to the movies had not worked, allowing her to beat him in backgammon excited her for only a short while and now, beating her in baccarat was still not the answer. He scratched his head as he thought of what next to do. Talking to her about the breakup was not a very pleasant option. She had no idea that he knew about the relationship in the first place, not to mention the breakup and Jason reasoned that she would heal faster and better if he continued to feign ignorance. He didn't want her to feel that she had let him down by choosing someone that he wouldn't have approved of.

“Hey hon,” he called to her as he packed the cards. “Why not let's try some of those favourite series of yours?”

“I've had enough for one night, dad,” she yawned as she walked away from the window. “I'm off to sleep.”

He knew her enough to know that the yawn was faked but still, he kissed her good night and watched as she went off to her room.

“Sure you don't want me to come read you a story?”, he teased.

“Get near my room and I'll call 911,” she shouted back.

Jason chuckled. Leaning back with a sigh, he picked up the remote control and turned on the TV. He switched idly through various channels, searching for what he knew not and then suddenly, he came to a stop. Now I've got it, he thought. On the screen was a woman walking a dog. He smiled as he felt the inspiration for the best solution to Chrissie's problem. Yes, he would buy her a pet. It would keep her busy until the Duncans return from their long vacation. The Duncan boys loved their cousin to no end and it wouldn't take long for them to thaw her out of her shell of ice.

***

The next morning, Jason left home early enough to make a good tour of the pet stores in the area. He knew exactly what he was looking for and it didn't take him long to come back home with his prize.

"Hello sweetheart," he called loudly and proudly as he entered the sitting room.

Chrissie walked in to find him smiling like a schoolboy who'd just had all A's in his report card.

“What's new, dad?”, she asked, eyeing him curiously. “What new tricks are up your sleeve now?”

“Just one, dear. Just one. Guess what?”

“What?”

“Come on, just guess,” Jason urged, looking very impatient.

“Hmm,” Chrissie settled down on a couch and crossed her legs.

“You won a lottery?”

“Pffh,” her father scoffed.

“Okay. You got someone pregnant?”

She laughed out loud as he stood staring at her with a shocked expression on his face.

“That was very unfair,” he grumbled, though deep down he was glad to see her laugh for the first time in a long while.

“But you asked me to guess! So why don't you tell me what the big news is or should I keep guessing?”

“I'm in a forgiving mood today, so I'll let it pass. Meanwhile, just close your eyes.”

“What? Why?”

“Well, you annoyed me, young lady and then you failed to guess correctly. So that's your punishment.”

“Fine,” she sighed, closing her eyes halfway.

“Uh uh, close 'em. No peeking or the punishment gets doubled.”

“Oh,” she blurted, quickly closing her eyes totally.

“Good,” Jason approved. He ran a hand over her face and after satisfying himself that she was not peeking, stole silently away to get the package. He knew his daughter was not one to endure being kept on her toes for long, but he was determined to push her to her limit. He knew it would be worth it.

“Now, open your eyes,” he proclaimed with pride after surveying his handiwork for the second time.

“But your ears haven't really grown a... Oh! Dad!” Chrissie squealed in delight as she noticed the little cocker spaniel beside her on the couch. Jason, feeling proud and thoroughly satisfied with himself, chuckled merrily and rubbed his hands like someone who'd just landed a deal of a lifetime.

“I know how much you love cockers, so I got you one.”

He had hardly finished saying this when she grabbed him in a tight hug, smoldering his face with kisses.

“Thank you, dad,” she beamed, almost out of breath and jumping excitedly. “I love you so much. Lemme go show it to Tessy. I'll be right back!”

“Take your time, honey,” he called after her.

Breathing deeply, he took a seat on the sofa and looked all around him. Everything seemed to wear a shiny new look and he congratulated himself on the success of his little mission. Problem finally solved!

It was a little late in the evening when Chrissie returned. She didn't say why she had stayed out so long, but Jason guessed she must have shown the dog to half of Florida and spent hours playing with it and Tessy at the beach. They had food delivered by room service and after supper, Chrissie promptly went off to her room with her brand new pet. Jason was glad, but not surprised at the effect the little dog was having on her. He could vividly remember the strong love she had long ago for their neighbor's cocker spaniel. If he knew his daughter, she would tell the dog all her problems and soon, she would feel much better than ever. He guessed that now would be a good time to tell her about his latest plan. He really needed her opinion and wanted her to be comfortable with it before putting it into action.

Walking up to her door, as expected, he could hear her talking, most likely to the dog. He knocked gingerly and waited.

“Who's that?”, Chrissie called out.

“Tombraiders,” Jason replied in a loud bass.

“You've got the wrong address, mister. This ain't no tomb. Try somewhere else.”

“Can I see for myself?”, he asked, slowly turning the door knob.

“Whatever.”

Jason opened the door and stepped in. He certainly wasn't surprised to see Chrissie sitting in bed with the dog.

“Hope I'm not coming at a bad time?”

“Oh get yourself a seat before I get mad.”

“Okay ma'am. Always at your service.”

Jason took the little sofa facing the bed, but he didn't look at her as he sat down and breathed deeply. Instead, he roved his eyes about the room with an interested expression on his face, as if he was seeing the place for the first time.

“Are you gonna keep looking or spill exactly why you're here?”, Chrissie asked impatiently.

“I was just admiring how neat your room is.”

“Just like every other room in this building.”

“Right. I mean, it's a nice hotel.”

“What's on your mind, dad?”, she sighed in exasperation. “I need my beauty sleep, you know.”

“Oh. Tomorrow then,” Jason said, rising to his feet.

“Oh sit down and spill whatever it is you're hiding in that large head of yours!”

“Okay okay. Well, I didn't wanna bother you with...”

“Oh Christ, dad! What's with all the formality? What are you so scared of? That I won't like what you have to say? Do you wanna get married again?”

“God, no! That's the farthest thing from my mind.”

“Then what's really on that elusive mind of yours?! I'm sure you bribed me with the dog, so you could ask some huge impossible favour.”

“What! No! I bought you the dog because I knew you.. you'd love it. I had no other motive, my dear.”

“I know you had an extra motive... and I will find it out one day. So tell me, what is it you wanted to tell me?”

“Umm,” Jason began, clearing his throat. “You see, I was thinking. I mean, just thinking. What if.. I were to get a job... Would you like it? Be comfortable with it?”

“Is that all! Oh Christ, I thought it was something serious!”

“But it is serious, isn't it?”

“I thought you got two sisters pregnant or something much worse! Oh get outta my room before I set the dog on you.”

“Now you're hurting my feelings,” Jason grumbled, rising slowly to his feet.

“I'll hurt more than your feelings if I don't see your back.. right now.”

Jason quickly rushed to the door. He had barely closed it behind him when he heard the thump of something hitting the door and falling to the ground. He put his mouth close to the knob.

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“Goodnight, dad. And good luck with the new job.”

“But I'm yet to find one.”

“Whatever. Just go away.”

He chuckled and went on his way. He breathed a huge sigh of relief as he opened the door to his room. Another item off the checklist.