Train Me Daddy

I squeal, “Yes, I can’t believe that we’re here.”

Then I clap my hands together, and I can’t help but let out a little scream as he parks the car.

“Are we doing this?” I ask as he takes my hand and we enter the Space Center. "Where do you want to start?" I close my eyes and think for about two seconds, what's the one thing that I've always been dying to see the most, "The historic Apollo 11 command module without a doubt."

He nods, "Good choice. My lady gets what my lady demands.”

Then I loop my hand into his arm as he locks the car and then we go on a tour. I expected Isaac to go to the module and then turn around. The more time we spent in there, the more he wanted to see. I soon realized that he hadn’t been in there since he was a kid.

“It seems as if I’m not the only one was excited to come.”

He confesses, “You got me there. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”

“Should we see some more?”

He laughs, “Why not? We’ve got nothing else to be rushing back for? Or do you have to work at the ranch today?”

I shake my head, “You’re asking me now. After we’ve spent most of the morning and afternoon out together?”

He laughs, “You know the crazy thing about it all?”

As he ignores my question, curiosity wants to know what’s on his mind.

“No.”

“I haven’t even wanted a drink.”

This means that my plan’s working. I start flicking through the guide book. I want us to stay all day, not only because I want to spend time with him, but because I never thought I'd say this, but I’m loving not being at the ranch for the first time in a long time.

***

I stop as we near the car and take out my cell phone. “I have to call Neil. It’s my day off, but I didn’t tell him that I got here safely.”

“Don’t go back,” Isaac says. “There’s much more to see in Houston. Tomorrow we can see more sights.”

“But where am I going to stay?”

“In my apartment. It’s huge. Of course, it’s nothing near as many square feet as the ranch house, but it’s more than big enough for the two of us.

“Okay, I’ll stay. You’ve twisted my arm.”

He nods, “Good now, call granddad and tell him that you’ll be back tomorrow night. I pick up my phone and Neil picks on the first ring, “Hi Neil’s speaking.”

“Neil, it’s Olivia,” I say as my eyes dart from Isaac to the floor.

“Where are you?”

“Houston.”

“ I know that you said that you were going, but I thought that you might change your mind,” he chuckles as he talks about my trip.

“Yeah, I surprised myself. Uh . . . I’m with Isaac. We just got through touring the Space Center,” I’m smiling at Isaac, but I know what he’s looking at. The back seat and his bottle that’s waiting for him.

“Now, that’s worth a trip to Houston for sure. Uh . . . How is Isaac? Are the two of you coming back to the ranch tonight?”

“Isaac wants to show me more sights in Houston tomorrow. He said that I could stay in his apartment.”

I’m nodding my head waiting for a reaction from Neil. He’ll tell me if it's not a good idea. He’ll reassure me if it’s the right thing to do.