A boat, Sarah thought to herself. Her father was losing his mind. After Sarah's little mind trip to the Labyrinth two years ago, she was certain that she'd never be surprised again. But here was the straight laced Robert Williams grinning like a little boy as he pulled into the marina and pointed out their new yacht.
"Well, what do you think?" he asked his family. Toby was reaching out in the direction of the boat and Karen smiled, walking towards it. Sarah hung back a bit, staring at the scene in front of her.
"It's a boat," she said weakly. Robert laughed.
"Yes, silly girl and next weekend we are going for a family cruise."
"Karen agreed to that?" Sarah asked, not taking her eyes off the boat. He nodded, wondering at Sarah's reaction.
"You don't approve?" His question snapped her out of her stunned behavior.
"What? No, I mean yes I approve, but - you've never spent money on anything before. I mean you've never," her voice drifted at his amused grin.
"Honey, ever since you apologized to us and told us how lost you'd been - not feeling like a member of your own family," he paused to cough. Emotion was new to him and sometimes he still faltered. "Sarah, I've never been one to tell people how I felt, I've always envied you - how you always speak your mind. I don't want to waste time thinking about how we all could have been a family." He looked at her, shrugging gently. "Sound silly?"
Sarah smiled and impulsively hugged her father.
"Not silly at all, Dad - but you don't know anything about boats."
"That's why I've hired a captain, he comes highly recommended. Name's Gerald or Jason or - I don't know, but we'll meet him tomorrow night. Karen invited him for dinner."
"Sounds good - let's go see our boat, shall we?" Sarah grinned at her father and the two of them joined Karen and Toby on board.