A week before Joey was to start art school, she and Mr. Peabody took the trip to Florida, like they planned, only Joey was not as excited as she had been. Mr. Peabody did his best to keep her spirits up. She still had bouts of depression and crying episodes, but she was slowly starting to heal.

When they arrived in Florida, they immediately went to the hotel they were staying in. It was close to the ocean and had a beautiful view when they looked out the window.

"Look at this, Josephine," Mr. Peabody said, looking out the window. She looked out with very little interest. "Isn't it amazing? You'll love it."

Joey just nodded. She sat on a bed. He sat by her. She didn't see it, but he was biting his lip. He put his paw on her hand. "Josephine, I know you are still depressed about your break up. I know you loved Alessandro very much and probably still do."

"No," she said. "I don't love him anymore. All the love I had for him left before we broke up. To tell you the truth, I had fallen out of love with him after he started treating me like crap. I was just so emotionally attached to him and didn't want to let him go. I no longer have any feelings of love for him. It's just taking me a while to get over it."

Mr. Peabody nodded. His paw started shaking. Joey looked at him with concern. "Dad, are you alright?"

"Yes, sweetie," he replied, stroking her hair. His voice became softer. "Josephine, you know that love is an unpredictable, but wonderful thing."

"Yes. You can't help who you fall in love with. I wish I could have."
"Some things are out of our control," he said, stroking her cheek. Joey looked at him. "We can either choose to ignore our feelings or give in to them. Most of the time, ignoring your feelings just leaves you feeling empty and miserable."

"What are you saying?"

Mr. Peabody stared at her with his deep green eyes and leaned forward. He gently kissed the corner of Joey's mouth. Joey's eyes widened. "Dad! What are you doing?"

"I can't repress this any longer." He held her hands. "Josephine, I love you. I love you with all my heart. I know who and what I am. I am your father. I am a dog. I am the last one you would ever consider being with, but…if there is any chance at all that you could love me, too, then I would like to take that chance with you."

Joey couldn't believe what she was hearing. This couldn't be happening. Her father, her own father who had fostered and adopted her, was now confessing that he loved her. He just told her that he loved her romantically. Her mind was flipped upside down, and that moment, her perception of him changed.

Joey was speechless. Mr. Peabody saw the look on her face and immediately looked remorseful. "I am so sorry," he said, sadly. "As you said, you cannot help who you fall in love with. I hope you will forgive me someday."

Joey couldn't speak. She was so shocked that she couldn't find her voice. Mr. Peabody said, "I apologize for ruining our vacation. We will go back home immediately. I will get us a flight home as soon as I can."

As he turned to leave the room, Joey suddenly cried out. "Wait!"