Chapter 11

"Awww Dad." 12 year old Joey protested when his father insisted he wear a helmet and elbow pads while trying out the new skateboard ramp they'd built together that afternoon. As Adam had hoped, working all day Saturday and well into the night, he finished enough preparation for this week's seminar that he could devote Sunday to the family.

"Awww Dad nothing." Adam wasn't going to let anything ruin the day, certainly not a nasty spill. A look over his shoulder where Beth sat watching on the porch steps reinforced his resolve. She was adamant about safety, whether it be on a horse or roller blades or the skateboard where Joey spent hours perfecting stunts. "Besides … are you trying to get me in trouble with your mother?"

The father and son shared a private laugh before Joey double-checked to make sure the sandpaper he'd affixed to the deck of the board was attached securely.

"Want to see my 'ollie' Dad?" Joey asked before he tapped the tail of the board on the ground causing it to jump into the air.

"Very nice." Adam replied. "Think you can show me how you do that?"

Beth rolled her eyes as Cassie and Ryan stopped looking at the latest GAP catalog, laughing at the idea of their Dad on a skateboard.

"Oh you don't think your old man has the right stuff?" Adam smirked as he took the skateboard from Joey.

"Want my helmet and pads?" Joey offered, unhooking the chinstrap.

"I think I'll be all right." Adam didn't see the need. He'd played around a little on the board and thought he could handle it. Plus, it wasn't like he could get hurt.

Joey spent the next few minutes explaining to his Dad how he'd managed to lift the board by tapping the tail. When Adam thought he had it, he went to the end of the driveway and started his run down. He couldn't help the gloating grin after he managed to lift the board on the first try.

"Wow Dad, you're a natural." Joey was impressed. Beth was too, but still laughed at Adam's propensity for showing off when he could. He was such a ham.

Adam decided to try something he and Joey had seen on Extreme Sports a few nights earlier, getting up a good head of steam, assaulting the ramp and trying to rotate in the air at the same time.

"Look out Dad!" Ryan yelled as she saw the edge of the board catch the edge of the ramp, throwing her Father backwards onto the pavement. Adam hadn't been able to adjust himself and skid across the surface, scraping the side of his thigh and forearm.

"Cassie why don't you go check on the casserole in the oven and Ryan can set the table while I fix up Daddy." Beth ordered as she went to see if she could help. "Joey, could you put the ramp and the skateboard in the shed please? I think we've had enough for one day."

"It's nothing …" Adam insisted, hating that his antics had cut the kid's fun short. "Just a nasty scrape. Don't make a fuss."

"I'm not making a fuss" she whispered, but if you don't get up and into the bathroom now, we're going to have a lot of explaining to do. "There's large bandages in the first aid kit underneath the drop in tray. You should be able to cover this so the children won't see the healing."

Over the years there had only been a few occasions where Adam had to endure the charade of mortality. The children had been so young most of the time there hadn't been cause for worry. However these scrapes were quite long and he'd have to keep them covered for a while.

"It was easier when they were small huh?" he joked.

"It was easier when you weren't trying to one up your 12-year-old son." Beth picked a few pieces of dirt out of the scrapes that were already showing signs of healing. Adam hurried into the bathroom while she kept the children occupied.

"Daddy's such a dork sometimes." Cassie laughed as she got the milk out of the refrigerator.

"You're a dork." Ryan argued.

"Girls." Beth had hoped this rivalry between the two would get better with age. Now she dreaded these teen years because both were learning new ways to push the other's buttons. Trying to play one parent in their favor often meant she and Adam ended up being caught in the middle of their arguments. It took a great deal of patience and a lot of late night conversations between the two to walk the fine line of support.

"Does it hurt Daddy?" Ryan was a little surprised when he appeared in the kitchen with a large bandage on his arm and leg. When Joey scraped himself, usually cleaning out the cuts and spraying antiseptic was enough. Their Mom thought giving the wound air would promote healing. If he was bandaged up so much, then maybe he was really hurt.

"It stings a little." Adam squeezed the back of her neck affectionately as he came around her chair and took his place at the table. "Nothing a little ointment and some time won't take care of Angel."

"Maybe next time Daddy will use proper safety precautions and wear a helmet and pads." Beth couldn't resist teasing him.

Adam tossed a dinner roll at Beth, laughing at her attempt at humor at his expense.

"FOOD FIGHT!" Joey chuckled, lifting his own roll. He didn't intend to throw it, but couldn't resist making the threat.

"First a fine example for playground safety and now this lovely display of manners. I'm wondering what other fascinating and insightful lessons you'll be teaching our children tonight." Beth batted her eyes at him as she laughed.

"Daddy are you sure you can't come to the program for Parent's night?" Cassie had a part in the play the freshmen were performing. It wasn't big, but she was excited.

"I'm sorry Princess, but you know this week is the seminar. Wednesday night is the main dinner and reception. I can't miss either. I'm the host."

"Uncle Duncan and Aunt Amanda will be here." Beth announced, hoping it would ease Adam's news. "I'm sure they will enjoy seeing the performance."

Cassie knew how important her Father's seminar was, but still … she wished he could attend.

"I'll ask Duncan to videotape it and we'll watch it together the minute I get home from the seminar." Adam assured her.

Cassie smiled as she picked at her food. Beth and Adam could see she would be fine, but her father made a mental note to remember to pick up a bouquet of flowers to bring home for her after the performance.

"I'm riding in the 4-H club rodeo on Saturday Daddy. You'll be there won't you? My horse is so fast. We hardly ever touch the pylons." It was obvious Ryan was contrasting the fact that she knew her father would be at her event and not her sisters.

"You know I would never miss anything important to any of my children if it is at all possible." Adam made a point of not giving her a direct answer and the gaze to go along with it that let Ryan know he realized she was trying to hurt her sister.

Ryan's eyes dropped to her plate, not feeling hungry anymore.

Changing the subject, Beth told Adam she'd call the insurance company first thing the next morning about the repairs to the car. "I can't believe someone would find keying a car amusing." she shook her head.

Adam had his own suspicions, but kept them to himself. He only had to tolerate Avery Lind for the next 4 days and then she would move on to another department to complete an additional internship in archaeology. He wouldn't even be on campus again until the Spring Semester began in January and with any luck he would never lay eyes on her again.