The next day, Roxanne and I woke up and felt better after one of the best sleeps we both ever had in our lives. Even though Roxanne slept very well and she was happier now that she was with me again, she was still deeply scarred for the last eight years of her life and was struggling to get over it very quickly. I know how she felt, because even though she was back in my life and I was on an awesome vacation with activities I really love doing ever since I was a kid, but I still needed time to get over what Mona did to me and I certainly didn't expect Roxanne to get over her horrible life in San Siesta over one night. However, she did make some progress that morning because she felt brave enough to join me for breakfast at the hotel's restaurant. When we got there, we saw my dad, Sylvia and Hannah at a table and already having breakfast.
When my dad saw Roxanne, he quickly went to hug her. "Hiya, Roxanne," he greeted. "I've really missed you too."
"I've really missed you too, Mr. Goof," Roxanne said, hugging him back.
Then my dad went to grab some food for me and Roxanne. While he did that, I introduced Roxanne to my stepmom Sylvia and she thanked her for all the spare clothes she gave her last night. Then I introduced Roxanne to my baby sister Hannah, who she thought was very adorable.
Soon my dad made his way back to our table, but he was struggling because he picked everything from the buffet and had difficult balancing everything. Then he slipped on a loose banana skin and tripped, dropping everything. All the food went flying and landed on our table and some on us. I was slightly embarrassed, but when Sylvia, Hannah and even Roxanne started to laugh, I started to smile and eat my breakfast.
On this day, my family and I rented a speedboat to have fun on Mouston Lake. I, along with my dad, Sylvia, Hannah and Roxanne, got on the boat and we went out onto the lake. My dad, Sylvia and I had been on many boats before, but this was Hannah's first boat trip and it was also Roxanne's. They were the only two that wore life vests while my dad, Sylvia and I didn't. In fact, this was also Roxanne's very first vacation ever as she and her dad never went on a vacation in their lives. Even if they could afford to go to the cheapest vacation ever, they wouldn't go because my dad was still too upset about the deaths of his dear wife and Emma to even see the point of trying to get out of the house and have fun.
After ten minutes, my dad who was driving the speedboat stopped it so Sylvia could start her slalom water skiing. She took off glasses and her clothes, leaving on her strapless bright green bikini. Then she sat at the edge of the boat and put her water ski on and then she jumped into the water to get ready. Then I threw her the water ski rope which she caught.
"Okay, Max, tell your dad to hit it!" Sylvia yelled.
Then I told my dad that Sylvia was ready to go and he started the boat. While he continued to manage the boat, I was the observer checking on Sylvia as she enjoyed her slalom water skiing.
"Wow, Max! Your stepmom's very good at water-skiing," Roxanne said, as she held Hannah.
"I know," I said. "She used to a lot of water-skiing since the 1970s. She doesn't do it very often, but when she does it, she's still amazing at it."
An hour later, Sylvia gave the signal that she had done enough of slalom water skiing, so she let go of the rope and kept on skiing until she sank into the water. I told my dad to turn the boat around to retrieve her.
"Amazing, Sylvia, as always" I said, as I gave her a towel for her to dry after she climbed back onto the boat.
"Yeah, you were very good, Sylvia," Roxanne said.
"Well done, honey," my dad said.
"Thanks, everyone," Sylvia said, as she dried herself.
"And Hannah enjoyed watching her mommy," Roxanne said. "Didn't you, Hannah? Yes, you did."
I was really surprised as well as my dad and Sylvia at how well Roxanne was at looking after Hannah and how much they immediately like each other, even though they only met each other that morning.
Then it was my turn to go wakeboarding, so I took off my red t-shirt, leaving on my orange swim shorts, and then I grabbed my wakeboard, sat on the edge of the boat, strapped my feet into the wakeboard and jumped into the water. Sylvia, who was the observer this time, threw me the ski rope, which I caught.
"Okay, Sylvia, tell Dad to hit it!" I yelled.
Then the speedboat started again and I rose out of the water and started my wakeboarding. As always, I had to focus on my wakeboarding, but I could see Sylvia doing a good job of being the watcher and Roxanne, still holding Hannah, enjoyed seeing me do my wakeboarding as much as I enjoyed doing it. After an hour, it was time for lunch so that was when I gave the signal to stop and let go of the rope and sank in the water and waited until the boat came around to retrieve me.
"That was amazing, Max," Roxanne said, as I climbed back onto the boat and she gave me a towel.
"Thanks, Roxanne," I said, as I dried myself.
Then it was time for the boat picnic lunch. It was food we took from the buffet but saved it for this lunch. There were apples, grapes, salads, sandwiches of many types – including cheese, chicken, roast beef, egg and ham – cookies and muffins. Everything we had was all delicious.
"So, how's your first boat experience, Roxanne?" I asked as we ate lunch.
"It's really incredible, Max," she replied. "This experience is incredible, but the most incredible part of it is being with you and your wonderful family."
Those very kind words from Roxanne really me and my family very happy. I was amazed that even though she had been through eight years of hell, she was still like the person I dated in Spoonerville in the 1990s – beautiful, funny, kind, caring and generous – instead of hurting people because she was hurt herself. That was one thing I've always admired about her.
After our delicious lunch, we all had time for one last activity. Sylvia suggested that we go tubing as we had a two-person towable tube onboard the boat and we all thought that would be a very good idea. My dad took off his Hawaiian shirt and left on his light blue swim shorts and joined Sylvia on the tube. Roxanne, who was still holding Hannah, was the observer this time and kept telling me to start it, how fast or slow they wanted to go and when they wanted to stop. She was very good at being the observer.
Once my dad and Sylvia was done after an hour, there was still enough time for me to go on. I offered Roxanne the chance to join me as she hadn't done any of today's activities. She was a little bit nervous because she had never done it before, but after some encouragement from me, my dad and Sylvia, she took off her sandals and her white, green Hawaiian dress, leaving on a strapless white bikini, and joined me on the tube. She was still nervous, but she felt better because I was with her and I was holding the rope. I gave Sylvia, who was the observer again and holding Hannah, the signal to let her know that Roxanne and I were ready, so she told my dad to get the speedboat going and he did.
I did tubing before and I've always enjoyed it, but I was amazed at how Roxanne was really enjoying and she was very nervous about it before she tried it. We enjoyed doing it for an hour. Then we had to return the boat and so we did. Then we went to the hotel's restaurant and had an evening buffet which was delicious and we talked about how much fun we had today on Mouseton Lake and how much fun Hannah on her very first boat ride and so did Roxanne. Then it was time to go to our hotel rooms.
"How well did the first day of your first vacation go, Roxanne?" I asked once we went into our hotel room.
"It was great, Max!" Roxanne cried. "I really can't thank you and your family for it."
"And we can't thank you enough as well," I said. "You being with us has made it extra special."
Then we got ready for bed. I still let Roxanne have my bed and I went to sleep on the couch bed.
"Good night, Roxanne," I said.
"Good night, Max," she said. "And thanks once again for a wonderful day."
"And thanks once again for a wonderful day too."
Then we went to sleep.