Page 143 (1/2)

“You're a good father,” I said “And you've raised an a woman You should be proud of her”

He looked up at me and I saw the shine of tears in his eyes “I am, Marcus,” he said softly “I really am”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

MARCUS

“Can we surf in the water now?” Zoey asked, hands on her hips

She was getting tired of all these classes up on the beach and it showed She was eager to take to the water, to see about getting up on her board and riding the waves My little Zoey was adventurous like that She was fierce, fearless It was sometiood, especially when it was for her own good

“I don't want to go in the water yet, Zoey,” Zack said, staring at his sister with big, scared eyes

It was becoHe didn't like it and wasn't overly fond of the water in general, which was fine He gave it a shot, it wasn't for hi that he was into at so and there were a s he could do with his ti that lit a fire in him

Zoey was another story altogether She loved the water, she couldn't get enough She and Emma had the ti increasingly obvious that the two of theh a little aard at ti like she'd been born to it, like it was in her blood and bones, just like Emma

And I for one, was glad to see that Zoey had found so that really stoked the fires and passions inside of her I wanted my kids to be active, to have hobbies that inspired theet out of the house and do so I was an athlete by nature, and I didn't particularly enjoy being cooped up inside all of the ti active, and I wasin my footsteps that way

And I was finally getting overstupid Little by little

“Think of it this way,” Eht “You're teaching me about sex What to do, what you like, what I like And yeah, I could look stupid and screw up, but you don't judge me, do you? You siether, enjoying one another”

“Never,” I said “I'd never judge you in a million years, Emma”

“Well, it's basically the sa, but I don't expect you to co an expert You have to start somewhere And I've had a lot more practice on the water than you have Sort of like the fact that you've had more practice – ”

I held up a hand to cut her off and laughed “I got it,” I said “Your analogy makes perfect sense”