"I have something exciting to tell you." He said one night. I got chills. We must be going to Hawaii in the summer like he promised. I was finally ten. "I met a friend at tennis. Her name is Cathy. We've been spending some time together and I really like her..."
"Cathy?" I interrupted.
"Yes."
"Is she short?!"
"Yes."
"That's weird. Mom's best friend is named Cathy and she's short! You both have short friends named Cathy. Does she have short hair too? Like a boy?"
"Yes."
"That's really weird!" I laughed.
"That is." Dad said. "But, anyway, I wanted to ask you, because I like her, and... what would you think if I asked her to marry me?"
I waited to make sure all the words came through. And after a few moments of silence I asked, "Are you going to have your honeymoon in Hawaii?"
"I don't know, maybe, I haven't asked her to marry me yet."
"Well, I think it would be pretty cool. I mean, what is she like? Does she have kids too?"
"No, she doesn't have any kids."
"Has she been married before? Mom's friend Cathy has been married lotsa times."
"Well, I think she's only been married once. Her favorite color is pink, your favorite, and she loves pepperoni pizza just like you."
"What about purple?"
"I'm sure she likes purple too but pink's her favorite. She also likes to cook and plant flowers."
"Maybe they're the same person." I said.
"Maybe." Dad said. "You'll have to let me know when you meet her. I told her how well you did at Tennis camp last summer and she suggested that we all play together when you come out here."
"Like doubles?"
"Yeah, maybe you two against me."
"I don't think mom's Cathy plays tennis. I'm going to go ask and find out. Can you hang on a sec?"
"Jessie, its long distance. How about you ask her after we get off the phone and you can tell me next week."
"Ok. Sorry."
"So does that sound fun? All of us playing tennis?"
"Yeah, that sounds like fun. Do you think she'll like me?"
"I'm sure she's going to love you. I can't wait for you to meet her."
My mom ended our conversation from the living room. "Jessieeee, your show is on!"
"I gotta go dad. Full House is on."
"Ok Sport. Talk to you soon."
"Love you."
"I love you too."
"Bye."
"Bye."
I hung up the phone and crawled in between my mom and step dad on the couch.
"What did your dad have to say?" mom asked.
"He wants to get married and he asked if it was ok."
"What? What did you say?"
"Okay."
"Yeah? Do you know her? When are they getting married?"
"Mom? Can we talk about it later? Uncle Jesse's on TV."
"Sure sweetie."
They were married that summer. She wore a cream colored skirt suit and they honeymooned on Amelia Island. I wasn't invited.
