Page 34 of Anchor Point

Her head popped up over the edge of the boat. “Add this to the things-to-know-about-Rosie column. Pizza is my favorite, and I’m always down for some.”

The corner of my mouth hitched up. She was such a smartass. “Go wash up. Meet me at the boat in five.”

Her eyes grew huge with wonder. “We’re taking the boat?”

I’d barely nodded in response before she bolted out of the garage, whooping the entire way to the big house, four-legged shadow in tow.

The lake house was my sanctuary. My dad and I had bought it on the cheap, intending on it being a retirement home for him and my mom, and then someday mine. But someday had come all too soon, and he never got to enjoy retirement or the lake house. I’d spent nearly a decade renovating and fixing up the small two-story house. It wasn’t fancy or expensive, but it had a great view of the lake all year, and it came with a detached garage that I’d converted to storage space and a workshop.

I whistled for Buster, who turned on a dime, realizing I was headed down to the dock. Ten minutes later, we were cruising the big water of Lake Martin, headed for a pizza. Rosie was snuggled up to Buster in the back of the boat, laughing and happy.

My chest squeezed tight. This feeling growing inside me almost hurt.

Was this happiness? Being able to share one of my favorite things with my child? Showing her how to build things and answering a ton of questions? Experiencing a level of patience I didn’t know I had?

Was this love?

And was it weird that it was so all-consuming and powerful when I’d only just met her? It made sense, though. How many times had I heard someone say they’d fallen in love with their child on sight?

Granted, they meant on first sight as a newborn.

But still. It was surprising that I was enjoying every minute of being with her, sharing all my special places along the lake.

An hour later, we were stuffed full of pizza, with leftovers stowed in the hold, and headed back home when Rosie called out, “Hey, Mac, will you teach me to drive the boat?”

I nodded and throttled back, slowing us down as we neared a decent-sized cove with no boat traffic. “Yeah, come on.”

It wasn’t until she stepped up to take the wheel that I had second thoughts. How was I supposed to teach her without standing uncomfortably close to her? Thinking back on all the guys I’d seen teach their kids, it was natural for them to stand behind them and be their guide. But I couldn’t do that. I sank into the chair across from her and gave her instructions.

“Okay, just ease that forward when you are ready.”

Rosie white-knuckled the wheel with one hand and the throttle with the other.

“Relax your grip on that throttle, just lightly touch it. We don’t want to go fast. Just inch it forward until we start moving.”

She swallowed, gathered her courage, and nudged the throttle forward. The motor engaged, and the boat started moving. I kept watch on the direction, gave her some corrections to make, and guided her through making a turn.

The boat slowed as we came to the end of the lesson. “Good job, kiddo.”

Rosie let out a whoop as we began a lazy drift and the breeze kicked up around us. “That was amazing! Can we do it again?”

“After you do the homework to get yourself a license.” We swapped places, and I steered us out of the cove, resuming the trek back to my house.

Rosie folded herself in the cocaptain chair, with a foot in the seat, arms hugging her raised knee. “How long will it take?”

Buster stretched out on the back bench. I’d never had a dog enjoy a boat ride like he did.

“I dunno. That’s for you to find out,” I replied, looking left over my shoulder and maneuvering us out into the big-water traffic. It was late in the day, and there were more boats now, more wakes to manage. Dark clouds were rolling in, and everyone who’d been out on the water was making the mad dash to shore. The problem was, we were headed directly into the ominous-looking storm.

“Those clouds look kinda scary.” She took the words right out of my mouth.

“Yep.”

“Are we gonna make it back in time?” Now her tone sounded worried.

“I don’t know, we’ll get there as quickly and safely as possible.” Her mother would kill me if something happened to Rosie under my care. “I probably should’ve gotten her permission to even take you on this ride.”

“Why? You’re my dad. You have a say too.”

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