FIFTY-FIVE

Jacob's head snapped around at the sharp bark.  He cringed guiltily as his father stalked past  him to the bathroom.

Blocking Jake's illicit view with his body, Jon quickly tugged the bathroom door shut before turning to fix a disbelieving glare on his son.

"What the HELL, Jake?" 

"What, Dad?"  Romeo's eager question came before Jacob could answer.  "What did he do?"

"Never you mind."  Jon's stern gaze didn't move from his sheepish older son's face. 

"Is he in trouble?"  Romeo chirped gleefully, climbing onto the bed and bouncing excitedly on his knees.

"Romeo!  Enough!"

"Ha Ha!  Jakey's in trouble!"

"ROMEO!"  Jon had to turn his head to shoot a glare toward his youngest boy.  "Shut up!"

"What did he do?"

"This doesn't concern you!" Jon's exasperation was apparent in his almost-shouted reply.  "Just... watch the damned TV or something.  For Christ's sake!"

"You turned it off."

Jon scowled.  He squeezed his eyes closed and reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose.  Silently he willed himself to calm.  It wasn't enough that he had to figure out how to deal with Jake's transgression; he certainly didn't need to have to explain the situation to Romeo.  He took a deep breath, then opened his eyes.  Jon gave Romeo a stern glare before returning his stormy gaze to Jacob.

"Get your trunks on and grab your towel.  Right now."

Jon's command was terse, leaving the boy no doubt of his father's seriousness.  Not waiting for a response, Jon turned to face the now-fully-closed bathroom door.  He rapped his knuckles lightly against its veneer.

"Cate?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna go on ahead, take the boys to the arcade."

There was a brief pause, then the rattle of the doorknob turning.  Jon didn't budge when the door opened a crack, his body still blocking the view from the bedroom.  Cate's face appeared in the opening.

"I'm almost ready, if you want me to go..."

"Nah, s'okay."  Jon cut her off, shaking his head firmly.  "Take your time here, we'll meet you at the pool.  You know how nutso they get with video games."  He gave his wife a tight-lipped smile.  "Enjoy the peace and quiet while you can."

Cate arched a quizzical brow.  "You sure?"

"Yeah."

Cate stared at Jon for a moment.  She could tell something wasn't quite right, but she also sensed he didn't want her to acknowledge it.  "Okay.  I'll meet you down there in awhile.  Want me to bring some drinks or something?"

"That'd be great."  Jon nodded.  "Some sodas or something.  Grab a few chairs and we'll meet you there."

"Okay...."  Cate gave Jon a questioning look.  The slight shake of his sandy head told her they would discuss the matter later.  Heeding his cue, Cate smiled again and closed the door.

Jon growled a sigh before turning back to the bedroom.  Romeo continued to bounce on his knees on one bed while Jacob rummaged through the beach bag Jon had retrieved from the carport.

"Come on.  Get your shoes and towels."  Jon's command was stern but calm.  "We're going to the arcade.  Your Stepmama will meet us at the pool."  Jon absently patted the pocket of his board shorts to confirm possession of his wallet.

"What games do they have?"  Romeo inquired excitedly as he clambered off the bed.

"I don't know."  Jon watched Jake drop his flip-flops onto the floor and step into them.  His stern countenance softened as he recognized Jake's remorse.  The boy's head was bowed in an attempt to avoid eye contact with his father.

"Can I play Grand Theft Auto?"  Romeo continued his chatter, oblivious of his brother's silence.

"No."

"Why not?"

Jon sighed.  "Because.  Your mother doesn't want you to play those kind of games.  And you know it."

"But that's on the X Box."

Jon rolled his eyes.  "Romeo, look around.  Do you think this place even has Grand Theft Auto?  Hell, you'll be lucky if they have Pac-Man and Space Invaders."

"Space Invaders?  What's that?"

Jon snorted, shaking his head wearily.  "Just.... Never mind.  Let's go."  He waved a hand at Romeo, cueing him to move.  He sighed again when Romeo rolled off the bed, purposely falling onto the floor.  Romeo giggled and crawled around the end of the bed to the armchair in the corner, where the beach bag sat open.  The boy climbed to his feet and dug through the bag.

"Romeo!  For Christ's sake!  Hurry up!"  Jon stalked over to his youngest son's side.  He yanked a pair of flip-flops from the bag and dropped them on the floor, then pointed.  "There!"

Jon watched as Romeo stuck his feet into the shoes.  The boy did a full revolution before skipping toward the hotel room's entrance and pulling open the door.  Jon rolled his eyes and picked up the beach bag.

"Come on."  Jon directed his quiet command at his older son, tipping his head toward the door.  As Jacob trudged past him, his head lowered and his expression sheepish, Jon felt a pang of pity.  He reached out to gently grasp the boy's arm. 

"Listen... you're not in trouble.  But we're gonna have a talk.  As soon as I get Romeo set up in the arcade."

Jake didn't answer, shrugging off his father's hand.  He shuffled out the door after his brother.

Jon shook his head and followed Jacob out of the room, careful to close the door securely behind him.  He guided the two boys across the motor court grounds, toward the entertainment complex in its center.

When they approached Jon couldn't suppress a wry smile at the title of the structure housing the indoor pool, jacuzzi, and arcade:  "The Pleasuredome."  The last such-named place he had frequented had been decidedly less family-friendly.

Jacob said nothing during the trek, while Romeo chattered exuberantly.  Upon arriving at the arcade Jon pushed a twenty-dollar bill into the change machine, then handed Romeo a cup of quarters.  The boy immediately darted to an ancient Super Mario World game machine and began shoving coins into the slot.

Jon waited until Romeo was engaged in his first game before scanning the room for a seat where he could keep an eye on his youngest son while turning his attention to Jacob.  He spied the right spot in a corner near the arcade entrance:  a small round table and two dingy red plastic chairs.

"C'mon."  Jon poked Jacob gently on the arm and pointed at the table.  "Over there."

He waited for the boy to step toward the seats before moving himself.  His hand curved over Jacob's shoulder, a gesture of reassurance.  Jacob didn't react, shuffling to the corner and slumping into a chair.  Jon dropped the beach bag on the floor and settled onto the hard red plastic, wincing more in anticipation of the awkward conversation to come than from physical discomfort.

Glancing back to see that Romeo was still fully engaged in his game, Jon took a deep breath.  As he gazed at his sheepish son Jon silently reminded himself to stay calm.  Jacob was clearly embarrassed by what had happened, and this conversation wouldn't be easy.  For either of them.

"Jake, look at me."

Jon waited until two blue eyes peered up at him through a curtain of shaggy dirty-blond bangs.  He felt his expression soften though his lips remained pressed into a disapproving line.

"Okay, I'm listening.  What happened back in the room?"

Jake sat silent for a long moment, then his gaze dropped again.  Jon saw a pink flush tint the boy's smooth cheeks, visible even in the dimly-lit arcade.  Jake shrugged.

"Look... I know what I saw.  Or what I think I saw.  But I want to hear your side of it.  Now... what happened?"

"It doesn't matter what I say.  You'll still be pissed."  The boy's answer was a defeated mumble.

"Who says I'm pissed?"

That drew a derisive snort from Jacob.  "Yeah, right."

Jon peered at his son as inside he flinched.  Truth be told, he didn't know how he felt about what he had witnessed.  This was one parenting situation he had never faced before.

"Jake, I'm not mad... exactly." 

This drew Jacob's gaze up from the scratched-laminate tabletop.  "You yelled at me, Dad.  Sounded pretty pissed to me."

"I was surprised, Jake.  It was an instinctive reaction."  Jon sat for a moment, awaiting a reply.  When he got none, he sighed.

"Look, Jake... I don't know what else you expect.  I walked into the room and saw you staring into the bathroom with your mouth hanging open.  Where I knew Cate was undressing.  I mean..."

He hesitated, searching for a description of his thoughts.  Jon let out a little sigh of frustration when the words didn't immediately come.  "Well... I just... I never expected something like that, Jake.  To find you being a... uh... well... A Peeping Tom."

The boy looked up again, this time his expression registering confusion.  "Huh?"

"A Peeping Tom."  Jon enunciated the words more clearly.

Jacob blinked.  "What's that?"

"What?"  Jon was taken momentarily aback by the question.  "What's... you've never heard of a Peeping Tom?"

Jacob gave a little shake of his head, then shrugged.

"A Peeping Tom is a guy who sneaks around and hides in the bushes and looks in windows at people... Spies on people's private lives."  Realizing his spontaneous definition wasn't exactly cogent to the situation, Jon cleared his throat and started again.  "Okay, it doesn't really have anything to do with windows or bushes.  A Peeping Tom is somebody who intentionally spies on a person without their knowledge.  Invades their privacy.  Sometimes to... well, to see... things they shouldn't." 

Jacob stared back at his father for a long moment, then shook his head again, this time more forcefully.  "Dad, I wasn't  spying on Cate.  Or... peeping... whatever."

A flicker of anger crossed Jon's expression.  He had caught the boy in the act, and now Jake was denying it?  Jon took a breath and counted to three before answering. 

"Jake, I know what I saw.  You were sitting on the bed, staring at the opening in the bathroom door, you eyes big as saucers and your mouth hanging open.  I'm pretty sure you weren't watching the faucet drip." 

Jake shrugged and slumped lower in his chair.  His gaze dropped to his hands in his lap.  "You don't believe me, so what's the point of telling you anything?"

Jon's jaw tightened even as his heart squeezed at the sullen misery in his boy's voice.  "Jake, you gotta give me something to believe.  Explain yourself."

"Why?  It won't matter."

"Try me."

Jacob sat silent. 

Jon stared at his son for a long moment, then sighed.  He let his head fall back as he reached up to run a hand through his hair.  Jon slid down in his chair, mirroring his son's slump.

After a moment Jon returned his gaze to Jake's shielded face.  He reached under the table to nudge the boy's leg with his foot.  When Jacob begrudgingly looked up Jon gave him a wan smile.

"Look, Jake... this is embarrassing for me too.  But we gotta talk this out.  I promise you, I won't get mad at you, whatever you tell me.  I'm not mad at you.  I just... well, I thought I had at least another year before we had this talk."

Jacob regarded his father for a long moment before his shoulders slumped in defeat.  He shifted in his chair, sitting up straighter and leaning forward to put his elbows on his knees.  Recognizing the openness of his son's response, Jon mirrored his posture.

"I... it was an accident.  I wasn't... I didn't mean to see her...naked."  Jake's begrudging admission was a low mumble.

Inwardly Jon cringed, though he knew his son had gotten more than a fleeting indecent glimpse of his Stepmother.  He waited a beat before answering.  "Okay.  How was it an accident?"

"I dunno.  I just looked up and... and there she was.  In the mirror."

Jon's brow furrowed as he tried to suppress a frown.  "How did the door get open?"

Jake shook his head, then looked up at his father.  His earnestness was reflected in his flush-tinged expression.  "Honest, Dad.  I didn't open the door.  I didn't.  It just... it was just open!"

"And you just happened to look inside?"  Jon tried not to sound accusatory but was only half-successful.  He saw Jake flinch.

"Dad, honest!  It was an accident!"  The boy's response was more insistent, his voice no longer a low mumble.

"How was it an accident, Jake?"  Jon's blue eyes narrowed a bit.  "What exactly happened?"

Jacob sighed heavily.  "I got up and got my trunks out of my bag and sat back down on the bed.  I took my t-shirt off, and when my head came out of the hole I was looking straight at the bathroom.  It was kinda bright, and the door was open, and..."  His voice faltered, but he continued.  "...And in the mirror... I could see... Cate."  He swallowed hard.

Jon's heart twinged sympathetically at the miserable note in his son's voice. 

"Okay.  So you just looked up and saw... what you saw."  He took a breath and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.  He swiped a hand over his mouth and stubbled chin before asking the more difficult question. 

"Jake... what exactly did you see?  About Cate?"

The boy's blush darkened and again his eyes dropped to his lap.  "She was changing into her bikini."

"Was she just... topless?"  Jon squirmed slightly with the pointed question.  "Or was she completely..."

Jake nodded.  "Completely."

"And did you see... uh... everything?"  Jon involuntarily held his breath, though he knew what Jake's answer would be.  The boy's expression in the moment had spoken volumes.

Jake nodded again.

Jon exhaled silently.  "Okay.  Okay...."  He paused for a minute, formulating his next question.  "Jake, look at me."

When the boy complied Jon continued, trying not to sound accusatory.  "How long did you watch her?  Cate, changing into her bikini?"

"I... I dunno."

Jon tilted his head, evaluating Jacob's response.  He couldn't have spent more than two or three minutes retrieving the bag from the Navigator, which was parked immediately outside the front door in the attached carport.  When he had exited the hotel room Jacob was rummaging in his duffel bag.

"Was it just, like...like a second?  Or a minute?  Or what?"

"I dunno, Dad.   It was..." Jake shrugged.  "I guess maybe a minute?"

"And why..." Jon couldn't stop an involuntary flinch before continuing his questioning.  "Why didn't you look away, Jake?  When you saw that she wasn't... decent.  Why did you continue to watch her?"

Jacob blinked and shook his head slowly.  "I... I just... I didn't mean to, Dad."  He swallowed hard.  "I was just... like... frozen.  Like I couldn't move."

"Like you couldn't move?"  Jon arched a brow.  "Jake, all you had to move was your eyes.  Or close 'em."

"I know, but I was just... shocked, I guess."  Jacob's expression turned pleading as a note of desperation crept into his voice.  "I swear, Dad!  I didn't mean to spy on her!"

"Jake, do you think you did the right thing, how you reacted?"  Jon's reply was firm, unswayed by Jacob's insistence.

"Dad, I didn't do it on purpose!  I just looked up, and there she was, and... and it was like..."  The words tumbled out of Jacob's mouth as he earnestly tried to defend himself.  "I just... it was like my brain was just stuck!"  His bright blue eyes misted with his frustrated attempt to explain his cloudy memory of the moment.

"Okay, okay..."  Jon raised a hand to halt his son's ramble.  His heart squeezed again and the corner of his mouth curved sympathetically.  He sighed.  Though he believed Jacob's explanation there were still a couple other points he had to address.

"Jake... I'm gonna ask you something, and I'm not trying to embarrass you or anything.  Just... I want you to answer me honestly, okay?"

The slight quaver in his father's voice made the boy look up.  "Okay."

"How... how did it make you feel?  When you saw Cate... naked?"  Jon watched his son's expression as Jake considered the query.  As he expected, the boy's cheeks reddened and he shifted in his chair.

"It was weird."

"Weird how?" 

"It just... I dunno."  Jake sat with his mouth half-open for a moment, considering.  "I mean, it's Cate.  And it was like I was just... like I was struck by lightning or something."

Jon half-smiled at Jake's uninformed analogy.  He was certain Jake's reaction had been neither as painful nor fatal as a lightning strike, but he understood the sensation the boy was trying to convey. 

"Like... because you couldn't move?  Or because you felt... your body felt... different?"  Jon found himself struggling for his own age-appropriate verbalization. 

"Yeah.  Both."

"How did your body feel different?"

The boy half-shrugged.  "I guess it was like something, like... shocked me?  Then I felt kinda prickly.  And hot."

Jon swallowed hard.  Though he knew Jacob had received the "Family Life" unit of instruction at school, he still wasn't quite sure how to address this delicate and potentially premature topic. 

"Anything... else?"

Jacob cringed and dropped his head.  "Da-aad!"  His whine of protest made it clear he understood where his father's line of questioning was headed.  And he did not want to go there.

Jon again swiped a hand over his face to hide his own involuntary grimace.  He had had "The Talk" with Jesse at age twelve; Jacob was nearly that age now.  But Jon had had time to prepare for his fatherly chat with his eldest son.  They hadn't been forced into it by circumstance.  And it certainly had not taken place in the corner of a dingy arcade while Jesse's brothers played nearby.

"Umm... okay."  Jon quickly decided to delay discussion of the physical aspects of this incident.  But he still had fatherly responsibilities to fulfill.

He dropped his hands onto the table top, splaying open his fingers before allowing them to relax.  "Look, Jake.  You're growing up, and you're gonna start going through... changes.  I guess I can understand why you reacted like you did, when you saw Cate in the mirror."  Jon took a breath.  "I get it, it was an accident.  And you were stunned.  And it probably was only a minute or maybe less, but still... Jake, it was still wrong.   You can't just secretly watch a girl undress or... whatever.  Even if you didn't mean to see it or try to see it."

Jake nodded slowly, then shrugged.  "I know.  But I didn't mean to."

"I believe you.  And I know you're embarrassed.  But what about Cate?  How do you think she would feel if she knew you were watching her change her clothes?"

Jake's eyes widened at his father's implication.  "Dad!  You're not gonna tell her are you?"

Jon's expression sobered.  That wasn't his plan at all, but Jacob's reaction made him realize it was something he should probably consider.  Cate wasn't just some girl Jacob had accidentally seen naked, she was his Stepmother.  Though not a blood relative Cate was very much part of Jacob's life.  She probably deserved to know about her stepson's transgression, both because she was the subject of his illicit attention and as one of his parental figures.

And he should probably tell Dorothea about the incident as well.  That would be a fun conversation. 

Silently Jon cursed the responsibilities of parenthood.

"Don't you think she has a right to know?"  Jon couldn't hide a note of weary sympathy from his voice.

"No!  Dad, PLEASE! You can't tell her!"

Jon gave Jacob a grim half-smile.  "Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of you apologizing to her."

Jacob's expression was one of horror.  "Dad, I CAN'T!  It was an accident!  If she knows she'll think I'm ... I'm some sort of perv, or something!  I swear, I won't ever tell anybody it happened!  And I promise, I'll NEVER do it again!  Just, PLEASE...!"  Jacob's blue eyes again misted with tears as he pleaded with his father.

Jon swallowed against the lump forming in his throat.  As difficult as this incident had been for him to talk about with Jacob, it was more gut-wrenching to see his son's panicked reaction.  He wasn't sure he could put him through the shame of facing up to his stepmother. 

And would it really be the best thing for Cate to know about the unwitting peep show she had starred in?  Maybe this was one of those times that discretion was the better part of valor.  And maybe it was in the best interest of their family that this matter stay strictly between father and son.

Jon looked at Jacob, seeing his weary blue gaze mirrored in his son's teary azure pools.  He felt his resolve crumble.

"Alright.  We'll keep this just between us.  But you gotta tell me, Son.  You understand, right?  It's wrong to spy on anybody, but it's especially wrong to take advantage of a situation to see someone in their private moments.  No matter how it happens.  You got it?"

Jake nodded earnestly.  "I got it, Dad."

Jon sighed heavily.  "Listen, Jake.  Soon you're gonna be getting interested in girls.  And you'll wanna hang out with them, and date them, and.... Well, that's a conversation for another time.  Sometime soon."  He gave the boy a direct look.  "But Jake, I want you to remember this:  always treat girls and women with respect.  It's what they deserve.  That's how your Grandpa raised me and your uncles, and that's what I expect from you and your brothers.  Promise me, Jake, you will always do that."

Again Jacob nodded, his bright blue eyes reflecting his sincerity.  "I promise, Dad."

"Good."  Jon dragged a hand through his sandy hair, then gave Jacob a weary half-smile.  "Alright, another thing."

Jacob's response was wary.  "What?"

"I want you to check the attitude.  We're on a family vacation here.  And so far you haven't exactly been a joy to travel with."  Jon gave Jacob a pointed look.  "You got it?"

Jacob sighed.  "Yeah, okay."

"I'm serious, Jake.  I wanna have a good time with you.  We don't get to spend as much time together anymore, not like we used to."  Jon felt the lump re-forming in his throat with the sentiment.  "So drop the 'tude, Dude.  Okay?"  He smiled to mask his moment of melancholy.

" 'Kay, Dad."

"Good.  And Jakey... one last thing."  Jon glanced sideways, making a visual check of Romeo's location before continuing.  The boy was still engrossed in the Super Mario console.  "You know you're gonna see Cate in a few minutes.  And she's gonna be wearing her bikini.  It's probably gonna be kinda weird for you."

Jake cringed.  "Um, yeah."

"Just remember, she doesn't know what happened.  So if you act all goofy or pissy around her she's gonna pick up on it, and she's gonna ask you what's wrong.  Don't forget, she's a cop.  She can read people.  Too well."  Jon snorted wryly at his last comment.

"What do I say to her?"

"That's up to you.  But just remember... this is your deal.  So don't you make her feel like she did something wrong.  Capice?"

Jacob sighed.  "Okay."

"And if you wanna talk some more about it, you know we can, right?"  Jon gave his son a smile.

"Yeah, Dad.  Umm.... I'm good."

"Good."  Jon groaned out an audible sigh.  "Alright, let's go convince your brother to step away from the machines.  I need to get in that jacuzzi."  He braced his hands on the tabletop and pushed back his chair.  Jacob slowly followed his father's lead, his expression still downcast.

Jon picked up the beach tote and waited for his son to step forward, then circled an arm around the boy's shoulders.  He gave a reassuring squeeze before releasing him and strolling toward the Super Mario game.  Jon's mouth twisted into a little grin and he rolled his eyes as he realized his youngest boy had not budged from his stance in the entire twenty minutes the conversation with Jacob had taken.  When he reached the game Jon gently tapped Romeo on top of the head.

"C'mon, Buddy.  Finish up.  We're gonna go swim."

Romeo's only response was a half-squeal as he hit the "jump" button.

"Romey."

"I'm winning, Dad!"

Jon snickered quietly and braced a hand on the side of the machine, leaning down to view the screen.  "You oughta be.  I think you've played that thing every day since your Mama gave birth to ya."

"Dad.  No I didn't.  And this one is different."

"Yeah, it's old."  Jacob clarified sarcastically.  A raised eyebrow from his father quickly curbed his tone.

"I know.  But it's fun."  Romeo squeaked again as he smacked the button and yanked the joystick to one side. 

Jon reached to gently poke Romeo in the ribs, making the boy squirm.  "Okay, you've been at this for twenty minutes.  Time to go, Buddy."

"But Dad!"

"Come on.  I know you can play that thing for hours, to level three hundred and twelve or whatever."  Jon poked Romeo again.  "So I'm not gonna stand here and wait for your guy to get killed."

"Awwww....."  Romeo's lips curved into a pout, though his eyes didn't leave the screen.

"Let's go.  Swim time."  Jon reached up and covered Romeo's hand on the joystick with his own, stilling the boy's movement.  Romeo squeaked again in protest as his character froze on the screen.  The abrupt halt was followed by a plinky electronic melody announcing the player's demise.  The boy's shoulders slumped.

"DAAAAAAD!"

"Jeez, it's just a stupid game," muttered Jacob. 

Jon slung the beach bag over his shoulder and stepped behind Romeo, placing both hands on the boy's shoulders.  He gently turned him away from the console and nudged him toward the door.  "Come on, march.  Hup-two-three-four...."  Though Romeo initially resisted, a grin spread across his face and he giggled softly.  In less than a dozen strides he had bounced away from Jon and to the arcade's entrance.

Jon and Jake followed Romeo as he skipped exuberantly through the lobby, following the signs to the indoor pool.  When he stepped through the steam-clouded glass door into the pool area Jon immediately spied Cate.  She gave him a smile and a little wave from her seat on a poolside lounge chair.  Jon breathed a silent "thank God" when he saw that his wife's bikini-clad figure was modestly concealed by a tasteful knit cover-up.   It would be awkward enough for Jake to face her fully-clothed, let alone showing some skin.

Noticing the falter in Jacob's step when he spied his stepmother, Jon glanced sideways.  The boy's cheeks were tinged with pink and his gaze dropped to the concrete deck.

"Jake... be cool, okay?"  Jon reminded him quietly, trying to bolster his son's composure.  "Just you and me, nobody else knows."

Jacob's shaggy head nodded slightly, then he shuffled ahead of his father.  Jon followed Jake over to the space Cate had claimed for their family, where Romeo was already giving his stepmother an animated recounting of his adventures in Mario World.

Jon grinned at Cate's amused expression, then threw her a wink.  He dropped the beach bag on the deck and kicked off his flip-flops next to it before tugging his t-shirt up over his head.  As Jon stooped to drop his shirt into the bag he saw Jacob dart toward the pool and leap into the deep end.  He sighed softly, knowing Jake hadn't even said hello to Cate before escaping to the pool.  Hopefully he would settle down with a little distraction and separation from the embarrassing incident.

Grabbing a towel from the tote and tossing it onto the chair next to Cate's, Jon looked again at his wife and youngest boy.  Romeo was still chattering a mile a minute, bouncing and leaning as he described his game play while Cate listened with a broad fake smile plastered on her face.  When she noticed her husband's attention Cate gave Jon a wide-eyed look that clearly said "Uncle!"

"Romeo!  Go get in the pool!"  Jon leaned down and plucked the Nerf football from the bag, then tossed it at the boy's backside.  It bounced off his behind, but made him pause his tale long enough to protest.

"Hey!"

"Hurry up, Chucklehead.  I wanna have a water fight!"  Jon rounded the end of his lounger and grabbed the hem of Romeo's t-shirt.  The boy giggled and squirmed as Jon pulled the garment off his torso.  He shrugged himself free of the shirt, then kicked off his flip-flops and scampered for the pool's edge.

"Careful!  Don't run!"  called Cate.  She watched Romeo slow for a few paces, then duck-walk around the pool's edge to the shallow end.  The boy quickly climbed down the submerged steps into the water, then turned to call to his father.

"Hurry up, Dad!"

Jon chuckled and waved. "Gimme a minute, Bud!"  He extracted his wallet from the pocket of his board shorts and set it on the chair before leaning down to drop a kiss against the crown of Cate's head.

"There are some sodas and juice boxes in the cooler bag," Cate commented, pointing to a blue tote between the chairs.  "Boys have fun at the arcade?"

Jon chortled.  "You didn't get that impression from Mario Bongiovi, there?"

"I was wondering when he was going to stop talking long enough to take a breath."  Cate chuckled.  Her smile gentled and her expression turned quizzical.  "Everything okay?"

"Sure.  Why?"

"I got the sense when you left that there was something up with the boys.  Plus you got outta the room pretty fast."  Her voice carried a note of quiet concern.

Jon sighed.  He didn't like having to lie to his wife, but he had promised his son.  So he opted for a half-truth.

"I had to give Jake a little attitude adjustment.  Father to son."

Cate's brow furrowed.  "Really?  He's been pretty good this trip, so far.  I mean, I know he's not happy about your 'no screens' rule, but he hasn't been too sassy.  And you know Romeo pushes his buttons."

"Yeah, I know.  That's why I had to get them outta the room.   Cooped up together was a recipe for disaster.  So I stuck Romey in front of a Mario game and had a sit-down with Jake."  Jon gave Cate a weary smile.

Cate snorted.  "So you let Romeo play a video game... though you don't want him playing video games on this trip?"  She smirked ironically.

"Hey, we were enjoying the hotel's amenities, which happen to include an arcade.  I didn't technically violate the no-screens rule... so guess I'm kinda a parenting genius, huh?"  Jon's protest was sarcastically playful.

"Mmmm hmmm.  I guess so."  Cate chuckled.  The soft gleam in her blue eyes made Jon's heart squeeze happily even as a little pang of guilt at his deceit flashed in his gut. 

"So, you two worked it out?"

"Yeah.  We came to an understanding."  Jon glanced at the pool, taking visual note of the two bobbing dirty-blond heads belonging to his boys.  "It's gonna be a good trip."

"Good."  Cate smiled and leaned forward to offer her lips.  Jon smiled as he brushed a sweet kiss across her mouth.

"Okay, I'm goin' in.  You comin'?"

Cate sat up and glanced to the pool, then gave Jon a half-coy smile.  "I think I'm gonna stay on dry land, if it's all the same to you."

Jon arched a playful brow.  "Oh?  Why?"

Cate shrugged and reached down into her own tote bag.  She cringed guiltily as she pulled out her iPad.  "I kinda wanna read a little..."

Jon smirked,  then shook a faux-accusing finger at his wife.  "You're in violation of the no-screen policy, Miz Sullivan."

"I know, I know.  But Baby, I downloaded a crapload of new books before we left."  Cate gave Jon her best innocent look.  "I'm not playing games or anything.  It's an educational pursuit.  And it's relaxing."  She fluttered her lashes.

Jon chuckled and leaned down to kiss her cheek.  "Sure, Baby.  Do what you want.  It's your vacation too."

"Thanks, Baby."  Cate grinned.  "Actually... I already started reading.  While I was waiting for you."

"Ahhhh.... of course you did," Jon nodded, half-chuckling the words.  "Because you knew you'd convince me."

"No, because I didn't give a shit what your decision was," Cate answered sweetly.  "I was gonna do it anyway."

Jon rolled his eyes.  "Rebel."  He raised his arms over his head in a stretch.  He groaned softly as he felt a gentle pop ripple along his spine.  He really was looking forward to a dip in the hot tub, to un-kink his knotted back muscles after the day's drive.

"Yep."  Cate giggled again.

"Okay," Jon half-sighed as he dropped his arms.  "Lemme play with the Chuckleheads a little, then you can join me in the jacuzzi, maybe."

"Oh..."  Cate shifted on her chair.  "Before you go in, could you sit with our stuff for a minute?  I need to run to the bathroom."

"Sure."  Jon nodded.  "Just hurry.  Don't know how long it will be before the Terror Twins start playing 'Jaws' on poor unsuspecting nice kids in the pool."

Cate chortled as she stood.  "Be right back."  She leaned up to quickly buss Jon's stubbly cheek, then stepped past him.  Jon turned to watch his wife hurry to the far corner of the pool area and through a door marked "Mermaids."

Letting out a long sigh, Jon reached up to scratch at a tickle on his pectoral before lowering himself onto the lounge chair to await his wife's return.  Again his blue gaze swept the pool area, noting about a dozen adults and a couple dozen children playing in the water or relaxing on the deck.  No one seemed to notice or recognize him, which was good. 

Smiling at that thought, Jon returned his attention to the space Cate had claimed for their family.  He picked up his wallet from his chair and leaned to tuck it into Cate's tote, next to her iPad in its purple leather case.  His mouth twisted into an inquisitive smirk as he retrieved the tablet from the bag and set it on his knee. 

"Wonder what she's reading now?"  Jon murmured his query.  His wife's taste in literature was eclectic where he preferred nonfiction.  Jon pressed the button to illuminate the screen. 

He squinted briefly as his gaze focused at the text on the page; Cate had apparently stopped reading at the beginning of a new chapter.  Jon scanned the header, then blinked.  His smile faded, quickly replaced by a frown of concern.

The Harder I Try, the Worse Things Get

Is my marriage failing because of sex, or is sex failing because of our marriage?