Daddy Time

I haven't called my dad, "daddy" for years, but he will always be my "daddy." For years I couldn't remember any time I had alone with my Dad-just me and him. There is almost always someone else around when I see him, which is fine, but sometimes I crave alone time with him. I think it is because I relate to him much better that way. Although I like my current step-mom, it just always seems that step-moms change and influence him in subtle ways and he is just slightly different when they are around, even if he is only talking to me on the phone (and most of the time on the phone my dad is exhausted from his long hours at work). I don't mind at all if my brother is around when I see my dad, but there is still nothing like a little undivided attention from my dad. I have never been able to find a good way to bring up the fact that I would like some alone time with my dad without hurting anyone's feelings. I am afraid to tell him that he is somehow just a little different (more understanding, and approachable with any subject) when he without the step-mom) my grandma, his mother, has even said the same thing to me about the situation. Several years ago I tried to plan an outing with just him, to an out of town hockey game, and that didn't go over well because I left out step-mom. I guess I didn't go about it the right way, or maybe it was just down right rude, but it wasn't intended to be. See my step-sister gets time alone with her mom quite often when she visits them and my dad is at work or when her mom visits her where she lives and my dad can't go because he has to work. I know they don't plan it that way, but it just happens by chance more frequently, so I guess they wouldn't understand why I would want time alone with my dad without being rude.
Anyway, I got some alone time twice in the past few months. Once was when I went and picked up my dad for Thanksgiving dinner at my house and my step-mom couldn't make it because of work. I got almost 3 hours of alone time, woo-hoo! Yesterday I also got to meet my dad for a brief lunch as he was passing through town on his way to Ohio for a training, I had picked up a special order coat for him and he needed to get that from me. We went to Cracker Barrel, which was special because he used to visit me and my brother every Wednesday (his day off) when we were in college and take us out for brunch at Cracker Barrel. Yesterday reminded me of the good old times. What a lovely day.