"Dad can you hang out with my friend Ashley at my baby shower? She isn't going to know anyone there and she's nervous." I never would have thought that such a simple request could lead to such massive ripples in my life.
I'm a 45 year old man, five years into my new life. My marriage failed due to repeated infidelity on my ex wifes part, and her mistreatment of our two children together. When the dust settled from all the drama, my then 16 year old daughter came to live with me, and our new life started. We had always been close, and her seeing just how much of a monster her mom had become only strengthened our relationship.
That's not to say our life together was always rainbows and sunshine. There was the usual teenage drama of broken rules and pushed boundries. Problems where I could see the guys she was datings true natures, and she just didn't want to listen. They say you have to let your children make their own mistakes, I just always tried to make sure that my two kids didn't make the same ones I did. I wanted to make sure they recognized the red flags in relationships, and realized their true worth. This lead to drama between us when my daughter was being used and not listening. Eventually she moved out at 18 with a new boyfriend and we grew distant for a short time.
Fast forward 2 years and 2 failed relationships, and my daughter started communicating more in my life again. She was afraid of me judging her and criticizing her life and mistakes and reluctantly started opening up to me about some of the things she had been through. When an ex tried to force his way back into her life. It took a late night conversation between him and myself, and some bruised ribs, cracked orbital socket, and severe concussion on his part, for him to realize contacting my daughter ever again was a truly bad idea. His abuse of her finally at an end, my daughter found a truly great guy, and started dating again.
Fast forward six months and my now 20 year old daughter is expecting her first child. Her mom still out of her life for her toxicity, there was no one there to throw her a baby shower. Me being the dad I am, I coordinated with her boyfriend, and a woman I was dating on and off at the time, to throw her a shower. It was a Jack and Jill party, held at a local venue.
When the day of the shower arrived, it was a hectic, but fun day. The morning was chaos, with setting up for her shower, but once the shower started, it slowed down and became fun. Maybe 30 minutes in and I hear a squeal of joy, and turned to see my daughter bent over hugging a dark haired woman, thanking her for coming. She walked her over to me and said "Dad this is Ashley." I looked at her and thought, my god she's gorgeous.
Let me describe this younger than me Goddess to you. Ashley was a short woman, all of 5'2" but curvy as hell, and stacked. She carried a few extra pounds, but they looked amazing on her. She had a classic hourglass figure with an amazing ass, and what I guessed was at least a D cup breast. She had long black hair that flowed down her back and ended at her waistline. Her skin was pale, but glowed. The contrast to her hair accentuating how delicate her skin, and facial features were. She had almond shaped eyes, with a touch of asian heritage in her looks, and full pouty lips.
My reaction to her was almost visceral. It was like the demons I keep inside spoke up all at once, and all wanted the same thing, her. Never have I had such a strong reaction to a woman. I wanted to take her, right there. To claim her as my own. To ravage her, and not stop until she screamed in release, repeatedy. I managed to keep this all inside though and politely took her hand and thanked her for coming. The spark I felt when our hands touched was electrifying, and I believe she felt it too. She flushed and bit her lip, glancing down and then back up at me through her bangs. I politely showed her to the table she would be seated at, and went back to making my daughters day the best it could be.
A short time later when things slowed down, I got to sit down and chat with her over our dinners. She had the sweetest soft voice, and when she smiled it lit up her whole face, with the cutest dimples I've ever seen. She was more than just a pretty face. She was smart and funny, and our conversation just flowed naturally once we were over the initial ackwardness. I found out she lived 2 hours away, and had met my daughter through work phone calls. When the friendship clicked, they had been traveling back and forth every couple weeks to hang out and spend time together. She was slightly older than my daughter Heather at 25, but they just instantly had clicked, and a great friendship had blossomed from there.
At the end of the evening as we were stowing all the gifts from the shower in our families cars, Ashley realized her car had a flat tire. All she had for a spare was a donut, and she had way too far to travel to have that be a safe option. It was too late in the day to get it fixed as everything was closed. My daughters place was only a tiny one bedroom apartment so there was no room there for her. I offered either to put her up for the night in a local hotel, or she could crash at my place, as I had 2 spare bedrooms there. She decided to take me up on my offer of lodging for the night, and I told her I would call my friends shop in the morning and get her car up and fixed.
After giving her directions to my house, she left for my daughter's place to hang out more with her there. I headed home and put fresh sheets on the spare rooms beds, so she would have an option of where she wanted to crash for the night. I heard a car pull up my drive about 10pm and my boxer Carter let me know someone was there as well. We greeted her at the door with Carter spazzing out over a new person to make friends with. She giggled as he wiggled and jumped all around her, happy as could be for a new friend. "CARTER SIT," I yelled. "Sorry he's a bit excitable," I told her as he continued with the boxer wiggle sitting at her feet. "It's fine," she said, "hes adorable." Come on in Ashley and you can pick where you want to crash tonight.
I led her inside and down the hall of my house, pointing out the bathroom and kitchen as we walked around, leading her down to the bedrooms. "You have your choice of bedrooms Ashley, This one is slightly smaller," I said as I opened the first door. "Or if you'd prefer there's this one, that also opens onto the back deck. It will save you having to go through the house if you want to step outside for a smoke, as thats my only house rule, no smoking inside." She chose the second bedroom and shyly asked if I had a shirt or something she could borrow. She hadn't planned on an overnight stay and had nothing but the clothes she was in. I led her to my bedroom and opened my closet and told her grab what she would feel comfortable in. She chose one of my well worn work shirts and asked if it was ok to turn in as she was exhausted. I told her absolutley and I hoped she could get some rest. She surprised me by reaching up and pulling my head down and giving me a kiss on the cheek, and a hug, telling me "Thank you for your kindness, it means more than you know." The kiss, and smell of her perfume around me stirred that Beast inside again, and it was all I could do to reel myself back in. Telling her it was my pleasure and to sleep well.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" I thought to myself as I walked back through the house. I need to get myself under control. She's young enough to be my daughter, and I dont want to ruin anything between my daughter and I, or between her and Ashley. After Sitting on my deck with a stiff drink, and a stiff something else for a while. I called Carter in for the night, and turned in.
A few hours later I was awoken by Carter, and the sound of a storm outside. He whined and went to my bedroom door at the same time I heard a light knock and heard Ashley call out "Mr B are you awake?" I threw on boxer shorts quickly and went to my door, opening it to her standing there in my knee length shirt shaking.
" Are you ok sweetheart," I asked, and she said "No, I'm terrified of storms. I know its a lot to ask but can I stay in here with you until the storm passes?"
My mind running wild I asked her "are you sure?"