**This is a continuation of the Beautiful Girl Story. Because of the brevity of the first chapter, it is included here. Enjoy!!**
I heard the car door slam shut on my step-father's Buick as I squeezed the last two drops out of my wine glass. In truth it had been my third. I had just about forgotten altogether that they were coming. Deep breath. I put my glass down on the counter near the sink. Deep breath. Here we go.
I swung the door open before they had even made it up the walk. Mom smiled and hurried, arms open, to give me a hug. I bit my tongue as I smiled back. She embraced me as dad continued down the walk. He waved and smiled as I watched him from over mom's shoulder. The embrace faded and mom held me by the hands as she looked me over.
"You look wonderful darling. Have you lost weight?" What she's really saying is she thinks I should lose weight.
"No ma, but thanks."
She lets go and looks around. "Where's Daniel?"
I give my step-dad a kiss hello before answering.
"He left earlier this evening for LA. Another emergency meeting."
My mom whined and pouted. Dad just put his his arm around me and comforted me silently and we went inside.
I helped mom and dad get settled in the guest room and said goodnight. I returned to the kitchen and poured myself a fourth glass of wine. I leaned against the counter as I sipped it. This was his fifth trip in the past 3 months. He has had several trips before but usually only five inside of a year, not 3 months. I may be a woman, but I'm not stupid.
Halfway through glass number 4 I hear the guest room door open and close, and the heavy footsteps of my step-dad heading down the hall to the bathroom. I continued to nurse my glass of wine as I listened to footsteps and lights flicking on and off. Instead of retreating back to the guest room he proceeds down the hallway and begins to descend the stairs. He reaches the landing and gazes into the dimly lit kitchen.
I gulped down the rest of my glass.
"What are you doing still up sweetheart?"
I grabbed the bottle and began to pour myself a fifth. "Well, you know, couldn't sleep."
"So, you need a bottle of wine these days to do that?" He chuckles for a second but then notices my face. "Aw sweetheart what's wrong."
I just shake my head and sip my wine.
"Is it Daniel?"
I take a large gulp of wine. "Yup."
"What's going on?" he asked while pouring himself a glass of water.
I shrugged and took another sip.
"Sweetheart?"
My eyes started to well up with tears. He hugged me and held me as a started to sob. I cried and explained everything to him. I told him everything, all my worries, all my concerns. I told him about how I just felt so alone all the time.
He rubbed my back and comforted me. He assured me that everything that would be fine. He assured me that Daniel was just on a business trip and that nothing was going on but I could tell it was a lie. He was thinking the same thing I was and I knew it. Still his words helped and I thanked him as I nuzzled against his chest.
"That boy must be crazy to leave such a beautiful wife at home on her own."
He held me tightly and rubbed my back. His hands drifted slowly down my back until one rested gently on my bottom. I froze. He caressed it gently over my soft pajama shorts. His second hand joined the first, massaging my bottom stronger now. I stayed pushed against him, pinned, afraid to move.
"Daddy...?"
