Finally, it was going to happen! For years, Candy had imagined planning an awesome pool party, but something always got in the way; family vacations, summer school, lack of friends, the weather; something. Now, however, everything seemed to be falling into place.
Mr. and Mrs. Emerson had moved out near the desert in California with their only daughter, Candy, on account of their business. Candy hated having to move again, but she was finding new friends at school, the weather was always nice, and the property that her parents had acquired for the vineyard was seemingly endless. Of course, the best thing about the new place, according to Candy, was the large in-ground pool. It was L-shaped, with an underwater passage leading to a smaller indoor moon pool. She had claimed this as her Secret Place. She loved to swim through the narrow tunnel and fantasize about leading boys in there, out of her parent's sight.
With graduation right around the corner, Candy knew that this was the time. All the planning and associated headaches paid off with the falling of the last hurdle; her mother. Marcy Emerson was the conservative, worry-wart type, and hopelessly protective of her only daughter, but the business always seemed to take priority, and she would be away all weekend. Candy sensed that her father was secretly welcoming the break from her, despite having to endure a bunch of graduates on his own.
The special night was slow to arrive, but finally it was Friday, and the party was off to a great start! Everyone that Candy had wanted to come was there. It turned out to be much more laid back than she had expected. A few guys were there for a while, but as the day drew into evening, it was just herself and few of her closest girlfriends, laying around in their swimsuits, listening to music, and talking about things that only girls can spend so much time talking about. They were even able to apply a little charm and convince her dad to make some mixed drinks for them. Out of the blue, one of Candy's friends leaned over and said "You know, your dad is really dreamy".
"What?!" Candy was shocked to hear someone say that about her father, even though she had thought the same thing to herself a few times. "I can't believe you just said that!"
"Am i wrong?" Erica asked, as she flashed an evil grin.
"Well..." Candy wasn't sure how to respond. She didn't want to say the wrong thing, and risk ruining the great day that they had had. "I guess I never thought of him that way."
"How could you not notice? He's tall and tan and funny, and most importantly, he's wrapped around your little finger. I but he'd do anything you asked, to keep you happy. Besides, he's probably in his room right now, spying on us." The other girls giggled at the thought, but Candy had mixed-up emotions about it all. She never expected that one of them would be jealousy. If her father were indeed spying on them, she was quite sure that it would be the other girls that he was interested in, but she couldn't help the desire to be the center of his attention.
"He's probably just doing more of his paperwork. That's all he seems to do anymore."
"Whatever..." Erica said, dismissively. Candy hoped that would be the end of that. 'Damn her!' she thought. 'Now that's all i can think about.' The evening held a whole new interest to her now. Surprising even herself, she almost couldn't wait for her friends to leave so that she could retreat to her secret place and be alone with her thoughts.
That time came soon enough, and after saying their respective good-byes, the girls lined up to Mr. Emerson a hug and thank him for having them over.
"Anytime. You are always welcome here. It's nice to see Candy surrounding herself with such friendly, mature young ladies." Candy thought she may have been imagining it, but some of their hugs seemed to linger a bit longer than necessary. One thing was for sure; she saw Erica give him a little peck on the cheek and whisper something in his ear before turning and bouncing her way out the front door after the others.
____
After she did some dishes and finished cleaning up a bit, Candy was back in the pool and heading off to you-know-where. 'What a day!' she thought, reflecting on the day's events. She was laying on a towel at the edge of the pool. Her mind was spinning and she wondered if it was due to the drinks, or the seeds of wonder that had been placed inside her head. Probably a bit of both. 'Is Erica really attracted to my father?' she wondered. 'Are the others? Am I?? Why was he letting us drink?! Had he been watching us all day? What should i do?'
The questions hounded her for a while, but eventually the tranquility of her little haven calmed her, and the imagination engine started up. She was going to do some research. Not the kind that you do in school, the kind you dread. This would be the fun kind. She had had a wonderful day, and she decided that it was too early for it to end.
Her father acted startled when she walked back into the house from the back patio. She was dripping all over the carpet.
"Honey, I've asked a hundred times that you dry off before you come inside." her father pleaded.
"Sorry, Dad, but i'm not finished yet." was the only reply should could muster, wondering how she was going to proceed with this research of hers. She had always been quick on her feet, and she would have to rely on that ability now, and take cues from her father as he fed them to her - granted, this was uncharted territory!
"So... what are you doing in here then?" he asked.
"I..um....was wondering if you'd mind making me another drink."
"I don't know, baby. You've had a couple already, and I'm not sure it's such a good idea to have any more, and then go back into the pool."
