All characters are fictional and 18 years old or older.
Thank you to my editor, *roftlheory*, for the suggestions, comments, corrections and patience that were so invaluable in the creation of this story and for the support and assistance that helped me take it from rough draft to submission.
***
An ice cube popped and rattled as Jack poured the amber liquid into his glass. He started to put the bottle down and then changed his mind and made it a double. He loosened his tie and took a sip, hissing through his teeth as it burned down his throat. It had been a tough week and he felt burnt-out and exhausted. The challenges of starting a business were more rewarding in theory sometimes, than in practise. Especially with his daughter living with him.
He wondered if Beth, his daughter, had any classes this evening. He should probably start thinking about starting something for dinner. Which reminded him, shouldn't she be home by now?
As if he had conjured her up, he heard rattling at the front door, then the clunk of her backpack before his daughter shuffled around the corner.
"Hi, Daddy." Her plump bottom lip quivered and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"Beth, Sweetie, what's wrong?" he stepped towards her, his brow furrowed in concern. He held her in front of him and tried to peer under her lashes.
She threw herself into his arms and started to sob. "Oh Daddy, some boys on campus were teasing me about my haircut. They said now my hair was as short as I was now and I looked like a boy."
He was startled, not only by her emotion, but also by the embrace. They'd never been a particularly affectionate family even when her mother was around, but he gradually relaxed into her hug. He chuckled and held her closely. "He must just be trying to get your attention, Princess. Maybe he has a crush on you."
She glanced up at him skeptically.
"Hey, you might be petite but I think you're perfect. And with your new hairstyle,... " he held her at arm's length to look at her fluffy dark brown crown and big, woeful eyes, "what's it called again?"
"A pixie cut." she warbled.
"Right. A pixie cut." He wrapped his arms around her again and she burrowed into the crook of his neck. "Well, I know I don't tell you this very often but you're as cute as a button, Princess. Come on, dry those big brown eyes for Daddy. Yes, you're small but with your petite little body and pretty little ears peeking through your hair, you look just like my very own Pixie Princess."
The drink was starting to relax him and his eyes travelled down to the delicate curve of her ear and the graceful arc of her neck as he breathed her in.
"I...don't...want...to look like a...pixie!" she forced out between hiccupping sobs. "I want to look like a woman, Daddy, not a little girl!" She nestled back into his neck, sliding her leg in-between his to get closer.
Shame niggled through him as he realized his body was starting to respond to her warm breath on his neck and her womanly assets as she snuggled up into him. He clasped her arms and stepped back from her before the indiscretion became obvious and decided he'd really been single too long.
"Hey, you have a lot to offer any guy!" he said and cleared his throat.
Her hiccupping was slowly fading away.
"Daddy?'
"Yes, Princess."
"You know how you asked what I wanted for my birthday?"
"Uh-huh." He stroked his hands up and down her arms soothingly.
"Well, I haven't really gotten any new clothes since Mum left and turning 18 is kinda a big deal. I want to change my look to one a little bit more grown up. I was wondering if you'd maybe take me shopping."
Shopping was not his strong suit.
"Umm...I'm sorry Princess, but I really don't have time for that. How about I just give you some money and you can look around and get what you feel comfortable in?"
Her face fell. "It's just that we never really do anything together anymore and I think I'd like a guy's opinion of what looks good on me now that I'm older, Daddy."
He grimaced. "I tell you what. Why don't you model the things you buy for me here? We can have a special dinner and then you can put on a fashion show for me."
She thought about it, chewing on her lip and then, looking somewhat cheered, said, "Okay, Daddy. I'll go shopping this weekend and put on a show for you." She smiled up at him. "It'll be fun!"
"Good girl." He smiled back, relieved.
"Talking about food is making me hungry. I'll do the cooking for a change so you can relax. I know you're tired Daddy." She patted his chest and turned towards the fridge.
He watched her walk away and felt another twinge of guilt as he realized he was wondering about the soft curves he'd felt under her oversized button-down. With a jolt, he looked closer. "Is that one of my old shirts you're wearing?"
She blushed and cast her eyes down. "Yes Daddy."
"Why?" Had he really not noticed this before?
"Well, you're always pretty busy Daddy so we don't spend much time together and it just makes me feel closer to you."
``Ah..." he said, his lack of attention to her finally sinking in. It was obviously beyond time that his daughter got some new clothes. And more of his attention. A lot more.
***
The fashion show was postponed because he was working but was planned for the following weekend.
Wednesday, Jack got a call requesting technical support and had decided to go himself. He planned to just pop in on his daughter and let her know he'd be gone for an hour or two when he saw her door was ajar and heard her singing. He glanced in and saw her in front of her mirror holding her hairbrush like a microphone, dancing and singing away like his little rockstar. He smiled to himself because it was good to see her acting so carefree. In the four years since her mother had left, she seemed to have gone from 14 to 40 and he'd really lost touch.
