Don Ashton wasn't expecting his oldest daughter Dani to show up on his doorstep at 6 AM, but then again, nothing Dani ever did was what a person would expect. She was a lot like her father in that regard, she did things on the spur of the moment.
The petite blonde threw her arms around her father and gave him a big hug. She was tiny & cute, like her mother in that regard. The similarities ended there. Carla Ashton had become an uptight, bitter prude in the last 5 years, fallen in with the Bible-thumpers and it was that precise reason that Don had left her. A 25-year marriage that had once been everything beyond his wildest dreams had ended the previous year in bitter acrimony. All because Carol had started letting others do the thinking for her.
"Not that I'm not pleased to you you sweetheart, but it's barely 6 in the morning and why are you here so fricking early?" Don asked as his eldest set her suitcases down in the hall of his Condo.
"Sorry about the time Daddy -- I took the first train out so I didn't have to wake Mom and deal with her bullshit. That's why I'm here Dad -- I can't put up with Mom anymore, we had a huge fight and I've split, for good. I'm going to look for a place of my own, well, me and a friend, but in the meantime, I was wondering if I could crash here until I find a place?"
"I've actually been kind-of lonely rumbling around in this big place by myself, so you can stay as long as you want."
"No new girlfriends, Daddy?" Don shook his head. "Any prospects?" Dani asked him.
"No Dani, but I'm nearly 50. It's hard to date at my age, who'd want to go out with someone like me?"
"Don't be ridiculous Daddy, all those years of working out and healthy living have knocked at least 15 years off your age and you know it. Most of my girlfriends say I have the best-looking father of all of them. I think a few of them would even go out with you if you asked."
"Really? Well, that's a bit of ego-boo the old man could use, thanks. The offer still stands hon -- if you want to move in here, you're more than welcome."
"Thanks Daddy, but Sam and I want to get a place together, it wouldn't be right to leave Sam in the cold."
"Sam? New boyfriend?"
Dani took off the cute pink cap she was wearing and her hair, almost down to her back now, fell loose about her face. "No -- Sam is short for Samantha, she's a friend from college -- well, she was until I dropped out."
Don shot his daughter a disapproving look. "You dropped out of college?"
Dani sighed. "That's one of the many things I argued with Mom about. I didn't quit Daddy, I'm taking some time off to earn my own money so that I can do whatever I want with it. I didn't want to keep taking money from her if it meant living in her house, putting up with her bullshit and living by her rules. I've got a full-time job at Cafe Bon Choix and I really like it and I'm making good money."
"I could've helped ..."
Dani shook her head. "Daddy, I know Mom bled you dry in the settlement -- you've done enough, so I'm earning your own way. When I find a place I can share with Sam, that'll cut my expenses down so I can go back to school and only work part-time at the Cafe."
Don was proud of his daughter for taking the initiative and wanting to stand on her own two feet, still, he wanted to help. An idea came to him.
"I have a thought -- do you think Sam would like to move in here as well? I do have 3 rooms and I only need the one."
Dani's green eyes sparkled. "That's a very nice idea Daddy, but I don't know if Sam and I could put you out like that. I could run it by her, I guess, but ..."
Don sweetened the pot. "I tell you what -- whatever you and Sam were expecting to pay for an apartment, I'll charge you half in rent. You can come and go as you please and this way, you'll be able to go back to college earlier or save money for a car or whatever you please. Sound good?"
Dani squealed and gave her father a big hug, he twirled her around and she was off the ground. "Oh Daddy, sounds fantastic. I'm sure Sam will go for that, she's too stubborn to accept charity, but she's not an idiot either."
Dani was right, Sam took Don up on his kind offer and she and Dani moved in the next week. He and Sam liked each other quite a bit, the tall, willowy auburn-haired art student knew her sports, she was bright and articulate, but not a bit of snobbishness was to be found anywhere in her persona. A lot of evenings, he and the younger woman would sit down, watch the sports highlights on ESPN and have a beer, often when Dani was working at the Cafe.
One night, Sam and Don were sitting around, having finished dinner. Dani was working late at the Cafe, so the two were alone, laughing and sharing good conversation about boxing. Both were huge fans of Ali, Don had even been at the Ali / George Foreman fan, which blew Sam's mind.
"You seem like a smart, intelligent young woman -- you're polite and well-mannered, you're almost a neat-freak and you get good grades -- so what is it my ex-wife doesn't like about you?" Don asked her directly.
The attractive young woman looked away for a minute, then looked back at Don, her big brown eyes seemed to be avoiding his. It wasn't like her at all, she put her beer down and spoke, choosing her words carefully.
"Don -- I'm really not sure if it's my place to tell you."
"So there is something to tell me? What do you mean it's not your place? What do I need to know Samantha?"
Samantha sighed and spoke directly to Don. "Your ex doesn't like me because I'm bi-sexual and she found Dani and I together in bed."
That was a shocker Don hadn't expected. His daughter was so sweet-looking and Sam was a true beauty, he didn't have any sense that they liked girls. He wasn't going to judge -- his daughter was nearly 25 and free to choose her own sexual partners and he could certainly see what she found attractive in Samantha, who was a long-legged, intelligent, "out-there" young woman.
"I'm sorry Don, I've upset you. I hope I haven't let the cat out of the bag or made you angry with your daughter -- we both really like living here and I ..."
Don put up his hand. "Don't be foolish Sam, I am surprised, sure, but Dani's free to make her own choices, as are you. You just caught me off guard, that's all. If you two are lovers, why aren't you sharing a bedroom?"
Sam smiled, somewhat relieved. "We didn't want to cause any waves and we wanted to be discreet. This is your home, we're only guests here."
"No, you pay rent, so it's our home. When Dani comes home, we'll all have a talk. If you two want to resume sharing a bed, I have no objections."
"Did someone just say my name?"
The twosome turned to the door where Dani had just come in, dripping wet. "Wow, it's really pouring out there. It was killing business, so Chantal told me to knock off early."
Sam went over to Dani and helped her off with her wet clothes, giving her a very warm kiss. Dani balked at first, so Sam just said calmly "It's cool baby, he knows".
