"Got your charger?"
"Yes."
"Passport?"
"Dad! I've got everything I need. Don't worry."
"Okay, well... you call when you land alright?"
"Yes. Definitely."
"Okay. Have a safe flight." I hugged my daughter as she got ready to leave.
"Oh, I'm going to miss you!" said Maci.
"It's only six months Mace. I'll be back before you know it," replied Alice.
"Just kidding. Get the fuck out of here."
"Maci! Language!" I interrupted.
My daughters hugged and I gave a nod to Alice as she walked into the airport and out of sight. I stood there a few seconds to check the flight details on the big screen. It was the first time she will be in a new city all by herself. I guess my little girls are growing up.
I looked at Maci, wondering how soon she will leave for college too. I am a little worried about Maci, she doesn't look as determined as her elder sister. But all in all, I am proud of my daughters. They have grown up well without their mother.
"Ok let's go," I said.
Maci and I made way to our car. I saw the Aston Martin from a distance and felt a little old to be driving such a car with two grown daughters. I should probably change it for a good old-fashioned BMW.
"Are you sad about your sister leaving?"
"Nope," replied Maci scrolling through her phone.
"Drop the phone, you'll ruin your eyes," I said frustrated at her lack of emotions.
Without saying anything she connected the Bluetooth and blasted her pop music through the speakers.
We didn't talk too much as usual on our ride home. She was busy with her phone the whole time and I was mentally preparing for my presentation at work tomorrow.
We reached home and saw the cook waiting by the entrance. "Did Alice leave already sir?"
"Yes Sam, she's off to college now."
"Big girl!" said Sam.
"Indeed."
Maci hopped out of the car and rushed out. Sam and I talked about dinner as we walked into the house. It felt a little empty without Alice. I asked Sam to make something simple tonight and went into my room to complete my presentation.
An hour passed and it was time for dinner. Sam went up to call Maci while I took my seat. Sam has been our cook for about five years now. Apart from his great cooking skills, he has helped us in many ways since I got divorced. He is a divorcé himself and has a daughter who is almost the same age as Maci. He loves both my daughters as his own.
Dinner was served. Sam always waited till we tasted the food. "All good sir?"
"As always Sam," I said.
He nodded and left. His home is just a fifteen-minute walk and at his age, he should exercise more than he does. Although he is only fifty-five, ten years older than me, he looks sixty. He had had it hard in life, married late and unable to find a stable job for years. But lately he's looked happier.
Maci turned the volume up on the home entertainment system, which by the way I installed to sit back and relax, but rarely ever get the chance to use it myself.
"Your sister landed half an hour ago," I said.
"Cool," replied Maci without looking up. She looked busy as if she had a meeting to attend. I guess after a certain point, your children outgrow you. Maci had turned eighteen a few months ago and within no time she will be off to college too, hanging out with her friends and no time for daddy.
I wanted to spend more time with my daughter so I suggested, "How about we watch a movie tomorrow after dinner?"
"What movie?"
"Your choice."
"Aaah... I don't know."
"Oh, come on it will be fun," I said.
"Maybe, I'll decide tomorrow."
"Okay good."
She went back to her room and I changed the music to something slower while I cleaned the dishes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning, I lay in bed looking out the window. I felt alone and depressed. The birds looked so happy flying around in the open air, while I felt like I was in a cage. My work demanded a lot from me, and being in the position I'm in, it's tough to just quit and find another job. A lot of projects are yet to be completed and without me the company will surely suffer. Although I couldn't complain. The salary was great and I was lucky to live such a luxurious life. You lose some you win some, I guess.
With a robotic movement, I got out of my bed and into the washroom. I washed myself quickly and went down to the kitchen to make breakfast. The big presentation was today, and I needed to get my head straight.
I looked at the watch and it was seven o'clock. I suspected Maci might still be asleep as Alice usually woke her up in the morning. I went up to her room and there she was, sound asleep.
I called, "Maci wake up, you will be late for school," but she didn't move. I shook her by her shoulder and she gave a little, "Uhm" and turned to the other side. I looked at my watch again and it was seven-ten. There was no way I would let her miss the bus today as I couldn't be late for work. I called again, "Come on, come on, it's almost seven thirty."
She still didn't make any effort to wake up. I was getting a little irritated and removed her blanket in a swift motion to wake her up. "
Oh! Fuck!"
As soon as I removed her blanket, her naked body presented itself in front of me. I didn't realize she had slept naked and was taken aback. I should have put the blanket straight back on, but I didn't. I couldn't. I looked at her white, little, naked body lying on the white sheets. Her ass was facing towards me while she was hugging a pillow with her legs.
I snapped back to reality and covered her with her blanket. Without saying a word, I went back down and composed myself. "
What the fuck was I thinking? That's my daughter up there. Fuck!"
I hoped she didn't know I did that. "
Why the fuck couldn't I have put the blanket on sooner. What the hell were you looking at dumbass. She is you daughter. God. Damn."
I looked at the watch again and it was seven-fifteen, her bus will be here in fifteen minutes. I didn't know if I should wake her up again or just let her skip school today. But after about ten minutes, she came down fully dressed and ready for school. I gave her a smile nervously. She smiled back and said, "Good morning."
"Good morning. No coaching today, right?" I said, trying to make everything seem normal.
"Nope, tomorrow."
"Okay." I didn't know what else to say. It was getting really awkward, so I played some music to fill the silence.
"Oh, the bus is here."
She took a sandwich in her hand and left for school. I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like she didn't realize it after all. "
God that was a close call."
After she left, I increased the volume and listened to my favorite song to calm myself down. The presentation today was important and I couldn't be thinking of such things.
I left for work after preparing a little. And by the time I reached the building, these thoughts about my daughter and how bad of a father I was for even thinking about her body were almost completely out of my mind.
The meeting was in an hour and my colleagues and I got together to discuss the operations. There were some really talented people working under me and I was proud to be their boss.
The presentation was a success and the rest of the day was as mundane as any other. I tried to get some work done but the thought of my naked daughter kept creeping up my mind. I felt disgusted at myself for even thinking about that. I realized I needed a girl. It was too long since I've been with anyone and that must be why I was getting these feelings.
I scanned the office through the glass. There were some beautiful girls around but most were pretty young for me. And the ones my age were not attractive at all. I wondered if I should go on these dating apps, but I laughed it away.
I drove home taking the longest route possible as I did not want to get home too soon, but I didn't really have anywhere else to go. I stopped drinking a year after the divorce and since then I've tried to stay away from pubs and bars as much as possible.
Once home, my thoughts intensified. But I calmed myself saying that it was nothing and I was overthinking it. Maci was in the living area watching tv.
"Did Sam leave?" I asked.
"Maybe, he could be in the garden," she replied.
Sam was supposed to get his paycheck today but it seemed like he had already left. The garden was empty and I took a seat there lighting my cigarette. Our house was on a hill and I looked down on the millions, all content within their families and living their meaningless lives. But sometimes I wished if I could swap mine with theirs and live a life of laughter.
I finished my cigarette and looked at it and said, "Fuck it!" and lit another one.
I spent the time reading a book on finance until it was time for dinner. Sam was back and preparing dinner for us.
He had made a special pasta noodle kind of a thing that he called
'the pâtes maison
'
, whatever that meant.
"Today's special with tomato sauce sir," he said.
I tasted it and said, "Excellent!" He really was a good cook.
"How do you like it miss Maci?" he said.
"It's good," said Maci without looking up.
