Even though she was now sixteen, Emily was still completely my little girl, as much as Charlotte had always been. Most evenings I arrived home, Emily was the first to greet me, always wanting a long hug from her father, sitting down on the couch immediately so she could snuggle into me, and talking about her day. She might be awkward sometimes with others in the household, but with her father, she was still that precocious little girl at heart she’d always been.
Sometimes at night, I recognised when Caroline and Charlotte gave my youngest time with her father. Occasionally we’d just sit together while she was doing her homework, Crystal sitting on my other side. Crystal would occasionally let slip her own feelings about me as more than once she’d called me ‘Dad’. The first time she did, I hugged her and told her that I loved her and if she wanted to call me that title, I wouldn’t object. It wasn’t a name she called me constantly, but I worked to make her feel as special as my own children, and she started calling me ‘Dad’ far more often as time progressed.
As for her own father, neither she nor Natalie had seen him in years. Caroline had no idea where he was though. If we ever married, both her daughters would be too old to legally adopt, though I had looked into adult adoptions, and if they were both interested in legally having me as their father, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it for them.
It was a Friday night when I was sitting alone that I learned the truth first. Caroline and Charlotte were out together for the evening, as they liked to go out for a drink and a dance. Amusingly, they would head into the city and towards certain bars catering to same-sex couples, so they were not bothered by men all night. Nathan, Alyssa and Natalie would happily head out together all the time.
I didn’t mind a night to myself. Sometimes I’d catch up with friends, but honestly, it was nice just having the place to myself. Still thought that way even if Emily and Crystal or just one of them was home as they would usually never bother me too much. That evening, Crystal was out with some friends from her old school, leaving Emily by herself with her father.
“Daddy,” she said softly, turning to see her fidgeting in the doorway. I muted the game I was watching as I looked at her, “Daddy, can we talk?”
“Of course, Munchkin. Come here.”
Opening my arms, she giggled before skipping across the room and leaping onto my lap. Even at sixteen, she was a tiny little thing compared to the other women of the family. Holding her tight, she sighed happily. I knew she loved these nights when she had her father to herself. I loved them too as she was my youngest, the apple of my eye. Part of me wished she would never grow up.
“What do you need to talk about?”
“Um… So, Daddy, you know at school how we have sex education classes, and they explain nearly everything nowadays, including gender and sexual orientation and all that…”
“I’m aware. It was sort of similar when I was at school though things have definitely changed over the years.”
“Well, um… It’s left me thinking about… Um…”
“Take your time, Munchkin,” I said softly, cuddling her a little tighter, feeling her relax against me. She met my eyes and I saw the unconditional love of a daughter for her father. “Nothing you tell me will make me angry or upset. Okay?”
“Okay, Daddy,” she whispered, snuggling against me even more.
“Love you, Munchkin. I love it when we get this time together.”
“So do I, Daddy. I love you too.”
Every single time my little girl told me she loved me, I had to blink rapidly. I loved all my children, but I’d always been so close to Emily. Christine had shown absolutely no interest in her when she was growing up, and after learning what happened, the guilt was overwhelming. She’d had some therapy after I’d kicked Christine out of the house, but she proved her resilience as she was soon that same little girl growing up. It was a major reason why I’d never forgiven Christine. Treating me badly is one thing, but to treat your own flesh and blood in such a manner?
“Daddy, I think I like girls,” she finally said softly, “Or, at least, I like girls more than I like boys.”
“Have you got a girlfriend?”
“No,” she replied softly, “Well, maybe… Um… Crystal and I… We kind of date each other sometimes. Like when we go out, we’ll hold hands and cuddle, and we have kissed a lot. Is it wrong because she’s my cousin?”
“Not at all. Do you love your cousin?”
“Of course.”
“No, I mean do you have stronger feelings than that?”
“I’m not sure. We have talked about it. We keep the fact we’re cousins to ourselves ever since she started at my school, so that means we can act like girlfriends, and no-one says anything. Girls being together is far more accepted than boys at school.”
“Any interest in boys?” She snorted and that just made me laugh to begin with. “Guess that answers my question.”
“Boys my age are idiots, Daddy.”
“Emily, the best advice I can give is for you to love who you love.”
She giggled, leaning up to kiss my cheek. “Well, I love you most of all, Daddy,” she said softly, and I could only hug her tighter for that, “I want to live with you forever and ever.”
“You are a most unusual teenager, Munchkin. But I love you just as much.”
She eventually spent all night with me, happy to cuddle as I finished watching the game before I agreed to watch a movie with her. We were lying together on the couch, Emily fast asleep as she snuggled into me when Caroline and Charlotte walked in the door to find me half-asleep. When I woke up enough to see them, both looked ready to start crying.
“So utterly adorable,” Caroline whispered, leaning over to kiss Emily’s cheek, “You’d better carry her to bed.”
Placing her into bed a couple of minutes later, she woke up enough to want a hug and a kiss. Whispering her love for me again, I could only hug her that little bit tighter. “Stop getting older,” I whispered, earning a giggle, “You’ll always be my little girl in my heart, Emily.”
“Goodnight, Daddy,” she yawned, “See you in the morning.”
Charlotte was waiting for me in the hallway as I pulled the door shut. She moulded herself into my body as I cuddled her. “You have two daughters who absolutely love their daddy,” she said softly. Heading towards our bedroom, Caroline was already in bed and dozing away. Joining her in bed, Charlotte added, “You realise we all head out so you get time with her?”
“I’m not blind, Lottie. But thank you. I know how much Emily appreciates it too.”
“She’s always been D. L. G, Daddy. Daddy’s Little Girl. She’s always been that to you. But we all absolutely love our little sister, Daddy. She’s the heart and soul of this house sometimes.”
Cuddling Charlotte to me, I whispered. “I’m glad you think the same, sweetheart. Now it’s your turn for some daddy snuggles though.”
“The best sort of snuggles,” Charlotte whispered back.
Despite the fact our house felt crowded at times, it was peaceful most of the time. Caroline and I rarely had an argument. We had disagreements, but there was never yelling or shouting, the slamming of doors and all that other nonsense. Agreeing all the time would have been boring. We could both be hard-headed at times, but one thing we never did was go to bed angry.
Charlotte was just happy all the time. She was never jealous of the relationship I had with Caroline, and she was very much part of the relationship. Caroline absolutely loved my daughter in return, and there was never a hint of jealousy from Caroline. As for Charlotte, she admitted to feeling the occasional twinge, something Caroline expected and accepted.
I didn’t talk to Nathan or Alyssa about their relationship too often as it was none of my business. But there was no missing my twin children were head over heels in love with each other. Though still careful when in the presence of Emily and Crystal, when they had a chance to express their love, they were not shy in their affection. Add Natalie to that partnership, and I knew my son was aware of how lucky he was. I could see how utterly in love Natalie was with my son. I wasn’t exactly sure if she had that same level of feelings for Alyssa, and I assumed there was jealousy at times from both, but I rarely heard any arguments between the three.
It only felt crowded on the occasional weekend when my children had friends over. Whenever Caroline and I entertained, it was no more than two or three other couples. Any friends I otherwise had; I’d just meet at a pub for a few beers. Might have hosted the occasional barbecue, but I found I didn’t host too often as they were all aware of my living arrangements.
So life was great in the Jenkins household. Caroline was happy with our relationship. Charlotte was devoted to her father. My son was in love with his twin sister and cousin. And my little girl was continuing to grow up alongside her cousin, who now saw me as her father figure and loved living in a house with people who loved her completely.
The only outliers to the relationships in our household were with my other sister-in-law and mother-in-law. I didn’t bother with the whole ‘ex’ as I was in a committed relationship with Caroline and had even discussed with Charlotte the idea of proposing to her. The idea had ever so excited her though I had to temper that excitement by stating it was only an idea, and that I wasn’t sure Caroline even wanted to marry me. Everyone knew she was Christine’s sister, and we had been honest about everything that led to us getting together. Thankfully, nearly everyone understood and accepted our relationship, even if they did have a few questions.