“Who else?” Emily asked, Charlotte simply looking at her as Emily thought about other possibilities before her eyes widened and jaw dropped. “Grandma?” she whispered.
“I just call her Mary nowadays considering I’ve seen her naked and being intimate with our father.”
Emily giggled. She couldn’t help it. The giggles only lasted a few seconds before she said, “I guess Grandma has been single for a long time now. Still… Daddy does love his family, doesn’t he?”
“It doesn’t shock or… disgust you?”
“I figured out what was going on between you and Daddy long enough ago that anything else doesn’t bother me. I know about Nathan, Alyssa and Natalie…”
“You do?”
“They’re not always particularly quiet when having fun, Charlotte. And Alyssa looks at Nathan like you look at Daddy. Alyssa is so in love with him. So is Natalie. They both love him as much as you love Daddy.”
“Alyssa is… I think she’s always been in love with him, but that’s not to say that Nathan has never loved her just as much. They’re perfect for each other. It’s sad that their love would never be accepted outside of the family. Maybe with Natalie, something could happen in the future…”
They finished getting ready before Charlotte suggested she be the last to join the family in the living room, being the birthday girl and all. She finished fixing her make-up, looking at herself in the mirror more than once. Only just eighteen, still just a girl in many ways. Even her heels barely added more than a couple of inches of height. Her dress gave her cleavage she didn’t really deserve.
Hearing Charlotte call out, she took a deep breath, grabbed her purse and a light jacket for the evening, and walked out to join the family. The exclamations started immediately, Emily feeling her cheeks start to hurt from smiling within a few seconds. Her father was the last to approach her. He looked on the verge of crying as his eyes glistened.
“My little girl is so beautiful,” he said softly, Emily sighing happily as he gently pulled her close and hugged her, closing her eyes and savouring the feeling of being in his arms as always, “You’re now a little lady, Emily. The dress is gorgeous.”
“Charlotte helped pick it out, Daddy.”
“Your sister does have good taste in clothes.”
Dinner was at one of her favourite restaurants, trying her best not to stuff herself as her father insisted that she buy anything on the menu she wanted, eventually sharing a starter with her cousin, a main meal before she shared a dessert with her big sister. Unsure as to what sort of alcohol she liked, her sister suggested something sweet yet not too heavy on the booze, eventually choosing a cocktail that sounded quite nice to try.
The meal was fantastic, with everyone smiling constantly. Emily didn’t particularly like being the centre of attention, but she was rarely quiet for too long. Sitting between her father and her big sister, they both kept her talking throughout the meal. After finishing their meal, Charlotte suggested they head to a pub nearby to sit back, relax, and enjoy a drink or two but keep things in moderation.
“If you ever want to go to a nightclub or anything,” Charlotte suggested once they were relaxing back with a drink.
“The music in most of those places probably wouldn’t interest me,” Emily admitted, “And aren’t clubs just pick-up joints? Full of disgusting men who would treat me like a piece of shit?”
“Some of them are,” Charlotte replied, “Some are clubs to just enjoy the music and the vibe, but don’t feel pressured into going to them. I’ve only been a few times as while I like to go for a drink and a dance, I can’t stand the guys that fill these places. Some think they’re God’s gift to women, others don’t know what the word ‘No’ means, or if you say no, you need to give an essay as to why you’re not interested in them. I don’t need a reason, you dumb fuck. The word ‘No’ is a complete sentence.”
“Tell us what you really think,” Caroline stated, laughing to herself, “Though it’s why women go out with the idea of safety in numbers. The stories I heard when I was your age. So many young women would end up roofied, and you can just imagine what happened afterwards.”
“As long as you’re safe,” her father added, “But just remember that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, sweetie.” Emily looked at her father when calling her that name. “You’re no longer a munchkin. You are now my little sweetie, Emily.”
“I love it, Daddy,” she said, leaning over to cuddle him, “I’ll always be your little girl.”
They didn’t stay out too long. Emily had no desire to get drunk. She had a cocktail with dinner, and another two cocktails while at the pub, and that was enough. In addition to what Caroline said, she just had no real interest in going out and getting drunk. Maybe enough to get a slight buzz. She knew plenty of her friends at high school were already drinking constantly. She’d never really seen the thrill behind it. Getting drunk just led to stupid decisions and poor results.
Arriving home, it was a weeknight, so most people gave her a kiss and cuddle before heading off to bed. She didn’t miss that Charlotte made sure her father was sitting in the living room, a tumbler of bourbon for him, telling him to sit back and relax while she looked after Caroline. Charlotte took Emily by the hand, leading her to her bedroom. She was smiling when Caroline was waiting for her there.
“You’ll need to give him time, just like with Charlotte,” Caroline stated, her hand caressing Emily’s cheek before kissing her other one, “But he’ll soon see that you’re his little girl but also a young woman coming into her own, and just like he can be intimate with his oldest daughter, he can be intimate with his youngest. Don’t be upset that nothing will probably happen tonight. If you get a kiss…”
“Just kissing Daddy will be enough,” she whispered.
Taking off her dress in front of her aunt and big sister didn’t bother her as she had a feeling that her big sister would see her naked soon enough. The idea of being intimate with Charlotte thrilled her. She loved Crystal and wanted to be with her permanently, but if Charlotte was interested in having some fun, Emily wasn’t going to say no.
“You’re beautiful,” Caroline whispered once Emily stood somewhat awkwardly in front of her in just her lingerie, stockings and heels, “Your father is going to be stunned at how beautiful you are.”
“Go downstairs and surprise him, sweetie,” Charlotte added, “Caroline will sleep in my bedroom tonight. If you’re lucky, Daddy will take you to his bedroom to at least snuggle together.”
The idea of just snuggling with him like that was almost too much, and she felt a couple of tears fall down her cheeks. Her aunt and big sister immediately hugged her tightly, helping her to calm down, another kiss on each cheek, before Caroline encouraged her to head downstairs and stake her claim as well.
She wasn’t used to wearing heels so was careful when walking downstairs. Walking into the living room, her father was watching the evening news, his shirt undone, shoes now off his feet, sipping at a glass of bourbon. Everyone in the house knew that their father liked to have one drink after a long day at work. It helped him relax and unwind, working so hard for his family.
“Daddy,” she whispered.
Her father turned his head in her direction. She just about managed to smile, not knowing what to do with her arms and hands, eventually fidgeting slightly as she noticed the smile form on his face. “Hello, sweetie,” he said, “I remember something similar a few years ago.”
“Daddy…”
Watching him stand up, he walked over and stood before her, lifting her eyes towards his as one of his hands moved to stroke her cheek. Feeling his arms wrap around her, she sighed as she rested her head against his chest, his fingers stroking the skin of her back.
“You’re so beautiful, sweetie,” he said, feeling his voice rumble in his chest, “I’ll be honest and admit there was a part of me that expected this. And I’m guessing you do know about things. We’ve done our best to… I hate saying keep it hidden and a secret…”
“It’s okay, Daddy. I understand.”
“Want to sit and snuggle with Daddy for a little while?”
“Can I get a drink?”
“What would you like?”
“Something sweet and tasty. I don’t think I’d like your bourbon.”
“Alyssa likes Bailey’s Irish Cream. That’s very nice over a little ice. Want to try that?”
“Okay, Daddy.”
Her father led her to the couch, making sure she was sitting down before he disappeared into the kitchen. He returned rather quickly with a glass filled with ice and what looked like a milky liquid. He was also without a shirt, Emily felt herself blush as her father was still incredibly fit, and the fact his chest had a fine coating of dark hair didn’t surprise her. Sitting down next to her, she snuggled into his side as she sipped at her drink.
“Oh, I like this, Daddy,” she said, “Just a hint of alcohol.”
Sipping at their drinks, they remained silent for a few minutes, his arm wrapped around her as she cuddled as close as possible. She cuddled with him all the time but never dressed in such a manner.
“Daddy…”
“I know, sweetie. Just like with Charlotte, I’ll need a little time to get my head around it. Caroline has warned me for around the last three months that I should expect this though.”
“I still like girls too.”
“We’ve had this discussion more than once, sweetie. As I always say, love is love, and whoever you want to love is fine with me.”
“Can I snuggle with you in bed tonight, Daddy?”