Starting Over

[DaddyO]

OOC: Ben Kingston. 44 years old. 6'2". 190 pounds. Grey eyes. Thinning blonde hair.



I was really getting frustrated.
I had been working seven months on my new novel, and had barely completed three chapters.
I thought moving to a new town would help spark the creative juices, but I was still stalled.
It couldn't be writers block, could it?


Things had been so difficult since my wife passed away.
I knew my daughter was struggling too.



She was so like her mother.
I didn't know what I would do without her.



I heard her come in the house and knock on my door.
I smiled and shut off the computer without saving and of the drivel I had typed out.
There was always tomorrow.



Opening the door, I found myself transfixed by my daughter's lovely face.
She turned 18 last week.
She had become a beautiful woman. There was no doubt about it.
There should be boys staked out on the front lawn, I reasoned.
But there weren't.

She was just too shy.
I wished I could do something to bring her out of her shell a little.
But I was only her Dad.

"Hey, Princess," I said, wrapping her up in my arms......

 

[Stardustblue]

OOC: Beth Kingston. Recently turned 18. 5'6", 121 lbs, 34B. Dark blonde hair, brown eyes.

I was so glad to be home. For the last 8 hours or so all I had heard about was the snowflake dance. It wasn't that I had something against dances. I just never got asked to them. I tried hard not to be jealous of my friends with their corsages and formals, but after a full day of them chattering about it I had had enough.

The house was quiet. Even though mom had been gone for quite some time some afternoons the emptyness just hit me. This afternoon was one of those times. I dropped my backpack on the floor and shrugged my coat off. Although the door was closed I saw the light peek out of my dad's office.

I knocked gently on the door and before I knew it Daddy had opened the door and his arms were around me. It was like he knew exactly what I needed.

I wished I knew what he needed. I knew he was suffering. I knew he missed her. I tried to be like mom, I tried to make things like before for him. He was too special to be without a special woman. I knew he must be lonesome.

"Hey Princess." His arms were warm and firm, enveloping not only my body but my soul as well. I wrapped mine around him too, a little more intently than I meant to.

"Hi Daddy." I could have stayed like that forever but I finally loosened my arms from around him. "What are you up to?" I noticed the monitor flicker off. "Working on your writing?

 

[DaddyO]

Ben

"What are you up to? Working on your writing?"

"Right now I'm working on going blind," I joked. "If I stare at that screen any more I'm going to burn out my retinas. All work and no play makes Daddy a dull boy. What I'd really like to do is to spend some quality time with my best girl. That is if she doesn't have any plans. What about it, sweetheart. Do you have a hot date tonight?"

 

[Stardustblue]

Beth

"What about it, sweetheart. Do you have a hot date tonight?" He was smiling. He was so handsome.

I smiled and shook my head back and forth. No hot dates. Not tonight. Not ever. "Not tonight." I felt myself get suddenly warm. I shouldn't be reacting to his invitation like this. "I'd love to do something with you, Daddy. Like a date, just me and you?"

 

[DaddyO]

Ben

"A date it is, Beth," I readily agreed. "Prepare to be wined and dined. Except for the wined part. Go put on your best dress. I'll call and get us a table at Martino's. If you're really good, I might take you out dancing after. There's nothing I'd like better than to show off with the prettiest girl in town on my arm. That is, if you aren't embarrassed to be seen in public with the old man."

 

[Stardustblue]

Beth

"A date it is, Beth. Prepare to be wined and dined. Except for the wined part. Go put on your best dress. I'll call and get us a table at Martino's. If you're really good, I might take you out dancing after. There's nothing I'd like better than to show off with the prettiest girl in town on my arm. That is, if you aren't embarrassed to be seen in public with the old man."

Wow.

"Of course I wouldn't be embarrassed, silly." I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on his cheek. "I'd really like that, Daddy. Just let me go get ready, ok?" Without waiting for his response I hurried up the stairs into my room. I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath.

I struggled to contain the excitement that coarsed through my veins. I struggled to even understand the excitement. I was acting the way that my best friend Jill acted when Chad asked her to the snowflake dance. Except this wasn't Chad or some other guy from school. It was my dad.

I rummaged through my closet trying to find something appropriate to wear. None of my dresses seemed right for tonight. And then it dawned on me what I needed to do. I opened my door quietly and made my way to the staircase. Daddy was still downstairs. I snuck into the guest bedroom and opened the closet. It was there that we had stored mom's old clothes. I knew exactly what I needed to borrow and removed it from the other dresses. I snuck into my room again and proceeded to get ready.

I took one last look at myself in the full length mirror in my room before I made my way down the stairs to see Daddy. I had selected a dark red velvet dress that ended just above my knees. The empire waist of the dress helped to make my smallish breasts appear larger and I had selected a strappy pair of black heels that made me feel taller.

I hardly recognized myself. I hoped Daddy would it like it.

I made my way down the stairs slowly. "Daddy," I called out. "Do I look ok?"

 

[DaddyO]

Ben

Beth's enthusiasm was contagious. I called the restaurant and got us a private table. Then it was time for a quick shower and shave. As time passed I actually felt myself getting nervous. It had been about a hundred years since my last date. I was terribly out of practice. And I wanted everything to be perfect.

I dressed in my favorite blue pinstriped suit. Vanity set in as I caught a glance of myself in the mirror. I thought I'd held up rather well through the years. I was a good looking guy. Any girl would be lucky to have me.

Then I shook my head. The girl I was preening for was my own daughter. She'd love me no matter what I looked like. Just as deeply and passionately as I loved her.

Passionately?

What a strange thought.

I made my way downstairs with seconds to spare. Beth entered the room. And I suddenly couldn't breath.

"Daddy, Do I look ok?"

I literally couldn't speak. Then I took in what she was wearing and a thousand wonderful memories set in. When I could finally form words I said, "That was your mother's favorite dress, sweetheart. I wish she could be here to see how lovely you look in it."

 

[Stardustblue]

Beth

I stood silently there, looking at Daddy as he looked at me. He didn't speak and I found myself extremely anxious to see what he thought of me. I had hoped that my choice of the dress wouldn't make him sad or angry. But I wanted to wear this dress. I needed to wear this dress.

"That was your mother's favorite dress, sweetheart. I wish she could be here to see how lovely you look in it."

I smiled and blushed at his words. "Thank you, Daddy. I know I can never be as beautiful as she was but hearing you say that makes me so happy." I look down at the floor shyly. "You look very handsome, Daddy." I walked toward him. "Except your tie is a little crooked." My hands straightened the tie carefully. "That's better." I noticed how one of my hands still lingered on his chest and removed it quickly, my face flushing.

What was I doing? I stepped away from him and clasped my hands together behind my back. "I'm ready whenever you are, Daddy. And thank you."

 

[DaddyO]

Ben

We made the fifteen minute drive to Martino's in relative silence. Beth seemed to be deep in thought, and I was trying not to think. Every time I did I found myself thinking about Beth's mother and her dress. She only wore it on very special occasions, and she rarely wore it long. The game we play was how long it took me to get her out of it, which inevitably led to long nights of savage lovemaking. Beth couldn't have know the effect a simple article of clothing had on me. As I cautiously snuck dangerously inappropriate glances at her, I found the old desires rising to the surface.

Two blocks from our destination, we stopped at a red light. Without thinking, I reached over and took Beth's hand. Our fingers entwined, and I gave her a tender squeeze.

"I love you, Beth," I said. She gave no indication of pulling away, so I didn't let go. We held hands the rest of the drive.

Almost like lovers.

 

[Stardustblue]

Beth

The silence on the way to Martino's seemed strange. I didn't talk much to others, but I was always chatty to Daddy. Yet today I couldn't stop thinking that if I opened my mouth I feared that I may say something that may embarrass me later. I was treating this the complete wrong way.

The car slowed as the light turned from yellow to red. I looked out the window to my right, taking in the sights of the downtown area. I saw cute couples holding hands, shopping, laughing. And then I felt it. Daddy's hand on mine, then our fingers entwined, together. He tightened his hand around mine in a squeeze.

I looked over at him, our eyes meeting briefly. "I love you, Beth." I squeezed his hand back. "I love you too, Daddy. I love you so much."

I didn't move my hand and neither did he. When the light turned green he continued on, his right hand still holding mine. I wasn't aware that I could feel so much from so little. His hand on mine sent a warm beam straight to my heart.

It was probably more than I should have ever felt for him.

 

[DaddyO]

Ben

It was actually the first time we had ever been in Martino's, but there had been an article in the newspaper had raved about the food. We were quickly seated, and as the waiter gave us the menus he leaned and and quietly complimented me on the beauty of my girlfriend. Before I could correct him he dashed away. I thought Beth would get a kick out of the misunderstanding, so I got ready to tell her. Before I could, however, I took a quick glance around the room. Most of the tables were occupied by similar couples -- older men and younger woman -- occasional broken up by the rare older woman and younger woman.

That's when it hit me. This wasn't a family restaurant. I had taken my daughter to a romantic rendezvous. I knew the restaurant was located in a hotel, and that there were rooms upstairs, but I didn't make the connection. That's when I noticed Beth looking around. I wondered how long it would take for her to put two and two together.....

 

[Stardustblue]

Beth

I had never heard of Martino's before, I had only seen the outside on various trips downtown. But as I took the menu from the waiter and saw him whisper into Daddy's ear I quickly realized what kind of restraurant this was. There were no families here, no screaming children or people my age or a little older on dates. Instead we were surrounded by small cozy tables containing couples.

It was as Daddy said. It was a date.

I didn't know what to think. It was like we had suddenly made the transition from Daddy and Beth to Ben and Beth; like we were a couple. As disturbing as it was, I wasn't actually disturbed by the prospect that we may be seen as a couple. That is what disturbed me. I kind of liked that idea.

I wondered if that is what he wanted. I sat the menu down and looked around again. It seemed every table contained an older man and a younger woman. I watched a couple get up from the table and walk toward the back of the restaurant. I followed them with my eyes, I watched the way she laughed; the way that his hand brushed up against her arm. Then they disappeared down a hallway that, according to the sign, led to the hotel portion of the place. I didn't realize that this place had all that. I wondered if Daddy did.

I would find out.

"So, how about you order for me? I don't know what to get at a place like this." I smiled and my eyes twinkled. "Don't tell me now; surprise me."

 

[DaddyO]

Ben

Beth excused herself and got up to use the ladies room. I followed her with my eyes until she disappeared from view, still amazed at how wonderful she looked. Then I opened the menu. When I did I almost fell out of my chair. The menu contained nothing but a short list of specials. Each special included dinner for two, and none was priced under five hundred dollars. I had expected the prices to be high, but this was ridiculous. Hoping I could get everything sorted out before my daughter returned, I called over the waiter. He smiled when I asked the obvious question.

"This is your first time at Martino's?" he asked. I nodded, and he nodded back like he had heard this a thousand times before.

"The price of the room is included with the price of your meal," he explained.

"The price of the... room?" I asked.

"Si," he said. "To continue your unforgettable romantic evening..."

"You don't understand," I tried to explain. "Beth is..."

Then she appeared in the doorway. I made a fateful decision. I ordered.

 

[Stardustblue]

Beth

I had excused myself to prepare myself to have a moment to think. The powder room was not exactly the best place for that. I stood at the vanity, taking a spot between two other girls who looked a little older than me. They smiled politely as I proceeded to take a tiny brush from my clutch and run it through my dark blond hair.

"You two make a cute couple."

I jumped. "I beg your pardon?" The girl on my left had said something to me but she couldn't have said what I thought she said.

"You and your date. You make a cute couple." She smiled genuinely.

I smiled shyly. "Thank you."

"Have fun," she said as she disappeared out of the door.

I hadn't corrected her. I had enjoyed the compliment. Suddenly everything was so crystal-clear.

I had wanted this to be a date. I had wanted to be a couple.

I took one last look at myself. I saw a new Beth. There was something new in my eyes, I seemed different.

I stepped out of the door and walked back to our table, feeling much more comfortable. I saw the waiter at our table and slowed down a bit, wanting to be genuinely surprised by whatever Daddy had chosen for us. When I arrived at the table Daddy was standing next to my chair. I sat down and he pushed my chair in close to the table. It was all like a dream.

I just hoped that Daddy and I were dreaming of the same things.