no, a man. She found it was her daddy she was imagining, his large, strong hands guiding her, his eyes bright and full of love as he looked down at her. She was so lost in the fantasy she could even smell his aftershave.

“Kiss me, Daddy,” she murmured, her eyes still closed, tilting her head up like she saw in all the movies.

“Darla.” The sound of her name made her whirl around and stumble over her discarded clothes. She landed bone-jarringly hard on her bottom and she whimpered, leaning back on her elbows. Her father stood in the doorway, his large frame filling it completely. She felt her whole body flush with embarrassment.

Oh no, oh god, this can’t be happening.

They didn’t say anything for a moment, and Darla found herself trembling.

He cleared his throat. “Why don’t you get your own clothes back on, sweetheart?

I have to take you back to your mother’s tonight.”

She forgot what she was wearing, what she had been caught doing, she forgot everything at those words. “But… I thought I was going to stay here tonight, Daddy! You said…we were going to go to the movies tomorrow!” She struggled to contain her tears and lost, but at least she did it silently. She swallowed around the hard lump in her throat.

“I know, honey…but Irene isn’t feeling well. She’s downstairs lying on the couch. I’m glad she didn’t come up here first,” he chuckled. “I’ll make it up to you, angel. I promise.”

She nodded, looking down at his shoes, his dress shoes. They had gone to a play tonight. Taming of the Shrew. She didn’t want him to see that she was crying.

“I’ll get dressed,” she said, wanting him to go before she really started sobbing. “Be down in a minute.”

“Ok…and Darla, honey…don’t forget your panties.” He turned around, his voice sounding strained.