I woke up, my head spinning, the clothes that I had on from the night before tangled around my body, and my whole body ached. I sat up and groaned, holding my head in my hands. I could smell the alcohol on myself and it made me feel sicker. I got up, with great effort, just as there was a loud knocking on my door. I groaned again and snapped at the person who was behind it.
"What the hell do you want?"
Dad walked in, smiling, looking crisp and ready for the day. His brown hair brushed back, his deep brown eyes looking happy.
"Good morning sunshine!"
I groaned again and whined as I spoke, "Daddy, please don't talk so loud!"
His bright cheery face turned stern and unforgiving but he corrected it quickly.
"Why not? Aren't you feeling well?"
He had a look of mock concern on his face and I groaned again.
"No, I don't."
"Well, it's time to get up, take a shower, and get ready for the day."
I looked at him meanly, but did as I was told. When I came down into the kitchen I was glad to see that coffee was already made. Charles, the tenant that rented the rooms above the garage, was sitting at the table. He looked at me impishly as I walked in, wearing a pair of jogging pants and one of Daddy's tee shirts.
"You look like shit."
"You always look like shit, what's the big fuckin' deal."
"Hey! Jessica, you will not speak that way in my house!"
I turned, surprised to see Daddy coming into the kitchen.
"I'm sorry."
"As you should be."
"Shut up Charles, Daddy doesn't need your input."
My Daddy looked at me and shook his head, "what's up with you this morning?"
"She's hung over. I heard her pull in about four o'clock this morning. Theron you need to get control of her. She's going to wind up in a heap of trouble some day."
If looks could kill Charles would have dropped dead then, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. My Daddy looked at me, his stern almost frightening look coming back to his features.
"Is this true young lady? Did you not get home until this morning?"
"I'm grown Daddy, I'll do what I want."
"You're still under my roof child! You will abide by my rules!"
I wanted to go over to Charles and choke the shit out of him, but I poured a cup of coffee instead and had a conversation with myself in my head.
"I'm fucking 22 years old, nobody can tell me what to do."
"Daddy's right, you still live in his house."
"So, Daddy's never done anything bad to me. He could never bring himself to punish me, I'm his sweet little girl."
"Have you seen the way Daddy's been looking at you?"
That was something different. I'd never asked myself a question before in the third person. I put it off to the alcohol and answered my own question.
"Yeah, I have."
"It's like he's hungry."
"For what?"
"For you."
"No way! His my father."
"Momma left him over a year ago, and have you seen him with any body else?"
"He goes out."
"So, doesn't mean he isn't fucking someone."
"This conversation has gotten out of hand and completely off subject."
"Yeah, but still, pay attention more to him."
"Yeah, whatever."
I looked over at Daddy, and saw him looking at me. When he saw that I was staring at him he shifted his eyes, took a drink of coffee, and looked at his newspaper.
"Why are you wearing my shirt, Jess?"
"It's comfortable."
"It's far too big for you."
"That's what makes it comfy."
"You should dress in your own clothes."
I smiled and tested him, my other voice telling me to do so.
"I like the way it smells. It smells like you."
Charles whistled and I kicked him. Daddy just about dropped his coffee all over the floor. He righted himself and cleared his throat but said nothing. I got up, got another cup of coffee, and went over to Daddy. I kissed him on the cheek, holding my lips there for longer than I should have. I felt his skin get hot and pulled away.
"I'm sorry I've been such a bitch this morning Daddy. I'll be better, I promise."
Daddy looked up at me, his eyes darker than usual. He patted my hand and shifted in his chair.
"Good girl."
I giggled, stuck my tongue out at Charles, and pretended to go upstairs. But I hid myself in the laundry room off of the kitchen and listened to Daddy and Charles. I heard Charles first.
"What was that all about?"
"She's just trying to be a good girl."
"I'm not talking about her. I know how she is, I'm talking about you."
"What about me?"
"Theron, come on man! She even saw the way you acted. What's up with that?"
I could hear Daddy shifting in his chair again and he cleared his throat.
"I trust you Chuck."
"I know you do man. So tell me."
"I've been thinking."