Looking at the clothes laid out on the bed, I couldn't believe I was even thinking about trying them on. Red and black lingerie, stockings and suspenders, revelling dresses, and slutty skirts. My Mum had run off with some big business co-worker and had left all her belongings behind. Dad didn't have the heart to throw them away. It was so hard seeing him so depressed over the last year. He was devastated by Mum leaving and hadn't even come close to recovering.
He had always been my best friend growing up, a stay-at-home dad for my sister and me. He did everything at home while Mum walked all over him. Even now, he was working all hours to put food on the table and me and my sister through college.
I started coming up with a plan. My Dad needed confidence and someone to treat him like he deserved. He would never go out dating on his own, and he had no time to make new friends. So I knew it needed to be me.
Luckily, I had definitely gotten my looks from my mother; I was short for a guy with soft feminine features. I had narrow shoulders, wide hips, and, as my friends had made sure to point out, a huge ass. People always mistook me for a girl from behind.
I knew I still needed a few weeks to prepare, practice with makeup and heels and work on my voice. Not without mentioning planning the perfect at-home dinner date for my Dad.
I worked on everything for weeks in secret, but the perfect opportunity came eventually. My sister Sarah was staying with a friend, and I knew exactly when Dad would be home from work.
The candles were lit, dinner was ready on the table, and the lights were dimmed. My heart skipped a beat when I heard the door open.
'Sara? Eli? Why is it so dark in here?'
I could hear my Dad shrug off his coat and make his way down the hall. I frantically fixed my dress and smoothed my hair, too scared to glance in the mirror in case my lipstick was off.
Finally, my Dad stood in the doorway.
'Suzie...?' he barely said it in a whisper, but I could see his mouth form my mother's name. I must have looked just like her.
I coughed gently. 'It's Ellie, actually.' I couldn't have been more nervous, but my voice didn't even break. Dad just stood there, holding his briefcase, stunned. All those hours practising in heels paid off as I sashayed towards him. 'I'll take your case. Dinner already on the table. Why don't you go and freshen up?' Before my stunned Dad could respond, I gave him a peck on the cheek, grabbed his briefcase and moved back towards the kitchen, making sure to sway my hips and stick my ass out with every step.
I didn't look behind me, but I let out a huge breathe of relief as I heard my Dad go up the stairs.
I sat and waited for my Dad.
I started to worry that he would never come down the stairs. Had I ruined our relationship? Did he think I was some weirdo?
I jumped in my seat as I heard him make his way back down the stairs. He had changed. He was wearing his best shirt, hastily ironed and he had shaved for the first time in too long.
'Please have a seat. Dinner and dessert are ready.'
The food was wonderful, even if I do say so myself. However, the conversation did take some time. My Dad was very nervous at first, looking down at his food, only taking quick glances at me. But after the first course, he started to open up. We talked about everything, his past, his future, how he felt and what he wanted to change.
As we talked, I made sure our legs touched, I couldn't help giggling when he blushed, my foot running up and down his calf.
