Darren, Male, 53

	- Narrator, retired, father of Gwen and Victoria (Vic)

	- 5'11, beige skin, 195lbs, cropped greying brown hair

Audrey, Female, 15

	- High school student, daughter of Duncan and Theresa

	- 5'9, pale skin, 135lbs, light-green eyes, straight auburn hair over her shoulders

Sunday morning I felt awful. I wished, honestly, that I wouldn't have to face Audrey again. The odd friendship we'd started to develop the day before had been abruptly destroyed, so it seemed to me. I wanted to push her visit quickly into my past and move on.

It wasn't to be.

A knock at my door as I sat in the den watching a movie drew me to a conversation with Joyce.

“Oh, Darren! Good, you're home!” she said as I welcomed her inside. The woman looked upset.

“What's wrong, Joyce?”

“Oh, nothing terrible. Herman's caught a cold overnight. Coughing and feeling nauseous. Not feeling great myself. These things run through us hard and slow, Darren. Hard and slow. Not looking forward to the week ahead. Gonna be rough on us. Gonna be rough. Say,” the woman said, barely taking a breath between sentences, “I hate to do it, but I think I must ask a favor.”

“Of course,” I replied, always willing to help the couple out over the years.

“Could Audrey stay with you the rest of her visit? I hate to ask that, but I don't want her picking up this crud. Might be too late, never know. Might be too late, but if not, she's going to pick it up if she stays with us. No two ways about it. Is there any way she could stay here? We'll give you a check to cover her food and whatnots.”

I stammered for a reply, not wanting to have the issue between me and Audrey forced so suddenly back into my head. “I uh... I...”

“I know it's a bother, Darren. A real bother. She'll keep out of your way. You got that pool, she'll be fine. Don't each much, either, and she can cook herself, I've seen it. I'll tell her to make you dinner while she's here. Please...”

The woman's insistent cadence made it hard to argue with her. “Of course.”

“Oh, Darren. You are a dear. Thank you so much. So much indeed. I'll go fetch her over here straightaway.”

With that, Joyce turned and headed back out the door, leaving me to wonder what the hell I'd just agreed to do.

- - -

Audrey said nothing as she sat next to the pool. She'd been at my place all of an hour already without saying a single word. I'd tried twice to offer her a snack or something to drink, but she'd ignored me.

I let her stew in whatever hell she was in. I couldn't manage my own so well, either.

I returned to my movie and settled in with a scotch and some popcorn.

- - -

I had just started a second movie when a heavy thump beside me startled me out of a light doze. Audrey was on the couch, two cushions over. She stared at the screen. A glass holding a liquid looking suspiciously like scotch was in her hand. “What are you watching?” the teen asked in a near-growl.

“Um... Deadpool.”

“Haven't seen it.”

“Well... it's good.”

We sounded like two people too angry to speak normally, but not quite angry enough to wholly ignore that the other existed. I wasn't angry, just frustrated and dreading the inevitable confrontation to come.

Within ten minutes, the movie's sharp, running comedic style had changed her mood. Audrey was laughing hysterically at Ryan Reynold's quips through the fourth wall, and, whatever dark mood had settled in overnight, her spirits seemed lighter for a couple of hours.

The funny sex scenes were awkward for me, but nothing too bad. Audrey laughed throughout, and that kept me from fixating on anything arousing about what we were watching.

When it ended, I asked, “hungry?” I hadn't mentioned the scotch.

“Yeah.”

“Let's order pizza.”

“Or I could make a pizza...”

“You want to?” I asked.

“I do.” She sounded quite a bit happier than earlier.

“Doubt I've got what we need here, but if you want to ride with me to the store...”

“Okay.”

- - -

We spoke little on the quick trip, avoiding completely what had happened the night before. Together, we gathered the ingredients and headed home.

I offered my help in the kitchen, but Audrey literally shooed me away. I shrugged and let her know I'd be by the pool reading.

An hour or so later, the teen poked her head out to hand me a timer and to say, “Needs to cook about twenty minutes. I'm gonna swim.”

“Sounds good.”

Audrey paused in the doorway. “You gonna swim?”

“I hadn't planned on it.”

“Oh.” The door closed firmly.

A moment later, the teen returned. Instead of the revealing bright-orange two-piece, Audrey wore a slick, black one-piece with a high neck line and full coverage of her hips. If she was trying to look less sexy, she only partially succeeded.

Without a look at me, the fifteen-year old dove into the deep end and slipped under the water with a loud splash. I stood and went to my bedroom, and found myself putting on my swim trunks. Something in Audrey's voice made me want to not disappoint her again. I returned to the pool. Audrey watched as I mimicked her dive and then laughed as I resurfaced. “Nicely done, Darren.”

“Appreciated.”

“Thanks for joining me.” There was sincerity and happiness in her tone. It made me feel warm.

We swam idly without another word. The timer on the table beeped and Audrey rushed out of the water. I didn't turn to be tempted by watching her dry her body.

“Come on, Darren. It's ready,” she called to me as she went inside.

I joined her slowly, taking my time to fully dry off and slipping into my bedroom to rinse off in the shower and put on a robe. I considered more conservative attire, but it was my house, and I was comfortable in the robe.

“Good timing,” she told me when I settled at the dining room table. “I whipped up a salad from what you had in the fridge to go with.”

Audrey pushed a bowl in front of me along with a bottle of vinaigrette, a steaming pizza resting cut and ready to eat on an oven mitt in the center of the table. Audrey sat next to me and raised her glass of what I assumed was another scotch. I chose not to mention it again.

“Cheers,” she offered.

“Cheers.” I eyed the pizza. It had olive oil and parsley, fresh garlic and mozzerella, along with slices of roma tomato and roasted red peppers. “This looks amazing, Audrey.”

She beamed. “Thanks. I like to cook.”

We both dug in. The salad was a salad. I didn't exactly have a good selection, so there was only so much she could do with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and green peppers, but it was a good starter.

But that pizza. My goodness, was it delicious. “I've never had a better pie.” She looked at me like I was lying. “Seriously. This is amazing. You should think about selling your recipe to Domino's or something.”

She laughed, then shook her head. “Domino's is crap.”

“Agree. Especially compared to this.”

She grinned.

“Thanks, Audrey. This is a really nice treat.”

She nodded and looked down. “Thanks for a place to stay... Herman and Joyce are... funny about medical stuff. If you hadn't let me stay here they were going to send me home...”

“Damn... But, uh... wouldn't you rather just go home? I mean...” I knew we had to talk about it sometime, so I said, “after last night... Audrey...”

“I'm sorry,” she said, beating me to it. “I shouldn't have acted like that. It's not your fault.”

“You're sorry? No! I'm the one who should be sorry. Audrey, I didn't mean to say anything to hurt you. That's the opposite of what I wanted. I'm so sorry I made you mad.”

She offered a weak grin. “Okay... we're both sorry.” The teen looked away. “It's just... None of it is true...”

“What?”

“None of what they told you... I made it all up.”

“None of what... about you having sex?” I said, trying to stay calm.

Audrey nodded. “All of it. About having sex. Having boyfriends. Being wild. It's all bullshit.”

“I... I don't know what to say... Why would you make that up?” I wasn't so sure she wasn't just lying to me to cover up the truth, not that I cared whether she'd had a hundred lovers or none.

Audrey shrugged. “I just... We move around a lot, you know? Mom's work and all. When we moved to Buffalo, I just... I had started to... grow... in places and I thought it would be cool for people to think, you know... I had experience. It kinda backfired...”

“Your mom freaked out, and the people you wanted to impress thought you were a slut...”

“Exactly. Just like you did.”

“I didn't think that...”

“No?”

“Someone having sex, even having a lot of it with several partners... I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I mean... I don't want that for my daughters at their age, I'm their father, after all, but... it doesn't make someone less worthy of whatever... It just means you have sex. Nothing more.”

“Ah... yeah, I like that. I mean... I want to have sex, I just... Everyone thinks I already have, so... if they find out I haven't... they'll hate me worse...”

“I doubt that.”

Audrey gave me a look I knew meant that she wasn't going to be challenged on her knowledge of her friends from someone like me. I decided to pick my battles carefully.

“Fair enough. You're right.”

“I know.” Audrey softened. It looked like a weight had lifted from her. I know I felt that way, as well. “So... now you know my secret fake life. Audrey the tramp is a lie.”

We sat quietly a while before I said carefully, “Audrey... can I ask why it bothered you that... that I thought you were...”

“A ho?”

“Your words, not mine.”

“A ho.” She sucked in her breath and looked past me. “I dunno. It just did. I guess I wanted to keep my promise about not teasing... that was kinda part of my... my lie that everyone 'knows' about me. When you reacted like you did... I dunno... I wanted you to... think better of me, I guess.”

I decided she needed proof that I did. “I hear you are graduating two years early. That's pretty damn impressive.

Audrey smiled, “Thanks. I worked hard to do it. Can't wait to go to college and get out of Buffalo.”

“Picked a college yet?”

“Not officially. But... the University of Houston has the program I want...”

“Oh,” I said, slowly letting that idea take form, “oh... I see.”

“I don't have to decide for a few months... was hoping to run by the campus while I was here and take a look. With Joyce and Herman down for the count...”

“I'll be glad to take you. It would be a pleasure.”

“Yeah?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Great!” she exclaimed. Before I could move, Audrey leapt from her chair and wrapped her arms around me. I returned her hug. “Thanks, Darren.”

“You're welcome.”

- - -

Monday morning came early for me when I heard splashing in the pool. Unlike my daughters, it seemed Audrey was a consistent early riser. I found coffee already made, and a note on the stove said that there were fresh muffins in the dessert box on the counter. Damn, that girl knew how to be a houseguest.

I grabbed a cup and a muffin and joined the teen by the pool.

“Hey, Audrey,” I called when she paused by the edge. “Thanks for the breakfast. This muffin is fantastic.”

She grinned and pretended to curtsey in the water. “No problem. I thought you might enjoy that.”

“Want to go up to Uni after I get caffeinated?”

“For sure!”

“Give me twenty.”

- - -

After a visit to my bedroom to change into something more presentable than my robe, I found Audrey at the kitchen table using her laptop. “Ready?” I asked.

“One sec.” She stared at the screen and I could see the teen's lips moving as she read something to herself. “Got it.”

“Got what?”

“I memorized the campus map.”

“The whole thing?” I walked around to her side to see a detailed map of the University of Houston campus on the screen.”

“Yeah. Kinda a thing I can do,” Audrey replied, sweeping the hair from her face. She'd changed into a reasonably-professional looking grey blouse which hung loose, much like the top of the dress she'd worn to the movies. Her white slacks held snug around her waist with a small flare around her ankles.

“Photographic memory?”

Audrey shook her head. “Not really, no. Just maps, mostly. Kind of a trick I picked up from a teacher a few years ago. I tell myself a story that connects all the parts together. Then, when I need to find my way somewhere, I just remember the part of the story and I can 'see' the map in my head.”

“That sounds pretty useful.”

“Only if I'm going somewhere new. That doesn't happen except when we move, usually.”

“Well,” I replied, “useful today, I think.”

She grinned. “Yeah.” The teen stood and stretched. I was all-too-aware of the way her back arched in a soft curve from shoulders to waist, causing her tight, white slacks to hug her firm ass just a touch more tightly, her breasts pushed out to accent the way her body had become that of a young woman, not the girl of a year before. Shuddering to myself, I averted my eyes before she could catch me looking, and then led us to my car.

- - -

The campus was a sprawling set of buildings and open spaces, much like any campus, I supposed. Audrey had a mission and I could do little more than follow her around. She got us a pass from admissions as well as arranged for someone to give us a quick tour of a few of the facilities. The teen was most interested in the Biotechnology program offered there, so we got to see some of the laboratory areas and even talked, briefly, with a couple of the professors in the biology department.

It took a couple of hours and by the time we left, Audrey had an armload of brochures and documents to take with her.

We stopped for lunch at a small diner about halfway to my house.

“So... what did you think?” I asked between spoonfuls of ham and dumpling soup.

“Loved it!” The enthusiasm had not left the teen since we'd first spied the edge of campus that morning. “I'm coming here.”

“That certain already?”

Audrey nodded. “Yep. I already checked it out online, but having been here... definitely.”

“It gets hot here, you know.”

“Yeah. I've lived in Miami, so I know what that's like,” she told me before biting into a turkey sandwich. “Plus, Herman and Joyce are here.”

“That could be a big help, having someone you know here.”

Audrey eyed her plate a moment, then added, “You're here, too...”

“I am.”

Her eyes drifted towards me and for a long three or four seconds, I stared into her bright-green orbs. It was too easy to let myself sink into Audrey's gorgeous eyes. The more I learned about her, the more we interacted, the more I knew I was risking more than being just a friendly neighbor to the teen. How could I not want to kiss her, to touch her, to make her moan with pleasure? What straight man could see those eyes, that body, and not want such things?

Even so, I resisted after losing my way a moment, looking past her to see the waitress returning to fill our drinks.

“So... Anything else you want to do while you're here that I can help with?” I asked carefully.

Her eyes stayed on me a moment and I could almost hear her voicing thoughts which were dangerously close to those in my own head. Instead, she shook her head and said nothing further.

I was left to wonder which one of us would cross the line first.

- - -

That afternoon, Audrey was back in her conservative one-piece and swimming in the pool with me seated nearby reading my book. I was determined to keep my eyes focused on the words on each page, but I found myself losing the plot and having to restart the same page several times before I gave up. I slipped into my bedroom and then returned wearing my swim trunks. Audrey smiled at me as I slid into the warm water.

We swam for a while without speaking. Slowly, though, it was clear that both Audrey and I were moving closer to each other, each lap or turn held just a touch longer so that our positions in the pool were separated by a few less inches each time. When she was only a couple of feet away, both of us holding on to the edge of the pool, I voiced a statement without thinking clearly. “Audrey... the other night... after the movie... you asked me about something... I... I didn't really answer you properly...”

“Yeah, I remember...”

“That scene,” I began, “it's like that in the best of moments, at least for me. The softness, the passion, at least. Two people connecting that way... that's the best. Whether... sex... or just holding hands or whatnot. So... yes, it can be that way, but... in my experience... it rarely is.”

Audrey pursed her lips thoughtfully, watching my face. “Like with your wife?”

I nodded slowly, “Sometimes, yes. I felt that way about her.”

“And... anyone since?”

I frowned, “No... not since her...”

“But you've fucked since then, right?”

I chuckled at Audrey's free use of the words she'd heard me speak many times over the years. I'd tried to moderate my cursing in my retirement and for my daughters' sake, somewhat successfully. “Err... a few times, yes. Not lately...”

Audrey's eyes tried to meet mine but I kept my gaze just off to her side. My heart was racing again, my pulse pounding in my veins. I was close to danger.

“I've seen movies, you know,” she told me. “Like, dirty ones.”

“Okay...”

“They aren't like that scene... not usually...”

“Porn rarely is about the emotion... usually just about the fucking,” I said. “Porn isn't how it is for most people...”

“I know... I just... I...” Audrey's eyes were begging me to look at her.

Whatever willpower I had was lost when I let those bright-greens pierce me. Without a word, my arms went out and she moved closer to me. Her body was in mine suddenly, her face inches away. Audrey watched me, her breasts pressing out her suit and brushing my chest. My arms moved on their own around her body, pulling her closer, closer. Our eyes met again, and my head tilted. Audrey's lips parted, and together, we melted into a kiss.

I felt her energy, her need, immediately. Her knee rose up under the water to brush past my thigh and I grew hard. My hands caressed her back, holding her tight, the fifteen-year old's breasts pressed onto my body. Her lips tasted of chlorine and water at first, but slowly, the sensual savory flavors of Audrey's mouth filled my own. Her tongue moved slowly with mine, only a bit hesitant, letting me guide her movements. I was caught deep in the moment, lost in the ecstasy of kissing the beautiful young woman, not caring about consequences or right or wrong or which neighbor might see what we were doing through the cage.

I tilted my head the other way and it was a whole new experience. Audrey's mouth met mine with passion and desire, not a tentative little girl but a sensual, blossoming teen. Her hands began to move over my back, to my waist. My own drifted down Audrey's swimsuit-covered back to her exposed hips. I hesitated only a second before sliding down over her bottom. Audrey moaned into my mouth as I squeezed her firm, soft buttocks over and over.

I don't know how long we kissed and touched each other in the pool. It was a moment out of time for me. Audrey was everything I wanted in one budding package. I never wanted to let her go. From the way she returned my energy, the passion of her lips and hands, her light moans, I knew the teen was enjoying it as much as I was.

“Audrey? Are you out in the pool?” Joyce's voice crashed in from next door and I leapt back instinctively. I tried to catch my breath, looking past the flushed teen to see if the girl's grandmother had just caught us making out. I couldn't see the woman, which gave me a second to try to recover from the shock.

Audrey watched me a second before she answered, “Y-yeah, Joyce.”

“Thought I heard you out there a bit ago,” the woman yelled from a window, “your mother just called. She wants you to call her back right now.”

“O-okay... Th-thanks,” Audrey responded.

We were both frozen in place, shuddering, suddenly feeling cool in the water. “Y-you should g-go call your m-mom,” I managed to stammer.

“Y-yeah...”

Audrey slowly turned and rose out of the pool. I followed her path, first to the towel box, then to where she quickly wiped most of the water from her suit and skin. I was stuck until the teen opened the sliding-glass door and went into my house.

I stood in the water shivering. What had I just done? Even as a few doubts crept into my thoughts, I was blown away by the kiss and close touches I'd shared with Audrey. It had been so long that I supposed kissing any woman would have been wonderful, but there was something extra special about the teen, something thrilling and innocent and lovely. No doubts caused me to shake that warm feeling even as I shivered my way out of the water and grabbed a towel.

I dried off slowly and sat in a chair trying to collect myself. The door behind me opened, and I heard crying. I rose quickly and turned to see Audrey in tears, her phone in her hand. “Dad's in the hospital!”

“Oh, Audrey...” I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her head onto my shoulder. It was a very different embrace than the one we'd shared moments earlier.

The teen cried and I tried to calm her down. “Shh... what's going on?” I asked gently.

“He had a heart attack... Mom's worried about him. She wants me to come home immediately.”

My heart sank a little to think about Audrey leaving, but I felt selfish, rightfully so, and pushed aside my own needs and tried to comfort Audrey as best I could. “Okay... Okay... I'll get you on the next flight to Buffalo, alright?”

Audrey nodded against my shoulder, her tears running freely from her eyes and down my chest.

It took twenty minutes or so, but I managed to get Audrey inside the house and seated on the couch. She was a bit calmer, but still sobbing. Her mom would call her back as soon as she knew anything more. It had happened a short time earlier, and Audrey's father had just been taken to the emergency room when the woman called her daughter. I felt sick for the girl and what she was going through. I knew personally what it was like to deal with the sudden, unexpected hospitalization of someone loved. I hoped, for everyone, that the end result was not the one I had to suffer when my wife never checked out again.

Leaving the girl for a moment, I grabbed my phone and called Joyce. The woman was distraught and very ill with the flu. Not a good combination in any situation. I told her that I was going to get Audrey on the next flight possible, and the woman assured me they'd pay me back for the airfare and any other expenses. I tried to tell her that she didn't need to do that, but even sick, Joyce managed to railroad the conversation until I agreed to be reimbursed.

I checked on Audrey and then flipped open my laptop. I started checking flights. There was a flight out of Houston which would get her into Buffalo around midnight. Unfortunately, it was booked full. I tried choosing airports within driving distance to either end, as well as extra stops, but nothing looked to get the girl home that night. The best I could do would be five in the morning on Tuesday out of Houston, getting her into Buffalo around eight-thirty. I bought the ticket.

Returning to the couch, I wrapped an arm around Audrey's shoulder and pulled her to me. “You'll be in Buffalo before nine tomorrow. Nothing better I could do.”

Audrey nodded against my chest. I stroked her hair, her left hand still holding onto the cell phone as she awaited her mother's call.

“Come with me...” her voice cracked and broke.

“To Buffalo?”

“Please...”

I thought of a way to say 'no' without hurting her feelings. But I came up with more reasons to go than not. She was sad and was not in much shape to be alone, even for just a few hours during the trip. I didn't know if there would be anyone able to meet her at the airport. They'd only lived in Buffalo a few months, I worried that they might not have close contacts willing to be at the airport before nine on a workday.

Plus, there was that whole kiss we shared in the pool.

“Okay. Be right back...”

I returned moments later after securing a second ticket for the early morning flight, the teen quickly settling against me. I hugged her and stroked her hair. “Sorry, Audrey...”

“I'm scared, Darren...”

“Everything will be okay...”

“You don't know that...”

I frowned. “You're right... I don't...” I offered her a tissue and while she blew her nose, I continued, “but... I'm here for you... and you'll be with your mom tomorrow. The doctors will do everything they can for your dad, I promise you that.”

Audrey was quietly sobbing a moment. “What if he dies?”

I sucked in my breath and held it. “Then,” I said softly, “your mom will need you to be strong for her, I think. You'll both be very sad. You'll miss him. You'll be angry and feel like the world is terribly unfair... And it sucks...”

“How did you deal with it... when your wife died?”

I shook my head. “Not terribly well... It was awful... But... I had young daughters who needed me and... I tried to think about them first. They needed me to be strong and comfort them. That helped me to get through.”

“How did you get over losing her?” Audrey asked weakly.

“I don't know that I have...”

“Oh...”

Her face lifted from my shoulder and I looked into her red, puffy eyes. I wiped away the thin tears leaking down her face with my fingers, then stroked her cheeks, trying to offer her a gentle smile. Audrey's lips parted slightly and she moved closer to my face. It was instinctive to meet her lips with my own.

The kiss was different than our first, but no less wonderful. She was sad, and I was too. There was need in her lips, a desire for comfort rather than sensuality. I kissed her deeply, reassuring her with my slow movements that I cared for her, trying to soothe her shattered world as best I could.

She finally pulled back after a time and said quietly, “Thank you for being here for me... I hate you seeing me like this.”

“No one likes to be vulnerable, Audrey... Me included. Just know that... whatever happens... you can count on me to be there...”

“Thanks...”

“Listen,” I said, gently changing the subject, “we need to be out of here around three in the morning. I need to pack, and you do, too. Grab a quick shower, too. Think you can summon a bit of strength to get that done right now?”

She nodded against me, then slowly pushed herself to her feet, pausing to wipe her face with the back of her hand. I watched her disappear down the hall to the guest room, then I went to hurriedly pack an overnight bag. I had no idea how long I would be gone. I had to be back by Saturday for when my daughters would return, but otherwise, I could stay a few days in Buffalo if Audrey needed me there. I slammed a few changes of clothes into the bag, along with my shaving kit and assorted supplies. I jumped in the shower and minutes later, put on a pair of loose shorts and a t-shirt.

I returned to the couch and waited a moment. Audrey didn't return and I wondered if she was okay. She hadn't had much more than a single suitcase with her on the visit, so it shouldn't have taken long to pack up. I stepped down the hall. The bathroom door was open, so she wasn't inside.

I tapped on the bedroom door. “Audrey?”

“Yeah...”

“You okay?”

“No...”

“Can I come in?”

“Yeah...”

I twisted the knob and opened the door. Audrey was on her back on the bed staring at the ceiling. She'd changed into a long nightshirt which rested just above her mid-thigh. I squashed any thought of letting my eyes linger there. Her suitcase was next to the door, apparently fully packed. I sat on the bed next to her and took her hand. Her fingers squeezed mine in response.

She was crying slowly.

“Any word from your mom?”

Audrey shook her head but didn't say a word. I crawled onto the bed and brought her body close to mine. She rolled to her side facing me and I cradled her head against my chest. I couldn't avoid enjoying the warmth of her body, nor the way her neck and hair smelled uniquely of the teen.

For an hour or so, I held her like that. She cried for a few minutes, then slowed, then cried some more. I offered her gentle words to try to calm her, and she tightened herself against me.

Her phone bleated out a jingly ringtone and Audrey leapt from my arms to grab it from the nightstand.

“Mom?! How is Dad!”

My heart was in my throat as I watched Audrey's reaction to her mother's response.

“Will he be okay?”

She glanced at me with a mix of minor relief and trepidation.

“But that's good, right?”

Her mom's response didn't reach my ears.

“Oh...”

There was a very long silence from Audrey.

“I couldn't get in tonight, but Darren got me a ticket in the morning. We'll be in at... eight-thirty?” Her eyes said it was a question for me. I nodded. “Eight-thirty.” There was a short pause, then, “Darren's coming with me... for support.”

Her eyes watched mine, then she told her mother, “I'll thank him for you... I love you, Mom... Please tell Dad I love him... I'll see you as soon as possible...”

She tapped the screen and settled the phone into its charger on the nightstand. Audrey sat on the edge of the bed and turned to me. “Dad had a massive heart attack.” Each word was carefully drawn from her mouth, as if she might start crying if she paused to think about what she was saying. “He's stable now, but... Mom said it was really bad. Dad was conscious for a few minutes but hasn't awoken since the ambulance ride. He hasn't woken up, Darren...”

The tears came again and I pulled her back onto the bed and wrapped her in my arms.

An hour later Audrey was asleep. I slowly pulled away from her and covered her body with a blanket. I had just taken a step towards the door when the teen's soft voice pleaded, “Don't leave me alone... please...”

I paused and turned back towards her. “Okay... I need to set an alarm. I'll be right back.”

I grabbed my phone and charger from my bedroom, set the alarm, then returned to the guest bedroom. Audrey's eyes flickered just before I switched off the light. I don't know why it felt so natural, so comfortable, to pull back the covers and slide into bed with the teen. She settled against me again, one arm curled on my chest, a leg resting over mine, her head cradled against my shoulder.

I'd held my daughters like that many times in my life, and it was always a wonderful feeling. Holding Audrey offered something a bit different even if the intent was the same. The warmth of her body soaked into me and I kissed the teen's forehead. Audrey let out a quiet, “Mmmm...” and was quickly asleep.