Dale entered the kitchen to find Cora curled up on the countertop, her knees resting under her chin. The cutting board with onion skins was festering beside her, her lab top and a whirl wind of papers all over the table, the sink filled with dish water going stale and unwanted. She looked up with her bright blue eyes and smiled weakly, brushing back her hair. Dale kicked off his heels and flopped into the chair. He casually moved papers aside so he could rest his feet on the table.
“Relaxed, are we?” He said with a cheesy smile.
“How was your day Dad?” She said eyes lost in the tiled floor.
“Oh nothing special, I got asked out by the pope. He said I had the prettiest shade of lip gloss he’d ever seen.”
“Mhm.” Cora nodded.
Dale sat up, leaning closer to Cora. “And you know what, he said he’d get some cardinals to come with us clubbing and then we’ll have a threesome. Hefty stuff!”
“Sure.”
“You want to come?”
“Sure.” Cora yawned.
Dale shook his head, trying to hold back his snicker. “You love him, don’t you?”
Cora’s face was up and looking directly into Dale’s eyes. “What?”
Dale let his laugh go. “Yep, you are in love with this writer.” He folded his hands behind his head and shut his eyes. “I saw that coming from fifty light years away.”
“Saw what?” Cora’s face was flushed red with more anger than embarrassment. “You saw nothing!”
“Of course I didn’t. And a father has no idea when his daughter is in love. Cora, baby, I saw the way you looked at him. You practically were throwing up hearts. And you know what…so was he.”
“Dad, no, it’s not like that. He-“
“Is a client? Cora, if there’s one thing I know sometimes the most unnatural of things are the best thing for you.” He said twirling his finger around the perimeter of his hooped earring.
“Dad…” Cora said her eyes in her lap.
“Baby, honey, don’t let any of the other crap get to you. If you love this guy, tell him if he rejects you, which he won’t, then your just move on. He’s probably going crazy more right now then you are. Actually, he’s probably writing fifty poems about his feelings right now.”
“But- I can’t. My career…”
“Cora?”
“Yes Dad?”
“Shut up and stop thinking. You’re just like your mother worrying about everything people would think.”
“No I’m not!”
“Really now?”
“Yes!”
“Than prove it.”
“Cora.” A voice said softly from the door way. There stood Pete, his eyes on the floor. Dale was already up and out of his chair.
“Have fun kids!” He smiled, touching Pete for a moment on the shoulder. Pete shivered but tried to hide it. Dale laughed as he trudged up the stairs.
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