Daddy's Girl
Chapter Five: Life Moves On
Michael and Fiona lay on her bed, limbs tangled in the sheets and panting. "I think they may have heard you across town, Fi." Michael teased. Fiona, who lay basking in the after glow, gently kicked Michael, still trying to remember how to make her mouth work. Michael looked over at Fiona's bedside clock and realized with a start that they had been up here for almost an hour at the same time that there was a knock on Fiona's apartment door. The two bolted out of her bedroom, tugging on their clothes as they went. Michael quickly sat down on the couch, picking up the business card and tucking it in his pocket. Fiona stopped just before the door and composed herself before opening the door to see Cassidy standing there.
"Cassidy! I thought you were down at the pool." Fiona said, hugging the girl and closing the door behind her.
"I was. But it started to get really hot, and I needed to use the bathroom." Replied the girl.
"Sure. You remember where it is. I'll get you a glass of water to help you cool off."
"Thanks, Fi." Said Cassidy. Walking past her father, she looked at him and blushed scarlet before hurrying by towards the bathroom. Michael was puzzled for a moment before looking over his shoulder and realizing that Fiona's terrace door was wide open to allow a breeze to blow in. Michael sighed and rubbed his face; while people across town may not have actually heard Fiona, his daughter definitely had. Fiona realized this at the same time Michael did and covered her mouth with her hand, mortified. Exchanging looks, they nodded in silent agreement to say something to Cassidy.
When Cassidy returned, Michael and Fiona sat on the couch, looking at her expectantly. Cassidy stopped short when she saw the half embarrassed, part determined look on both of the adults' faces.
"Uh…what's up?" Cassidy asked, smiling nervously.
"Cassie…what you heard…" Michael stammered for a moment.
Fiona decided to rescue him, remembering vaguely what her parents had once told her. "Cassie, when two people who care for each other deeply-"
Cassidy held up her hands to ebb the flow of words. "Whoa! It's okay- mom and I had 'the talk' when I hit puberty. You're both off the hook. I promise."
"Are you sure? Because the way you were acting-" Michael asked, starting to feel relieved.
"Well, it's one thing to know the basics. It's another to hear someone you know…enjoying themselves- never mind your dad!" said Cassidy, blushing again.
They sat in awkward silence for a moment before Michael said, with false cheer, "So who's hungry?"
Fiona smiled. "Cassidy, do you like sushi?"
Cassidy hadn't brought a change of clothes suitable to the restaurant, so while Michael showered, Fiona and Cassidy went through Fiona's closet to find something for her to wear.
"Cassidy? Are you sure you're all right? You haven't looked me in the face since you got here."
"I'm fine, Fi. It's just…"
"Yes?"
"What's it like?"
"Sex?"
"Yes."
Fiona sat on the bed, thinking. "Well, I'm not sure I'm the person you want to ask."
"Well I can't ask my dad! That would be…weird."
Fiona laughed. "Let's talk about it later when we have more time. The last thing you want is Michael walking in on the conversation. We'll do a girls day and talk then, okay?"
Cassidy smiled. "Thanks, Fi."
Fiona hugged her when she stood and regarded her closet for a moment before saying, "I think I have the perfect dress for you."
Michael waited while the girls got ready. He could hear Cassidy laughing through the door, and the sound made him smile. He still worried that he was doing a bad job at parenting, but she seemed happy, and he hoped that she would stay as easy a kid to have as she grew into adulthood. Fiona came out of the bedroom, looking like she'd just stepped out of a magazine; her skin was sun-bronzed gold, emphasized by the turquoise halter dress she wore, leaving her back bare with her hair clipped up.
"Ready?"
"I am. Cassidy?"
Cassidy walked out, and Michael could only stare. In mere moments his daughter had gone from sweet teen to young lady, and the sight was hard for him to bear. Fiona had loaned Cassidy a white cotton sundress that she hadn't worn for years, and Cassidy looked lovely in it. He'd know somewhere in the back of his mind that Cassidy was somewhat larger up top than Fiona, but in the strapless white dress she wore now, it was far more evident. The dress came down to her knees, showing off toned and muscular calves lightly tanned from the sun. Her hair was still braided, but it was now pinned up into a more elaborate looking updo. The watch Michael had given her and the bright blue cast stood out terribly, but didn't subtract from the fact that Michael suddenly had a very pretty, very grown-up looking daughter.
"Do I look okay, Dad?" Cassidy asked, smiling and turning in a circle.
"You look great, Cassie."
"I may let her keep that dress." Fiona said thoughtfully. "It looks so pretty on her, and white was never really my color anyway."
"Really? Thanks Fi!" Cassidy squealed, slipping on a pair of low-heeled silver sandals.
"Thank goodness we're about the same shoe size. Those other shoes you were wearing wouldn't have gone at all." Laughed Fiona as she strapped on her own, much higher, heels.
"Yeah, I know. Dad didn't tell me we were going out, or I would have brought something else to wear." Cassidy shot her father an accusing look.
"I had other things on my mind." Retorted Michael, holding open the door. 'Women!' he thought to himself.
Fiona locked the door behind them and they left, the trio piling into the Charger. As the car rumbled down the road, Fiona turned to Cassidy, who sat in the back seat.
"So, Cassidy, how did your audition go?"
"Audition?" asked Michael.
"My high school is doing Les Miserables for the spring musical." Replied Cassidy to Michael. To Fiona she said, "I got Cossette!"
"That's great! Is that a lead?" asked Fiona.
"Not really. It's an important part, but not as important as a few others."
"So we get to see you sing on stage?" Michael asked
"Yup. I have to kiss a boy though." Cassidy was not enthused at the idea.
Michael hit the brakes sharply, almost ramming into the car in front. "You have to- why do you have to kiss somebody? And who?"
Cassidy sighed. "Because in the show I fall in love and get married. Scott Peterson is they guy- he's nice an all, but his breath always stinks! Yuck!"
Fiona laughed. "Well I can't wait to see the show."
"You're coming?" Cassidy asked.
"Of course! I bet Sam and Jesse will too if they can. I know Madeline will be thrilled."
"Mom always loved going to see the musicals, even if Nate or I weren't in them."
"Why weren't you in them, Dad? You can sing just fine."
"Michael, I didn't know you could sing." Fiona teased.
"I can, I just don't. Ever."
Cassidy changed the subject. "So what are we doing tomorrow, Dad?"
"I'll have to make a few calls tomorrow, but otherwise I don't know."
"Who do you have to call?" Cassidy asked.
"A realtor."
"What for?"
"To see about renting or buying a house."
"A house? You mean it?" Cassidy bounced in her seat, causing Michael to double-check in the rearview mirror that her seatbelt was fastened.
"As nice as the loft was- and I'll probably still keep it for emergencies or if I have some private work to do- there wasn't a lot of space. Not only that, but how are we supposed to live in one room with a tiny bathroom."
"We? You mean I'll be living with you and not Grandma?"
"I don't like her smoking so much around you, especially when we set up your room to specifically smoke free."
"Michael, are you sure your mother is going to be okay with all this?" Fiona asked, concerned. "Madeline loves having Cassidy there."
"She'll be fine with it. Cassidy will still be close enough to go visit."
"This is so great, Dad!" Cassidy hugged Michael's neck from behind, mashing her face into the back of his seat.
"Cassidy! Sit back! If I get hit you'll break your neck jumping around like that!" Michael scolded his daughter, glaring at her through the rearview mirror.
Cassidy sheepishly slumped back into the seat. "Sorry."
Michael pulled into the valet parking in front of the sushi restaurant and handed the keys to a teenager with sandy blonde hair. Tilting the seat forward so that Cassidy could get out, Michael caught the teen eyeing her with interest and glared at him fiercely, causing him to blush and mutter an apology. Fiona caught the exchange and had to keep from laughing out loud at Michael's fierce protectiveness to which Cassidy was oblivious. They went inside and were seated at their table quickly; they had just beaten the dinner rush. Fiona and Michael split a bottle of sake, which Cassidy sniffed and wrinkled her nose at, making the adults laugh. "I'll just stick to my soda, thanks." Cassidy joked, picking up a piece of sushi and sticking it in her mouth.
"Slow down, kid. You'd think you hadn't eaten in a week." Michael cautioned.
"I really haven't. I've been living off of yogurt and peanut butter. You never warned me that Grandma wasn't a very good cook!"
"Is that why you haven't been eating?" Michael was horrified. "Cassie, you don't have to be so polite that you starve yourself so you don't offend my mother."
"I eat at school. The meals are pretty filling. Did Grandma say something?"
"She was worried about you." Michael said by way of confirmation.
Cassidy shrugged. "Well, when I move in with you, I'll eat more. Okay?"
"Fair enough." Michael chuckled.
Fiona was quiet during most of dinner, basking in the rare opportunity to study Michael and Cassidy together in close proximity. They had the same check bones and wide, friendly smiles with straight white teeth. They both had the same dark lashed blue eyes and long fingers, and were both incredibly stubborn and resilient. Michael, who had sworn once upon a time that he was not the type to settle down with a family had taken to having a child like a fish to water, and the change had been instantaneous and intoxicating. It was obvious to any stranger that Michael loved his daughter intensely, however awkwardly he handled parenting, and it was this fact that worried Fiona. Michael had a made a lot of enemies since coming to Miami, and some of them had found out who he was. To destroy him and take away everything he truly cared about would be all too easy.
Michael noticed Fiona's unusual silence, but chose not to say anything, assuming she was still upset at him for his prolonged absence.
"Are we going to see Jesse and Uncle Sam tomorrow, Dad?" Cassidy asked
"Probably. I should talk to Jesse and check on he's doing since he was injured, and I definitely owe Sam a drink for saving our ass with Vaughn."
"Who's Vaughn?" Cassidy asked, suddenly curious about this new person.
"A guy who will never again threaten me or my family again. He was a dangerous, treacherous snake of a man."
"This is the guy who tried to kill you? The one who hurt Grandma?"
"That's him."
"I think he came to my school that day." Said Cassidy
Michael choked on his drink. "What?"
Cassidy nodded. "I was at gym and these guys dressed showed up. They stood outside and watched us for a little bit. Then this tall black guy got out of the car and pointed at me. I didn't like the look of things, so I hid."
"Hid where?" Fiona asked
"There's a false wall in the auditorium that they built for a show once and never took down. I hid there."
Michael tried to make his heart rate slow down. "Did you tell anyone?"
Cassidy shook her head. "No one asked, and I didn't think it would be a good idea to bring it up."
"Smart girl." Fiona said, smiling and patting Cassidy's shoulder.
"You okay, Dad?"
Michael nodded mechanically. "I'm fine, Cassie. Just fine." He forced himself to smile, and she smiled back at him, melting his heart and strengthening his resolve to keep her safe.
Fiona smiled encouragingly at Cassidy. "So where are we going shopping tomorrow, Cassidy? I think your father should see Jesse and Sam and have some man to man time- we girls can find plenty to do."
Michael tuned out most of the rest of the conversation as the girls discussed shopping over dessert; never more aware of how fragile his daughter's safety was than when it had been compromised without him even knowing.