Introduction

Claire

Evie and her father, Rawls, were like family. Evie and I met in pre-school when we were only three years old. She had just lost her mom in a car accident. She was really shy and sat by herself at the back of the room. . I was the shy girl as well, so we both just gravitated towards each other. We were both only children, which was another way that we bonded. From pre-school until Evie left for college, we were together almost every day. We were both going to major in social work when we went to college. My parents could not afford for me to go away to college. I went to the local community college which was going to save time and money in the long run. To be able to pay for tuition, I worked full time, applied for grants, and even got a few scholarships for my grades. The community college only allowed me to complete my Associates Degree. The rest of my classes were taken online to get my Bachelors Degree. I was able to finish in three years so I could start my career early. I had been working as an intern at the local social services office while I was doing my online courses. Once I had graduated, I was hired as a full time social worker. The pay wasn’t going to be much, but with me still staying at home, I could save on rent and also help out mom and dad. By living with my parents, that also put me closer to Rawls.

Rawls became the man of my dreams when I turned sixteen. He was not your typical dad. He didn’t have the dad bod. He worked out and I noticed that he did have his share of women in and out of his house. I was so jealous of them because they were able to touch him. I would daydream about how it would feel to just have him kiss me. I had thought about how I wanted him to be my first everything. My first kiss and the one I gave my virginity to. I dated here and there but my virginity was still well intact. I was holding out hope that Rawls would notice me for more than being his daughter’s best friend.

Rawls

It was really hard raising a young daughter on my own, while I was trying to build up my business. If it was not for my wonderful neighbors helping out with Evie, I don’t know if I could have made it. I knew absolutely nothing about raising children. When Fiona died in the car accident I was devastated. I knew how to handle business meetings but no clue of how to handle braiding hair or potty training. Robert and Mary had stepped in to help me out. Since our girls were the same age, they were inseparable. Claire was a good influence for Evie, because she tended to be more wild and would get into her share of trouble. Claire was more level headed and grounded. She was a straight A student and seemed to listen to her parents. If I ever wanted Evie home at curfew, Claire would be the one she would go out with.

Now I was feeling like one of the worst friends ever. I have been friends with Robert and Mary Edwards since we were in high school. Robert and I had both married our high school sweethearts. We had our only daughters at the same time. Evie and Claire were more like sisters to each other than friends. When my wife, Fiona, passed away, I was completely lost. I had a three year old to raise on my own. I don’t know what I would have done without the Edwards’ to help me through it all. But now that Claire is twenty-three years old, she has grown into the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I am having thoughts, sexual and intimate thoughts, about her. How was I going to keep myself under control with her living next door?