He introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Simon, Daisy's father." I'm Jacqui. I'm so sorry, I've just put my foot in it with yourdaughter. Did you lose your ...ife long ago?" About eight months," Simon replied sadly, "she was killed in a carcrash so it was very sudden. We've only just moved here to be near myparents so they can help with Daisy." I lost my partner four years ago so I know what you're goingthrough," said Jacqui, "you never get over it but it does get easierand if you need to talk, you. ’ A hand shot out from the silver blanket, and grabbed the water bottle, I unscrewed the cap, and she drained it in two big gulps. The pink color was coming back into her lips, and as she handed me the water bottle back, I noticed her manicured nails, and how expensive her clothing looked. Alexandra began sipping the soup, and used the spoon to shovel mouthfuls of noodles out. I watched while she ate the entire mug of soup, and I accepted it back from her, empty. ‘Now walk?’ I asked.. There was no way she was going to put up with this bullshit anymore. People walking all over her, treating her like she was some kind of communal whipping post just because she wasn’t In The Band. Hell, she paid rent here, too. More than her share most of the time, the broke-ass motherfuckers. And cleaned up after them. And kept the kitchen stocked. And kept him from flipping out on them when he was in one of his moods. It had all been bearable, kind of, as long as she had him to turn to, but. A few minutes later, she was back walking just a bit closer than before and I said “hi again” and she giggled and responded in kind. So, I started to chat a bit and she stopped and then came and sat nearby. I knew she was young, but didn’t know how young yet.I learned that she was at the beach with her dad, who was in some kind of meeting in a townhouse about a quarter-mile down the beach and she was bored and hoping his meeting didn’t last much longer. We chatted and I learned they lived in.