'Yes' I said, and nodded my head at the same time. 'I also saw him grope her when they met', I added, and dads face fell when I confronted him about i....'He's an old friend of mums', he said in her defence. 'Friend daddy, or Lover', I demanded?He laughed, I think he was amazed at how adult I had suddenly become.'There is something I think you should know Mariel', he paused then said, 'your mother and I are 'Swingers''.I looked at him confused, 'Swingers' to me, were something to do with music. She's confused. She's exhausted. Bert practically had to carry her out the door. But no, I don't think she hates you."I exhaled in relief and closed my eyes. "Okay..." Why'd you do it?" Dawn asked softly.Slowly, I cracked my eyes opened again. "What? Fuck her?"Dawn nodded.I shook my head, both hearing and feeling the friction of my hair in her lap. "I don't know. It's all kind of a haze." And then I sighed before zeroing in on my last really clear memory. It was that of Adrienne walking away. I. ”I took another deep breath as my father stood to tower over me. “William,” he growled.“You no longer control me because I do not fear you. I despise you and I hate you.” Finally, the truth of my feelings about him lay starkly between us.I could see the slap coming but held myself still. He caught me a really good one that sent me sprawling across the kitchen floor, with a ringing in my head. I ended up beside the sink. Trying not to cry I pulled myself up. I could see the bone-handled carving. It wasn’t long before the doorbell rang and Alex appeared, Val invited her in and she skipped into the lounge to be confronted with me standing there in a very revealing pair of shorts.“OMG!” she cried as she took sight of my near nakedness, Val was hot on her heals and defused the situation before it got embarrassing.“They are great practice shorts, so much movement, don’t you agree Alex?” she asked while Alex nodded her approval.“Very nice Frank” she said smiling.I sat back on the sofa while.