I should never have to do this task on my daughter. It’s just wrong. I’m removing the sheet and Ava lies now before me, fully nude, with spread le...s. Her face appears above her full breasts. She’s looking down and guides me: “Put your finger higher, yes here. Then stretch that way. Yes!” I’m switching the buzzer on and start shaving. This time it works. No more skin folds. I’m removing her hair towards her belly, around her inner thighs, working my way slowly towards her outer lips. Nothing. ‘Would it be so bad, Jake? I mean, come on, we had good times. It might not be the most romantic reason for getting married, but not everyone finds their soul mate.’ Jake stared at the wine glass in his hand. Not everyone found a soul mate, that was true, but he might have been one of the lucky ones. He raised his eyes to hers. ‘I will not marry you, Chelsea. I don’t love you. We’d both be miserable. And I could never trust you.’ Such a life would be drab, he realized, colorless. Chelsea. ‘Good enough. How long do I have for this assignment, Teacher?’ ‘Until we talk later tonite? But you’re not allowed to start writing until you can finish it in one sitting. And no notes. I want what’s in your heart and head, and well, down below, too.’ ‘OK OK. Fair enough. And what do I get for completing this assignment?’ ‘An ‘A’ if it’s done well? A really bad grade if it sucks?’ I laughed and hung up the phone. I managed to put the whole thing out of my mind for the moment, not an easy thing. Oh, sorry lover. I was just thinking about the house, how it might look when it’s all finished.’ ‘And, by the look on your face.’ she replied with a knowing grin. ‘I’d say you were thinking about what might be going on inside it too.’ I got up and moved across towards her. ‘Maybe I was. You’d be upset if I wasn’t – and I wouldn’t mind betting you’ve been thinking something along those lines too.’ ‘You know me too well darling.’ she answered as I bent down to kiss her. Her hand slipped up.