The dress itself clung to her lithe body, yet also seemed to drape over her curves in a way I’m sure every man she encountered would notice. Darker stockings clung to her legs, caressing their slender shape all the way down to the killer heels encasing her feet like the proverbial Ruby Slippers. Even her nails and lipstick matched the scarlet theme of her undeniably provocative ensemble.

Mindy held her wrap tightly around her shoulders, thankfully covering the rounded tops of her breasts as she bent down to give me a quick kiss on my cheek.

Her excitement was obvious, and actually seemed to radiate from her as she moved toward the door. “I may be out late, daddy, don’t wait up!”

“You’re going to work dressed like that?” I managed to choke out before she left.

Mindy stopped and flashed a smile filled with both admonishment and understanding. “Of course, daddy. I have to look nice. This isn’t 1980 anymore.” The she gave me a quick finger wave and slipped out the door.

***

I kept telling myself that if Gloria hadn’t planted the idea into my head, I wouldn’t have been so suspicious and obsessed with what Mindy was doing. She was an adult, after all. I truly did believe she should be given the opportunity to decide what she wanted to do, and whom she wanted to see. Somehow, I just couldn’t shake off the feeling that I needed to do something, and that she was making some kind of horrible mistake! By midnight, I’d had one too many beers, and as if by its own, my hand found my cell phone and I was dialing the Kensington Plaza Hotel.

I remember the nervous tension I was feeling as the phone rang. It was hard for me to stay calm when the pleasant voice of a woman picked up the line. “Kensington Plaza Hotel, Sherri speaking. How may I address your call?”

“Hi, I’m looking for Mindy McNee. She works for your Concierge Desk.”

Even then, I didn’t really know what I was trying to accomplish. At the very least, I had to find out if she really was there. My mind was racing, and the brief delay on the other end began to feel like an eternity. Soon, the woman came back.

“One moment please, I’m transferring your call.”

Again, the delay, and this time replete with the kind of on-hold music that made a person want to scream. The seconds ticked by until I heard a click, and a man’s deep and resonant voice came on the line. “Concierge Desk, Jake speaking. How may I assist you, sir?”

I had a sudden vision of a guy in khakis, and shaking the image from my mind, I lit a cigarette to calm my nerves. Then, I started speaking as calmly as I was able. “Yes, I’d like to speak with Mindy McNee please.”

“I’m sorry sir, Ms. MacNee is unavailable right now. If you would care to leave a name and phone number, I’d be happy to forward it to her when I can.” His words were professional, but there was something else there as well. He was being purposely vague in a way that set off even more alarm bells, and I silently felt my stomach drop at the realization.

“Does that mean she’s there, working now, or would I expect to hear from her tomorrow?” I asked, trying to get him to tip his hand.

“I’m sorry sir, I cannot answer that. All I can say is that we can deliver a message if you like. Would you care to leave a name and number?”

I almost told him who I was, but knew as Mindy was an adult, it would mean little to him. Worse still, I would have only angered her if I did. No, after all of that, I quietly replied “No thank you,” and ended the call. I sat there for a long time trying to decide if Gloria might be right, and even if she was, would it really be any of my business anyway?

I was still sitting there past two in the morning when I heard Mindy open the door. I’m not sure what I expected when she came in. Would the excitement she felt when she left still be with her? Would she be happy or sad, or just tired? My emotions had run the full gambit by then, and I felt worn down by my own obsession with needing to know.

Mindy had already removed her heels when she came into the den. She saw the empty beer cans and the ashtray full of cigarette butts, and I could swear there was a flash of sadness in her eyes.

“Oh, daddy. You’ve been talking with mom, haven’t you?”

“What? No! Well, yes! But not tonight!” I took a deep breath and tried to keep myself from becoming angry. “Okay, as you know, I did speak with your mother about you the night before you came to stay with me. To be honest, Mindy, she said a bunch of things I didn’t want to believe, but now I’m not so sure. So you tell me, what the hell is going on? You need to talk to me. You need to let me in, sweetie. I need to know the truth because I don’t believe for a minute you’re working as intern in that dress until two in the morning!”

Mindy sighed and pulled her wrap off before sitting on the couch next to my chair. There, with the lamp light shining down on her, I could clearly see the rise of her breasts as she moved. I just shook my head at the idea of such a revealing look being appropriate for her work.

“Are you really that worried about me?” she asked with more disappointment than anger.

“Of course I am! Why do you think I’ve been up all night waiting for you?”

Mindy held my gaze for a long time, and I could see she was trying to make up her mind. Then she crossed her legs and sat back on the couch with her eyes piercing into mine. “Okay, I’ll tell you what you want to know. I just hope you really want to hear it.”

“I do, Mindy. I can’t help, if I don’t know what’s wrong.”

Mindy laughed cynically and shook her head. “You want to help? Well, that’s just great. You can relax, then, dad, because I don’t need your help. I’m doing just fine by myself.” With a glare that was as hurt as it was hateful, Mindy opened her purse and pulled a thick stack of bills out and tossed them on the table. “There is over a thousand dollars there, dad. Cash, and that’s just from tonight. There, are you satisfied?”

I was completely gobsmacked. I couldn’t believe what she’d said, and all that money… There was only one way she could be making that much cash, and Gloria’s poisonous accusations sounded loudly in my mind.

“I even think some of them are giving her money!”

Anger and disgust rose like bile in my throat, and I could barely form words when I asked, “Are you working as a whore, Mindy?”

Her blue eyes turned icy and she rose from the couch. “What if I am, daddy?” she said, hissing the words as if they were a curse. “Sure, you and Mom, you have all the answers, don’t you?”

“That’s not a denial … ”

“Why should I deny it? What if I am? If you haven’t noticed, I’m an adult now, with enough money to go where I want. I don’t need your approval, or my mother’s!”

——————