The front door clicked shut behind them—barely—and the house swallowed the sound of rain. No lights on yet. Just the faint glow from the streetlamp sneaking through the living room curtains. Daddy didn’t bother with switches. He dropped to his knees right there on the hardwood, hands already under the hem of her sundress.
“Arms up, baby.”
She obeyed. Fast. The thin cotton peeled off her like wet paper—over her head, arms, hair tumbling wild. Naked now except for the thin gold chain around her neck. The tiny “D” pendant caught the dim light and winked. He’d given it to her last birthday, clasped it on himself while she sat on his lap in nothing but a smile. She hadn’t taken it off since.
He stared up at her for a second—eyes dark, hungry—then lay back on the thick wool rug in the center
