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Finally, we joined the others and all of us sat around eating and talking. David asked Larry questions about the army and Germany, and even Misty's Chris, who had been so quiet all evening, asked questions. Afterward, everyone helped clean up and for a while, we all just sat around, talking about schools, music, and movies. I could see the curiosity building in Stuart's face as I revealed that I hadn't seen this or done that. I could almost hear him ask, "Where have you been?"

Where had I been? While everyone else was out there, experiencing life, doing things, Geraldine had me practically imprisoned in her own unhappiness and depression. It wasn't hard to understand why I had at first welcomed my father's unholy affections.

Jade and David started to dance again and soon after Star and Larry joined them. Jade looked like she was trying to outdo Star for a while and then everyone just stopped, exhausted. It was getting late, anyway.

It had been decided beforehand that Misty was going to stay over with me. When the party ended, Star left with Larry, and David decided that he and Stuart were going to take Jade homed Chris lingered. I could see Misty really liked him.

"If you're tired," she whispered, "just go up.I'll come up later' She glanced at Chris who sat on the sofa trying not to look conspicuous.

"Oh, sure," I said.

I went out with David, Jade, and Stuart to say good night. Star and Larry had already left.

"I really had a good time," Stuart told me. "I'm glad I let my cousin talk me into it."

"I'm glad too," I said.

"You're a nice girl," he said. "Easy to talk to and not full of yourself like so many girls I meet these days." "Thanks," I said.

Jade and David were waiting patiently in the car and involved in each other. My heart started thumping. What was I supposed to do? Look like I wanted to kiss him good night? Encourage him? Just stick out my hand? Was a handshake okay or silly for a girl?

Before I could ponder the questions long, he leaned forward and brought his lips gently to mine. His eyes were closed, but I kept mine open. It was a quick kiss, almost too quick to be considered anything.

"Good night," he said.

"Good night."

He lingered very close to me.

"I'd like to call you tomorrow. Maybe we can go for a ride or something and have some lunch at the beach," he said. "How's that sound?"

"Good," I said. It sounded more than good.

He smiled, turned to go to the car, paused, and then returned to me.

"I've been out of it so long, I guess I kissed you good night like someone would kiss a relative. You probably think I'm a clumsy fool."

"No, I--"

He embraced me and kissed me harder on the lips, holding me longer, sending a hot shaft of excitement up my spine and around my stomach.

"There," he said. "That's more like it, right?"

All I could do was nod. He smiled softly, squeezed my hand gently and left for the car. Before he got into the backseat, he waved.

"I'll call you midmorning," he promised and got in. I watched the car back away. Jade waved.

"Great party!" David called back to me. I waved to him, too, and remained on the walk as the car moved down the street. Just before it reached the corner, its headlights washed over an automobile parked on the right.

My heart stopped and started.

It looked exactly like my father's car and there was someone sitting inside. I saw his silhouette just for a second. I couldn't move. The car's lights went on; its engine started and it pulled away, disappearing like some short but horrifying nightmare, into the darkness.

I caught my breath and hurried back into the house. I wanted to tell Misty, but the lights were out in the living room. The music was low and I knew she certainly didn't want to hear or see me at the moment. She especially didn't want to hear anything unpleasant tonight.

No matter how close we all got to each other, some burdens would be my own, I thought. I carried this one up to my bedroom with me and closed the door. I had wanted to go to sleep dreaming of Stuart's warm eyes, but instead, when I closed my own, I could see only my father's eyes shining through the darkness like some predatory animal's, waiting patiently, hovering, confident that soon, soon he would get what he wanted.

14 Caught in the Act