An Invitation to Yoga

As you gab with the cook you notice through the big windows Melanie head out to beside the pool from another door. She carries with her a yoga mat. The early morning sun highlighting the contours of her fit body. Today she wears black yoga shorts that left little for the imagination and a matching sports bra, her hair up in a pony tail. She looked fine. You knew from the research you had done the day before that she was 19 years old, that she was born here in the city, that her mom died when she was just a kid, and that she was going to be taking a few university courses on kinesiology in the fall. You'd also learned from Natali that Vincent was overly protective of his daughter and that Melanie had never had a long term boyfriend.

Unscrewing the top of her water bottle Melanie makes her way into the kitchen. She pauses at the sliding door. You greet her warmly, "Good Morning." It takes a considerable act of will for you to maintain eye contact. Her athletic youthful body just screamed to be looked at, especially in that outfit. You remind yourself of the situation and blink the temptation away.

"Daddy? You're up early." She enters, leaving the door open behind her. You feel a fresh wind fill the kitchen. Slowly she makes her way to the water dispenser and fills her bottle, looking curiously at you as she does so.

"Yeah. Uh." You falter a bit. "Uh...part of my new healthy lifestyle."

She smiles approvingly. "You should join me for yoga. The morning is the best time for your chakras."

"Uhhh..." You hesitate. You didn't particularly want to do yoga but then it dawns on you that this might be a good time to talk to Melanie one on one. The activity would give you something to talk about and be a handy distraction if things got awkward. While you still weren't sure how you were going to approach her about her dad it sure couldn't hurt to get to know her a bit better. "Yeah, sure. Why not." You say.

She stands stunned. She looks at Mama Raeni then back to you. "Serious? I didn't actually think you'd say yes. You really want to do yoga with me?"

You immediately regret your decision. Obviously this was way outside the norm for an old school guy like Vincent. You should have known better, mobsters don't do yoga. You berate yourself for your stupidity then begin trying to think of ways out of it.

Melanie looks to the cook in utter disbelief. Mama Raeni shrugs and smiles at the young woman. Suddenly Melanie's face bursts into an expression of gleeful joy. "This is so great! Thank you Daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You won't regret it!"

"Uhh...well..." You stammer.

"Don't worry about anything! I'll get an extra mat and you go upstairs and change." She practically bounces with excitement; with certain parts of her body she literally bounces with excitement. "Go, go, go! You can't change your mind now!"

You hesitantly leave the kitchen as she shoos you out. "Go...go..."

'What have I gotten myself into?' You think as you make your way back up to the bedroom.