End it

The next day, Izzi leaves for her spring break trip. Part of you is disappointed. A small part. Well, not small exactly, but small compared to the rest of you. A spaceship shaped part. With a helmet.

It’s your dick.

You haven’t gotten laid since Lisa passed away and it didn’t suck. Well, she sort of did…

Most of you is happy. This gives you plenty of time before the summer vacation for you to figure out how to break it off with Isabelle in the least destructive way possible.

You take care of Sara and Mindy, and, in a few days, when Sara goes back to school, just Mindy, as you ponder your plan. You tweak it from every angle. The plan is perfect. You spend weeks rehearsing it. Everything is done to perfection.

Which is why you don’t understand why you find yourself naked with your daughter after another ribald session.

Izzi sidles closer to you. “John, you are amazing. I can see why Mom kept you around.”

You know she is mostly joking, but you’re tempted to blame Lisa for all of this. If Isabelle didn’t so closely resemble Lisa, you wouldn’t be in this mess.

Isabelle is wonderful for the next few days. She makes lunches for Mindy, cleans, and preps for when Sara comes home in a week. She also spends every night in your bed.

“John,” Izzi murmurs against your chest.

“Yes, pumpkin?”

“I’ve been thinking,” Izzi is serious. She looks into your eyes. Her fingers move lightly along your chest. “You really have kept us a functioning family.”

“I’ve told you before-“

“Please, let me finish. I know you don’t see it this way, but we owe you so much. We want to make it up to you.”

“Gorgeous, I think you’ve spent the past week making it up to me.”

Izzi smiles her lazy smile. “I suppose I have at that. Excuse me, I have to go get new clothes.”

Izzi walks out of your room with the same long-legged strut Lisa used. You admire her out the door, then turn over and begin to drift off.