Step by step

As I watch the girls eat, I start thinking about how the relationship will progress. Amber and I already lived together, so after they finish up college, she can just move right back in. But Hanna? I don't want to remove her from her home, wherever that is. Plus her family might get suspicious if she just moves in with Amber and me, wont they? I bring these worries up to the girls, but they assuage my concerns.

"Don't worry, Daddy, it's not a problem." Amber answers after swallowing her mouthful.

"Maybe not for you, but Hanna-" I start, but am stopped when Hanna speaks up.

"Amber's right, Jack. It's no problem. I'm not in contact with my family, haven't been for years."

"Oh. Well, that's..." What? Good that she's not on speaking terms with her own family? Unfortunate that our relationship can continue unobstructed? How am I supposed to answer that?

Hanna sees my face and laughs. "It's okay, Jack, really. I was legally emancipated for years, and never reestablished contact with them. The life my parents wanted for me just... didn't line up with what I wanted for myself. So I left them behind to follow my truth. And in doing so, I found Amber, and now you. I have zero regrets."

"I am, very conflicted on how best to respond to that, but I'm glad to see you're not upset." I stand and kiss the top of her head, gather the dishes, and make my way to the sink. The girls stand and start to follow me, but I wave them off. "Thanks, girls, but I got it from here. Why don't the two of you hang out? Pick a movie out or something?" They nod and leave me in the kitchen. As a clean dishes I sort out my thoughts. 'I'm a 43 year old man dating two 22 year old girls. I have far more than enough money to support us and any family we might have in the future, everything seems to be going great... but we have to be careful... How or what can I foresee harming this? Moving too fast and getting one or both of them pregnant, being caught by someone who knows that Amber's practically my daughter, is there anything else? Hmm...' My thoughts are interrupted when two arms snake around my waist and I feel a body press against my back. I'm unable to tell which one of the girls is hugging me, but it's nice regardless. We stand in silence for a while, until I feel her detach from me and slip away. I decide, then and there, that whatever problems come our way, we'll solve them together. Because there is no way I can let this stop.