To Help a Friend

All characters are 18 years old or over. This is purely a figment of the author's imagination and any likenesses to real-life is completely coincidental.

This story takes a little time to really get moving and takes quite a bit of time meandering through thoughts. I hope you enjoy it.

Helping To Realize A Truth -- Chapter 01

"Mr. Gaelen, you look like you need a blowjob," said the young voice in an almost matter of fact delivery.

Daryl Gaelen looked up from his desk to spy Cheryl-Lynn, the best friend of his daughter for the last eighteen years, standing in the doorway with a straight face. Her demeanor seemed to suggest the comment in simply a talkative format like, "Hey, you look like you need a cup of coffee."

Oddly, behind Cheryl-Lynn stood his own eighteen year old daughter with her face in her hands and head shaking in pure embarrassment.

Cheryl-Lynn Watson and her family had become fast friends on the day of their daughters' births. Since Aleah Gaelen was born on the same day as Cheryl-Lynn it seemed almost prophetic to come into one another's lives. Both fathers were expectantly proud and nervous and when they accidently literally ran into one another it set off a conversation that seemed as though it would never stop. The girls were put together in nearly everything while their dads played league softball and their moms held the houses together. All four parents worked and when life became difficult they helped one another out. The Gaelen's were there for the births of Cheryl-Lynn's brother and sister and the Watson's were there when the Gaelen wife, Andrea, passed away. That seemed to bring the fathers closer together in friendship while Mrs. Watson, Diane, seemed to drift away. Some of the closeness, or, at least, recognized friendship, between Diane and Daryl returned when after sixteen years Greg Watson left the family to spend time with someone no one seemed to know anything about. It also presented a closeness for the girls and glued Cheryl-Lynn as family. She even had a key to the Gaelen house while Aleah had one for the Watson abode.

Looking more closely Daryl couldn't tell if the young woman he figured as his second daughter was joking or not. He was never one to shy from the oddities of the children of today and even challenged the girls on occasion. This was a little different, though, and it caught him off guard. Still, something had to be said. "Uh, thanks for being able to see what I look like, Chynn, I think." Using Cheryl-Lynn's nickname always made her smile and it worked this time, too.

Before any more conversation could be broached Aleah stepped in to cut it off. "Okay, here's where we stop! Dad, Cheryl-Lynn is practicing for the debate team for the college and she has an assignment that makes her start a conversation with anyone about the most ridiculous subjects. Unfortunately, sex was one of the choices."

Leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest Daryl looked at the two girls standing in his study doorway. This was strange but why not see where it could go? It could be fun. He'd always considered himself a "cool" dad -- he didn't know if his daughter felt that way but all of her friends seemed to like him. "Even after all this time, Leah? I've known you both literally all your lives. A little role play couldn't hurt that much could it?"

Aleah looked at her dad in frustration because he was both right and wrong. Right -- their families had shared just about everything beyond partners and they were always open about the world and what happened in it. Wrong -- because he was her dad and him talking about sex wasn't gross but it was something uncomfortable. What was even more wrong is that she'd known for who knew how many years that her best friend in the universe had a crush on her dad. And why not? He was handsome, funny, fit, well-manicured, clean, intelligent and as supportive a dad as any could be. Sure, Aleah knew, she was an only child but she was never spoilt and was taught well about the properties of life but, hey damn it all, this was her dad! She had to answer, she guessed. "Oh, fine," Aleah said, waving her hands in dismissal, "let's see where this goes."

Cheryl-Lynn looked from her BFF to her second dad and moved into the study and sat in one of the chairs near the desk. Daryl looked at her and could see that she drew a faux concerned, almost truly pensive, stare in her eyes. He knew he had to be ready for anything as Cheryl-Lynn somehow grew up not wanting to take prisoners in anything she did and it always seemed to work out for her.

Placing a closed fist under her chin Cheryl-Lynn said with a scary ease, "So, Mr. Gaelen, when was the last time you got a blowjob?"

"Right to it, then, eh, Chynn," Daryl asked. At her nod he set himself for an interesting conversation but he did have to set her straight. "First, let's get how to debate straight. Debating is a basis of consideration about a position over a specific topic. Telling me that I look like I need one or asking when my last blowjob was is not the beginning of a debate." Daryl looked at both young ladies in his study with the measure of a teaching moment. "For something like a conversation about sex it would be more appropriate for the assignment to start with a question like, 'What is your take on getting a surprise blowjob versus a regularly scheduled one?'"

Aleah looked at her father like he had just taken his junk out of his pants. The openness of the conversation was not new, he had always been straight forward and to the point and he had never called her vagina her hey-hey or called her going to the bathroom a poopie. But this was something new, probably because it dealt with sex. Sure, she had learned the ideas of sex, or the birds and the bees, from her father but it was always in strict terms. Aleah couldn't remember her father ever even saying the word 'blowjob.'

Daryl continued, "You can also seek concession of interest about an edging blowjob against deep throating or something like that. Do you understand?"

Cheryl-Lynn was frozen in her seat. Yes, she'd known Daryl Gaelen for her just more than eighteen years and he'd always been forward and open but this was completely shocking to her. She had ventured the question to try and shock the man who was her second father but he never seemed to be fazed by anything. Between Aleah and herself Cheryl-Lynn knew she was the more adventurous and daring but this man was always a surprise to her.

"Chynn, Leah, are you alright?" Daryl's face showed a bit of concern but underneath it was a happy moment where he'd shocked his daughters to silence. Neither of the young ladies spoke, their jaws open in stupor.

Daryl looked back and forth between them for another moment or two before he suggested that they remove themselves until they were more prepared for the reality of a debate and if they wanted to debate about sex, no problem.

Cheryl-Lynn slowly rose from the chair and she and Aleah left the study in a daze of broken ideas.

Daryl, however, thought nothing more of the conversation and went back to work. His blood daughter and adopted daughter were always interesting and he loved them both and would help them if he could. Since Diane didn't really speak to him very much anymore he could only count on himself for his girls.

************

Cheryl-Lynn and Aleah sat in the kitchen trying to keep their laughter quiet but as frequently happened when something went a bit awry they just made fun of one another.

"I can't believe you actually asked my dad about blowjobs," Aleah said with a little jealousy in her voice, hidden behind a giggle.

"I can't believe I actually had the guts to do it. I've been thinking about it for a week," Cheryl-Lynn returned. "Let's go ahead and talk to him about it?"

"What?"

"Sex."

"Why do you want to talk to my dad about sex," Aleah asked, very serious.

Cheryl-Lynn's face turned serious as a response and she looked at her longest and best friend and said, "Because I want to have sex with our dad. You know that."

Aleah did, indeed, know that. She had hoped her friend would grow out of it but it only seemed to get more detailed and wanted as they grew older. Being just over eighteen, about to go into college, very pretty young women they could probably have sex with any college boy, or man, that showed up. But her friend wanted her dad, damn it all.

There was an immediate guilt pounded into Aleah's chest as she knew that her dad was their dad. Daryl Gaelen had been there for them through all of their new experiences and supported them in nearly everything they did. In fact, Aleah knew, her dad was paying for the both of them to go to college. Somewhere after Cheryl-Lynn's dad left, interestingly completely devoid of want to share in anything of his daughter's life, Diane and Daryl had spoken and they figured something out between them and found that Daryl Gaelen could pay for the girls' college tuition. He also paid for their sports equipment and sundries. Diane would concentrate on her other two children considering the age of her oldest child but it almost seemed as if the Watson mother just gave up or something.

Aleah had a separate thought about how much money her, their, dad made as she actually had no idea.

All of these thoughts took away from the fact that her, for all intents and purposes -- sister, wanted to have sex with their dad. This wasn't really incest but seemed to feel like it. The Gaelens weren't overly religious folk but there was a societal line even though it didn't really matter here. While she was Aleah's sister Cheryl-Lynn wasn't blood related. Still, there was an uncomfortable feeling deep in the pit of her stomach. Like her friend hitting on her dad would lead to her friend one day becoming her step-mother or something weird and crazy.

Through all of this, though, Aleah knew she'd never be able to stop Cheryl-Lynn until the fix was sated. She could go along with this "debate" nonsense for now -- it was a real assignment but CL, her own nickname for her 'sister,' was taking it a bit too far. Aleah figured she'd have to do something to break the process but it was a discussion and her father was a master when speaking with anyone.

Daryl Gaelen could see changes in a face or the way someone held their hands that wasn't normal that almost always meant you were hiding something. Aleah had never once gotten away with a lie against her father, neither had Cheryl-Lynn. Maybe this could be a learning experience for her and Cheryl-Lynn?

Aleah was trying to see a way for her friend to go through this nonsense she wanted but without losing the closeness that they all shared. Maybe she'd just have to let it play out and see what happens?

Finally, turning to Cheryl-Lynn with a serious expression, Aleah said, "Fine. We can do this, or you can do this, but I need some promises from you right now." Aleah pointed a finger at her pseudo-sister while her eyes and chin were set and unmoving. Cheryl-Lynn knew that look so she had to agree or this was all lost to her.

"Okay. What?"

"If you don't get to have sex with dad then you have to let it go or be ready to talk to him about it. I love you and I'll side with you against the universe but I'll pick dad over you every time. Promise?" Aleah's face was tight and her eyes were almost mean. The words sounded mean, perhaps, but they both knew it was true.

Cheryl-Lynn crossed her right hand over her heart and held up her left in the girl scout three fingers salute and said, "I promise." Her eyes were shining and bright with anticipation.

"Next," Aleah said with some more heaviness, "if this doesn't work out you and I remain the friends and sisters we are."

Cheryl-Lynn looked at Aleah like she had just said the dumbest thing anyone could ever say. "No question, nitwit. Why would you even put that in?"

"That's all I've got for now but if I think up anything else we'll talk about it, fair," Aleah asked.

"Fair enough but I want a promise from you now," Cheryl-Lynn shot back quickly.

"What's that?"

"If I do get to have sex with dad then you accept it and leave it be and we remain sisters and friends. No pity party bullshit. Agreed?" Cheryl-Lynn's face was just as serious as Aleah's now and they knew they had to have this accord or everything could break into hard to put back together fragments. Sure, they'd still be best friends and sister but there would be a void there.

"Agreed," Aleah said in a huff with a small slump of her shoulders.

************

Nearly an hour later Daryl walked into the kitchen to begin getting dinner ready. He hadn't realized the time when the girls came into his study but when his own stomach growled he looked at the time and knew he had to get things moving. He figured spaghetti with a meat sauce and garlic bread with a small salad was easy enough.

When he entered the kitchen he saw Cheryl-Lynn and Aleah sitting at the table, speaking quietly. They didn't turn their heads or even acknowledge his presence so he just went about the kitchen getting ready. "Staying for dinner, Chynn?"

"Yes, please. I'll let my mom know." Cheryl-Lynn immediately picked up her phone and began ticking away at it, supposedly letting Diane know about dinner.

Daryl took an idle wonder for a quick moment about the younger Watson children but since he never saw them he never thought about them. For reasons he couldn't know Diane kept Robert and Christina away from the Gaelens. Sure, he'd been there at their birth and had even been to several of their birthday parties but it was never as close as with Cheryl-Lynn. If Diane called because she needed help he'd keep his friendship, oddly tentative though it was, as the base for helping her out.

Letting the thoughts of Chynn's family go for the moment he began making dinner. There was no conversation between he and the young women but there rarely was these days. They were getting too old for the likes of him. Daryl was only in his mid-forties but he was far from the Millennial ideology so he let them be. He and Aleah would speak about the day and life if it was just the two of them but it hardly ever was these days. That's okay, thought Daryl, my kid(s) is/are growing up.

About twenty minutes later Daryl set dinner on the table and the girls were up and getting plates and whatnot and setting the table and soon they all sat and began eating.

"So," Daryl began easy enough, "how's the debate processing?"

Cheryl-Lynn immediately brightened up and replied, "We've been thinking about what you said..."

"'We've' been or 'you've' been? Is this your assignment or the two of you," Daryl asked, interrupting Cheryl-Lynn pointedly.

"Oh, well...it's just for me but you know I share part of Leah's brain so...we've been working together to help me understand." The smile on Cheryl-Lynn's face was contagious and Daryl joined her in the easy conversational whip. They always spoke with the easiness of the young women and severe press of the man.

"Sounds like a good idea," Daryl said before taking a full bite of food.

Cheryl-Lynn looked at Aleah with a smirk of danger and a wink and then turned to Daryl and said, "So, Mr. Gaelen..."

"Daryl. It's been Daryl since you were five. The only time you use my surname is when you're trying to be shocking or you've done something wrong. Have you done anything wrong?"

Well chastened Cheryl-Lynn shook her head fumblingly started again, "So then, Daryl, please let me know your view of walking around the house nude with anyone present? Do you find it presentable to be naked around a closed house with someone who may not be of your direct family?"

Daryl Gaelen looked directly at Chynn's eyes for a few moments before taking another bite, looking at his daughter whose face was looking down at her plate and then back to Chynn before he said, "Are you certain you're serious about these questions, Chynn? The two of you are certainly old enough to have this kind of discussion with another adult, you are adults, but I don't want either of you to be shocked and then start looking at me differently. You want honesty?"

Cheryl-Lynn nodded her head and there was even a slight nod from Aleah. "Very well," Daryl said without any hint of being uncomfortable. Always serious, Daryl stated matter of factly:

"My view of walking about in the nude is not one of judgment. I don't do it for the simple reason of my daughter and her best friend, I think that until recently it would have been inappropriate, but I have no issues with people who do. It's their house, or home, and as long as they're making themselves comfortable, no problem.

"For the addendum to the question about walking in the nude and its present-ability with others not of my family this has to go to whether or not those who are not of the family are adequate with the action's consequences. If myself and another person spoke about it and it was something we agreed to do then I see no issues. Once again, as long as they're in their domicile and not causing any harm. Secondarily, were it spoken of and everyone was comfortable then there'd be no issues if others were to do it, aside from myself. As a process of concession, again, I have no judgment of the action."

The statements were concise and completely what Aleah expected of her dad. Despite his nature of being very to the point he was one of the most easy going people she had ever met in her life. When she looked at her friend she noticed something there, something unforeseen with this line of questioning. The questions weren't even what Aleah thought Cheryl-Lynn would say. The next lines from her friend's mouth, though, changed everything.

"Thanks, Daryl," Cheryl-Lynn said easily with a small smile on her face. "Can I ask you a last question?"

"Is the debate over," Daryl asked.

"Just for a few moments," Cheryl-Lynn replied. "Would you mind if I walked around your house naked?"

Daryl's hand froze on the way to his mouth with another bite. He looked at Cheryl-Lynn while she tried to make an innocent face at which she failed miserably. "What are you trying to do, Chynn?" The question was loaded with suspicion.

"I'm trying to get comfy in my second home."

"You haven't been comfortable?"

"I have," Cheryl-Lynn said, trying for wistfulness. "But we're older now and I was looking for just a little more of somewhere to just...let go, you know? Care to join me in a nudist night?"

That question was the one that shocked Daryl Gaelen for almost thirty seconds. His eyes opened wide and he looked at his kind of adopted daughter with surprise and a little of his own wistful feelings. He'd not been naked with another woman since his wife passed away. He wasn't against it, it just never became a priority or a specific want.

Almost recovering his composure Daryl said, "That sounds interesting but I'm not certain it's proper."

A little excitement flared in Cheryl-Lynn's eyes as she fired back, "But you said as long as everyone was cool with it then others could do it in your house." Her voice was getting more heated, not in anger but in possibility.

"Have you spoken with Aleah about this? Everyone has to be comfortable, not just you, and since this is my house you need Aleah's permission. I'll be dead honest here, Chynn, I don't have an issue. I think it'd be fun to see you naked but your friend and my daughter may have something to say about that."

Cheryl-Lynn looked at Aleah with her eyes wide in question. "So, you cool?"

Aleah didn't respond with her voice. Instead she rose from the table and left without a word. Daryl knew the look and he also knew he had to wait for a few minutes before going after her.