Heartbeat

Family Matters

"Hey Dad, don't you want something on your stomach to go with that champagne? I still have some of that cake left." Laura started for the kitchen, kissing her father's head on the way in. She took deep breaths once she was alone, pulling the chocolate overflow out of the fridge.

.....

Uh oh. She made a run for it. We are absolutely in trouble...

"Uh, bet you're looking forward to more of that cake aren't you, Papa Hollis?" Carmilla chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the tension.

Sherman nodded, staring at Carmilla for an uncomfortable amount of time. She could feel herself practically sweating under the intense gaze.

"I know you're both adults...but what came out of that bedroom...I'm hoping is not what I think it was Carmilla." Sherman's tone was stern and demanding.

Fuck, fuck, FUCK!

"Uh, w-well, we um, we were-...She was just..." Carm kept stuttering uncontrollably until Laura came back into the room. Panicking.

Uh oh. The stutter. Not the stutter!

"Carmilla and I were wrestling over who had to make the bed. She had me pinned and she kept trying to tickle me. You know how I get, all types of sounds come out of my mouth when that happens," Laura put the cake on the table and positioned her knife.

"So, how was your shower?" She started slicing off cake for Sherman as calmly as she could.

Fuck, fuck, FUCK!

"Laura, are you trying to change the subject?" Sherman lifted a suspicious eyebrow.

Carmilla hoped that Laura's excuse might have been enough; but, now, with the subject change, he was all skeptical.

"No! She isn't! She just told you what happened. So, there's no need to talk about it anymore." She tried to be as convincing as she possibly could.

It obviously didn't work...Sherman shifted his gaze to Carmilla. A gaze she really would rather not be subjected to.

"So, what you're telling me is that you tickled Laura until those were the sounds she was making," He turned to face his daughter again, "I've never heard you make sounds like THAT when I tickled you. Are you sure that's all that happened?"

Why can't you just let go?

"Yes, I am absolutely positive. Tickling and wrestling and trying to overpower her leaves me unable to control what comes out of my mouth." Laura chuckled lightly, "One slice or two Dad?"

Sherman nodded for a little, seemingly taking the excuse into consideration, before smiling back at his daughter.

"Two please kiddo." He answered enthusiastically.

Carmilla almost sighed out in relief and yelled 'Thank you' to the gods as she dropped to her knees; but she decided that would prove that Laura's excuse was just that, an excuse.

"I'll just go get some glasses for that champagne." She started walking to the kitchen but paused to kiss Laura's head and making sure Sherman didn't know what she was doing. Whispering near Laura's ear, "Nice save baby."

She continued into the kitchen to grab three flute glasses for the drink waiting for her in the dining room.

.......

"She's in a good mood. Did she win?" Sherman stuck his fork in his cake as he looked at his daughter.

"Unfortunately, she did." Laura started in on Carmilla's slice of cake.