Neighbor's Daughter Moves In

Author Note: No sex in this one.

===

DING! DONG!

Hmm. Someone was at the front door. It was Ted.

Ted was a long-term neighbor. We built our house thirty years ago, and he and his wife, Elaine, moved in next door several months later. My wife, Marjorie, was shy, so we didn't socialize much, but they were good neighbors. They were younger and had a daughter, Julia, who lived at home and was in her last year of University.

"Hi, Ted. What's up? Got my mail again?"

Ted smiled. "Hi, Allan. Nope. Not this time. I'm here to let you know we're moving."

I was shocked. "What? You've been here for years. I thought you were here for life."

Ted sighed. "Me too, but Elaine's arthritis is getting bad, and the damp Michigan winters and humid summers aggravate it. My head office is in Phoenix, and Elaine tagged along for a company meeting last year. Then we took some vacation time, and Elaine felt ten times better. We've been down twice since then, and she always feels better after a few days. The dry, sunny weather seems to help. I put in for a transfer, and a spot came up. We're moving as soon as we find a house and sell our place here."

"Bummer. You guys will be hard to replace. Is Julia going with you?"

"That's why I'm here. Julia has one term left. She'll start in January and finish in April. She's coming to Arizona with us over the holidays. Then she'll come back in January. But our house will be sold by then, so she can't stay there. I told her to get an apartment for four months, but she said getting a place on such short notice would be difficult. I think she can't be bothered."

"Where's she going to stay then?"

Ted looked uncomfortable and took out a list. "She wanted to know if she could board with you. She said she'd be as quiet as a mouse and you won't even know she's there. She'll be studying most of the time. She promises she won't have any loud friends over. She has our old Honda and won't need rides. She knows how to cook, so you won't need to feed her, and she has her own money, so you won't need to buy her anything."

Ted looked embarrassed. "Sorry. She made me promise to read her list so I wouldn't miss anything, but you don't need to do this. If you don't want her at your place, I understand. I mean, you know Julia, but you don't really know her. She's a good girl but is a bit of a princess because Elaine and I spoiled her, and she's pretty strong-willed." Ted smiled. "She'll be running your place after a few weeks!"

Ted looked at me seriously. "I know it's a big decision, so I don't expect you to decide now, but I'd appreciate it if you could let me know fairly soon in case we need to find another place. Thanks for listening."

Then he left. It was a surprise, but not a negative one.

Max, my German Shepherd, loved Julia. He wagged his tail like crazy whenever they met, and Max was a good judge of character. There was a lot of space in our house. It was a three-bedroom, and our daughter flew the coop many years ago. She lived in Africa. I couldn't stand her husband and hadn't seen her in a while. I knew Julia drove their old Accord, so I wasn't worried about transportation. And I wasn't worried about extra expenses. Money wasn't a problem. I didn't care if she had friends over as long as they didn't wreck the place. I obviously didn't know Julia like Ted did, but she was always friendly when I saw her. She waved. She asked me how I was. She asked about Max. She didn't seem like a typical self-absorbed teenage girl, although I guess she wasn't a teenager anymore. She was twenty-two.

Last but not least, I'd been lonely since Marjorie died last year. She was my best friend, and I looked forward to retiring with her. I retired, but she didn't make it. There was no 'we' anymore--just Max and me. It would be nice to have some company.

Plus, it was only for four months. How bad could four months be?

I called Ted and asked him to tell Julia to come over to discuss the details.

===

Ten minutes after I talked to Ted, the doorbell rang. It was Julia. That was quick.

She looked happy, although underdressed. It was mid-December and below freezing, and she wasn't even wearing a coat and had on sandals. I invited her in.

"Aren't you cold?"

She smiled. "Nope. I'm well padded, plus it's a short walk from my house to yours."

She smiled again. "Can I really stay here?"

I smiled back. "Yes, if you want to. Why don't I give you a tour? There are several rooms you could stay in."

I took her downstairs. The basement was finished with a bathroom and bedroom. It's where our daughter, Susan, lived. There was a large TV, a small fridge, and a microwave. There was even a separate entrance to the back yard so she could have friends over, and I'd never even know.

I took her to the main floor. It was open-concept, with a kitchen, living room, dining room, and small bathroom.

Then I took her upstairs. My room stretched across the front of the house, facing south. It was very bright when the sun was out. There was a large walk-in closet and a big ensuite bathroom with a soaker tub big enough for several people.

There were two smaller bedrooms and a small bathroom with a toilet and a shower.

"Well? What do you think? You can stay wherever you want."

She grinned. "Even your room? It's so big and bright! And I love the huge closet and soaker tub."

I laughed. "Nope. It's mine. But you're welcome to visit. It's especially nice in the winter when the sun shines. It warms and brightens the room. You can use the couch to read or my work desk for computer work. Since retiring, I rarely use it. I prefer my laptop or iPad. And you can use the tub whenever you want. I prefer showers."

Julia's eyes brightened. "Cool! Do I need to decide tonight?"

"Nope. I don't care if you sleep in a different room every night."

She grinned. "That sounds naughty! The moving truck will take most of my things to Arizona, but I want to bring some of my things over. Is that okay?"

"Of course."

"Can I bring it over tomorrow?"

"Sure. Do you need help?"

"No, it's mostly just clothing, makeup, and stuff like that, although I'd like to bring over my mattress. It's super comfortable. Is that okay?"

"Sure. Your dad said you can cook?"

"Yes, you won't need to feed me."

"Well, it seems silly to make separate meals. What if I cook some nights and you cook other nights? That way, I won't need to cook every night, and neither will you."

She smiled. "I like that idea. I can cook. Mom forced me to learn, but I prefer to be fed. We can feed each other."

She smiled again. "I've decided I want to sleep up here. The basement is nice, but I find basements damp and dark. I can hang out there if friends visit, but it won't happen often. I need to concentrate on school, so I won't be socializing much." She grinned. "Just with you. I think I'll be visiting your room on sunny days. The sun perks me up. Is that okay?"

"Yup."

"Good. I'll bring my stuff over tomorrow. See you later!

Julia's visit only lasted fifteen minutes, but it left me in a good mood. There was something about her that was uplifting. She smiled a lot and was perky. She seemed happy, which was contagious.

===

FUCK!

There was over a foot of snow in the driveway. The forecast called for a few inches, not a foot!

It would take me forever to clear the driveway with the wimpy electric snowblower Marjorie talked me into buying. We used to have a Honda gas blower. It was great. It was easy to maneuver and never clogged up, even with wet snow. The new blower was supposed to be good, but I hated it. The battery sometimes died before the snow was removed, and heavy, wet snow clogged it up. And there was over a foot of wet snow in my driveway.

Ted used to take pity on me after big snow dumps. He knew my electric blower wasn't up to the task and mowed through my snow with his mammoth gas blower. It was a brute. It was huge and self-propelled. It sliced through the snow like a hot knife in butter.

His driveway was already plowed, but mine wasn't. I guess I was on my own.

I bundled up because the winter winds were howling like Hell. I thought the house was going to blow away. I had just opened the front door when Ted's beastly blower entered my driveway and tossed the snow like child's play. I smiled and waved. He waved back, and I went back in the house. Thank God!

Ten minutes later, my driveway was clear. Ten minutes! It would have taken me hours to do it. The doorbell rang. It must have been Ted.

I opened the door. "Thanks so much, Ted..." But it wasn't Ted. It was Julia.

She smiled at my surprise. "Didn't think it was me, did you?" Then she grinned. "I'm not just a pretty face. I can blow with the best of them," she said mischievously.

I guess my mouth was still open in surprise because she grinned at me.

"Can you open the garage door so I can put the mower in there? Mom and Dad have left. Our house sold yesterday, and they went to look at a promising place in Scottsdale. Dad said he won't need the blower in Arizona, so he wanted you to have it. He knows your electric blower is wimpy. We also have a gas generator for when the power goes out. I'll bring it over later. There won't be any snowstorm outages in Scottsdale."

I opened the garage door, and Julia put the blower in there. There was lots of room because I had a double garage with only one car. I sold Marjorie's car after she died.

It was the second time Julia had surprised me with her physical nature. She carried her single mattress by herself, and now she plowed my driveway. She was definitely more than just a pretty face, and there was a sexy, mischievous undertone to her personality.

===

I offered to drive Julia to the airport. She thanked me but said it was an early bird flight and she'd take a cab. The same thing coming back. She said she wouldn't get back until two in the morning and would take a cab.

It sounds silly. I'd only seen her a few times, but I missed her when she was gone. I missed her cheery personality. It was uplifting.

Plus, she was pretty easy on the eyes. She reminded me of Paige Spiranac. She inherited her parents' height. She was 5'10", my height. And she was big-boned. Her wrists were as big as mine. She had a pretty face and big boobs.

I remembered the first time I saw her cut the grass years ago. I was upstairs and heard the mower start. Normally, it was Ted, but not this time. The day was stinking hot and humid, and she was wearing short, low-rise jean shorts and a tube top that barely covered her breasts. And she had big breasts like her mom. Her boobs were jiggling and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Her skin was glistening with sweat. She had on mirror glasses. I couldn't pull my eyes away until she looked up and waved. How embarrassing! I waved back but felt like a dork.

The doorbell rang and woke me up. I looked at my clock and it was 2 AM. What the heck? I went down and it was Julia. She was back.

"Sorry, Allan! I forgot to take the keys you gave me. Sorry to wake you."

I wasn't upset. I didn't work anymore, so I could always sleep late in the morning.

"No problem. How was your flight?"

"Okay."

"How was your trip?"

"Good! The weather was great. Dry and sunny, and I could see the difference in Mom. Normally, she's stiff when she wakes and has to take a pill. She can barely bend over to pick things off the floor, and bending over to get in the car is an effort. She's petrified of slipping outside in winter because she knows she'll fall. But down there, she seemed fine. I can see why they wanted to move."

"And you? Did you like it?"

Julia sighed. "The weather was nice, but there was no rain. It's not green like here, and supposedly, it gets super hot for months in the summer. I don't know if I could take the heat."

"Well, it's not green here now. It's white."

"True, but I'd miss the colors of Spring, Summer, and Fall. And it can be over 100 degrees for months in the Summer. That's pretty hot for me, even if it's dry. I can't handle the heat." She grinned. "Too much padding on my bones!"

It was the second time she mentioned her 'padding'. I'm assuming she meant her big tits and curvy ass but I just smiled and didn't say anything.

"Plus, most of my friends and cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents are here. I don't know what I want to do when I graduate. I don't know if I want to live down there. But I guess I have four months to decide."

She gave me a tired smile. "I'm wiped. I'm going to bed. See you in the morning. Sorry to wake you."

====

I made it a habit to go for a one-hour walk every day with Max, regardless of the weather. Some days it was a chore if the weather sucked but today it was sunny with no wind and quite pleasant to be outside.

When I got back, Julia was in my room, lying on the loveseat sofa in short gym shorts and a short crop top, reading a textbook. The sun had heated the room, so her attire was appropriate temperature-wise, but it was distracting sexually. She was frequently distracting sexually. I don't think she was doing it deliberately. She just was.

For example, she had a hot body. Her face was pretty and she had big boobs, a nice ass and long legs. But it was more than that. My wife and daughter were self-conscious about their bodies. They would never walk around the house in their underwear or skimpy clothing. But Julia did it all the time and thought nothing of it. I was shocked the first few times she did it, but now I just enjoy it.

The other day, Julia yelled out from the washroom that the toilet paper was out. It used to happen occasionally with my daughter or wife. I'd get a new roll and open the bathroom door just enough to pass the roll through. They'd reach out and grab it. Mission accomplished. Sight unseen. Heaven forbid if I saw them sitting on the crapper. So I got a roll of toilet paper and went to the washroom, but the door wasn't even closed. Julia was sitting on the can. Her hair was wrapped in a towel. It looked like she'd just gotten out of the shower. Her big tits were hanging down. I couldn't help but look at them. I held the toilet roll out. She took it. She was unfazed by me seeing her naked, sitting on the toilet. My wife and daughter would have freaked and slammed the door, but Julia didn't seem to care.

===

"Allan, where are we going to eat this Friday?"

I looked up in surprise. I didn't know we were going anywhere this Friday. I'd made several meals, and Julia had made several meals like we agreed. She was a good cook. It was nice to share the cooking and her company. Much better than being alone all the time. She told me about her studies while we ate. The conversation was mostly one-way because not much new happened in my life, given that I was retired and by myself. I just assumed we were eating in again.

"I studied hard this week and need a break. We used to go out once a week when Mom and Dad were here, and they left me money to go out. So where do you want to go?"

"You mean like Wendy's?"

"No. I mean a real restaurant where we sit down and order and get served, and have a glass of wine. That type of place."

"Oh. I haven't been to a place like that in a while."

Julia smiled. "Then we both need to get out. My treat. Or dad's treat! He's happy you're letting me stay at your place, and so am I. Do you like Italian? There's a nice place we go to."

"Sure."

"Okay. I'll make a reservation. You have to dress up a bit, though. No jeans and t-shirts." She smiled. "Can you handle it?"

I smiled back. "If the moths haven't eaten my dress clothes, I can handle it."

"Good!"

Julia made a reservation for Friday, and I checked my clothes. I wasn't kidding about the moths. I hadn't worn my dress clothes in years.

I picked out some black dress pants and a white dress shirt and ironed out a crease line in the pants from the hanger, and polished my black leather dress shoes and modelled everything in the mirror. I looked pretty good.

Julia smiled and said, "Looking sharp!" when she saw me. And she looked nice in a black dress with some black heels. We put on our winter coats and headed out to the restaurant.

It felt great to get out. I hadn't been to a nice restaurant in a while. The place we went to had a nice ambience. It was somewhat dark but not too dark. Nicely decorated. Not too loud. The service was good. The food was great. It was expensive but worth it. Julia insisted on paying for it. She said her dad gave her money. I agreed, but only if she let me pay next time. I had a good time. I decided there should be a next time next week. I had lots of money, and Julia would be gone in a few months. What was I saving my money for?

We were at the restaurant for two hours. Time flew by. I don't even remember all the things we talked about. It was effortless talking to Julia. I hadn't had such a good time in a long time.

===

At first, Julia parked her car in the driveway, but I suggested she park it in the garage. That way, she wouldn't need to clean the snow and ice off her windshield when she went out. She noticed my golf clubs in the garage.

"Do you golf?" She asked.

"I used to."

"Would you like to go to the indoor driving range this weekend? I have a big exam coming up and could use a distraction." She smiled. "Are you any good?"

I smiled back. "I was okay."

She grinned. "Want to have a contest?"

"Okay."

"If I win, you have to make all the meals for a week," she said

"Okay. And if I win, you have to blow the driveway the next four times."

"Okay."

It was a freezing cold day when we went to play. Julia wore her full-length winter coat, which, in hindsight, I think was a plot to hide what she was wearing beneath. Because when she took it off, she had on a super short white skirt and a sports bra. The kind of outfit women's tennis players wear. With her body, it was very distracting. She grinned at me when she saw me looking at her.

We agreed that each shot would be evaluated by length and straightness. Whoever won the most shots won the game.

Julia had no qualms about distracting me. She stood RIGHT beside me, flaunting her hot body. She was constantly clearing her throat or coughing when I was shooting. Then she'd grin. She'd bend over and flash her ass or boobs in my face then smile at me. It was distracting and hurt my game, which was rusty to begin with from inactivity. Plus, she was as big as I was, so she could whack the ball as hard as I could. I almost beat her, but in the end, she triumphed by one point.

Then she smiled and said, "Home, James! What are you going to make for my dining pleasure tonight?"

We decided to shoot balls once a week. It was good fun. Nice to get out of the house. She wore the same revealing outfit every time and flaunted her body mercilessly, but I became accustomed to her tricks and didn't let it throw me off. I beat her more often than she did me, and enjoyed looking at her while I did it. She was a gracious loser and continued to snowblow the driveway regardless of whether she lost, and I cooked most of the meals. We settled into a comfortable routine.

===

Julia finished a few major exams and had planned to blow off some steam with a male friend who liked to dance. She grinned and said they were going to do some dirty dancing, although he was just a friend, and that would be the extent of it. She was quite excited about the night and looked good. She had on a short black skirt with a black short-sleeve sequined top that dipped low in the front to show her cleavage. Then her cell phone rang.

"Oh, no! Does it hurt bad? Sorry to hear that. Take care!"

She had a pouty expression after she hung up."Sam twisted his knee. No dancing tonight. Rats!"

Then a mischievous smile crossed her face. "Got plans for tonight?"

"Nope."

"I looked through your scrapbooks. You and Marjorie were quite the dancers back in the day."

It was true. Marjorie said it was one of the reasons she chose me because I liked to dance. Unlike lots of guys, I liked to dance. The music seemed to flow through my body. I could dance to any type of song, although it had been a few years since I was on a dance floor. I smiled at Julia.

She grinned. "So you can dance?"

"Yes."

"You seem limber enough at the driving range." She grinned. "Want to go out?"

I frowned. "It would look bad. A sixty-five-year-old guy with a twenty-year-old girl."

She smiled. "There's a Holiday Inn with a bar and dance floor. Businessmen stay there and unwind after work. It's a meat market. People go there for one-night stands. There are lots of older guys and younger ladies there looking for a good time. Plus, you don't look sixty-five. You don't even have a gut, and you have all your hair. You'll look better than half the guys there. No one will bat an eye at us. Besides, what do you care what other people think if I want you there? If anything, they'll be envious. Are you game to strut your stuff?"

I didn't know what it was about Julia, but she always made me feel young and alive. I changed into some light dress pants and a short-sleeved dress shirt, because she said the dance floor would get warm, and we took off.

It was a great night. Julia was a good dancer, and I could tell she was impressed with my dancing. It only took a few dances to get back into the groove. My body flowed with the music. I tried to maintain a respectful distance during the slow songs, but she pulled me in. We weren't grinding, but I felt her legs against mine, her stomach against mine, her chest against mine, her chin against my neck, my hands on her back. It had been a long time since I touched another female intimately, and it felt nice. I looked forward to each slow song.

We closed the place down. Julia looked very content on the ride home. When we got home, she smiled. "Thanks for a great night. I needed to get out. We can add another activity to our list of winter-beating activities: the driving range and the dance floor."

She looked me in the eye. "Any other hidden talents I don't know about?"

===

Allan went for a long walk every day with Max. He fed himself. He bought groceries. He did the laundry. He didn't watch TV at all. He read a fair bit. That was it. It seemed like a lonely life.

I'd discovered that he used to golf up until a few years ago, but his golf buddies had moved or passed away.

He was a good dancer, but Marjorie, his dance partner, had passed away.

He used to go out and eat like Mom and Dad and I did once a week, but didn't anymore since Marjorie died.

I know he spent a lot of time gardening, but that was in the spring and summer, and winter was still here.

I asked him if there were other things he used to do.

"I used to play cards."

"What kinds of cards?"

"When I was younger, Marjorie and I played Bridge with a couple, but they moved away, which didn't break my heart. They were Marjorie's friends and took the game a bit too seriously. They got irritated if you screwed up. Then we started playing Euchre with another couple, but I'm not very lucky and found it irritating because it was more luck than skill. Then we played Hearts with another couple. I enjoyed that. Not as hard as Bridge but more skill required than Euchre."

"Cool! Mom and Dad, and I play Hearts, although it's a handful playing with three people. Four is better. Lots of people don't even play cards. Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Sure."

"Dad said they invited you guys over when they first moved in, and you came at first, but then you stopped coming, and they stopped asking. What happened? Was there a problem with Mom and Dad?"

Allan sighed. "No, there was a problem with Marjorie. She was an extreme introvert, and your parents were quite outgoing. She felt uncomfortable going over all the time, so she told me to say we were busy. After a while, your parents stop asking us.

"Oh, that's too bad, because Mom and Dad liked you guys. Did you like Mom and Dad?"

"Yes."

'Why didn't you come over by yourself?"

Allan sighed but didn't say anything."

She didn't press because she didn't want to make Allan feel uncomfortable. Perhaps Marjorie didn't want Allan enjoying himself while she was home alone.

The more she stayed with Allan, the more she liked him and worried about leaving him alone when she left for Arizona. He genuinely seemed to enjoy her company. He seemed happy doing things with her. Just being in the same room seemed to make him happy. He smiled when she read in his bedroom on sunny days. They bantered back and forth when they competed on the driving range. They talked effortlessly about anything and everything when they ate out. He was a nice guy. She was going to miss him when she left. She was going to worry about him.

===

Sometimes, everything came together with a single event.

Julia knew that Allan would be lonely when she left.

She knew that Allan would miss her.

And she knew that Allan was a long-term environmentalist. He'd been driving a Toyota Prius for years. He had rain barrels under all his eavestroughs. He had solar panels on his roof.

And she was concerned about the environment as well, and was concerned about the hot climate in Arizona. She was especially concerned about whether she could handle the hot summer weather.

She was talking to a friend who had rented a two-bedroom apartment in a new car-free rental development called Culdesac Tempe outside Phoenix. The place looked pretty sweet. It had attractive walkways, boutique shops, and three-story white stucco buildings clustered around shaded courtyards. There was a short-term parking lot for deliveries, retailers, and guests. Culdesac residents were expected to get around by the nearby light rail system, as well as on buses, scooters, electric bikes, and by using ride shares. There were 22 retail shops and a small Korean market. 288 apartment units had been built on eight of the site's 17 acres, with another 450 units planned.

But there was a problem, and her friend couldn't move for a few months, so she asked if Julia was interested in subletting. Julia jumped at the opportunity. The place looked amazing. Cars were forbidden. It was designed to be cooler. All the buildings were painted bright white to reflect heat. Not having to factor in residential parking allowed the architects to configure the buildings to maximize shade and to design narrow pathways that encouraged breezes. The narrow pathways encouraged social engagement. It was designed for people, not cars. Your kids could run free on the streets and not worry about getting hit by cars. It reminded her of the pedestrianized shopping streets she'd been on where no cars were allowed. They were great. There was no hot pavement to fry your feet in the hot Arizona sun and radiate heat at night. Max's paw pads wouldn't get damaged, and there was no car air pollution.

Allan's eyes lit up when she showed him. Excellent!

She told him the cost of a one and two-bedroom rental. He didn't bat an eye. Excellent.

She made her offer. "Do you want to move in with me?" She smiled.

"What? He looked surprised.

She told him about subletting from her friend for four months. "I don't know if I can handle the heat. This will give me a chance to find out. And this place looks so cool. We won't even need a car for daily living. You'll be able to grow stuff year-round. We'll be close to Mom and Dad. We can go golfing with Dad. We can play Hearts with Mom and Dad. If you don't like it, you can move back after four months. There's no snow to shovel, ever! And it's sunny every day! If you like it, you can get you one-bedroom. What do you think?"

Allan looked stunned. "What about my house?"

She had everything planned out. "I know two second-year seminary students who need a place to rent. They'd love to stay here and would be good tenants."

"What about Max?"

"Dogs are allowed. It's dog friendly with lots of shaded walking paths." She grinned. "Come on, Allan! This place is amazing! Where else can you live car-free in the US? This is like being in Europe. There's no downside. You're not working. You're not tied to family or friends. You're house will be well looked after. Four months will be a good test period." She grinned. "And you'll get to live with me for another four months. What have you got to lose?"

Allan smiled. "I'm in!"

===

Allan was like a man possessed. He was beaming with excitement about Culdesac Tempe. He couldn't wait to get going.

We invited the seminary students over to see Allan's place. Allan gave them a great deal on rent, considering it was close to the University. They had a whole house for the price of a one-bedroom apartment, plus Allan said they could drive his old Prius, given that we were driving my car to Arizona. The students couldn't believe their good fortune.

Allan packed light because he didn't need any Winter clothes or boots, and Mom and Dad would loan us cooking supplies. They also had furniture and beds they'd lend us. They were excited that Allan was coming because they liked him and hoped to have a future Hearts and golf partner. Plus, they hadn't found any neighbors they liked yet.

We headed out the minute my last exam finished. There was still snow on the ground even though it was April. I looked out the back window as we drove off and raised my middle finger. Fuck you Winter!

===

I wasn't much of a driver. I got bored easily, and then my mind drifted off, and then I got snoozy. Not good!

Fortunately, Allan was there, so my mind didn't drift off. He was all pumped about seeing Culdesac Tempe. I was, too, and it was good to see Allan so excited, and I was happy to continue to have him as a roommate. I enjoyed his company.

It was thirty hours to Phoenix. We broke the drive into four days. Allan was nice to me and drove most of the time.

The hotels were hit and miss. One night, I slept in my clothes and then bagged them in the morning because I was worried about bed bugs. Yuck!

Another night, the room was nice, but there was only a double bed, even though we had booked two single beds. We were both tired, though, and I was asleep minutes after my head hit the pillow. If Allan molested me, he was very quiet about it.

We gradually stripped down the further south we got. By the time we rolled into Phoenix, it was ninety-five, and we were both in shorts and t-shirts and sandals.

I knew Allan was eager to see the Culdesac Tempe place, but I wanted to see Mom and Dad, and he was a good guy, so we pulled into their driveway for a joyous welcome. Mom and Dad were very grateful to Allan for letting me stay at his place and treating me well, and getting me back in one piece.

Allan stayed for an hour, and then I explained to Mom and Dad that he was excited to visit the apartment complex. I gave him the keys, and he took off.

===

I parked my car in an external parking lot and entered the complex.

I immediately noticed the three-story apartments were painted white to reflect the sun. They looked nice, and lots of people had planted colorful vines. There was no pavement to soak up the hot Arizona sun. Max's paw pads would be okay. I saw lots of people walking dogs, including ones with thick fur. There were lots of narrow alleyways between the buildings, providing shaded pathways. Awnings covered windows, preventing the interiors from heating up. There were no cars. It was great. There were lots of bikes and e-bikes, and electric scooters. People crossed the narrow streets without worrying about getting run over by cars. There was no pollution. There were shaded patios all over the place, with people socializing.

There was a common pool, and shopping areas, and a weight room. There were 21 local businesses and shops, fifty courtyards and barbecue areas, two miles of bike and foot paths, and two dog paths. The designers went out of their way to encourage people to mingle. And the year-round sunny, warm weather made it easier to be outside. I was super impressed.

I went up to our apartment. It was small, but who needed a big place when you could be outside so much?

I went back and told Julia and her parents all about it. Julia smiled.

"Does this mean you're going to move down?"

"Well, it's a bit early to tell, but I'm mighty impressed, and it's sure nice to be in shorts and a t-shirt."

Julia grinned. "Mom and Dad want to know if we're up for a game of Hearts with a few cool beers and some wine. I told them I was. Then we can move the beds and furniture tomorrow. Are you game? We play for money. When someone gets one hundred points, everyone pays the low person ten cents per point." She grinned. "So, when you lose at one hundred, and I'm at ten, you owe me nine bucks! Deal?"

He rolled his eyes. "Dream on! You'll be the one dishing out the dough!" He looked at Julia's parents. "Did you know your daughter plays dirty?"

They both smiled. "Oh, ya! She plays for keeps!"

The card game was great. We had a few drinks, but no one got drunk. Everyone was friendly. It was competitive but not too serious. No one got upset when Elaine won. It was a close game, so no one lost much.

I slept like a baby that night, and Julia and I woke up early. We borrowed her dad's pickup and quickly had the beds and furniture in place at the apartment, and then we went grocery shopping.

Julia changed when we came back. My jaw dropped when she came out wearing a brief black bikini. She grinned at me. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Too brief?"

"No." I stammered.

She continued to grin and handed me a sunscreen bottle. Her skin was already glistening.

"Do my back, please. I want to go to the pool and don't want to get burned. Mom said the sun is hotter down here."

She turned around, and I rubbed some into her back, and then she was off. Whew! Damn, she had a hot body!

===

Ted still worked, so we had an early tee-off time Saturday morning. I hadn't golfed in a while, so we just did nine holes. Ted was quite good. Julia and I were not as good and competed against each other. She didn't flash her ass and boobs like she did before with me. It must have been because her dad was there. I asked her about it later at the apartment.

She smiled. "I have a certain relationship with Dad and a certain relationship with you. I would never flash my boobs or butt in front of dad. But I don't care if you see them. Especially, if it makes me win!"

"So, do you like it here?" She asked."

"I do. The weather is great. It's not too hot yet, and there are lots of built-in shade spots in the complex. It's well designed. I love being able to get around without a car. I love being outside in shorts and a t-shirt in April. There are always lots of people out and about. It's nice." He smiled. "And it's nice to see your Mom and Dad. And it's nice to room with you."

She smiled back. "Ditto! Are you going to stay?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to sell your house?"

"I haven't decided. I've been in touch with the seminary students. They have two years left, then they're going to get a Master's degree, which will likely take another two years. I might continue to rent it out to them if they cover the property taxes and utilities. They seem interested. Then I can always go back if I want to."

"Sounds like a good plan. Then, if I wanted to go back to visit, I could stay at your place." She smiled. "Right?"

He smiled back. "Of course."

===

Julia disappeared into her room. It looked like she was getting ready to go out. She had on some makeup and a knee-length skirt, and sleeveless blouse, and classy-looking leather sandals. She looked nice.

DING! DONG!

He answered the door.

"Oh, hi. My name is Cal. Is Julia here? I have a date with her."

"Sure. Julia! Cal is here."

"Hi, Cal!"

She left with the kid. He looked around the same age as Julia. He was a bit taller than her with jean shorts and a polo shirt, and short blonde hair with a nice tan. He looked kind of preppy.

Julia turned around and grinned mischievously. "See you later, Dad!"

Dad?

She wasn't my daughter, so I didn't stay up worrying about her getting home. I had no idea when she eventually got back. She never got wasted and was a strong girl, so I figured she could handle herself.

She looked perky when I drifted into the kitchen at seven in the morning and was chowing down on a big breakfast. She always had a large morning breakfast and regularly ate ham and eggs, and toast with orange juice and a banana. It made me ill thinking about eating all that food.

"How was your date?"

She shrugged. "Meh. He wanted to talk about sports, and I didn't. When I told him I didn't follow sports, he looked at me blankly. It was like I asked a computer a question that didn't compute. When I started talking about some of the things you and I talk about about he zoned out. I asked him to take me home after a while. I said I had a headache. He dropped me off at Mom and Dad's, and I hung out with them, and then Mom brought me back. You were asleep by then."

"That's too bad. Well, I'm sure there must be other guys more interesting out there."

"Ya, I suppose so, but a lot of the guys I attract aren't looking for a stimulating conversation with me. They want a conversation with my breasts. I like looking the way I do, but it does have its downsides. I could sleep with a hot-looking guy every night, but I'd like a bit more. Been there, done that. Dating aside, I think I'll stay in Arizona. I like it. I can always leave later if it gets too hot or I don't like it for some other reason. Which means I need to decide what to do. Dad will only put up with me bumming around for so long."

"Speaking of 'Dad'. What's this with you calling me 'Dad' last night?"

She smiled. "It's good to let the guys see my 'Dad' to put a bit of fear in the back of their mind so they don't get too frisky with me."

===

Julia came home with a disappointed look on her face a few weeks later.

The guy she went out with seemed nice. I talked to him while Julia got ready. He was polite. Nice looking kid. I had a good feeling about him. They were gone for hours, which I took as a good sign.

She frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"I thought he was nice. He seemed nice. We talked about different things. We decided to see a show. We each picked a few. Then discussed why we wanted to see them. Some guys will say anything to get you in a theater so they can grope you, but he seemed to know the plots of the shows and had interesting reasons for wanting to see them. There was one we both wanted to see, so we went to it. We got some food and drinks and sat down. He waited about thirty minutes, and then his hand started to move. I was enjoying the show and didn't pay attention at first, but then his hand moved further. I moved it back. We watched the show again and then he tried again which pissed me off. I frowned at him, and he stopped, but it ruined my mood. So here I am! Grumpy!"

"Well, he fooled me, too. He seemed nice. I guess he fooled us both."

She looked at me. "I like to see shows on a big screen. It's so much nicer than watching them on TV. Lots of my friends watch them on their laptops or iPads, but in my mind, you can't beat the big screen picture and sound. But I don't like to go alone, which is silly in a way because I get irritated if people talk while I'm watching the show. What do you think?"

"I feel the same way. I don't watch TV, but it's nice to see a good show on the big screen."

"What's a good show to you? Do you like certain types of shows, like horror, drama, sci-fi, romance, action?"

"I'll watch any type of show if it's good. I liked the first two Alien shows. I liked the first two Terminator shows. I liked Forrest Gump. I liked Bull Durham. I liked Field of Dreams. I liked The Shawshank Redemption. I liked the first Matrix show. I'm willing to try a show out if it has good reviews. Marjorie and I could usually agree on a show to see once a month."

She grinned. "Any shows that have caught your interest in the last year, as opposed to ones before I was born?"

"Very funny! The Dune show was supposed to be good. The Nosferatu vampire show caught my eye. There were probably more, but I can't remember now."

"If I came up with several, including the two you mentioned, would you go with me to some? We could start with Nosferatu. I like vampire shows. Although if I wake up in the night, creeped out, I'll be crawling into bed with you! Vampire and Demon shows give me the willies!"

He smiled. "Then why watch them?"

She smiled. "That's the whole point! To be scared! Just not in the middle of the night, in the dark, in bed, by yourself."

We both liked Nosferatu. It was very dark. Literally. And gruesome. And the heroine lusted after Dracula. He was pure evil. Not your suave, sexy type of vampire. Julia was very quiet during the show, but her fingers left deep grooves in my arm. And around two AM, the sheets lifted quietly, and she snuggled into me and pulled my arms tight around her. She was gone when I woke up.

I didn't say anything about her nighttime visit in the morning. I didn't want to embarrass her. I guess her fear meant she liked the show. I certainly did. It was creepy. If that fucker ever showed up in my town I'd be catching the first plane out! Whew!

===

"I talked to your dad today."

"Ya? About what?"

"We were working on his truck, and he asked how your stay went at my place. I told him it was good. He seemed surprised."

Julia rolled her eyes.

"He asked if you had lots of people over. I told him no one. He asked if you went out a lot. I said just with me. I told him we golfed a bit, and ate out once a week, and you worked hard at school. And we shared household duties. I didn't tell him about dancing."

"Why?"

"I didn't want him to think I was a dirty old man dancing with his daughter."

She rolled her eyes. "I asked you, remember? And you didn't want to go at first. Remember? And I had to pull you closer on the slow ones. Remember?"

"I know, but I didn't feel comfortable mentioning it to your dad. He said you surprised him by paying back some money. He wondered where you got it from."

She rolled her eyes. "Tell him I was a paid escort on Fridays! Dad gave me spending money at the beginning of the term to pay you for rent and food, and to eat out. But you wouldn't take any rent money, and we split the grocery money and restaurant bills, so I had money left over. I gave it back to him. He's not used to getting money back from me."

"He was expecting you to move back in with them. He was curious why you didn't and where you got the money for the apartment."

She smiled. "Are you a spy for him?"

He smiled. "I'm just telling you what he said."

"I'm just kidding, Mom and Dad put money into a fund for me when I was little. It was twenty thousand five years ago. My friend Marcy has a younger financial genius brother. He's like one of those young piano prodigies, except he's a financial prodigy. She asked if I wanted him to invest some of my money. I gave him five thousand. I told Mom and Dad. They thought I was crazy, but now it's worth thirty thousand. So I have lots of money for rent. Plus, you're paying half the rent."

"As far as moving back home, I didn't want to move into a gated community, and I like living here. It's so cool. And I like Dad, but we rub each other the wrong way. We're both bull-headed. There's too much history between us, and neither of us likes to admit we're wrong. But there's a clean slate between you and me, and I'm past my selfish phase, and you're not my dad. I like our relationship. You care for me, but don't smother me. I can tease you. I can flirt with you, and it's harmless. You're interesting to talk to. We have common interests. You're a good roommate."

"I think I'm going to work in real estate with Mom. I've been helping her for years at home. I like it, and there's good money in it. She just finished getting her Arizona license, and her health is a lot better, so I'm going to focus on studying for my Arizona license. Then I can join Mom. Mom wouldn't let me join her until I got my degree."

"Dad said you were preparing some seed trays at his place?"

"Yes. I should be able to grow just about anything down here. Space will be the limitation. I'm going to check with the apartment complex to see if they have any common garden areas like they do back home. If not, you'll start to see little plants appearing on our balcony."

"Sounds fine to me. Mom and Dad wanted to know if you're up for another card game?" She smiled. "Mom said she needs some shopping money."

"The women in your family seem to be pretty cocky!"

She grinned. "Yes, we like cocks!"

He shook his head. "No comment."

===

"My feet are itching to boogie," Julia said. "I need to get on a dance floor. A good Country and Western band is playing in two weeks. Do you like Country and Western?"

"It's fine."

"Want to go with me?"

"I'm kind of old to be dancing with you."

She rolled her eyes. "Nonsense! You're a good dancer."

He frowned. "What would your dad think?"

She frowned. Not that again, she thought. She'd bring it up when they played cards on the weekend.

She waited until the card game was over and then broached the subject.

"So, Mom, a good Country and Western Band is playing next week. Do you guys want to go? I need to get up on the dance floor. It's been way too long."

"Sorry, honey. I'd love to, but my legs can't handle it."

"I thought your arthritis was better?"

"It is, but not good enough to go dancing."

"Dad? How about you?"

He smiled. "Not a chance! I never liked dancing."

"That just leaves you, Allan."

She looked at her Mom and Dad. "Did you know that Allan used to be quite the dancer? He and Marjorie entered contests."

"I didn't know that," Julia's mom said.

"There's a contest this weekend. We might win." She smiled at Allan. "What do you think, Allan?"

"Tell him he should go, Mom!"

"Yes, go for it, Allan!"

"Dad?"

"Ya, go for it!"

Allan looked sheepish. "You think?"

"Yes! Go for it!" Everyone said.

Julia was grinning on the way home.

"That was very sneaky of you," Allan said.

"Wasn't it!" She beamed with self-satisfaction. "You now have the approval of Mom and Dad to dance with me!"

Julia had a large wardrobe at her Mom and Dad's place and picked out an outfit appropriate for the dance. She wore cowboy boots and skintight jeans with a western shirt and a cowboy hat. She looked great. I had the jeans and shirt. I didn't have cowboy boots, but I had some pointy leather shoes that looked like the bottom part of cowboy boots. Ted loaned me a cowboy hat. We both looked good, although I was still self-conscious about being out with Julia, but she wasn't, so I stopped worrying.

The dance floor was huge. The band was great. The energy of the crowd was uplifting. After I got up there, I forgot about how old I was and how young Julia was. We flowed with the music. She was smiling all night long.

One of the things I missed the most after Marjorie died was the touch of another person. The touch of a female. Not sex. Just touching someone like I was now with Julia. My warm hand on her hand. My hand on her back. Her hand on my back. Our legs swishing together. Her soft breasts against my chest. Her chin on my neck. It felt great to touch Julia and have her touch me. It wasn't sexual. I wasn't aroused. It was just nice to be intimate with another person.

We didn't win the contest. But I didn't care. I wasn't even thinking about it. I had a great night. I was floating on cloud nine on the ride home. I guess it showed on my face. Julia was looking at me. "A penny for your thoughts?"

I smiled. "I'm feeling really good. Better than I've felt in a long time. I didn't realize how lonely I'd become until you moved in. I'd gradually cut myself off from the world. There was less and less joy over time. Just the same old routine every day, without other people, existing by myself. Nothing to get excited about. Nothing to look forward to. Now I'm excited all the time. I wake up excited. I don't even live in Michigan anymore. I don't even live in a house anymore. I don't need a car anymore. It's sunny all the time now. I have a new family that likes me, I'm playing cards again, I'm golfing again, I'm dancing again! Life is great."

He turned to look at her. "And I have a great roommate. I'm very glad I met you."

===

There was a new phase being built in the rental complex, but it was filling up quickly. And it wouldn't be long before Julia's friend would be arriving to move into her two-bedroom, which we'd been living in. We both wanted to stay in the complex, and we got along great, but decided it made sense to have our own places. Fortunately, there were two one-bedroom units on the same floor in the same building, so we scooped them up. We were set.

Julia got her Arizona real estate license and went into business with her mom. It didn't take long for them to get busy. The Phoenix area was booming, and Julia's Mom had lots of experience. They were both friendly and knowledgeable, and helpful.

I helped out occasionally as a gopher whenever they needed assistance. A lot of their house showings were at night and on the weekend, so Julia and I golfed nine holes once a week in the morning. We went out for lunch once a week. We saw a show every week. We took Max for walks through the many shaded trails in the apartment complex. It was great.

Julia met a guy from Michigan who was going to University down here and working part-time for a company that staged houses. Julia and her Mom used the company to stage some of their houses when selling them.

I met the guy several times. He seemed nice. Julia told me he was 'hot' in bed, so it was good that she had her own apartment. She seemed to take great delight in telling me sexual things I really didn't want to know and embarrassing me sexually in general. For example, she always wore revealing Paige Spiranac-type golf outfits when we golfed, but never did when we played with her dad. And she never visited her dad in her black bikini, but often wore it when she visited me.

The heat in the day was oppressive, even if it was a dry heat. It was like a frigid winter day back in Michigan. You didn't want to go outside. But they'd designed the complex to have lots of narrow pathways between the buildings to create shade. Air blew between the pathways to create nice breezes. There were lots of awnings. And there was no concrete to soak up the daytime heat. It was designed to be sheltered from the sun as much as possible and was cooler than the surrounding area. I loved going out for nighttime walks with Max. Julia came when she could. Max got all excited when he saw her.

===

The reason we got to stay in the two-bedroom was because Julia's friend Beth went through a divorce, and things got delayed. But she was here now with her six-year-old daughter Angela.

Angela was cute as a button, but shy. Perhaps it was due to the divorce. I didn't know.

Beth seemed friendly, although she always looked stressed out. Julia said it was from trying to get by as a single mom.

The school bus dropped the kids off at three-thirty, which was a problem for Beth because she worked. The drop-off spot was on the other side of where Beth's two-bedroom was. A neighbor was supposed to wait for Angela, but wasn't reliable, and Angela had to walk home several times. The complex was quite safe, and the walk was only twenty minutes, but Beth freaked out when the neighbor didn't show up.

Julia was smiling at me one day, the way she did when she wanted something. I knew her well enough to know her different smiles.

She sat right beside me. Uh, oh! Then she held my hand. Run for the hills!

"What do you want?" I asked suspiciously.

She explained the situation with Angela and the bus. I rolled my eyes.

"Beth worries too much. What's the big deal? This neighborhood is safe, and the exercise is good for Angela."

"I agree, but you know what Beth is like, and she's already stressed enough without worrying about Angela getting home safely. She already worries about Angela being alone until she gets home from work."

"Jeesh! How did I ever survive my thirty-minute walk to school when I was six?"

Julia smiled sweetly.

"Don't give me that smile! What do you want?"

Then she sat on my lap and put her hands around my neck.

"Oh brother!"

"Allan, be nice. Beth let us stay at her apartment, and she's going through a stressful period. We should try to help her."

I grumbled.

"I was thinking maybe you could pick Angela up at the bus stop at three-thirty and take her to your place. The bus stop is only five minutes from our units. Beth could pick Angela up later. What do you think?"

"I think I don't know Angela, and I think I haven't cared for a six-year-old in sixty years. That's what I think."

"That's why we're going to have a get-together this weekend."

"Get together?"

"Yes. I've invited Beth and Angela to your place on Saturday. I'll be there. You can meet them. They can meet you. They can meet Max. I've already told Beth what a great guy you are. Beth just wants to meet you and see how Angela is with you."

"Wait a minute! Did you already tell her I would?"

Julia grinned. "Only if everyone is on board."

"Jeesh!"

She smiled. "Be nice, Allan, or I'll stop wearing my black bikini when I visit."

I laughed. "Is that supposed to bother me?"

She smiled. "You know you like it!"

I sighed. "Go! Get off me! You're too heavy to be sitting on me!"

"Does that mean you'll see them on Saturday?"

"Do I have a choice?"

She smiled. "No."

"Well then, git!"

===

I'd forgotten how cute Angela was. She had huge, round, emerald green eyes and shaggy jet black hair, which half hung over her face, and her ears stuck out through her hair. She looked like an Elf. Her eyes lit up when she saw Max, which was a good sign. It would be game over if she didn't like Max. His tail was wagging so hard I was afraid he was going to fall over. She must have rubbed him for five minutes.

Then Angela looked up and noticed that my apartment looked like a jungle. Plants were everywhere. Vines hung from the wall. Flowering plants decorated the room. Seed trays were everywhere. The balcony was full of plants. Her eyes lit up, and she walked around looking at everything. Then she started asking questions.

"What's this? What's that?"

She noticed some of my veggies were sprouting in the seed trays."

"What's that?"

"That is a tomato plant."

"What's that?"

"That is a kale plant."

"What's that? What's that? What's that?"

She was very curious. She touched the dirt in one of the trays and picked it up, and handed it to me.

"I think it's thirsty."

I'll be darned! She was right. It needed a drink. She must have a green thumb.

She walked around inspecting the dirt in the other trays. I didn't prompt her. A few others needed water.

I decided to give Angela a chance. If she liked Max and liked plants, she couldn't be all bad. Maybe she could be in charge of watering. It was tedious watering all the plants. I could make some chocolate chip cookies to eat after the watering was done.

Beth had been watching Angela interact with me and Max, and the plants, and looked amazed. She was fine with Angela staying with me after school if I was okay. I said I was okay.

Angela gave Max a hug when she left and gave me a cute goodbye wave.

Then Julia grinned at me. "That was amazing."

"What was amazing?"

"Angela is usually very shy and never says anything. The minute she entered your apartment, she was like a different person."

"It was Max. And she seemed to like the plants."

"Yes, I noticed that."

She grinned and sat on my lap again. "Well, Grampa, I guess I'll continue to wear my black bikini when I visit. I was worried I might have to cut you off, but you rose to the occasion!"

I rolled my eyes, but was relieved and cautiously optimistic. Angela seemed like an okay kid, and I sensed a fellow gardening enthusiast.

===

Angela always smiled when I met her at the bus stop, held my hand as we walked to my place, and told me about school.

I'm glad she didn't have to walk twenty minutes to her place. The temperature was stinking hot at three-thirty, even when we cut through the shaded paths between the buildings.

Max and her always played for five minutes, and then she got down to business with 'her' plants. I bought her a small stool so she could reach the plants easily. She was pleased with my purchase and smiled. She had a lovely smile.

She knew all the different plants and checked each one every day to see how they were doing and if they needed care. She watered them and talked to them like people. They seemed to like the attention because they were growing like weeds.

The lettuce was the first to be ready, and we made a salad using our leaves with some garlic croutons and Italian dressing. Angela was very pleased to eat her own food. Then the kale was ready. We picked off some outer leaves and added them to a smoothie I always made to tide her over until her Mom got home and made supper. Then she wanted to know what went into the smoothie, and we started experimenting with the ingredients. Then she wanted to help make the chocolate chip cookies. Her Mom liked them, and Angela wanted to be able to make them for her Mom. She was thrilled when she bit down on her first cherry tomato, and the sweet juice flooded her mouth. The smile on her little face was pure delight.

I had no idea what I was going to do with a six-year-old girl for ninety minutes when Julia first suggested I watch Angela, but the time flew by now, and sometimes Angela helped me make supper, and then we invited Beth to stay. Beth was very pleased when we fed her, and didn't look so stressed anymore.

I looked forward to seeing Angela. It had been a long time since I was responsible for a child. I was anxious at first, but now I was enjoying myself. I enjoyed seeing her smile when she saw me at the bus stop. I enjoyed talking to her about school and gardening with her. I enjoyed showing her how to make cookies and meals for her mom. And I loved her cute smile and wave when she left. It felt good to care for someone. Especially someone small.

===

My social schedule was quite full now.

I saw Julia all the time and golfed with her once a week, had lunch once a week, saw a show once a week, and went dancing with her once a month.

I saw Ted a few times a week at his place.

I saw Angela every day, and we usually fed her Mom once or twice a week.

I played cards with Julia's family once a week and golfed with Julia and Ted once a week.

Best of all was when Julia came home after work and changed into something comfortable and then went to my place and lay on my couch with her feet on my lap and ate the food I made for her and drank the wine I'd chilled. Then she proceeded to tell me about her work day, spilling food on herself and the couch. Fortunately, it was leather and cleaned easily.

I didn't care that she never asked if it was okay to come over because she knew I liked it when she did. And I didn't care that she assumed I'd feed her because she knew I liked to feed her and always had leftover food. She never asked if I minded listening to her talk about work every night because she knew I liked hearing about her day. And she always asked about my day, now that I had a life, especially my time with Angela, and always relayed how much Angela liked being with me, which made me feel good.

To an outsider, our routine might seem odd, but to us, it was something we both liked and assumed would happen each night.

I liked that we were that close. That we knew what each other liked, and liked each other.

It was great to have someone like that in my life again.

===