She liked to rub his bald head as he leant to kiss her goodnight. "Do you polish your head, Daddy?" she asked. He laughed. "No, darling," he said, unconsciously shifting her hand to his unshaven cheeks.
The goodnight kiss, as always, offered a moment for reflection. For guilt. The extra glass of wine in place of the bedtime story. Watching football in place of helping with homework. His absence in place of his presence.
"No, Daddy, that's rough," she said, retracting her hand from his prickly cheeks. He felt the soft hand return to his head. "I prefer the smooth."
The goodnight kiss, as always, offered a moment for reflection. For guilt. The extra glass of wine in place of the bedtime story. Watching football in place of helping with homework. His absence in place of his presence.
"No, Daddy, that's rough," she said, retracting her hand from his prickly cheeks. He felt the soft hand return to his head. "I prefer the smooth."
