me about the relationship she’d had with its editor, confiding that it had been the first great romance of her life. The magazines had publication dates so it was easy for me to figure out that she’d been sleeping with you when I was conceived. She didn’t deny it.
Naturally I wanted to meet you at once, but she convinced me to develop myself into an independent person of whom you might be proud before inserting myself into your life. When I asked her what she thought I should do to make you proud of me, she suggested I get myself into Harvard. I’m starting my freshman year next week.”
“You don’t say so! Congratulations, honey!”
“Thank you. By the way, here’s the bill for my first semester,” she said, handing him an eye opener of an invoice.
“Oh my god, is that what college costs these days?”
“Mother didn’t think you’d mind since she’s handled everything else.”
“Sure,” Hugo said, folding the bill and slipping it into his jacket pocket. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Actually the least you could do would be to buy me this coffee. Paying for Harvard is handsome,” smiled Amanda, sipping creamy foam.
Hugo kept looking at her, unable to stop himself from smiling. “I can’t believe she kept this kind of secret from me. But she’s certainly done a good job with you. Probably much better than I could have done.”
“She’ll be happy to hear that. She always told me that you were the only man she actually tried to please.”
“What about your current dad?”
“He’s easy to please. You just have to be perfect at all times.”
“Is that why you’re so together?”
“Thank you for noticing,” she grinned.
“You seem like a happy girl. Are you happy?”
“I’m as happy today as I’ve ever been,” Amanda replied, clasping one of his hands between both of her own for just an instant.
“I wish I didn’t have the shoot scheduled, but Laura will be bringing back the real model any minute.”
“Can’t I continue to be in the shoot?” Amanda asked.
“You really WANT to be in a spanking magazine?” Hugo was astonished.
“I really WANT to be on the cover!”
Hugo laughed and shook his head.
“I’m serious, Mr. Sands,” said Amanda.
“Is that what you plan to call me?”
“What would you like me to call you?”
“Hugo will do.”
“I notice you’ve already acknowledged me as your daughter,” said Amanda, nodding towards Hope, who was pretending to polish the counter. “That’s charming.”
“I’m still going to thrash your mother for keeping you a secret.”
“We saved one ritual for you to take me through,” Amanda said with a newer and even more naughty sparkle in her eyes.
“Really? Which one?” Hugo leaned his chin on his hand, fascinated by the well-mannered, beautifully spoken girl.
“I’ve waited to smoke weed all this time!” Amanda announced triumphantly.
“You did?”
“It’s true. When I was around fourteen Mother suggested I save that one particular rite of passage to enjoy with you for the first time. She said you’d be the perfect guide and that you always had good bud. I think she was very clever, devising such an interesting way to keep me straight all during high school, don’t you? I’ve always been into postponing pleasure. It’s why I’ve been a good student.”
“What a beautiful and appropriate sentiment,” Hugo reflected, recalling that Cassandra’s first gift to him was that of mushrooms. “I guarantee that the bud will be good,” Hugo promised, briefly touching her velvety cheek. “And you being my daughter, I’m sure you’ve smoked enough by now to know the difference.”
Amanda pinkened but only slightly.
“But about the photo shoot...” he began.
“You could call the photo spread Daddy’s Girl,” she persisted enthusiastically.
“It’s very sweet of you to offer, but I can’t exploit my own daughter.”
“It isn’t exploitation. What you do is art.”
“Thank you,” Hugo said, “I’m bowled over by your sophistication.” “Well, I grew up in San Francisco.”
“Look, Amanda, even if it’s not exploitation, me spanking you... isn’t that ...I mean, doesn’t that feel incestuous to you?”
“Why should it? To me, you’re a glamorous stranger who came into my life through glossy photos and thrilling fiction, my mother’s favorite lover from long ago.”
“She said I was her favorite?”
“Can you doubt it?” Amanda teased, with a gleam in her eyes.
Hugo couldn’t help but laugh, “I see you already know how to get a man in the palm of your hand.”
“Mother thinks it would be fitting for me to appear in The New Rod Quarterly, as an example of things coming full circle. Besides, it would make me happy to be able to contribute, since you’re taking on my college expenses.”
“You seem very uninhibited.”
“I am,” Amanda agreed.
“That’s a rare quality in one so young.”
“My goal for freshman year is to become a Playboy centerfold.”
“A...What???”
“Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But it’s part of my strategy to take the world by storm.” Amanda shrugged out of her jacket and draped it on the back of her chair, her fitted white blouse amply revealing how well suited she would be to pose for any centerfold on the planet.
“So, you’re extremely uninhibited!” Hugo grinned. “I have to say, Cassandra certainly raised a more interesting child without me than she could have done with me.” Then he happened to notice the clock on the wall. “Damn it, we have to get back. The girl will be there and I’ll have to figure out what to do with you. Damn it!”
“Just let’s finish the photo set,” Amanda suggested brightly.
“No, I’m not laying another hand on you until I think this through and arrive at the same casual attitude you seem to have. Anyway, we already got enough photos for a cover and a profile spread.”
