Copyright © 2006 Timm

Chapter 1

"Last chance to change your mind," I said.

"No way," said my twelve-year-old daughter Lilly. "I wanted to go back there since Mom died. I missed not going last summer."

Ouch. It always hurt me remembering Lilly's mom, Jen. It almost always brought a tear to my eye, and this time was no exception.

"Sorry, Daddy," said my little angel when she saw the tear on my cheek.

"It's ok, Pumpkin. It's not the first time, and I am sure it won't be the last. Actually, I think I will be crying many times over the next few weeks," I said.

I smiled at her through the pain, so she would know it wasn't her fault.

With that, I turned the RV into the 'Sunny Side Naturalist Resort' (nicknamed the "Sunny-side Up", of course). Since I own the parking site we would use, we got through the gate security quickly.

My wife and I fell in love with the place the first week we spent here, so we purchased the campsite during the second year of our marriage. It was one of those time-share deals.

We both liked to run around in the raw. The view was okay most of the time. It was not what one might expect. Mostly the people were middle aged and slightly overweight. That usually meant that Jen was the best eye-candy in the resort. This would be my first trip to the resort since my wife died.

Jen died in a winter auto accident. The roads were slick. She'd always had a 'lead foot', so she was, of course, going too fast. I understand that a semi-trailer truck lost control on a patch of black ice and jackknifed at the same time she was passing it.

The only thing that gave me any solace was that they said she didn't suffer. Her neck had apparently been broken from the whiplash of the initial impact.

Lilly was ten when her mom died. She had always been a strong willed child, and she turned out to be my anchor and my reason to go on. We did not come here last year because my heart was not in it. There were too many memories, and I was not ready to remember.

The day of Jen's death had been bittersweet. It was bitter because of the loss. The sweet part took six months to discover. Jen had been the one that picked up the "Power Ball" ticket. I had never even checked the ticket, that is, until Lilly ask me how long I was going to leave it stuck under the fridge magnet. We didn't normally play the lotto, but that time there were 126 million reasons to try.

To say I was shocked the day I called the lotto office would be like saying that the sky was orange. It was just Lilly and me now, and my job had been keeping me away from Lilly far too often.

When we found we had won the big one, I quit my job the next day and said, "Oh, Jen! Why aren't you here to share this money with me?"

I contacted our lawyer because I was not sure about the tax liabilities or inheritance laws regarding this. I need not have worried about inheritance taxes. I would be the one claiming it. It was my ticket, after all.

Then, to my surprise, our lawyer insisted that I should keep my name private. He said that I should keep out of the spotlight.

Two days later I found myself in his limo heading to the state's lottery office, 2 hours away. He said I had to be there to claim it myself, but he would handle the details and keep my name out of the papers. I followed his advice, though I didn't understand why at the time.

Do you know there is an actual 'support group' for lottery winners? It is offered by the State Department of Mental Health. It's even free! Go figure.

It was through this group that I learned some real horror stories about things that happen to winners. Apparently, the vultures come out of the woodwork and encircle you in an attempt to claim part of your prize.

I heard of people having to disown family and friends, move out of state, change their names, and even turn off their telephone service in order to stop the constant harassment.

Well, all I can say is, I was glad I had my attorney's help with the claiming of the prize. He also was instrumental in setting up the corporation that handles our funds. The corporation handles my own funds, Lilly's trust and education fund, and a retirement account for me. Not that I will ever need to retire... Basically, I am retired. Twenty-eight years old and retired is something I recommend everyone try.

Lilly was now twelve years old. It was probably the last opportunity that 'father and daughter' would have together before she hit puberty. Then she would start having the boys chasing her. She would have little time for me once she got 'boy fever'. As it turned out, she started her first period during the first week we were at the camp.

"Jen, why did you have to leave me with this?" I asked. "This should have been your department," I said. "What do I know about 'the curse', anyway?"

Yes, I talk to Jen a lot. Maybe some day she will actually answer me. I'm not holding my breath, though.

Lilly and I ended up spending two weeks at the resort every summer. She has lots of friends there. She was a popular girl, after all. I could always tell when the boys had a little too much interest in her, but Lilly's giggles always deflated their egos, among 'other things'

My story really begins when Lilly came home with a new friend. Her name was Megan, but we called her Meg, for short. She was sixteen years of age. I was shocked to learn she was an identical twin. Her sister's name was Jen. I am afraid a tear formed in my eye at the name. It forced me to explain the loss of my beloved wife, six years before, much to my personal discomfort.

Megan understood. It seemed that they'd had a similar experience. Their dad had run out on them three years ago. Her mother had transferred to this area, because of her job, just last week. Megan and Jen were stuck going to a new school for the last two months of their sophomore year.

Lilly showed her around the house, and soon the girls were off doing 'girl things'. I went back to my laptop computer in the sunroom. I was soaking in the warmth as I checked my online trading accounts.

"Hmm" I thought, "eBay stock is up another ten points."

It had only been five years since the lotto win. In that time I had turned the one-time payment of sixty-eight million into a little more than two hundred million. I guess I was what they call 'a natural day trader' After I finished, I decided it was warm enough outside to open the pool for the spring.

This was my dream home. I had designed it. Jen and I were going to build it 'someday'. Since I had the money and time, I had it built myself. It only took about four weeks, with all the contractors running around. It's amazing what bucket loads of money can accomplish in a short time.

I heard the doorbell in the front of the house, so I called out for whoever it was to come around back. I had just finished flushing the pool filter. I was about to start putting it back together. I'd just decided to add the water treatment chemicals into the chlorine dispenser when Jen, Meg's twin sister, came around the corner.

"Excuse me, but is my sister here?" she asked.

I looked at the blond haired, blue-eyed bombshell, and realized she meant Megan.

"Yes, Meg and Lilly are somewhere inside."

"Okay, great. What are you doing?" she asked, sounding really curious.

"I am getting the pool started up for the year. I'm adding the first chlorine treatment now," I said.

"I see," she said, "But don't you need to have the pump running?"

I finished tightening the seal on the dispenser. Then I smiled at her.

"Yes," I said. "It's ready for that now."

I flipped the switch on for the pump. As an afterthought, I flipped on the pool's water heater as well. Maybe I could take a nice swim tomorrow night.

"There. It's on. I can uncover the pool sometime tomorrow if the water test checks out." I said.

"Brrr! I think the water will be too cold," Jen said.

I smiled at her, "Nope, see this switch here?"

"Yes."

"It's the heater. By morning, the water will be a nice 84 degrees."

"Oh! That's neat. So where can I find that sister of mine. Mom wanted me to bring her home. She forgot to do the dishes last night, and she was supposed to come right home."

"Oh, so how did you know she was here" I asked?

She looked at me as though I should have known already.

"Because we're twins," she said as if that was the totally obvious answer to my question.

I just smiled and nodded, then pointed towards the sunroom door. We entered from the outside just as Meg and Lilly, looking like Flopsy and Mopsy, entered from the house.

Well... That's what the two of them looked like!

They had Lilly's 'sock puppets' on their hands. I noticed how much Lilly and the twins looked alike. Heck, if I didn't know better, I would think they were all sisters. The girls started talking excitedly, and I went off to the kitchen.

I was thinking it was such a nice day that I would take out a couple of steaks for dinner. When I asked if that was ok with Lilly, the idea was quickly axed. She was going out on a date with a boy. Oh well, whatever her 'flavor of the week' was.

She went to a big high school. I think she was determined to date every boy in it before graduation. Well, it really was my fault. I didn't remember it was Friday afternoon, after all. I sighed at the loss tonight. My little girl was growing up so fast.

The three girls walked into the kitchen and my daughter said, "Dad, can Jen and Meg come over for steak tomorrow night?"

'Oh, good, ' I thought. 'The pool should be nice and warm by then.'

"Sure," I said with a big warm smile.

"Oh, Dad..." Lilly said.

"What else, Honey"

"Can they bring their mom, Carol?"

I hesitated at that. I hoped my daughter wasn't trying to play matchmaker.

"Because," Lilly added, "she doesn't know you, and... Well, she is a little leery of having the twins over at the home of a single man."

So that was all it was, I relaxed then said, "Then of course she is welcome, Honey. By the way, the pool should be nice and warm by tomorrow night, if they want to bring their suits."

She gave me 'the look'. She hated wearing a suit. She liked to swim in the buff, just as I did. But then she realized that maybe it was a good idea, this time.

"Ok, Dad. We'll tell her you're having a barbeque to celebrate the opening of the swimming pool, and to bring her suit along."

"Sounds good. Tell her she is welcome to bring her suit along, but she doesn't have to swim if she doesn't want to."

"Gee, your good," the twins said in perfect harmony.

They giggled as if it was a funny joke, but it went way over my head.

The three of them left to go to Carol's house, saying something about getting the house clean before their mom got home.

I went back to my computer. Maybe a good game of poker would relax me some.

I was feeling that I had 'just been had' for some reason.

Edited by TeNderLoin

Chapter 2

It was Saturday evening and the doorbell rang.

'I didn't even hear a car' I thought to myself. 'Maybe they live a lot closer than I imagined.'

Lilly had rushed to the door ahead of me and opened it. There stood the three of them. Well, if 'Mom' hadn't been 16 years older than the twins, you would have thought they were triplets.

'What?' I thought, 'Sixteen years older? She doesn't even look like she's 30 yet!'

Heck, if I had seen them out at the mall or something I would have thought they were all sisters.

Then seeing Lilly up next to them I thought, 'Well, make that four sisters.'

The three ladies came in, and Carol was carrying a homemade apple pie. The girls introduced us and then disappeared.

"So how can I help?" Carol asked.

"Well, I guess you could help me carry everything out to the grill. I have to start it up first. We have a half hour before I can put the food on."

"Ok, just tell me what you need and I am all yours," she said, then blushed.

'Oh, God, no. It's not going to be that way tonight, ' I thought to myself.

It turned out Carol was a pleasant and nice lady. She seemed a bit nosey, but I dismissed it as a parent looking out for her children. Her girls hit it off with Lilly. They would probably be over here a lot. She just wanted to make sure that I wasn't some kind of pedophile or something. I completely understood her concern.

Carol helped me set up the grill. It was one of those monster gas/charcoal combination grills. I had it built into an old fashion looking BBQ pit. Within a half hour the coals were ready and I had a pot of water boiling. I put the frozen ears of corn in the pot of water and a big pan of beans was placed on the other side. Some baked potatoes, wrapped in foil, were tossed onto the edge of the pile of charcoal.

"I cheated," I told Carol. "The potatoes spent 10 minutes in the microwave before I wrapped them."

Finally, I put the steaks on the grill. Carol seemed impressed.

"So you cook out here a lot in the summer time?"

"I do it when it's nice out. It cuts down on the dishes" I agreed.

Carol laughed politely.

I am sure she had visions of a man's way of doing dishes.

So I said, "What, you think I might do my dishes by pretending they're clay pigeons?"

Carol giggled at that mental image.

"Well, I only did that once, honest," I said, then crossed my heart and pretended to pray for forgiveness.

Carol lost it, and was into good belly laugh when the three girls came out parading in their string bikinis.

"Shit" was the word that came out of Carol's mouth when she saw them.

I looked up to see what had caused her to say shit. I must be dense or something. I didn't see the problem. But then again, I am used to seeing nude women, not people 'over dressed', like this.

Carol said, "Where did you to get those suits?"

She didn't sound angry, but I could tell she did not care for the suits. Meg and Jen pointed at my daughter.

"Oh", said Carol.

I said, "Don't worry about it. Lilly is just showing off. Normally, she doesn't wear a suit at all."

Lilly said, "I have another one that I think will fit you if you want to try it."

Carol's eyes went wide for a moment. Then nothing. I could tell she was considering it for a moment, but I didn't know her well enough to read her decision.

Then it hit me, 'oh shit' I thought. Maybe she caught the remark about Lilly swimming in the buff. But she didn't seem too bothered, so I dismissed it for the moment, and set about my task of cooking.

I was in my glory with the grill and cooking the now sizzling steaks.

Carol said "You know, I never did ask you your name."

Chuckling I said, "Oh, I am so used to be known as 'Lilly's Dad' that I sometimes forget I have a name."

She held her hand out to me for a proper introduction.

She chuckled then added, "Seriously, I am Carol Conners."

I was a perfect gentleman. I shook her hand gently.

I said, "Nice to meet you, Carol Conners. I am the lowly father of the infamous Lilly."