The only time her father touched her was at vineyard functions. He loved to appear the doting father out in public and by now Aurora was well practiced in the art of beaming up at him as he introduced her and Tristan to the assembled crowd; it was important to drive home the message that this was a family owned business, one that had been in their family for centuries. They had to look like a family. Of course, she only bothered to pretend because to do otherwise was to risk being cut off. Aurora wasn’t foolish enough to think he wouldn’t. He would. So, she had to smile and preen until his speech ended, or she brought it to an end. It was the fifth repetition of the speech that week, and Aurora knew by now exactly how long it could drag on, unless she put a stop to it.
Right on cue the sprinklers went off, soaking the guests. Her father’s hand flew from her shoulder as if she’d burned him. The guests were all running about to avoid getting soaked in their whites. Aurora, chose to dance under the sprinkler water, spinning in place for a moment before skipping off to get a glass of wine from the bar.
@kolhearted