I honestly, really couldn’t possibly be more biased about this situation, so indeed, take my input with a giant grain of salt…
She may be an adult now, but because he is her father figure, it’s unlikely there is an equal power dynamic between them, especially considering she is dependent on him for alcohol and weed.
My stepfather (who was my legal adopted father and also came into my life when I was 10) did take an unhealthy interest in me and he did cross the line into abuse when I was still a preteen/teen, and yet, even as an adult, even after coming to terms with the enormity of his betrayal, I still struggled for years with setting boundaries. Even though he was obviously still interested in me I allowed my family to pressure me into continuing a relationship with him until I was 22. I no longer allowed myself to be abused but I allowed him to isolate me and sweet talk me and make me feel uncomfortable and the old dynamics started right back up again, right down to my Mom flipping out in jealous rage. It was like being 13 all over again.
He has been out of my life permanently for five years now, but reaching that place is a painful journey akin to experiencing a death, and it doesn’t happen overnight.
So expecting this 20 year old already emotionally and behaviorally compromised girl to step up and do the right thing to protect herself… I’m not seeing it. Her behavior can’t be controlled, but she should be protected in every way possible. And even if he never touched her I still feel that way. When your Dad is into you that way, you just know, and it fucks you up.
Winston Smith, I am sorry for all you are going through, but I commend your willingness to face your friend’s behavior honestly. By all accounts my Stepdad was a great friend and a good businessman, a real stand-up guy. People often have a hard time reconciling that image with sleaziness, and so they instead choose to look the other way. That you aren’t doing that means the world to people like me.
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No, actually, I’m right there with ya. I’ve been through a very similar experience (When I was 15, I was abused by my 30-year-old stepbrother) and I couldn’t agree more with your entire post. But this is someone *else’*s family and I just don’t think there’s fuck-all that can be done by the OP. He has two choices that I can see: 1) Dip out and drop the friendship. 2) Watch the train wreck slowly unfold.
My point in pointing out that she is an adult is that he can’t call Child Protective Services. She is at the age of consent, so he can’t even really call the police, unless she decides she hasn’t consented. She is clearly in no state to be able to reasonably consent, from where you and I sit, but legally, she can. Unless the OP can prove that this guy crossed the line before the daughter reached the age of consent and the statute of limitations has not expired… There really isn’t any legal recourse, right?
Nevermind how fucked up this girl is and will continue to be, tragically. We can’t fix that on this message board either. Sorry if my previous posts came off as callous. I’m actually being a little bit cold about it to avoid triggering while I’m at work.