Mmm, she said, dripping milk out a corner of her mouth, which she promptly chased away with her sleeve. The food continued to disappear at a shocking rate. The cereal is good this time, Daddy. No lumps.
Thanks, he said dryly. I think. He wasnt much of a cook, never had been. For the most part theyd done okay, especially on the one night a week Mrs. Potts left dinner to heat.
And on the other nights, pizza usually worked. Thank God he could afford the luxuries of a cleaning lady and takeout. The memories of earlier years, when he hadnt been able to, were now just a distant nightmare, one that made him shudder if he spent too much time thinking about it. In those days, before hed purchased the house, just paying the rent had been a struggle.
How many nights had he stood in their tiny apartment kitchen, a place so small he couldnt turn around without banging his elbows, and swore the air blue as hed tried to make a dinner they could both afford and bear to eat?
More than he cared to remember.
As if shed read his mind, Sara grinned around a mouthful and said, Youve really improved, you know. You hardly ever burn water anymore.
Eat, smarty-pants. He winked at her, earning yet another laugh.
She had his number, this one.
Her hair was in its usual state-wild-even though theyd both attempted to tame it after her shower. But for the life of him, he hadnt managed in all these years to get the hang of the science of detangling, even using gallons of conditioner.
Hey, slow down a bit. He leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping from a mug of steaming black coffee as she continued to shovel in the porridge. Youve still got a minute before the bus.
A minute ago- she paused to poke in another mouthful -you told me to eat. She blinked huge eyes at him. Which is why I didnt brush my teeth, Daddy. Im saving time.
Tell that to the dentist when your teeth rot. He leaned close and stroked her hair, smiling. But thanks for trying to cut corners. Maybe you could find a better way to do that, like actually getting up when the alarm goes off?
She snickered and downed a glass of orange juice. Can I have some more toast? Im storing energy for my math test.
Which youre ready for, right?
Right. Grinning, she leaped up and hugged him. Im studying real hard. I want to grow up to be as smart as you are.
He halted in the act of searching the refrigerator for more bread, stunned by the impact of her overwhelming love and faith. For the past few days hed managed to cope with the death of his brother, the threat of Saras uncertain future, the rebuke of his family and his unexpected attraction to Cindy. Hed done it by damming up all emotion, but Sara was making that difficult.
You will, he said around the huge lump in his throat. His hug was as fierce as hers. You can do anything you want to do.
I want to stay with you, she said simply, smiling at him warmly. Forever.
She was killing him here, with those beautiful solemn eyes. Blinking hard, he said with mock protest, But youll eat me out of house and home.
She giggled and continued to tug at his heartstrings by looking at him as if he were her entire world.
And he was, he reminded himself harshly-a situation that had to change. He would see to it somehow.
He was buttering her toast when she delivered another unwitting blow.
Why cant we go to Uncle Richards funeral, Daddy? I want to go and give him a flower.
Stone looked at his daughter, at the concern and worry and honest curiosity in her gaze, and wanted to strangle his parents. We cant go because Because not only had they not been invited, theyd been uninvited.
That was the ugly reality.
To hell with that, Stone decided, standing there trying to reconcile the fact that he would never see his brother again. That their last words had been spoken years ago, and despite all Stones attempts to renew contact, Richard had never allowed it.
It hurt. It hurt a lot, and would forever dampen his childhood memories.
But despite his pain, Sara had a right to at least have a glimpse of the only living family she had left.
You know what? He set down the piece of toast in front of her. We are going to go.
Ill hold your hand when you get sad, okay? She squeezed his hand now. And you can tell me stories about him. About when you were my age and he let your frog go and it leaped onto Grandmas table when she had company and you got grounded.
Hed done his best to regale Sara with tales of his youth so that she would have some sense of where shed come from. It seemed hed done an okay job of it. Sounds like a plan, he told her, holding out her sweatshirt. Hurry now, honey. The bus will be here any sec.
When I come to your office after school, is she going to be there?
Stone stilled, then forced himself to smile. She has a name, you know.
Yeah, I know. Sara stared at the floor.
Resigning himself to the fact that they were going to be late again, Stone hunkered down before his daughter and tugged at her hair until she met his gaze. Whats up with this?
He got The Shrug. The one most ten-year-olds have perfected.
Sara, when Cindy first came to town, you liked her. You even invited her to eat pizza with us, remember?
Sara sniffed disdainfully. It was so perfectly like Jenna Stones heart stuttered.
Jenna.
It hurt suddenly to think of her. It hurt more than usual.
He knew why. Oh, hed been smug, so certain he couldnt get hurt again. Hed been that way for years. Until yesterday.
Without meaning to, hed threatened his security, that wall around his heart. Worse, by doing so, hed handed a woman the power to bring him back to his knees.
He could only hope shed be kind.
Whats the matter with Cindy? he asked Sara.
She likes you.
The reply, soft-spoken and heartfelt, hit hard. In all these years, with all the women hed seen casually and some not so casually, his daughter had never once said anything like this. Ive spent time with women before. And Im pretty sure a fair number of them even liked me.
Saras lips quirked, but her eyes remained serious. None of them really really liked you.
Gee, thanks.
You know what I mean, Daddy.
And he did, although it gave his stomach a little trouble to think about. To realize what he felt for Cindy was serious, the most serious hed felt in ten years.
Maybe even more serious than what hed felt for Jenna.
Shed been so long ago and hed been so young. He didnt know if he could count on what hed once thought of as love.
And if you really really like her back, then youll forget about Mommy.
Honey How to tell her that her mom was gone? Truly gone, no matter how hard and long hed looked for her? You cant compare Cindy to your mom.
Yes, I can.
He stared at her, and she stared back unblinking.
The bus honked.
Dump her, Daddy. You can do better. She doesnt even like sausage on her pizza.
With that piece of wisdom, she kissed his cheek and ran out the door.
Kristen popped her head into Jennas new office. Jennas first reaction was fear that Stone would see her sister. But Kristen offered a smile that warmed Jennas heart, leaving her unable to purposely hurt her feelings by asking Kristen to leave.
You busy? she asked.
Not enough, Jenna admitted, stretching her shoulders and gesturing her inside. Want a job?
Her sister came the rest of the way in and checked out the office, which was still being set up. Stepping carefully over an empty box, she plopped down into a plush chair. What do you have?
A head-chef job, two full-charge bookkeeping positions and a dental tech.
Cant cook, wouldnt work an adding machine if you put a gun to my head, and I have a phobia of dentists.
Jenna laughed, the first time in a couple of days. It felt good. Good thing you make enough money cutting hair.
Designing hair, darling. Soyou tell him yet?
Who?
It was a blatant attempt to stall for time, which Kristen didnt go for. Hon, she said, shaking her head, not good.
Jenna dropped her face into her hands. Oh, Kris.
You have to, you know.
Of course her sister thought she should tell Stone who she really was. Any normal person would urge her to.
But any normal person couldnt possibly know what Jenna had done, how shed furthered her lies with the ultimate deceit.
Jenna.
Her sister was trying to help. Shed called often. According to Kristen, this was going to be a regular thing in their lives from now on.
They were going to have meals together when they could. They were going to spend time with each other, lots of it.
They were going to be, for the first time in their lives, true sisters. Jenna couldnt begin to tell Kristen how much it meant to know they would be family, together no matter what. It was what shed wanted all along, what shed been afraid to hope for.
But somehow she didnt feel quite the overwhelming joy shed expected. And the reason for that only made her feel worse. Kristen didnt ask questions; she just accepted Jenna as she was.
But Kristen didnt know, couldnt know, that Jenna hadnt changed all that much. She was still lying, dammit, and now she couldnt stop.
That Kristen was so happy to be back in Jennas life just fed the guilt.
Tell him, Kristen urged. Itll be hard, but youll do it. Itll work out. Youll see.
Feeling like crying, Jenna shook her head. Cant.
Sure you can. You have to.
I know I have to. Jenna flopped back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. Its just that there aremitigating circumstances.
Kristen laughed. Mitigating circumstances? Of course there are! Youve been on the run for years, scared away from home by a mother unable to show her love and- She broke off so awkwardly that Jenna lifted her head and stared at her in surprise.
Kristen chewed on her lip, looking characteristically uncomfortable.
And what? Jenna inquired, frowning. The fact that I was a complete jerk? You can say it, you know. She forced a smile and relaxed back against the chair. Its certainly true enough, isnt it?
I wasnt going to say that. Kristens voice was low, a little hesitant And again Jenna stared.
Kristen eyes were full of apology. And worry. Its just that weve still not talked about it. And we should.
it?
You know.
And suddenly Jenna understood they were no longer talking about things shed done, but what had been done to her. The abrupt shift of subject made her dizzy. Sick.