Hidden Places (52 page)

BOOK: Hidden Places

4.65Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

ads

Daddy smiled as he shook Gabe’s hand. He pulled a quarter out of each of the kids’ ears and ruffled their hair. ‘‘These two have Yvette’s hair,’’ he murmured when he got to Luke and Becky.

‘‘Yes, but Luke has your smile—don’t you think so, Daddy?’’

‘‘Just as long as none of them inherits my nose!’’ he said, honking his phony red one.

We had a lot of catching up to do. Charlie couldn’t wait to take Gabe and the kids to meet Zippy, and Aunt Batty and Aunt Peanut hit it off from the start, chattering away like two long-lost friends. Daddy and I finally had a moment alone.

‘‘I’ve missed you, Eliza,’’ he said. I could see the love in his eyes, even though he would never be able to find the words to say it.

‘‘I’ve missed you, too, Daddy.’’

‘‘Are you remembering to go to church every Sunday?’’ he asked gruffly. ‘‘Are you living by the Good Book?’’

‘‘Yes, I’m trying to. Aunt Batty is teaching me how.’’

Daddy’s eyes filled with tears as he took both of my hands in his. ‘‘You look happy, Eliza. You know, that’s all I ever wanted for you. That’s all I ever dreamed of for you—that you would be happy.’’

Tears streaked his white makeup as they spilled down his face, and I realized that I didn’t want his greasepaint to wash off. I loved my father’s silly, smiling clown face most of all.

When I thought about happiness it wasn’t the orchard or the big white house with the green shutters that I pictured—or any of the other things that had once seemed so important to me. I thought of my family—my circus family and my new family—and I smiled through my tears.

‘‘Yes, Daddy. I’m very, very happy.’’

Table of Contents