Cutler 03 - Twilight's Child

couldn't we all go along?" None of my explanations satisfied her. In the end she pouted. She had Michael's intolerance of things that didn't go her way.
    I nearly jumped out of my skin when the phone rang. I hoped and prayed it was Jimmy. I was never so happy to hear his voice. After I told him how much I missed him, I described what had happened to poor Mr. Parker and how we had handled it.
    "Sounds just awful," he said. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you."
    "You can't imagine how much I wished you were. But I'm glad you've finally met your new brother. How's Daddy?"
    "Fine. He's very disappointed you're not here," he said, "but he promised he would come to the hotel very soon. Here," Jimmy said, "let him tell you himself."
    My breath caught. Daddy and I hadn't spoken for so long.
    "How you doin', honey?" he asked. My throat was so choked, I couldn't speak. It felt as if my heart had dropped into my stomach. All my memories of Daddy being loving and warm to me rushed over me. I pushed aside all the times he was angry or had drunk too much whiskey.
    "I'm fine, Daddy," I finally said. "And you?"
    "We're doin' the best we can. I'm sorry you couldn't get away," he said. "I think of you often."
    "I think of you, too, Daddy."
    "I know you had a lot to do with my getting out of prison as soon as I did. Always figured you were a smart one, Dawn. Always knew you'd be somebody," he bragged.
    "I'm nobody important, Daddy. A lot of people help me here, and things were pretty much set before I started doing anything," I told him.
    "No sense in being modest with me, Dawn, honey. I know you too well. You can't fool an old fool," he said, and he laughed. I remembered him saying that often.
    Now that I heard his voice, I regretted not going with Jimmy even more.
    "Jimmy's tellin' me all about your hotel. It sounds pretty nice. We'll get up there sometime this year. That's a promise and a half," he said.
    "I hope so, Daddy."
    "Here's Jimmy again."
    "Dawn."
    "Oh, Jimmy, I miss you something terrible, and Christie is acting like a spoiled brat just because you left and we didn't go. I'm sorry."
    "I miss you, too, Dawn, but I might have some good news for you in a day or so. Daddy and I have been working on something, and I think it's going to pay off."
    "What, Jimmy?"
    "I don't want to say anything until I'm sure," he said. "Let me talk," Christie cried, pulling on my skirt. "Here's Christie," I said, and I gave her the phone. She hugged it to her as if she could feel Jimmy as well as speak to him through the receiver.
    "Hi, Daddy," she said. "When are you coming home already?" She listened, and after a moment she gave me one of her little furious looks and then promised Jimmy she would behave. Then he said something that lit up her face.
    "Daddy's bringing me something special when he comes home," she told me when she handed me the receiver.
    "If you're good," I added.
    "I'll be good," she said.
    "Hi. It's me again," I said into the receiver.
    "Hi, me. Kiss yourself for me tonight, will you?" Jimmy said.
    "Oh, Jimmy."
    "Talk to you soon. I love you."
    "I love you, Jimmy. Hurry back."
    I held the receiver even after he had cradled his and the dial tone had started. I was trying to hold on to his voice for as long as I could.
    "Why are you crying, Mommy?" Christie asked. I hadn't even realized I was. I felt the tears on my cheeks and then laughed.
    "I'm just happy to speak to Daddy," I said.
    "If you're happy, why do you cry?" she asked.
    "Sometimes you do. You'll see. Come on. It's time you put on your pajamas." I took her hand and led her upstairs. It was Mrs. Boston's day off, and she was with her sister in town. That morning she hadn't wanted to leave when she heard I would be alone, but I insisted.
    "I've been alone plenty of times before, Mrs. Boston," I told her bravely. Now I wished I hadn't. If I ever needed company, I need it now, I thought.
    "I want Daddy to kiss me good night," Christie complained when I tucked her in and kissed her.
    "You know he's not here, Christie."
    "I still want him to kiss me. I'm not going to sleep until he comes home and kisses me good night," she insisted.
    "Fine. Lie there with your eyes open all night," I said.
    She folded her little arms over her chest and glared up at me defiantly. I knew I should have been more understanding and sympathetic, but her unhappiness only served to underscore my own.
    I left but peeked in on her every fifteen minutes. Amazingly, she kept herself awake for nearly