PROLOGUE |
Eye rolls & Returns
PATRICK
She came backto River Canyon when we werethirty.
It was a Thursday in the middle of July. I had promised mydaughter I would stop at home on my lunch break, and as I walked out of theRCPD, I was subjected to the usual teasing.
“Have fun getting your nails painted, Kinney.”
“Hey Patrick, show us how to braid later, okay?”
And I laughed, flashed them all the finger, and closed thedoor behind me. Because you know, I really did like having my nails painted,and I had a tough time believing any man on the planet could braid as well asme.
I pulled up to the house, not surprised to find Meghanwaiting for me on the porch. She grinned, running down the steps to meet me onthe walk, and even though she said she was getting a little too old, I stillpicked her up in a big hug. I squeezed her tight, shaking from side to side,and she struggled to get free.
“Okay, okay, Daddy!Jeez!” Back on her feet, shesmoothed out herFrozent-shirt, and her eyes scanned the street, asthough somebody had been watching.
“Hey,” I said, narrowing my eyes at her, “if anybody everhas a problem with your old Dagivin’ you a hug, I’llarrest them. Got it?”
“Daddy.” She threw her head back. “You can’t evendothat.”
I nudged her along toward the house, and laughed. “Don’tdare me, kiddo, because I swear, I’lltotallydo it.”
“Uh-huh.” She rolled her eyes again, feigning an attitude olderthan her age. But despite her attempts to quell my affection, I wrapped my armaround her shoulders, and she leaned into my side with a happy smile.
We made our way to the kitchen, where she had already laidout the fixings for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and I slapped a fewtogether to carry out onto the porch. Meghan trailed behind with a bottle oficed tea and a couple plastic cups with cartoon characters on them, and we setourselves up on the wicker furniture.
“Mommy’s taking me to the movies tonight,” she said withher mouth full.
I pointed my perfected parental finger at her. “What did Isay abouttalkin’ with food in your mouth? I’mtryin’ to eat here, and you’regonnamake me puke.”
She swallowed hastily with another roll of her eyes. Shewas doing that a lot, and I knew exactly who she had gotten it from. I resistedmy body’s need to tense and grimace at the thought of my wife, and instead tookanother bite of my sandwich.
“Can you come?” she asked, looking up at me with hopeful, pleadingeyes.
I twisted my lips to the side. “Is it a girly movie?”
Meghan dropped her gaze to the sandwich in her hands,suddenly ashamed. “Kinda.”
I leaned into her on the wicker couch, pushing her gentlyagainst the arm, and she whined a high-pitched “Daddy!” With a big grin,I nuzzled my scratchy face against her cheek, and said, “Those are like,totallymyfavoritekind of movies.” Her hands pushed against me, her gigglesfilling the summer air, and I moved back just a little, while my heart soared withthe love of being near my number one girl.
“Of courseI can go,” I said,kissing her temple.
“Really?” she squealed, and the front door opened. “Mommy!Daddy said he can come to the movies with us tonight!”
“Don’t you have to work?”
I straightened up at the sound of my wife’s voice, and Iturned to face the door. Her hand was set firmly to her hip, while theseemingly permanent scowl contorted her face. I smiled as I always did, neverwanting to show Meghan just how much her mother and I couldn’t stand eachother.
Never could, never would.
“I do, but I’ll get out early. No big deal.”
“Not very responsible, is it? What if something happens?”
“Christine, we live in a town of less than two-thousandpeople. What’sgonnahappen? Is a raccoonplannin’ to raid Connie Fischer’s refrigerator again?”Meghan giggled around a bite of PB&J while Christine rolled her eyes. MaybeI’d get lucky one day and they’d just roll right out of her head. “Honestly,the likelihood ofsomethin’happenin’theonenightIclock out early is painfully slim.”
