'
Daddy smiled down at her.
'Leah,' he said. 'Your mother, you and I are also going to have a talk this
evening. A meeting; very important. Coming in?'
'Yup, Daddy, just about ready.'
She turned back to Sarah and gently pretend-stroked the unicorn's nose.
Turning away, she crossed the patio and stopped at the short step to the
dining room. Daddy opened the screen door and bent down. Leah
wrapped her arms around his neck. Daddy rose, lifting Leah as he did,
and caught her rain boots as they slipped from her feet. He stood them
up outside, beside the doorway, to dry. Hugging each other, Daddy and
Leah turned back into the house.
Leah hesitated, and glanced back. In her imagination, she saw Sarah fold
her wings gracefully along her sides, lower her head and nibble at the
soft, green grass. It was also time for Sarah's dinner.
***
With dinner behind them, Leah joined Mother in clearing the table.
Nesting one plate into another and picking up a few utensils she carried
them to the kitchen counter near the dishwasher.
Daddy rose from his chair, went into the kitchen, and dampened a cloth.
Pages:
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118