Heart in a Box by Ally Sky

Author:Ally Sky [Sky, Ally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-30T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Vivian and I have spent the time in tense anticipation awaiting the knock on the door, which comes at exactly a quarter to five. She leaps out from the sofa and runs to open it, despite my loud protests.

"Ask who it is!" I raise my voice to her from where I am in the kitchen.

"Who is it?" she shouts at once.

"It's Colin." His bass voice answers from the other side and she opens the door without hesitation.

"Hey, Colin." She stands there smiling broadly at him.

"Hello, Vivian, can I come in?" He sounded confused for a moment. Neither one of us knows what to do next.

"Yeah." She moves and gives him room. He walks slowly and glances at me. I take a deep breath and try to keep my cool for the girl.

"Good afternoon, Elizabeth," he greets me formally.

"You too," I manage to answer with difficulty.

"Daryl called me a liar again." Vivian informs him and pulls him by his hand toward the living room.

"I'm sorry to hear that." He sits on the sofa, his body tense.

"I don't care." She climbs up beside him and sits on her knees. "He's not always nice."

"That's what I heard. What are you going to do about it?"

"She's isn’t even five," I grumble aloud as I wash the rest of the dishes in the sink. "What do you expect her to do?"

"You can choose other friends, Vivian, those who don't call you names." He is blatantly ignoring my question.

"But everyone loves Daryl." She wrinkles her sweet face.

"You don't have to do what everyone else does. You're a big girl and can choose your own friends," he answers in a confident voice.

Yes, Viv. Don't be fooled by guys who everyone loves. That's a good lesson for life.

"Where have you been?" She tackles him with a hard question. I expect more of the same will come later.

"I was in the army," he tries to explain, "in the desert."

"They don't have phones in the desert?" She's not a sucker. Thank God, she's smart.

"Not always," he answers, shifting uneasily.

"And letters?"

"Sometimes." The liar writhes.

"When Louisa's father left, he called every week from New York." She frowns.

"New York is a big city, there are phones everywhere."

"Were you there?" She opens her eyes in amazement.

"Yes, I was in many places."

"Where else?" She gets excited and forgets to make his life hard.

"At the beach," he answers with relief, now that the investigation has changed direction. "Have you ever been to the sea?"

"No." She shakes her head. "Mom said it’s dangerous there."

"It's a four hour ride," I defend myself.

"I know." He gives me a look that makes it clear he remembers how long the trip takes. We both remember our vacation.

"What do you want to do with Colin?" I ask Viv so as not to talk about the time we spent on the beach, lighting a bonfire and staying up all night.

"I want to bake cookies." She stares at him pleadingly.

"I'm afraid your mom is the one who knows how to bake," Colin hastens to apologize.

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