Shadowed Eden by Katie Clark

Author:Katie Clark
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: christian Fiction
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2016-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

18

Avery

Based on Daddy’s behavior, Avery was sure he knew something about their location. Or at least suspected something.

He acted relaxed and excited, instead of uptight and anxious to be rescued.

And worse, based on Luca’s facial expression, he saw it too. Luca didn’t think much of Daddy at all, and it killed Avery. Daddy could be kind—when he tried.

She swallowed hard and looked away. Sometimes she saw families who looked so happy. So normal. They didn’t know how blessed they were.

The food was passed around and Avery took her small portion. Her stomach twisted when she looked at it, but she made herself eat it, nerves or not.

After everyone ate, she worked up the courage to talk to Daddy. He might shoot her down—he usually did—but she had to try.

He stepped away from the group and stared into the jungle, and Avery quickly followed him.

He spotted her and turned her way. “I missed you, Avery. I worried about you.” He smiled and patted her shoulders.

She smiled and nodded, but she almost doubted his words. He’d never played the part of the worried father all that well, especially when he was excited about an upcoming dig. “I thought I’d never see you again,” she admitted. “This place is really strange.”

He glanced up at the massive jungle canopy over their heads. “Strange is too weak a word. This place is special.”

“Daddy, what do you think about it? I’ve been trying to figure it out.”

Something passed across his face. Surprise, or suspicion, maybe? But it was gone as quickly as it had come. He shrugged. “Too early to say, but we’ve stumbled onto something big. I’ve been trying to dig up some information from my side, but I had a whole group of teens to take care of.”

Why did he have to sound annoyed over that? He had agreed to chaperone a mission trip, after all. He could put away work for a few days during an emergency.

She didn’t say that to him. Never would.

“Now that we’ve found each other, I shouldn’t have to play such a vital role in caring for the others. I’ll be free to figure out what’s going on.”

“Daddy, you can’t be going out in the jungle alone. It’s dangerous. Last night we were attacked by—”

“I’m a grown man who’s been on a lot of dangerous digs, Avery. You just keep doing your part in taking care of everyone here, and leave the discovery work to me.” He patted her shoulder like he was comforting a dense child.

He was dismissing her—and what she wanted—just like he always had.

She stood awkwardly, not sure how to answer him, but there was no need to worry; he wouldn’t listen to her anyway.

Daddy looked deeper into the jungle, practically glowing with excitement. “I can hardly wait to get in there and learn this place’s secrets!”

She could tell him a few secrets—magically appearing fruit, a state of confusion that permeated the jungle air, a dark force. And one couldn’t forget the inhuman natives.

But she didn’t tell him any of that.

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