Delivering Caliban (John Purkiss 2) by Stevens Tim

Author:Stevens, Tim [Stevens, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-11-06T05:00:00+00:00

*

‘He was angry for me. Not at me, but for me.’

Pope hadn’t said a word. How long had she been talking for? She stared at him, his face again in profile. He was utterly unreadable.

It struck Nina suddenly that she had no idea where they were going. They weren’t on the Interstate any more.

Before she could ask, Pope said, ‘What are your feelings towards your father?’

It really is like a therapy session, she thought, and that crazy reckless giggle threatened to erupt again. She swallowed it, hoping to seem as if she was finding difficulty organising her thoughts.

‘He abandoned me when I was eleven. Gave me to my grandmother and never tried to make contact again. No birthday or Christmas cards, no letters or emails. So I feel betrayed by him. Betrayed, hurt, and confused. I want to know why he did it. More than almost anything else in the world.’ The words started rolling out, beyond her control. ‘I mean, if he wasn’t up to being a single dad, I can understand, you know? He was an incredibly busy man, wrapped up in his work. Awkward with kids, from what I recall. But even if he felt my gramma was the best person to look after me – and she probably was – he could at least have called or written me from time to time. Or now that I’m grown up, made contact to explain to me why he did what he did.’

As though sensing she was saying more than she’d intended and wanting to save her from embarrassment, Pope cut in: ‘How do you believe your mother died, Nina?’

She took a breath, slowed herself deliberately. ‘She was killed in the storm. The big one that hit the island and the rest of Honduras that year.’

‘Your father told you that.’

‘Yes. And my gramma.’

‘And your grandmother heard it from… whom?’

‘My father, I guess.’ She stared at the side of his face again. ‘You said, how do I “believe” my mom died.’

He glanced across. This time there was sadness without the smile.

‘Your father killed her.’

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