Once Upon A Time (6) Belle by Cameron Dokey

Author:Cameron Dokey [Dokey, Cameron]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-04-15T15:01:09+00:00

“I know it would be heavy,” Celeste said quickly, as if she’d heard some objection in my father’s voice, “but there’s Dominic to feed as well now, for as long as he stays, and a bigger pan would be useful, Papa.”

“You could always bring sugar, if a new pan is too difficult to carry,” I suggested.

Celeste nodded. “Or that, yes. That’s a good thought, Belle.” My father put his hands on his hips. “Now, let me see if I have this straight,” he said. “My daughters, who not three months past were as fine a collection of fashionable young ladies as anyone could hope to meet, are asking for a pan it takes both arms to lift, and a tonic for a sweetheart? Not one piece of finery among you? Not one ribbon or bow?”

“Well, certainly no buckles,” I said, and earned a laugh from everyone present.

“I have no use for fancy ribbons in the kitchen,” Celeste said simply. “I’d always be worrying about the ends dragging in the batter or, even worse, catching fire as I work at the stove.”

“And they’re no good to me when I’m dusting or scrubbing a floor,” April chimed in.

“I’ll take theirs, Papa,” I offered. “I can use it to make straight rows in the vegetable garden.”

“Well,” my father said. “Well, then.” He stood facing us as we made a little half circle before him. For the second time in as many days, my father had tears in his eyes.

For my sisters and I were sending a message, and my father had heard it, clear as a bell. We would not ask for what we’d valued in our old lives. It would take more than one shipload of cargo to buy those lives back, and I, for one, was far from certain that I wanted mine.

In my old life, I had become invisible. In my new one I was…I wasn’t quite sure what. But I knew this much: I wanted to find out, for I liked who I was in this new life better than who I’d been before.

But most remarkable was the fact that my sisters and I had each spoken spontaneously. We weren’t putting on a brave face we’d discussed ahead of time. We had each spoken truly, from our hearts. We did not want the past. We wanted the future, whatever it might hold.

I don’t think I’d ever loved my sisters more than I did in that moment.

“If you’re sure,” my father said.

“We’re sure, Papa,” I replied. “Though if you chance to come upon the heartwood Tree and one of the branches just happened to break off and fall on your head…” My father tossed the saddlebags over one shoulder with a laugh. “I think it’s time that I was going. I’ll come back as soon as I can. Don’t let your mother worry,”

“We won’t, Papa,” April promised.

Together, our arms around one another, my sisters and I crowded into the kitchen doorway, watching until the rain hid my father from view.

And then we began to wait once more.

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