Talisman by S.E. Akers Read Free Book Online

sister to help her with something.  I really don’t mind doing it.”  That was partly true.  Some is better than none .
    “ All right ,” Daddy grumped and then sharpened his stare.  “Just as long as this is something you’re absolutely comfortable doing.”
    I nodded, hoping to soften the stern crease that had set deep in his brow.  After an eye-roll that could jack-up the rear bed of a truck, he shook his head and went back to eating his breakfast.
    I guess he bought it… That’s a relief!
    “Your mom said she was going with Chloe this afternoon to pick you up a dress.”  Daddy hadn’t seen me wear a fancy dress in years, not since I was a flower girl in our cousin Winona’s wedding when I was ten.
    “ Yeah ,” I mumbled.  I just prayed she didn’t come home with something that made me look like I should be swinging from a daggone pole.  But considering the run-of-the-mill choices at our limited boutiques downtown, how bad could it honestly be?
    “That’ll be a sight to see,” Daddy replied.  A cheeky grin stretched across his face as he nudged my shoulder.  “ You …dressed up and goin’ to a dance .”
    I threw my napkin at him.  “I kind of like the idea,” I insisted as I raised my head in the air and grinned.  I really did — the “getting ready” part.  “It’s not that I don’t like dances or all the frou-frou things that come with it.  We both know Mom prefers to shower Chloe with that stuff…She always has.”
    Daddy smiled and shook his head.  “You know, I think too much of that at an early age isn’t good for a little girl.  It makes them grow-up too quick.  Young girls nowadays miss out on a lot of things ’cause they wanna play ‘grown-up’ too soon — in my opinion .  Most of the girls your age have their priorities way outta whack…But I can’t say that about you, Shi.  There hasn’t been one day when you’ve not been responsible, or even came close to disappointing me.”
    Daddy leaned across the table and placed one of his hands over mine.  I couldn’t tell if his eyes were glassy from the bright lights of the kitchen, or if he was actually getting a little emotional.
    “And you’re going to be eighteen on Sunday,” Daddy said with a slight sniffle.
    Now I was floored.  I’d never seen Daddy like this before.  His eyes really were misty.  Maybe he’s a lot more stressed than he’s letting on?   I didn’t know what had him bent out of shape — my upcoming birthday, the mine possibly closing, or the fact that he’d soon be left all alone with Charlotte and Chloe when I headed off to college in less than a year?  Good thing he wasn’t going anywhere.  The thought of being cooped up in a house with those two would bring me to tears for sure!
    “Daddy, what’s wrong? ” I questioned.
    He sat straight up in his chair and composed himself.  “I was just going to say…I knew you would grow up to be a fine young lady who would make me…and the world proud.  I knew it from the moment I laid eyes on you, almost eighteen years ago,” Daddy declared with the utmost love and admiration.
    “Look who’s being dramatic now… The WORLD?   Proud?   The school hasn’t even selected their valedictorian yet.  Let me make Welch High School proud first , then I’ll work on… ‘the world’ ,” I teased.
    As soon as the timer “buzzed” , I jumped up from the table and dashed over to the oven, shaking my head and still laughing.  I peeled back the aluminum foil and took a whiff of the piping hot apple crisp.  Perfect.  Absolutely perfect .  I scooped out a generous helping for Daddy and placed it beside his plate.
    “Your mother vows you’re trying to make me fat,” Daddy laughed.
    “Well, it’s already November.  You need to start putting on your winter-weight,” I joked as I shook his belly.  I threw some in a bowl for myself and plopped back down in the chair across from his.
    We ate in silence for a few minutes, but