Part 33 (1/2)
”That's it in a nutsh.e.l.l. It's up to you to decide whether to see Marco's qualities as pluses or minuses, Ab. Look at your mother and me. Maureen could see me as a weak, washed-up ex-cop, but she has never treated me that way. And I see your mom's quirky artistic bent as part of the fun of being with her. I never know what she'll come up with next. It keeps life exciting. And every time I see that jar of candy, I smile. Who would've guessed those silly hearts could bring so much joy?”
I nibbled my lower lip, thinking about Marco's side of our relations.h.i.+p. He rarely complained about me, but when he did, it was usually because I was putting myself or someone else in danger.
”What are you thinking?” Dad asked.
”Just wondering if Marco sees me as quirky and exciting or impetuous and tiresome.”
”That might depend on when you ask him.”
”Did you ever have doubts before you married Mom?”
”Sure. I worried whether I could be a good provider. I didn't want to disappoint her.”
”I don't think you've ever disappointed her, Dad.”
”Parents go through a lot their kids never know about, nor should they until they're old enough to handle it. If you want to know the truth, your mom and I went to couples' counseling for nearly a year. We had a rough adjustment after my injury and forced retirement grounded me. I give your mom a lot of credit for sticking with me, Ab. She had every right to leave. I was angry for months. She had to make the decision to see the best in me.”
”You both put on a good front, then, because I never suspected that was happening.”
”You weren't supposed to. You were in your own world, away at college. Why would we burden you with our problems?”
”But now I feel like I missed out on parts of your lives.”
”Would you have felt better knowing what we were going through? Would it have made you get better grades?”
”Nothing short of a brain transplant could have done that.”
He smiled, gazing at me with love. ”Do you know why I dubbed you Abracadabra?”
”Because I disappeared when it was time for ch.o.r.es.”
”That, too. But mostly because when your heart is in danger of being wounded, you construct an invisible s.h.i.+eld around it, like that magician who makes buildings disappear. No one can see it, but I've always felt when it went up.”
”How come that s.h.i.+eld didn't work with Pryce? I was wounded after he dumped me.”
”That's easy to explain. He bailed out on you before you realized your mistake and bailed out on him. I had a bet with your mom as to whether you'd ever walk down that aisle with him.”
And all along I thought they were devastated by the breakup. My head was starting to ache. I rubbed my temples. ”Are you saying Jillian and I are alike?”
”Jillian jilted what, four, five men at the altar? I don't think that's you-at least I hope not. But I do think you're doing your magic trick right now with this list of pluses and minuses, making your case, so to speak, for backing out.”
I didn't know what to say to that.
”I've given you a lot to think about, haven't I?”
”Yes, like I'm a coward when it comes to love.”
Dad laughed. ”The other side of that coin is cautiousness, Abby. What you've got to do is walk a fine line between caution and fear. And I know you can do that. So?”
”So . . . I'll think about what you said.”
”And?”
”And . . . discuss it with Marco?”
”That's my girl.” Dad held out his arms, and I leaned over the coffee table for a hug.
”How touching,” a male voice said.
I straightened with a gasp and Dad wheeled his chair around as a stranger stepped through the kitchen doorway. Short in stature, wearing a three-piece gray business suit, he had caramel-colored skin, black hair, and the hooded eyes of a cobra.
”Ms. Knight,” he said softly, hissing the S. ”We meet at last.”
I had to swallow the lump of fear in my throat before I could speak. ”Mr. Kana?”
He tipped his head in acknowledgment. ”You know why I've come.”
”All I know is that you're trespa.s.sing,” Dad said gruffly. ”Get out of my house!”
Kana smiled tightly. ”I'd be happy to, as soon as I have the brooch.”
”It's not here,” Dad said with a defiant lift of his chin.
Kana's eyes narrowed into angry slits. ”We all know it is, and I suggest you not get in my way, old man. You don't want to see what happens when I get angry.”
”Don't you dare threaten me, you punk!”
I held my breath. What was Dad doing?
”Or what?” Kana sneered. ”You'll run me over with your chair?”
Pressing his lips together, Dad started toward him, but Kana immediately flashed a sharp, light-colored blade, causing Dad to pull back. With the knife in his right hand, his gaze locked on my dad, the Hawaiian held out his left toward me. ”Give me the brooch, Ms. Knight.”
I swallowed hard as I stared at his outstretched palm. I couldn't hand over the brooch. Once Kana had it, there was no reason to keep us alive. But what were my options? Dad wasn't capable of subduing the man, and I knew I couldn't distract Kana long enough to make a call on my cell phone. I could throw something at his head, the candy jar perhaps, in the hopes I could escape in the confusion, but what about Dad? I couldn't leave him trapped with a killer.
”The brooch, Ms. Knight,” Kana snapped, making me jump.
Dad wheeled himself backward in one strong motion and reached for the telephone on the table beside the sofa, quickly punching in 911.
In a flash, Kana crossed the room to the table and cut the phone line. ”You do not want to attempt anything so foolish, my friend. I do not play games.”
”I don't play games, either,” Dad said, ”especially with a punk like you. And I'm not your friend. I'm a cop.”
”A punk like me?” Kana repeated slowly, his nostrils flaring.
”Dad, please don't!” I whispered. But he didn't heed my warning.
”That's right,” Dad said, ”and if you know what's good for you, you'll get out of my house right now.”
In the blink of an eye, Kana was in his face, holding the blade of his knife up to Dad's throat. ”And who, exactly, is going to make me?”