Luke's Daughters. Lynnette Kent

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      “Hi, Luke.” The sun had streaked her hair and deepened her tan.

      He cleared his throat. “Kristin.”

      “Your…haircut looks good.”

      “Thanks. I guess you had lots of sun in Florida.”

      “Not a single rainy day. Do you want to stay for supper?”

      “That’s okay. I just came to say hi to the girls.” He held out the bag of cookies. “I brought some dessert, though they’re probably mostly crumbs at this point.”

      Her smile flashed and was gone. “Good over ice cream.” After a pause, she cleared her throat. “We’ve got some pictures—come and see.” She almost took his hand but then, with a self-conscious blush, turned and led the way into the back of his parents’ house.

      Luke dragged in a breath and followed warily.

      Matt and his dad sat in the family room beyond the kitchen. Their conversation stopped abruptly when Luke stepped in. The Colonel stood up. “Good to see you, son—and good to see that damn hair cut right for a change. How’s the security business?” His dad thought a real man’s place was in the Army. Cops were on the same level with building guards.

      “We do our best,” Luke answered. “Have you had a good week?” The scent of apple-laced tobacco flavored the air.

      “As good as usual.”

      “Except that you were exhausted for several days,” Elena Brennan corrected. “I’m still not sure you’re up to par.”

      The Colonel took a deep pull on his pipe. “All the excitement of the wedding, I guess.”

      Luke could sympathize, though excitement wasn’t exactly the word he’d use to describe his own reaction. He turned his head to meet his brother’s stare. “Welcome home.”

      Matt nodded. “Thanks.”

      So much for the formalities. Luke walked back to the kitchen.

      “Are you staying, Luke?” His mother turned from the counter where a baked ham and her homemade bread stood waiting. “I can make more sandwiches.”

      “No, thanks, Mom. I just came to say hi to Erin and Jen.” He sat down at the kitchen table with the girls. “So tell me what else you did in Florida.”

      Kristin brought a box of pictures over and Luke listened as Erin and Jenny explained each one.

      “That’s me and Daddy Matt on the log ride.”

      “Me and Mommy with Cinderella.”

      “We got a lady to take this one of Mommy and Daddy Matt and me and Jen in front of Cinderella’s castle. Isn’t it neat?”

      He agreed that it was indeed neat, wondering how each mention of “Daddy Matt” could cut deeper than the one before.

      Erin looked around. “Mommy, where’s the big picture?”

      Elena Brennan answered. “I’ve already hung it on the wall, honey. Right above the television.”

      “Come see, Daddy. Come see.” Erin took Luke by the hand and pulled him over to the wall filled with four decades of Brennan family photos. “Isn’t it neat? We got all dressed up!”

      “Great picture,” he managed to reply, his voice rougher than he’d intended. The girls wore long dresses of white lacy stuff. Kristin’s dress was a red that drew light to her hair and deepened the brown of her eyes. The three of them sat on an old-fashioned velvet sofa, with Matt in a suit and tie leaning over them. As Luke glanced down the wall he saw that the photos had been rearranged. Pictures of himself and Kristin with the girls had been moved to a bottom corner in the wide display.

      “Supper’s ready,” his mother called.

      Luke knelt in front of Erin. “I’m gonna take off and let you eat. Give me a hug.”

      She flung her arms around his neck. “I missed you, Daddy.”

      “I missed you, too, Erin Bear. I’m glad you’re home.”

      “When can we come to your house?”

      He took a deep breath. “I’ll give your mom a call and we’ll figure that out. Sometime this week, okay?”

      “Tomorrow?”

      “I’m not sure. But soon, I promise.” Erin held his hand tightly as they went back into the kitchen. The rest of the family sat around the table, with Jen on the far side. “Guess I’ll just wave to you, Jenny Penny. See you later, okay?”

      “No, wait, Daddy!” She started sliding out of her chair.

      “Why don’t you just stay in your chair, Jennifer, honey.” His mother, next to Jen, put a hand out. “There’s really not enough room…”

      But Jen solved that problem. She crawled under the table and came out in front of him. “Don’t go, Daddy!”

      Luke picked her up and hugged her close. “I have to, Jen. I—I have to go to work.” Eventually, anyway. “But I promise I’ll see you real soon.” He looked over at Kristin as he spoke. She stared at her plate, with her lower lip caught tight between her teeth.

      When he tried to set Jen down, she clung tighter. No words. Just a limpet clasp.

      Finally, Kristin got up. “Jenny, love, let go.” The little girl shook her head. Her mother put her hands around the small waist, sliding them between Jen and Luke’s chest. Somehow, he stood there without moving a muscle. “Let go, Jenny.”

      The stranglehold released. Luke loosened his arms, and Jen and Kristin stepped away. “Thanks,” he said, avoiding everybody’s eyes, keeping his face as neutral as he could. “Talk to y’all later.”

      “Goodbye, son.” His dad alone replied.

      Still calm, Luke reached his bike and settled on it, pulled on his gloves, put on his helmet. Turning the key, he pressed the starter and glided into motion. But he only got around the corner before he had to stop. He couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe. His legs were shaking too much to be sure he kept his balance. He wondered if this kind of pain would be terminal.

      And what the hell kind of life he’d have if it wasn’t.

      SARAH HEARD the rumble of the bike’s motor despite the concrete walls of the photo shop. She smiled to herself. The last print was drying.

      As she came out of the darkroom, though, she heard Chuck in the front of the shop, giving Luke a hard time.

      “We don’t let just anyone into the back.”

      “Good idea. If you’ll get Sarah, she’ll explain that I’m not just anyone. We have an appointment.”

      “She’s in the darkroom. We’ll have to wait for her to come out.”

      “And СКАЧАТЬ