[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Meredith had nibbled on her scone, but instead dug into a bowl of cereal.“Is your work done now, Daddy?” she asked, milk dripping from her chin.He nodded and wiped her chin with his napkin.“I finished up last night.Now I just sit by and wonder if anyone will have their presents for Christmas.”“It couldn’t be helped,” Starla said.“You did your part.”“Can we do something together today, then?” Meredith asked.Charlie studied his daughter’s hopeful expression and felt guilt slice through him.“What would you like to do besides work on Grandma’s present?”“Can we go find our Christmas tree?”Charlie got up to go look out the patio doors at the weather.The sun was shining and the snow seemed to have let up, though the accumulation was deep.“Looks like an okay day.You know we have to walk through the snow? I’ll have to get out that old toboggan to carry the tree home.”Meredith squealed, jumped down from the stool and ran to throw her arms around his waist.“Thank you, Daddy! Thank you, thank you.We’ll have the very bestest Christmas tree ever!”“I’ll help you dress,” he told her.“You don’t have any thermals, so you can wear a pair of pajamas under your snowsuit.”“That’s funny, Daddy,” she said with a giggle.“Wearing my jammies to go outside.”“How about you?” he said to Starla.“Do you have clothes you can layer? I can find you something if not.”“I do happen to own thermals,” she said with a smile.“A trucker is always prepared for a winter emergency.”“Good.Meredith, eat your breakfast so we can go get ready.”His daughter was pleased to obey, finishing her cereal before she darted toward her room.“I’d better go supervise this,” he said and headed after her.Fifteen minutes later, the three of them, bundled in hats and coats and boots, made a stop at the garage for Charlie to locate the toboggan, mix gas and oil to fuel his chainsaw, and acquire a length of rope.Meredith settled herself on the sled and Charlie stowed the chainsaw behind her, then he and Starla trudged through the knee-deep drifts, Meredith riding behind.They had all worn sunglasses to ward off the glare of the bright light, and Charlie noticed what a disappointment it was not seeing Starla’s eyes.Even so, she was unbelievably beautiful, even with her hair hidden under a red-striped stocking cap, a pink flush on her cheeks.He really liked that old leather coat.Shame he’d have to give it away now.“How much of this land is yours?” she asked.“Five acres is all.”“All? Sounds like a lot to me.”“I’ve had a couple of offers to sell a piece here and there, but I like the idea of having no neighbors.”“You don’t seem like the hermit type, Charlie.”“I’m not a hermit.”“You just want to avoid people.”“The hassle,” he replied.“I avoid the hassle.”“People are a hassle?”“Some people.” They trudged onward and she didn’t say anything more.She probably didn’t want to pry, but he felt like he needed to give her more of an explanation.He didn’t want her having the wrong idea about him.He wasn’t antisocial.“Did you ever feel that you just weren’t up to others’ expectations?” he asked.She seemed to think a minute.“You mean that I didn’t live up to their expectations?”“No, I mean that you couldn’t deal with what they expected of you anymore.”“Well,” she replied, “my dad wanted an entirely different life than what I wanted.I just had to live his way until I was old enough to be on my own.Even then, I guess, I was hesitant to break completely away from him, since he’s the only family I have.”“Your life doesn’t seem all that different now than it was then, though,” he said.“Your dad was a trucker and here you are a trucker.”She laughed a little.“I guess that’s how it must seem.The rig is my dad’s.I was just doing him a favor by running this load.I’ve been away from the road for a few years.”“Oh.” That information caught him by surprise.“So what did you do over that time?”“Went to school.Settled down in a place of my own.”Now that made more sense.Starla seemed to want roots.“Where is your place?”“Maine.”A world away from his life [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]