Page 6 of Shine On Oklahoma

Kiley heaved a sigh. “Because I don’t wantour father to know she exists.”

“She?”

“Yeah. We’re having a girl.”

And she wasn’t going to tell me, Kendrareminded herself, when the idea of a little girl running aroundthis place tried to dissolve her anger by dousing it in buckets ofwarm gooiness. “She’s his granddaughter,” Kendra said. “He has aright—”

“He’s a criminal. He has no rights. I don’twant her growing up like we did, Kendra.”

“How could she? She’s got Snow White andPrince Charming for parents.”

“Don’t. Just don’t.” Kiley held up astop-sign hand, shaking her head rapidly. “You remember how it was,the kinds of people who were always coming around. We’re luckynothing awful happened.”

“Uncle Willie? Fat Carl and Miss Dolly? Thosekinds of people?”

“Yeah,” Kiley said. “Crooks.”

“You used to call them family.”

“I didn’t know any better.”

“You’llneverknow any better. They’resalt-of-the-earth people, Kendra.”

“Willie robbed banks, Fat Carl hustledtourists.”

“And Dolly was always there for us, any timewe needed her. She tracked us down at every foster home. She madesure we each got a present every birthday, every Christmas.”

Kiley lowered her head. “Dolly’s a con. Not avery good one, though.” She smiled a little. She’d always had asoft spot for Miss Dolly, and Kendra knew it. “But if she knew, Dadwould know.”

“Dad isn’t so bad that he doesn’t deserve toknow he has a grandchild.”

“Yes, he is, Kendra! You’ve just always had ablind spot where he’s concerned. I’ve never understood it. You cansee right through everyone else, straight to their flaws and hiddenmotives. But with Dad, you just…you just want him to be a goodfather so much that you refuse to see he’s just…not.”

“So what? You’reperfectnow?”

“I’m not gonna have criminals around mydaughter.”

“And that includes me, right Kiley?”

Kiley lowered her head. “I want you in herlife. I do. You’re my sister.”

“But?”

“But… not if you’re gonna keep living likethat.”

“So you’re gonna dictate my life now?”

“No. I just get to dictate mydaughter’s.”

“Yeah. Good luck with that.” Kendra turnedback toward the car. Dax was standing a few feet behind her, hiseyes on hers, and damned if they weren’t sympathetic.

“Don’t go yet,” Kiley said.

Kendra stopped, but didn’t turn back around.She couldn’t really. Dax’s eyes had latched onto hers somehow andthere was a conversation happening between them that went somethinglike,

Dax: It’s gonna be okay. I’m here foryou.

Kendra: I will punch you in the face if youfeel sorry for me.

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