Page 19 of Colorado Christmas Carol
“I do all right,” he said easily. He pushed away from the barrier, sped around the rink as she had, jumped, and landed a triple salchow, a double toe loop, and a very nifty layback.
His cheeks red from exertion, his dark eyes glittering, he glanced at Essa’s open-mouthed surprise. “I love skating.”
“Daddy was asked to go to the Olympics, but Mommy got sick, and he couldn’t go,” Mellie said softly.
“I’m so sorry,” Essa said with genuine feeling. “You really are an awesome skater.”
“Thanks,” he said, and glared at his daughter for saying something so personal to a virtual stranger.
“She’s not like most people,” Mellie said surprisingly. “She’s . . . well . . .”
“Odd,” Essa supplied. “I don’t fit in with other people. I sort of sense things about people. It makes them uncomfortable.”
He didn’t comment. They all went back onto the ice and skated until they were out of breath and in danger of getting real blisters on their feet, something professional skaters had the equipment, and the know-how, to prevent.
“They have a cafeteria here. Want to get something to eat?” Duke asked when they’d turned in their skates.
“That would be great!” Mellie enthused.
“I’ d love to eat something I didn’t have to cook.” Essa sighed. She glared at Duke. “But I pay my own way.”
“Fair enough,” he said.
“Daddy takes out girls who always want him to pay for everything, and they hate having me along,” Mellie said on a sigh as she and Essa came out of the bathroom together.
“You go with him?” Essa asked, surprised.
“Oh, yes. He said he wasn’t leaving me with any babysitters. Not after that first one.”
“What happened?” Essa asked, angry to think that the poor child had been abused or something.
“Well, she had a headache, so she took some pills and went to sleep.” Mellie’s face dissolved into gleeful mischief. “First I went outside and walked in the mud, then I climbed all over Daddy’s recliner. Then I went into the kitchen and threw tomatoes at the wall. After that, I unplugged Daddy’s computer and all the other stuff, including the internet and the router. By the time Daddy got back and found the babysitter asleep, I’d done a lot of very bad things. So from then on, Daddy always took me with him on dates.”
Essa burst out laughing. “Oh, I can see why he did that,” she told the laughing child.
“So that’s why Daddy can’t get married again,” Mellie said. “I’m obnoxious,” she added with a big grin.
“Obnoxious, precocious, and very annoying from time to time,” her father said curtly. He was carrying a tray. “I got you a hamburger with extra catsup and French fries, also with extra catsup, and a lemonade.”
“My favorites! Thanks, Daddy!”
Duke looked at Essa. “You said you’d get your own,” he reminded her.
“Yes, I did.” She smiled at him and went to the counter, returning with yogurt and black coffee.
“You call that lunch?” Duke exclaimed.
“Well, I’m not really very hungry,” she confessed. “I eat a huge breakfast, and it lasts me until supper.”
“I eat a big breakfast, too,” he confessed. “Of course, I have to cook it,” he added, glancing at his daughter.
“You won’t let me cook,” she defended herself.
“It took a month to get the repairs done,” he retorted.
“It only burned a couple of cabinets,” she said defensively.
“Yes, and taught your father to never let you near a stove again!”
