Page 122 of Kiss an Angel

It took him a day to locate the private dealer that Sheba had sold the gorilla to. The dealer charged him twice what he’d paid Sheba for the animal, but Alex didn’t quibble.

He spent the next few days finding an acceptable home for Glenna, and by Wednesday of the following week, he was able to tell Daisy that her gorilla was on her way to becoming the newest resident in the excellent primate facility at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo, although he didn’t tell her his money had made it possible.

Daisy burst into tears and told him he was the most wonderful husband in the world.

Brady stood at the TWA gate at the Indianapolis airport with Heather at his side waiting to board the plane to Wichita. She hadn’t spoken a word to him since they’d left the lot that morning, and he didn’t like the guilt feelings gnawing away at him. Sheba had already called him every name in the book, and yesterday Daisy had backed him up against one of the concession wagons and read him the riot act. They made him feel like a heel. Neither of them knew what it was like to have a kid you loved so much that you’d do anything for her.

He glared down at his daughter. “You mind your Aunt Terry, you hear me? And I’ll call you every week. If you need money, you let me know, and I don’t want you dating yet.”

She stared straight ahead, her backpack clutched in her hands. She looked so pretty, fine-boned and delicate, that his heart ached. He wanted to protect this baby girl of his from everything bad, to keep her safe and make her happy. He’d give his life for her.

“I’ll send you plane tickets for Christmas vacation so you can come down to Florida with us,” he said gruffly. “Maybe you and me’ll go over to Disney World or something. I’ll bet you’d like that.”

She turned to him, and her chin trembled. “I don’t care if I ever see you again.”

Something terrible ripped into his gut. “You don’t mean that.”

“I wish you weren’t my father.”

“Heather . . .”

“I don’t love you. I didn’t ever love you.” Dry-eyed and stony-faced, she gazed straight at him. “I loved Mom, but not you.”

“Don’t say that, honey.”

“You should be happy. It means you don’t have to feel bad about not loving me.”

“Who said I don’t love you? Damn it, did those boys tell you that?”

“You told me.”

“I never did. What the hell are you talking about?”

“You told me in a million ways.” She shifted the backpack onto one shoulder. “I’m sorry about what happened with the money, but I already told you that. I’ve got to get on the plane now. Don’t bother calling me. I’ll be too busy with my schoolwork to talk to you.”

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Turning away, she flashed her boarding pass at the flight attendant and disappeared down the jetway.

What had he done? What did she mean he’d told her in a million ways that he didn’t love her? Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, he’d screwed up bad. All he’d wanted was the best for her. It was a hard world, and you had to be tough raising kids or they’d turn out to be a bunch of bums. But he’d never wanted this.

He knew then that he couldn’t let her go. Sheba and Daisy had been right all along.

He pushed past the flight attendant and bellowed down the jetway. “Heather Pepper, you come back here right this minute!”

The alarmed flight attendant stepped in front of him. “Sir, can I help you with something?”

The passengers directly between him and Heather turned to see what the commotion was, but Heather kept walking. “You come back here! You hear me?”

“Sir, I’ll have to call security. If there’s a problem—”

“You go ahead and call them. That’s my daughter, and I want her back.”

Heather had nearly reached the door of the plane by the time he got to her. “No daughter of mine is going to talk to me like that! No way!” He pulled her to the side and gave her the piece of his mind she deserved. “If you think you’re going off to your Aunt Terry’s with that kind of attitude, you’re wrong. You’re getting your butt back to the circus, young lady, and I hope you liked cleaning up after those bulls because that’s what you’re going to be doing all the way back to Florida.”

She stared up at him, and her eyes were so large they looked like blue mint candies. “I get to stay?”

“You’re damn right you’re staying, and I don’t want to hear another word of disrespect.” His voice broke. “I’m your father, and you damn well better love me the same way I love you, or you’ll be sorry.”

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