“Wow, that’s great.”
“Although he did wonder why you didn’t just come and ask him directly about it.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“I played dumb and basically dodged the question.” She licked her cone and seemed to be choosing her next words carefully. “The lighthouse?”
Mikki sighed. “What about it?”
“Your dad spends a lot of time out there.”
“How did you know that?”
“Well, aside from your miserable expression, I just know; let’s leave it at that. Now, have you ever been out there with him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I just don’t; no reason.”
“You resent it?”
“Resent a stupid building? That’s a dumb question,” she said irritably.
“Is it?”
Mikki finished her ice cream, wiped off her fingers, and threw the trash in a bin next to the bench. “Look, if he chooses to be out there instead of with his family, who am I to rock the boat?”
“I think you just answered my question. You know that was your mom’s lighthouse?”
Mikki scowled. “Yeah, my mom when she was a little girl.”
“So you think it’s odd he seems so...”
“Obsessed? Yeah, a little. What would you think?”
“Hard to say. Now, tell me about what those jerks were yelling at your dad on the street that day. Miracle Man?”
Mikki looked uncomfortable and drew a long breath. “I don’t really want to talk about that.”
“Please, Mikki. I really do want to help. But I need to know.”
Mikki took the next few minutes to fill her in.
Jenna looked thoughtful. “So basically the tabloid made everything up?”
“Well, that’s what my dad says.”
“And you believe a newspaper that makes millions selling lies over your father? How does that make sense?”
Mikki refused to look at her. She said, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
“That makes even less sense.”
“Easy for you to say. It wasn’t your family getting destroyed.”
“No, but let me put on my lawyer hat for a minute and analyze this.” She paused, but only for a moment. “Your dad loses the woman he loves in a tragedy that was really no one’s fault. Then he loses the rest of his family and is left to die alone. Instead, he somehow finds the strength to beat a certain death sentence, brings his family back together, and tries to make a go of it as a single parent. And then a bunch of gut-wrenching lies get spread all over the news and people are calling him terrible things based on those lies, and he has to just stand there and take it.” She stopped. “What an evil guy your dad is.”
Jenna looked over to find Mikki staring down at her feet, a stunned expression on her face.
“I guess I never looked at it that way,” she said after a long silence. “I can see why you were a lawyer.”
“It’s the hardest thing in the world to put yourself in someone else’s place, try to really feel what they feel, figure out why they do the things they do. Especially when it’s easier to stick a label on something. Or someone.”
“And the lighthouse?”
“Lizzie loved it at some point in her life. It was important to her. She wanted to see it work again. That’s good enough for your father. He’ll work himself to the bone to try and fix it.”
“For her?”
“Your dad isn’t crazy. He knows she’s gone, Mikki. He’s doing this for her memory. At least partly. This is all part of the healing process; that’s all. Everyone does it differently, but this is just your father’s way.”
“So what do you think I should do?”
“At some point, find the courage to talk to him.”
“About what?”
“I think you’ll figure it out.”
Mikki laid her hand on Jenna’s arm. “Thanks for the ice cream. And the advice.”
“You’re very welcome to both, sweetie.”
49
On Saturday night Jenna helped Mikki get dressed in her new clothes and did her hair. She pinned most of it back but let a few strands trickle down Mikki’s long, slender neck.
Cory and Jackie were sitting on the couch together watching TV. They both stared wide-eyed at their sister when she came down the stairs followed by a proud-looking Jenna.
“Mikki bootiful,” said Jackie.
Cory didn’t say anything; he just kept staring, like this was the first time he’d realized his sister was a girl.
Sammy came out of the kitchen, saw her, and said, “Wow. Okay, people, heartbreaker coming through, make room. Make room.”
Mikki blushed deeply and said, “Sammy, knock it off!”
“Honey, take the compliments from the men when you can,” advised Jenna.
Sammy yelled, “Jack, get your butt in here. There’s big trouble.”
Jack walked in from the kitchen and froze when he saw her.
Mikki took in all the males staring at her and finally said, “What?”
“Nothing, sweetie,” said Jack. “You look terrific.”
“Jenna helped me.”
Jack flashed her an appreciative look. “Good thing. I’m not really all that great with hair and makeup.”
Jenna chuckled. “Gee, don’t they teach that in the army?”
“So where are we going?” asked Mikki.
“Like I said, dinner with the family. To celebrate your sweet sixteen.”
She looked at Cory and Jackie watching cartoons and munching on cheese curls. Jackie’s face and hands were totally orange and sticky. Cory let out a loud belch. “Great,” she said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
Sammy looked at Jack. “Hold on a sec. You said we had to finish that job tonight. Promised the lady. Remember?”
“Oh, damn, that’s right. What was I thinking?” Jack slapped his forehead in frustration.
Mikki scowled, “Tonight? What job?”
Jack looked stricken. “A big one. I forgot, honey.”
Mikki’s face flushed and her eyes glistened. “Dad, it’s my sixteenth birthday.”
“I know, sweetie, I know. Thank goodness I had a backup plan.”
“What?”
He opened the front door, and Mikki gasped.
Liam was standing there dressed in pressed chinos and a white button-down shirt. His face was scrubbed pink, and he’d even combed his long hair. In his hand was a bouquet of flowers.
Mikki looked from him to her dad. “Uh, what is going on?”
Jack grinned. “Like you really wanted to go out on your sixteenth birthday with your old man and two little brothers? Give me a break.”
“That would’ve been fine,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.
“Yeah, right,” scoffed Sammy. He turned to Liam, who hadn’t budged an inch. “Well, get in here, son, and deliver the flowers to the lady.” He grabbed Liam’s arm and propelled him into the room.
Liam handed the bouquet to Mikki. “You really look great,” he said shyly.
“Pretty slick yourself.” She eyed her dad. “How did you possibly manage this without Cory or Jackie squealing?”
“That’s easy. I didn’t tell them. But Jenna was a major co-conspirator.”
Jenna did a mock curtsy. “Guilty as charged.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Mikki asked.
“Like I said, dinner. For two. Reservations have already been made.”
Jenna amended, “Not the Little Bit. At the fancy restaurant in town. I know the owners really well. They’ve got a great table picked out for you and a special menu.”
“Wow, I can’t believe this is happening. I feel like Cinderella.”
Jack put his arm around his daughter. “Nice to know I can still surprise you.”
“Thanks, Dad. Well, I guess we better go,” she said.
“Wait a sec,” Jack said. “Close your eyes.”