A few days later, Dani heard Daddy's voice from the garage but couldn't make out what he was saying. He seldom raised his voice. Not even with his Marines. He never needed to. She eased the door open, sliding in.
"… doesn't want to see you. And I'd better not." Daddy slammed the phone.
She considered waiting, giving him a minute. He didn't get mad, but when he did, it was best to steer clear until the dust settled. Never took long. But she had to know.
He smiled over his newspaper when she walked around the corner. "Didn't hear you."
She tilted her head, hoping to avoid having to ask directly.
Daddy grunted. Pointed to the paper. "War's over. Officially. We won."
Dani raised an eyebrow and put on a half-smile. "Changing the subject's my trick."
Daddy flashed the same lopsided grin he'd sported for a solid week the year before he finally broke down and got her the puppy for her birthday. True enough, that was the one year she hadn't wheedled the secret out of him early. But birthday presents were the last thing on her mind.
"Oh yeah, that's coming up," she said, shrugging it off and kissing him on his balding forehead.
"Big year." He beamed. Dani always loved it when Daddy looked at her like that.
"All grown up." She shrugged and sat on his lap, putting an arm around him. She scrunched her face, crinkled her nose, and looked him deep in the eyes, putting on her best Daddy's little girl. Whispered. "Grown up enough to tell boys to get lost all by myself."
He reddened. Stiffened. Held her tighter.
"How many times has he called, Daddy?" She tried not to smile as the warmth rose in her belly. She knew she was biting her lip. Didn't care.
Daddy sat ramrod straight, a slight squint. A demeanor she'd seen him take a thousand times around his Marines. "We have company coming for dinner."
"I was planning to…"
Daddy locked eyes, head tilting a fraction of a hair.
"Yes, sir."
***
After checking the pasta, Vic gave the sauce a quick slurp. Felt his lip twitch. Needs to be perfect. It would have been nice to have his sister's help, but she was off in her room sulking. Ah well, Dad gets to worry about that now. He considered his options. Maybe a pinch more of this? A dash more of that? He looked through the spice rack, humming, convinced Mom had shared some secret ingredient with Dani. He remembered Mom always putting more garlic in the sauce than the recipe called for, but he shook that idea off. You never know.
Dad hadn't said much since Vic got home from the shop. He'd sat in the den, looking through those old scrapbooks Mom used to make and playing chess with himself. It wasn't like Dad to wear his sentiments on his sleeve anyway, but lately, he was retreating into himself even more than usual. Just hope he's himself at dinner. Wonder what he'll think.
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. Vic looked at his watch as the minute hand made its move to the top of the dial. Precisely six.
Vic barely recognized the young woman at the door. It was Julie, no doubt about that. Same pale green eyes that seemed to take in everything. But her copper hair framed her face, falling over her shoulders and catching glints of sunlight. He found himself slack-jawed.
"You going to let me in, or do I need to call the dogs again?" Her tone flat, Vic searched her eyes for some sign she was kidding. Nothing.
He nodded toward the dining room where Dad was wheeling himself into place. Dani slouched in the next chair, gazing out the window like she was watching for someone. She half-acknowledged Julie when Vic pulled out her chair and made introductions.
"So, Vic tells me he found you on the side of the road." There goes Dad trying to be a comedian. It was something, at least.
Julie let it hang in the air a moment before deadpanning, "The official report differs in some respects."
Vic relaxed as Dad tried to suppress a smile. Dad lobbed a few more lame attempts at humor, and Julie returned every serve without the least expression. Things were going perfectly.
Then Dani stopped playing with her food and chimed in.
"Can I be excused? I need to go find Jon and Bobby."
All humor drained from Dad's face.
"I promised Shelly."
If it was possible, Dad sat up straighter.
"And Kari."
Dad cut his eyes toward Vic.
Vic shrugged. Don't ask me. He looked over at Julie. If the outburst bothered her, she didn't show it.
"It'll wait." Dad's end-of-discussion tone.
"I won't know where they are later." Dani wheedled, fidgeting. "Right now, they're at the Starks', rehearsing."
"Marc Stark?" Julie asked.
Dani nodded.
"From Inferno?"
Another nod.
"You should stay away from there," Julie said, as unemotionally as everything else she said.
Dani raised an eyebrow, like she usually did when she was looking to argue. Dad leaned in.
Julie seemed to pick up the unasked questions. She shook her head slowly, tight-lipped. "Call it a professional opinion."
"You don't even know them!" Dani said. Vic wondered whether the tone and the groan that followed were meant for Julie or Dad.
Julie studied Dani passively as Dad started to rise, realized he couldn't, and sat back into his chair, grunting in Dani's direction. Dani shoved herself from the table, slamming the garage door on the way out.
"Julie, I'm…" Vic started, through clenched teeth.
She waved him off as Dani's car roared to life, tires squealing.
Seconds later, Dani appeared back in the door, head hanging, the smell of burned rubber following her into the house.
"I'm sorry." She avoided everyone's eyes, especially Dad's, as she sloughed toward her room. "That was uncalled for."
Julie turned back to her pasta.