April 18, 2007
Ever since Meryl was a little girl, Roy could tell when there was something wrong with his daughter, but back then, she had still only known him as her uncle. She never showed any real signs of being troubled, he just somehow knew. From the way she spent more time rearranging the food on her plate at the diner table than eating it was clearer of a sign than he really needed.
"So Dave is doing one of this sled races, huh?"
Meryl's eyebrows raised at the question.
"Yeah," she smiled, "Third one this month."
"Where this time? "
"Started in Anchorage, I believe."
"How long is this one? He's been gone for about nine days already."
"I don't know. I guess it's over whenever he finishes it."
"Well, I'm sure that's just his way of telling the dogs that having you around hasn't changed his love for them."
Meryl chuckled into her wine glass and took a sip before answering. "I'm sure if he could teach Piper to talk and cook, there wouldn't even be a need for me."
Her face grew dark as if she had taken her own joke too seriously, looking down at her plate, shoveling all the food on it to the middle.
"Are you and Dave okay?"
"Dad, that's a little intrusive don't you think?"
"You're right, sweetheart. I'm sorry." He finished pouring himself a glass and held it over Meryl's. "More wine?"
She shook her head and waved her hand to reject his offer.
"You know, you haven't played with your food since you were a little girl. You usually did that if you didn't like what was in front of you or had something on your mind."
"I'm just not hungry. Had a delay at the airport so, I got something to eat there. Actually, I think I'm just going to excuse myself for the rest of the evening, Dad. Feeling a little jet lagged."
"Goodnight, honey, and remember I'm here when you want to talk."
She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, "I told you, nothing is wrong. I'm fine."
"That may be true but there were no dog sled races that started in Anchorage this week, Meryl."
She smiled thoughtfully, "I'll be upstairs."
Meryl threw herself onto her bed for lack of anything better to do with herself. She had remembered doing it many times before, but mostly for what seemed trivial now. The troubles of fourteen had never plagued her the way Dave did and the only thing worse than knowing something was wrong with him was not knowing what it was.
