CHAPTER 10: Telling Daddy

After Hannie went home, I had some time to really think. After a few minutes, I knew what I had to do: follow my friends' advice, and tell Daddy.

I went downstairs to his office. If you don't think I was shaking like a leaf the whole time, you're crazy. Honestly, I hadn't felt this scared since the time I'd lost Kristy's pin in the snow, and until we found it, I didn't think she'd ever get over that one.

Before I knew it, I was standing outside the office door. But I couldn't even make my legs move.

Stop it! I told myself. Stop being such a baby, go in there and say it!

After pulling myself together, I slowly opened the office door and peeked inside. Daddy was dusting the bookshelves. "Hi, Daddy," I said softly as I entered the room.

"Hi, babe," he said. "How was school today?"

"Fine," I answered. So far, so good.

"I heard you had some car trouble," Daddy commented. "Say, could you hand me that photo of Andrew's christening?"

I picked up the photo and looked at it for a moment. Even though I'm older than him, I don't remember much about that day, other than standing still and being quiet. Besides Mommy's and Daddy's weddings, I think that's the only time I've stood still for more than a minute. Well, except for when I saw Morbidda Destiny coming down the aisle at Daddy and Elizabeth's wedding. Then I had to act.

After I finished looking at the photo, I handed it to Daddy. "Thanks," he said, putting it back in its place.

This was it. There was no turning back now. "Um, Daddy? I have something to tell you."

He got down from the stepstool, pulled up his desk chair, and sat down. "So, what's on your mind, Karen?" he asked.

"Well," I began, swallowing hard, "remember what you told us about Jason?"

"Yes."

"Well—when Mommy got that flat tire and couldn't call you, Jason happened to show up and let Mommy borrow his cell phone. She called a tow truck, and Charlie brought Nancy and me here."

There, I said it. All in one breath, that is, but I still said it. Now, all I had to do was wait for what Daddy had to say.

"Actually, I already knew that," he said calmly.

I was caught completely off-guard. I mean, really. I had no idea how he already knew. "You did?" I asked.

"Mommy told me," he answered. "She said some kid named Jason let her borrow his cell phone."

"Are you mad at me, Daddy?" I asked. It took everything I had not to start crying. "I know you told us to leave him alone, but he just showed up. I didn't even know I was going to see him today."

"No, I'm not angry, Karen," he said, pulling me onto his lap. "First of all, I know I wanted you girls to let him be, but that was before Kristy came to us and told us he'd apologized for what he'd done. Also, he was there when Mommy needed help."

I felt like I'd been holding my breath for over an hour and could finally let it out. It was such a gigundo relief that Daddy wasn't angry with me. "So is it all right with you if I see or talk to Jason again?" I asked hopefully.

Daddy thought for a minute. "Well, I don't see why not," he said. "But I still think it would be wise of you not to make a nuisance of yourself. Does that sound fair?"

I nodded and gave Daddy a hug, then kissed the bald spot on his forehead.

"Okay," Daddy said as I slid off his lap. "Now, how about helping me finish up here?"

"Sure!" I grinned. I always enjoy helping Daddy, as long as I'm doing the easy part of the helping!