page41 (1/2)

I sigh I’m stretched out sideways on my bed, a pillow clutched to et another dog “I don’t think so, Christy,” I say “Not for a while But I’ll let you know, okay?”

“Is it Malone?” she asks I had told her about my visit to the dock

“Oh, Christy,” I confess “It was one of those things…I didn’t realize how much he ie”

“You’re not du experience Think of it that way”

“You bet,” I say with false bravado “How are you feeling?”

Christy launches into a description of her fatigue and vo detail I s out tomorrow?” I ask “It’s my day to babysit”

“Only if you want to,” Christy says

“I certainly do”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

ON SUNDAY, I find myself back at St Mary’s Christy, Will and Violet sit in the cry room, as Violet has discovered the church’s i Mass Father Daniels is on the altar, his roly-poly figure barely contained in the vester in falling for Father Daniels, whose resemblance to Jabba the Hutt has been commented on many times

My ulfingcandles, the rock-hard pews and cracked kneelers seelad I’m here This is my church, I think Father Tis to me Or it could, if I showed up once in a while

Dear God, I pray as Father Daniels lifts the host high, please look after ie and Judy and Chantal and all the rest And thanks for everything And this time, I’m sincere

Mrs Plutarski givesthe recession, but I don’t care I sht their way out of the cry room

“Nice Mass, wasn’t it?” I ask

“Was it?” Christy returns “I couldn’t hear a word The Robinson tere screa the whole time”

We go outside and I stop dead inRuth Donahue to crash into me “Sorry,” I mutter

Malone is leaning against the back of a bench, watching the door Waiting, it seems, for me

“Ooh, it’s Malone,” Christyhere? Hi, Malone!”

“Hi, Christy,” he says Then his eyes shift to ie”

Adrenaline pricks at le almost painfully “Hi, Malone,” I say, and my voice squeaks I clear my throat “Hello”

His hands are cupped over his coat in a rather strange way, I notice, and the lines around his eyes crinkle as I come closer Hope aches suddenly and sharply in my heart, and I s He looks happy?for Malone, that is Happy to see me

Just then, E,” she announces in that perfectly confident way beautiful girls have “Malone, can we get some breakfast? There’s a cute little diner down the block” Her eyes light upon h Malone’s

“Right Hello,” I say I feel the blush creep upvery much like an outsider

“Dad? What do you say? Breakfast?”

“Sure, Emory Give me a second, okay?” Malone says

An aard silence falls over our little group My heart is thudding A crow calls in a nearby tree Will clears his throat “Hey, Maggie, we’ll see you later,” he says, towing my sister away

“Right!” Christy says joyfully “See you later” Her eyes are dancing

Malone gives his daughter a pointed look “E to do for five minutes,” he says

“Sure, Malone,” she says, trotting up the stairs of St Mary’s We both watch her go, then, because there’s no one left to look at, turn to face each other My face prickles with heat Malone ss It seems neither of us knohat to say