Finding a Happy Ever After

of her. She had to admit that the food was surprisingly good, although she w

she said, taking another bite.

wered his spoon a

od? Audrey, at this point, I'm beginning to wonder if you c

d. "Dad, I'm on

being honest and being unnecessarily

e reasons to doubt y

e. I feed you, and you repay me with insults. Thi

ing, leaving Edward to mumble som

, he looked at

at brings you an

ill concentrating on her food. "Th

raised a

e missing-people thing. You always try to leave home, even durin

ds sarcastically, wea

breath. "Well, that's tr

, re

a special occasion before

den development. Should I call the newspapers? My da

Da

's a histo

smiling despite hersel

t, you m

before pointing her

good. Help me give my regards t

s smile

you mean? I

him doubtfully. "U

Who prepare

isely what I'

just never mind. I can see that my own daughter is dete

eciate you and the mysterio

, Audrey. Jus

few minutes, their conversati

lly asked, "So, ho

immediat

ile disappeared from her face, and for a brief

he swallowed. "Da

he sudden change

t's w

ied quickly. "The food

ched for a glass of water and handed

, th

g the conversation would move on bef

een particularly good at ignoring

ass down, he asked again

forced

ally doing

her plate, pretending that th

died her fo

Hm

anced at h

oth

you looking a

ke w

e trying to

t why my daughter suddenly looks as though someone

ll laugh. "You're

e, Audrey. You can fool other people, but

ed down a

he nodded slowly and said, "Well, if you

drey answer

ul that he had decided to lea

anything else, Charlie

and Tessie have ic

mediately

cou

turned t

didn't yo

yfully, pretendi

ered before

you alway

d. "I don't a

Mom," Charlie ad

That's why Grandp

Charlie

at her childr

surprise! T

his chair, clearly enjoying ev

he sound of tha

ed thoug

it. I think I'll have

don't y

o the supermarket with a shirt that says, 'Almighty Fun Grand

burst int

one too,

I'll get you one. We'l

Audrey p

orry. I'll get you one that says

hard that she nearl

her head. "Oh,

sked innocently.

fun one," Tessie declared

urst out

ed his mouth and

I had something

e him a sus

at's why y

ell, just accept it. I'm actua

ged. "Well, I

," Edward replied wit

ted her f

y pulls your ear every ti

ly raised both ha

d! You know you're my li

expression

's f

s meal. For all his teasing, Edward had always known ho

and Charlie fi

, "Charlie and I ar

showers, then. I'll be upsta

ay,

headed upstairs, still talking excitedly about t

disappear before tu

nly know how to ge

ly when you're around. They know

d corrected. "I'm still a

urse yo

e that ton

at t

you don't believe a si

, then began cl

chen. Edward followed her with his eyes, noticing that h

f with the dishes, grateful for

Edward

you tell me what's

ed, holdi

do yo

heart. I know wh

urned awa

, I'm

answering gently, "You don't have to preten

t off, but the sound

oked with her father, and pretended that everything was fine. She had answered question

ile was a pain she co

hausted fro

h tears, and she qui

expressi

eeth

rying to gather herself,

not fair,"

ediately mo

ey. What

nto the table and covere

spered. "He just chan

at her, compl

you mean h

filled with pain. She opened her mout