Promises to Keep - Ann Tatlock [93]
“There you go, then. That’s a pretty good indication you can trust this person.”
“Really?” There was excitement – or was it relief ? – in my voice.
Tillie nodded, adding, “Of course, all of us are capable of lying from time to time, for whatever reason.”
I chewed my lower lip in thought. “I wish it was impossible to lie,” I said. “I wish people could only tell the truth.”
“Now, that would be something, wouldn’t it? That right there would take care of a whole boatload of problems in the world.”
“Yeah, it sure would.” If I knew Daddy was telling me the truth, I wouldn’t have any problems at all.
“But don’t count on that happening anytime soon,” Tillie said with a laugh. “More people than you can imagine make their living by spinning tales. Like the charlatan who’ll sell you colored water and promise it’ll cure whatever ails you. Wolves in sheep’s clothing, I call them. Those are the people you have to look out for.”
“So how do you know if someone’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing?” I asked.
Tillie shrugged. “That’s the problem, I guess. Sometimes you don’t know, not until it’s too late.”
Too late for what? I wondered. But I didn’t ask. I excused myself and went to my room, more confused than ever.
chapter
39
I was reaching for Huckleberry Finn on a library shelf that was taller than I was when a familiar voice asked, “Can I give you a hand with that, little lady?”
I whirled around and looked up at my father’s smiling face. “Daddy! How did you know I was here?”
He reached for the book and handed it to me. “I know you come here a couple times a week with your friend. I figured you’d show up again sooner or later.”
Mara was in Nonfiction, searching for books on the Civil War for her social studies class. I nodded at Daddy and said, “That’s Mara, you know. She loves books.”
“I can see that. Bright little kid, isn’t she.”
“She’s real smart. I wish I had her brains.”
Daddy bent down to meet me eye to eye. “Now listen, Roz,” he said. “You’re every bit as smart as she is, and don’t let anything make you think otherwise.”
“How do you know I’m as smart as she is?”
“Because you’re my daughter. I know how smart you are.”
“But I don’t get all As like Mara does.”
“That doesn’t matter. Grades aren’t everything.”
We gazed at each other a moment. I had a feeling he hadn’t come here to talk about grades. Finally he said, “Mara doesn’t know about me, does she?”
“No,” I said. I was amazed at my own ability to look him in the eye and lie without flinching. Lying was easier than it used to be.
“That’s good. Does anyone know I’m here?”
“If they do,” I said, “it’s not because I told them.”
He smiled again and winked. “That’s my girl. I told you you were smart. Because if anyone finds out, everything will be ruined.”
I pursed my lips, searched his face for hints of what he meant. “What’s everything, Daddy?”
“Well, you know, honey. I’ve already told you. I’m trying to put our life back together. I’m trying to put the family back together. You believe me, don’t you?”
I was tired of not knowing what to believe. I wanted to stop wavering and be settled and to live as though everything was going to be all right. At that moment I decided to throw in my lot with Daddy. “I believe you, Daddy,” I told him.
“That’s good, Roz. It won’t be long now. There’s a lucky day coming up, and I want to take advantage of it.”
Sighing, I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Daddy and his lucky days. It had driven Mom crazy. We were always having to do or not do something, depending on whether or not it was a lucky day.
“What day’s the lucky day, Daddy?” I asked, trying to sound agreeable.
“I can’t tell you yet, but I’ll tell you soon. Anyway, listen, I wanted to apologize for Wednesday night at the boardinghouse. You understand, don’t you, that I really wasn’t mad at you? I was just surprised, is all. I didn’t expect to see you there, and it caught me off guard. And then when Mr. Wainwright came in, I had to act as though I didn’t know you, but you understand why,