Chapter 25: A Daughter's Love

BOOK TWO: ANGEL CONDEMNED

Jody

"Why aren't you in bed?" I dropped the grocery bags on the counter and the egg carton burst open, releasing several eggs. I lunged forward to catch them all in my arms, but three rolled across the stove and splattered onto the floor.

My dad gave me a sheepish look, but his face was pale, and he hunched over from the pain. "I wanted to help."

"It's okay." Panic dried my throat. He needed to be resting, not doing chores. "Why don't you read me the headlines while I put these away and make some breakfast?" I forced a smile and made sure my eyes crinkled in the corners so Dad would buy it. One good thing about taking a community acting class was learning how to fake a smile. Mine always looked unreal and like I was in pain when I had tried before.

"All in the eyes," my professor had said.

"How about I read our weekly horoscopes instead?" Dad offered and sat down at the kitchen table.