Nicolai's Daughters Read Free

quickly grabbed some towels beside her and covered the throw. Later she piled a few tea towels and a set of sheets on top. “I’m not little anymore,” she said.
    Throughout the week, she was helpful and chatty. “I don’t think we need this in our new house, Daddy. What do you think?”
    â€œI’m trying not to.”
    â€œCan I help pick the new house?”
    â€œWe’re not going to look for a house right away,” he said. “We’re going to stay with Uncle Stuart and Auntie Mavis for a while.”
    â€œOh, good. Then we can take our time, right, Daddy? I know we’ll find just the most perfect house.” She patted his hand.
    He couldn’t meet her eye. “Why don’t you go finish up with those toys?” he said, letting go of her hand. He walked over to the window. She went to her toy box, fishing for pieces of her Lego set, the one she planned to give away.
    He leaned against the windowsill, heard a lone bird screech outside, but couldn’t find where it was perched.
    His flight was at three o’clock. That would give him just enough time to pack the rest of the boxes, close up the house, take the keys to the real estate office and have a quick lunch with Alexia before dropping her off at Stuart and Mavis’s. He still hadn’t told her that he was going away, hadn’t been able to find the right time to do it. He hoped she’d understand. If he kept moving, focused on the list of things he had to do, he’d get through it. For now, all she needed to know was that she wasn’t going to school today.
    â€œYou won’t need a lunch today,” he said.
    â€œHow come?” She was standing at the kitchen counter dressed as usual in her school uniform, the navy-blue skirt and the regulation white blouse making her look more grown-up than she was. She pushed the jar of peanut butter away and put the knife down, left her sandwich only partially spread.
    â€œI called the school and told them we’re spending the day together. We have to say good-bye to the old house and move to Uncle Stuart’s place and…”
    Her head was cocked, her forehead furrowed. He was sure she’d caught the hesitation in his voice. He couldn’t meet her questioning eyes. He put the peanut butter into one of the boxes, rinsed off her plate and knife, added them to the box.
    â€œWell, looks like this is the last of it. We’d better get going.” he said.
    She followed him out to the car.
    After he dropped the keys at the real estate office he took Alexia to a nearby Greek diner, where they split an order of calamari and a Greek salad.
    He couldn’t delay it any longer. “Daddy has to go away on a business trip.” He turned his chair towards her and moved hers so that his legs hugged her chair and she faced him. She sat like a caged bird, picking at her thumbnail. He put his hand over hers.
    â€œWhen?”
    She stared at him with those eyes that made him feel worthless. He reached over to wipe off a drop of olive oil on her chin with his napkin. Alexia took it from him and wiped her mouth, then sat on her hands.
    â€œWhen, Daddy?”
    He bit at the inside of his mouth, stared at the closed door just beyond where she sat. His voice cracked, he cleared his throat, then ploughed forward. “This afternoon,” he said and cleared his throat again.
    â€œWhere are you going, Daddy?”
    â€œGreece. I have to go do some work there, so you’re going to stay with Stuart and Mavis for a little while. They’re your godparents. So they’re just like your real parents except they’ll probably let you get away with more stuff.”
    â€œWhen are you coming back?”
    â€œI don’t know yet,” he said. “I have to go find out how hard it’s going to be.”
    â€œI could go with you, Daddy. I could ask for homework and do my school work while we’re away. Honest. We