winner was amusing. When he'd lived there, Michaels had used D-Con or
traps to keep the rat and mice population down. That was a long time
ago, in a galaxy far away ... 'I gotta go. Daddy. Daddy-B is coming
over to take us to the new IMAX 3-D. I love you.'
'I love you, too, honey. Bye.'
Michaels stared at the phone. Daddy-B.
Well, okay, sure, what was she going to call him? An eight-year-old
using his first name somehow wasn't right, but 'Daddy-B'?
Michaels sure as hell didn't need to hear that, regardless of what was
best for his child. That wasn't right, either.
So, what was he going to do about all this? He had only a few weeks to
decide, and the decision would affect him and his daughter for the rest
of their lives.
Wasn't that just one more straw his camel didn't need.
His life had become a damned soap opera.
London
'Are you sure?' Carl asked.
Toni nodded and sighed.
'Yes. I have to go.'
They were in Carl's silat school, which occupied the second floor of a
four-story building between a tandoori restaurant and a boarded-up
charity shop in a less-than-posh section of town called Clapham. The
school was bare-bones, old wooden floors and a few mats, rundown, but
kept spotlessly clean by students offering hormat and adat--basically
honor and respect--to their instructor.
The first evening class would be starting in about an hour, and the
students who volunteered to sweep and mop the floors would be there
soon.
Carl nodded in return.
'I understand.'
Impulsively, Toni put her hand on his chest. Under the thin white
T-shirt, the muscle was tight and warm.
'Thank you. I appreciate all you've taught me.'
He caught her hand with his, pressed it against his pectoral a bit
harder.
'It has been mutual. Listen, if things don't go well with your Mr.
Michaels, let me know soonest, would you?'
'I will.'
'I have occasion to visit the States now and then. I'd be pleased to
see you there whether this works out with Alex or not.'
'I'd like that,' she said.
'Are you going to stay for class?'
'No, I need to get packed. My flight leaves early in the morning.'
He nodded again.
'I'll miss you.'
'I'll keep in touch, I promise.'
He bent and kissed her gently on the lips, leaned back, and smiled.
'Travel safely,' he said.
Toni nodded and smiled. Carl was a path not taken, at least not fully,
and she had a feeling she would always wonder how it would have been to
