"You can't imagine how much I wished you were. But I'm glad you've finally met your new brother. How's Daddy?"
"Fine. He's very disappointed you're not here," he said, "but he promised he would come to the hotel very soon. Here," Jimmy said, "let him tell you himself."
My breath caught. Daddy and I hadn't spoken for so long.
"How you doin', honey?" he asked. My throat was so choked, I couldn't speak. It felt as if my heart had dropped into my stomach. All my memories of Daddy being loving and warm to me rushed over me. I pushed aside all the times he was angry or had drunk too much whiskey.
"I'm fine, Daddy," I finally said. "And you?"
"We're doin' the best we can. I'm sorry you couldn't get away," he said. "I think of you often."
"I think of you, too, Daddy."
"I know you had a lot to do with my getting out of prison as soon as I did. Always figured you were a smart one, Dawn. Always knew you'd be somebody," he bragged.
"I'm nobody important, Daddy. A lot of people help me here, and things were pretty much set before I started doing anything," I told him.
"No sense in being modest with me, Dawn, honey. I know you too well. You can't fool an old fool," he said, and he laughed. I remembered him saying that often.
Now that I heard his voice, I regretted not going with Jimmy even more.
"Jimmy's tellin' me all about your hotel. It sounds pretty nice. We'll get up there sometime this year. That's a promise and a half," he said.
"I hope so, Daddy."
"Here's Jimmy again."
"Dawn."
"Oh, Jimmy, I miss you something terrible, and Christie is acting like a spoiled brat just because you left and we didn't go. I'm sorry."
"I miss you, too, Dawn, but I might have some good news for you in a day or so. Daddy and I have been working on something, and I think it's going to pay off."
"What, Jimmy?"
"I don't want to say anything until I'm sure," he said. "Let me talk," Christie cried, pulling on my skirt. "Here's Christie," I said, and I gave her the phone. She hugged it to her as if she could feel Jimmy as well as speak to him through the receiver.
"Hi, Daddy," she said. "When are you coming home already?" She listened, and after a moment she gave me one of her little furious looks and then promised Jimmy she would behave. Then he said something that lit up her face.
"Daddy's bringing me something special when he comes home," she told me when she handed me the receiver.
"If you're good," I added.
"I'll be good," she said.
"Hi. It's me again," I said into the receiver.
"Hi, me. Kiss yourself for me tonight, will you?" Jimmy said.
"Oh, Jimmy."
"Talk to you soon. I love you."
"I love you, Jimmy. Hurry back."
I held the receiver even after he had cradled his and the dial tone had started. I was trying to hold on to his voice for as long as I could.
"Why are you crying, Mommy?" Christie asked. I hadn't even realized I was. I felt the tears on my cheeks and then laughed.