Amazing Grace Read Online Free PDF Page B

pressed.
    â€œDid you get any sleep?”
    He nods. “A little.”
    â€œI think Melissa and I should leave today. She tried to escape last night, and I don’t want her to slip through our fingers.”
    â€œI can change your reservation, but it’ll cost more.”
    â€œIt’s going to cost you a lot more than that. Hire a private plane. I’m not holding this girl down on a commercial flight while she screams she’s being kidnapped.”
    He looks uncertain. “Are we kidnapping her?”
    â€œWho cares? Do you want your daughter back?”
    Jonathan nods. “How are you going to fix her?”
    â€œYou leave that to me.”
    â€œYou’re not going to strap her down and starve her, are you? Or hang her by the toenails?”
    â€œAre you going to give me a hard time, Jon? Just make the arrangements, please.”
    Driving to the airport with the weeping Melissa is a real treat. She’s getting a lawyer. She’s calling the media and child services. She’s suing. She’ll escape and live with her mother. She’ll become a nun. She’ll kill herself. She’ll jump off a bridge. Her father will never get another Christmas gift from her and as for me, well, I can whistle Dixie. Finally, she says she hates us and is never speaking to us again.
    Perfect.
    When we get to the airstrip and Melissa spies the private plane, she realizes her plans for making my life hell in coach are thwarted. She looks defeated, but she has one more blow to deliver. She refuses to say goodbye to her father and hurries aboard before he can hug her.
    â€œDo you think this will work?” He looks desperate.
    â€œAll I can do is try. If it doesn’t, you can bring her back and make appointments with the best therapists in New York, but I don’t think there’s a pill for spoiled rotten. Say goodbye to Beulah.”
    He grimaces at my furry friend. I pat his arm and kiss his cheek. “See ya, Jon. Please don’t call her. I’ll let you know how things are going. Take care of yourself.”
    â€œYou too. Thanks Mom.”
    Poor little bugger. I walk up the stairs and duck my head to get in the cabin.
    I don’t know what Melissa does while we are in the air. I keep my eyes closed. As long as she’s quiet I don’t care.
    Since my son is paying for this flight, we’re flying into Sydney instead of Halifax. Fletcher meets us at the airport. My blood pressure returns to normal just looking at his face. He puts his arm around my shoulder and squeezes it.
    â€œHey Fletch, you remember Melissa.”
    â€œHello, Melissa.”
    She ignores him. We ignore her and wait for the bags. Then we head out to the truck, with Melissa walking a good thirty feet behind us.
    â€œYou know what you’re doing?” he asks.
    â€œNot really.”
    He grins at me. “I brought the dogs.”
    Melissa spends the hour ride to Baddeck in the back seat with two wiggly fiends trying to lick her ears. Since she’s not talking to us, she just pushes them aside. But Daffy and Donald are very enthusiastic. They only listen to Fletch and he’s keeping quiet. They pester her non-stop. I’ve got Beulah in my doggie carry-all. She’s not going to be introduced until we get home.
    As soon as Fletch pulls into the yard and turns off the truck, Melissa is out the door, the dogs jumping up and down on either side of her. She stands in the middle of the gravel driveway and shrieks.
    â€œThese are the stupidest dogs ever! Tie them up!”
    Fletch and I depart the truck as well. He reaches into the back and takes the suitcases. “This is their home. I can tie you up if you like.”
    Another shriek and she stomps off behind the trailer and up the hill. The boys think this is great. It’s Sunday, no hunters about. Off the three of them go.
    â€œIs this a good idea?”
    â€œShe’ll be back. She’s not dressed