Vendetta Read Online Free PDF Page B

Dad; you’ll have to go with me some time… if you’re not too old, that is,” she looked at him, trying to get a rise out of him. “It might not be your scene,” she joked, “but they do have newspapers.” He still didn’t look up.
         She lugged her heavy bag over to the breakfast bar and flung it down on the counter top with a loud thud. Allie peered at her father through squinted eyes.
         “Why do I get the feeling I’m about to be in trouble for something that I may or may not have done?” she asked.
         He shrugged. “I don’t know, are you feeling guilty about something? Why else would you be so suspicious?” Mark grinned.
         “Why?” Her eyes widened and she raised her eyebrows. “Because of that smile on your face, that’s why!” She coyly grinned.
         He slowly revealed a gift box that he was hiding under the table. “Well, I might have a little surprise for you,” his twinkling hazel eyes and crooked grin gave it all away.
         “Dad,” she said surprised. “Oh, my goodness… what’s this for? My birthday was almost two weeks ago. What is it?” she asked.
         “Well, sit down and open it up… find out for yourself,” he gestured to the table and pulled out her chair.
         She gently slid off the purple satin ribbon from the long white box and set it aside. ”We need to save this,” she mentioned.
         Allie reached through the crinkly tissue paper and gently pulled it back, revealing her gifts. It was a black, satin dress decorated with sparkling crystals and beads. There was a purple ribbon sache at the waist. Another present was then seen at the bottom of the box. It was a matching pair of shoes of the same color as the ribbon. She sat down, without saying a word. She gently ran her fingers over the smooth satin shoes.
        Mark panicked. “Do you like the dress, and slippers? Or flats, whatever they’re called. I picked it out myself and you know how I can be…” Mark was afraid he had picked out the wrong style. “Look, I know you’re not a little girl anymore, but I couldn’t resist, this one…. last time,” he gulped, trying to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat.
          Allie put her hand on her father’s arm to quiet his nervous chatter. She looked up at him... with tears welled up in her eyes. “There beautiful, thank you,” she smiled, as the tears blinked down her cheeks. “It’s perfect. I‘m never going to be too old for your surprises, thank you, Daddy.”
         “Oh, come here, baby. You’re very welcome,” he hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “I didn‘t mean to make you cry, honey,” Mark consoled her. He couldn’t be more relieved that she liked his gift. Correction; Loved.
         “It’s ok, Dad, they’re happy tears, I just appreciate it. It’s very sweet,” she said wiping her face.
         “Now, I want you to go upstairs and get yourself ready. Put your new duds on, because we’re going out to dinner tonight, just you and me,” Mark said.
         He helped wipe away a runaway tear on her cheek.
         “Duds? Really, Dad,” Allie joked.
         “Yeah, I should’ve stopped while I was ahead,” he smiled. “Okay, run along… tonight’s going to be really special!”
        Allie grabbed her gift box and stopped at the doorway. She turned and said, “Of course it will be… it’ll be with you, Dad, and that’s all that matters.”
                                       ~                
         Mark guided his daughter into the restaurant wearing a blind fold. He explained that he had one more surprise for her. When he finally took it off, all of the friends and family, who had so patiently waited, jumped up and shouted, “SURPRISE!”
         Mark kept his arm around her and walked her to the center of the loud, cheerful room. To say she was surprised would have been the