Chapter Two
Back at Heaven’s father’s house, a young man watched an older man starting to rake the leaves in his expansive backyard. The young man frowned, looking over the fence. “You look a bit perplexed this morning, Leo. I thought you’d be in a good mood considering your daughter came back from camp last night.”
“And already back to school this morning,” Leo said, leaning against his rake and looking towards Andrew. “I wish Heaven would have had a chance to see you.”
“I’m sorry. I was busy,” Andrew said. “College classes started a bit earlier than high school’s and since I’m not living in the dorms, my mom’s driving me nuts about being on time.”
“Good woman,” Leo said. “So why aren’t you at class now?”
“I’m already done for the day,” Andrew said. “I came home and she left me a lovely list of chores to complete while she’s at work.” He rolled his eyes, pushing his sandy blond hair away from his chestnut brown eyes. “I wish I could’ve seen Heaven, though. It feels like she’s been gone for a year.”
“You two have always been close,” Leo said. “I’m afraid that I’m a bit concerned, though.”
“Oh?” Andrew asked, looking at his neighbor. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes and no. No and yes,” Leo said, shrugging a bit. “It seems that my daughter is going bring a boy over tonight.”
“Well that doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Heaven has guy friends—”
“This particular guy friend wants to take my daughter out on a date.”
Andrew’s head shot up. He walked to the fence and stood on a rock so he could look at Leo. Why hadn’t he noticed it before? The older man looked as though he had been through war and back. Instead of his usual light, easy tone, his words were weighted and grim, dragging around him like Jacob Marley’s chains. “Who wants to take her out? I didn’t know anything about this.”
“Clark Donaldson.”
His eyes widened. “The pretty boy who hangs out with Donnie and Bennett? He’s not good enough for her.”
“So who would be?” Leo snapped. “You? Donnie? That other boy who’s always stirring up Bea and smoking in my driveway?”
Andrew’s face reddened. “You know that I don’t see Heaven as anything more than a sister.”
“Ahh, I know that you’re saying that right now,” Leo said, “but you must think that I’m an old fool if you think I don’t notice how you look at my daughter.”
“All I’m saying is that Clark isn’t anything special,” Andrew said.
“Clark apparently is doing wonders for the soccer team—”
“Soccer,” Andrew scoffed. “How does playing soccer make him all right?”
“He’s fine,” Leo said. “As much as I think Heaven is too young to date, I don’t think I’m in the mood to play the role of an overprotective father tonight.”
“So how about an overprotective older brother? I don’t mind playing the part.”
“So you can scare him off?” Leo asked, smiling a bit. “I don’t think so.”
“You give me too much credit, Leo. I couldn’t scare off a boy that age—”
“Boy?” Leo repeated, smiling. “Clark is hardly much younger than you.”
“That’s exactly my point. I couldn’t scare him off if I wanted to,” Andrew said. “I know how your daughter looks—”
“Don’t talk about the way my daughter looks,” Leo warned.
“I mean, that I’ve seen the way that Heaven looks at Clark. I’m not surprised they’re finally going on a date.”
“They’ll only go with my approval.”
“They’ll go no matter what,” Andrew said simply. “Your approval is simply so they can feel better about dating.”
Leo snorted again. “You may be right about that, but I’m still going to be happy that I have raised a daughter who is at least concerned with pleasing her father. Heaven is a good girl and I will not have her deceived by Clark, or any boy for that matter.”
“At least you know Clark is a good enough man that he will come to see you first,” Andrew said. “He could have easily snuck into your daughter’s window and—”
“Are you trying to upset me?” Leo asked, waving him away. “Finish up your chores before your mother gets home.”
Andrew mock-saluted Leo with a smile, returning to his work. “Whatever you say,” he chuckled.