Page 95 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

“You could put something simple like the year,” Emmasuggested.

“Lame,” Michelle said.

“Shut up,” Cynthia replied. “It’s not like you’rehelping any.”

“Put that you love him on it, Cynthia. Something tomake him smile. Maybe then he’ll let you go to that college in England you likeso much.”

Cynthia frowned, but quickly hid it by looking down.“That’s your style, not mine.”

“Whatever. I want a slushy juice. I’ll be right back,”Michelle said.

Emma let the teenager leave the store, but kept an eyeon her as she crossed the small section to the juice stand across from theircurrent spot. Sometimes, the glaring differences between the Donati sisterswere as clear as day. One didn’t mind indulging her father while the other wasat an age where she had already realized that her father simply didn’t careenough about her life.

“Okay, your sister is out of eat-shot,” Emma said asshe leaned against the glass case. “Talk to me, Cynthia.”

Cynthia met Emma’s gaze. “I didn’t want to come homefor Christmas this year.”

“Why not?”

“Because what’s the point? We’ll go back. We’re luckyif we get a call once every couple of months.”

Emma’s brow furrowed. “Affonso was on the phone twicelast month with Michelle.”

“She causes trouble to get attention.”

Ah.

Emma wasn’t included in those sorts of things whereher husband’s daughters were concerned. She wasn’t allowed much say with them,or their business with school. Affonso handled it all.

“But I came anyway,” Cynthia said.

“I would have been sad if you didn’t.”

Cynthia laughed. “I know. You and Calisto. I came homefor him, too. He always makes sure to call me once a week. And sometimes hetexts, just to see how I’m doing.”

Emma’s heart softened a little more toward her lover.

“He would have been disappointed had you not come homefor vacation, I’m sure,” Emma said.

“Daddy isn’t going to let me go to school in England,Emma.”

Yeah.

Probably not.

“Doesn’t hurt to ask, though,” Emma said softly.

“I already got accepted into the arts program fordance,” Cynthia said. “And I’ll have to turn it down.”

Emma wanted to help her step-daughter, but she didn’treally know how to without irritating her husband. The closer she was to hisdaughters, the stranger he acted, like she was doing something wrong.

She was always careful to make it seem like there wasa distance between her and the girls whenever Affonso was around. But she hadgrown to love them in the short time she was able to spend with them. Well, inher own way, at least.

Emma plucked the golden Zippo from Cynthia’s hand andlooked it over.

“Maybe your sister was right,” Emma suggested. “Let’sget it engraved with something to make him smile. When it comes to men likeyour father, they need to feel like the most important person in your life. Itwon’t hurt to try.”

It was wrong to manipulate a man.