"When I was faced with the possible end of my life. I felt I had to get it off my conscience. The other day when Grandmother Beverly visited me, she told me about an accusation you had made and that got me thinking. Why did you tell her that. Cinnamon?"
Now it was my turn to look away. He waited. Tears were building under my lids.
"One day I cut school..."
"Ye
s. I remember that."
"And Clarence Baron and I went to the city to spy on you. I thought you were trying to get another job or that you were in some financial trouble."
"I was."
"But that's not what I thought it was," I said. "I followed you to a coffee shop and saw you kiss a woman on the lips."
"Ah," he said. "You're not going to believe it. but I had the feeling I was being watched. Your mother's and your spirits," he muttered. "This house..." he said looking up. "So that was it."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Well, I'm glad we had this talk," he said. "I hate secrets between me and the people I love. I can only imagine how terrible you must have felt and how angry, but you couldn't have hated me more than I hated myself."
"I never hated you. Daddy," I said. "But I was angry."
"Sure. You should have been. I would have been. too. I say I hate secrets. but I don't see any good in telling your mother about this."
"That's up to you. Daddy, you and Mommy."
He nodded and smiled.
"You are very mature and very perceptive. I'm glad you're going to that school. Cinnamon."
"What about the cost?"
"Well," he said. "I had a good talk with your Grandmother Beverly and she agreed to free up your trust."
"She did?"
"Yes," he said laughing. "Your mother was right about her. She's happier living somewhere else, anywhere else but in this house," he said.
"Do you hate our house?"
"Hate it?" He thought a moment. "No. I used to be afraid of it, afraid those spirits of yours would get me. Maybe they did. I deserved it if they did. But, the place kind of grows on you," he said.
He rose.
"I'd better go in. Your mother will be home any moment and I want to help her."
"I'll be there. too.-
"Naw, don't worry. We can handle it." he said. He stood there looking at me.
And I ran into his arms and we held each other for a long, precious moment.
"I love you, baby," he said. "And you make me proud, very, very proud."
He kissed my forehead and walked into the house.
I sucked in my breath and started for the hill. When I got there. I looked at the tombstones and then I rushed forward and pulled the stick out of the ground. I dug like a mad dog until I found my charm necklace, the one Daddy had given me. I brushed it off and put it back on quickly.