She paused and allowed the silence to last. There was tension between them. Both of them hated how awkward things had become. But she didn’t know how to communicate with her father anymore, not after Lea left them...
Sara looked around, blinking. Her gaze finally found Ivan’s face.
“I thought I knew her, Ivan. Her death proved me wrong. But… I guess you won't put your daughter through hell. She wants to see you, and I think you should be there."
Just the sight of Ivan stilled her fears. He was laughing heartily, as if at some enormous cosmic joke. A man in his beaten condition surely shouldn’t be able to laugh so violently. Unless…
Ivan exuded power and authority as he bent forward, but his tone didn’t match his appearance at all. His eyes narrowed as he listened. Then he asked about Cafe Mio, edgily. Ivan sounded positively worried. Nervous for her and the girls here?
Sara shook her head. “It’s not like what you think. It’s better, now” she said. She reached into the pocket of her dress and produced a plastic effigy of a cross, a believer’s nick-knack. She displayed it with huge pride. “I went through hell because I believed. Lea only did what she did to protect me. My faith.”
She put the effigy back into her pocket.
“Thank you,” she nodded and smiled encouragingly. “Kindness makes you better. Love makes you better. You’ll see."