Let Me Call You Sweetheart

3

“l don’t like Dr. Smith,” Robin said matter-of-factly as Kerry maneuvered the car out of the parking garage on Ninth Street off Fifth Avenue.

Kerry looked at her quickly. “Why not?”

“He’s scary. At home when I go to Dr. Wilson, he always makes jokes. But Dr. Smith didn’t even smile. He acted like he was mad at me. He said something about how some people are given beauty while others attain it, but in neither case must it ever be wasted.”

Robin had inherited her father’s stunning good looks and was indeed quite beautiful. It was true that this could someday be a burden, but why would the doctor say such an odd thing to a child? Kerry wondered.

“I’m sorry I told him I hadn’t finished fastening my seat belt when the van hit Daddy’s car,” Robin added. “That’s when Dr. Smith started lecturing me.”

Kerry glanced at her daughter. Robin always fastened her seat belt. That she hadn’t this time meant that Bob had started the car before she had had a chance. Kerry tried to keep anger out of her voice as she said, “Daddy probably took off out of the garage in a hurry.”

“He just didn’t notice I hadn’t had time to buckle it,” Robin said defensively, picking up on the edge in her mother’s voice.

Kerry felt heartsick for her daughter. Bob Kinellen had walked out on them both when Robin was a baby. Now he was married to his senior partner’s daughter and was the father of a five-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. Robin was crazy about her father, and when he was with her he made a big fuss over her. But he disappointed her so often, calling at the last minute to break a scheduled date. Because his second wife did not like to be reminded that he had another child, Robin was never invited to his home. As a result she hardly even knew her half brother and sister.

On the rare occasion when he does come through, and finally takes her out, look what happens, Kerry thought. She struggled to hide her anger, however, deciding not to pursue the subject. Instead she said, “Why don’t you try to snooze till we get to Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Grace’s?”

“Okay.” Robin closed her eyes. “I bet they have a present for me.”