Read The Birthday Girl for Free Online Page B

and a Virginia accent, and he was suddenly scared. Before Elliott could continue, Freeman nodded, almost too eagerly. 'I understand,' he said. 'Mersiha's all I want. Nothing else matters.'
    Elliott continued to stare at Freeman, and for a moment Freeman feared that he was about to change his mind. 'Thank you,' he said. He looked across at the Serb. 'Thank you,' he repeated. The Serb and Elliott exchanged glances, then left the room without a word. Freeman turned his chair around to find Connors leaning against the wall with a sly smile on his face, slowly shaking his head. 'You're a lucky man, Freeman,' he said enigmatically.
    Freeman opened the refrigerator door and peered inside. He pulled out a carton of orange juice and took it over to the sink. As he poured himself a glassful he looked through the window and across the lawn to the line of trees that separated his property from that of his neighbour. Mersiha was playing with Buffy, throwing a blue frisbee for the dog and laughing each time she ,* brought it back. It was a game Buffy would happily play for hours "&' at a time without getting bored. Mersiha's laughter carried into the kitchen and Freeman smiled. The teenager who was running across the lawn was a far cry from the frightened girl he'd taken from the camp in Serbia almost three years earlier. She was a great deal taller, almofffa* young woman, and her jet-black hair was thick and shiny.
    'Go get it, Buffy!' she shouted. There was hardly any trace of a Bosnian accent any more. The all-American girl. Freeman drank his orange juice. Mersiha saw him and ran to the back door. She burst into the kitchen with all the energy of a SWAT team.
    'Hiya, Dad,' she said, hugging him around the waist.
    'Hiya, pumpkin. Do you want a ride to school?'
    'No, thanks. Katherine will take me later.'
    Freeman put his glass in the sink and untangled himself from Mersiha's hug. She picked his briefcase up and handed it to him. 'What time are you coming home?' she asked.
    'About six,' Freeman said. Mersiha was always asking him where he was going, and when he'd be back. Bearing in mind her background, he wasn't surprised by her insecurity. In some ways it was reassuring. He had many friends who'd love to have the same degree of concern from their adolescent children.
    Buffy stood outside the kitchen door, barking at Mersiha to return to their game, but she ignored her. She looked at Freeman and frowned, deep lines creasing her forehead. 'Is everything okay?' she said.
    'Of course. Why?' Freeman was already late but he put his I briefcase back on the table.
    Mersiha shrugged. 'You look worried. Like the world was =', �?� about to end and only you know.'
    f Freeman smiled. 'Everything's fine. I have everything I've 32 STEPHEN LEATHER ever wanted. A home. A family.' Buffy barked, louder and more insistent. 'And a dog. What more could any man want?'
    Mersiha looked at him for a few seconds before she smiled. 'A million dollars?' she said.
    'Ah, the American Dream,' Freeman sighed.
    'America is truly a wonderful country,' Mersiha said, putting on a thick European accent and then collapsing in a fit of giggles. She picked up his briefcase and carried it out to the car for him. 'Don't forget your seat belt,' she said before he could even reach over his shoulder for it.
    'Do I ever?' he asked, buckling himself in. A sudden wave of sadness washed over him and he shivered. He caught himself just in time and managed to keep smiling.
    Mersiha saw the change in his face and immediately realised what was going through his mind. She flushed. 'I didn't mean .. .'
    'I know, I know,' he said.
    'I just meant I wanted you to drive safely, that's all.'
    'Mersiha, there's no need to explain, I know what you meant.'
    'Yeah, but I don't want you to think that I...'
    Freeman took her hand and squeezed it. 'Shhhh,' he said. 'I promise to drive carefully. Now go and play with your dog.'
    He waved goodbye to Mersiha and backed the Chevrolet Lumina out of the