Hearing her daughter’s excited hello, Ella smiled and the hard edges around her heart disappeared. “I just wanted to wish you luck, pumpkin,” Ella said as she raced to the station. “You can’t come, can you?” Dawn said in a mournful voice. “No, I’m sorry. But my heart’s going to be right there with you.” “I know, and you were with my class all day when we went to Narbona Pass. But still . . .” a tiny voice replied. Ella almost made the turn that would have taken her to Dawn’s school. “I love you, sweetie. More than you’ll ever know. But the tribe needs me. I’ll be there next time, you’ll see.” “Daddy’s here,” Dawn said. “He wants to talk to you.” Ella’s grip tightened around the phone as Kevin got on. “Don’t worry about anything, Ella. I’ll be sitting in the front row along with our daughter’s grandmother and we’ll be clapping louder than anyone else.” His voice was cheerful and she knew he was speaking for Dawn’s benefit.
