Courageous by Randy Alcorn Page B

advice?”
    “I see no one gives you fashion advice. Unless it’s Waldo. Where is he, anyway?”
    Emily giggled.
    Adam couldn’t win. “Hey, how is Tyler?”
    “I only get him every other weekend, and it’s only after Mia has filled his head with toxic opinions of me. You know, a third of my paycheck goes to alimony.”
    Adam gazed at Emily in the mirror. “Shane, let’s talk about this later, okay?”
    “What’s alimony?”
    “It’s just a bad condition Mr. Shane has—makes him wear ugly clothes.”
    Emily laughed. Shane surveyed Adam. “You know what I like about you?”
    “What?”
    Shane pretended he was trying to remember. “Never mind. I was thinking about somebody else.”
    Shane chuckled. Adam did his best not to.
    Adam parked his F-150 alongside the curb at the far end of the Flint Community Bank parking lot. Shane got out.
    “All right, you got five minutes, cabana boy.”
    “Mr. Shane, can you bring me a lollipop?”
    “Yes, I will, sweetheart.” Shane pointed at Adam. “I’m not gettin’ you one.”
    Just after Shane closed the door, a catchy song came on the radio.
    I’d like to sail to lands afar
    out on a boat that’s built for two.
    “Oh, Daddy, turn it up. I love this song!”
    Adam raised the volume. “I’ve heard this before.”
    Emily opened the back door and jumped out onto the grass.
    “Hold on! What are you doing?”
    Emily opened Adam’s door and grabbed his arm. “Oh, Daddy! Come dance with me!”
    “Wait, honey. We’re right by the bank! This is not where people dance.”
    “Please, Daddy! Just for this song. Come dance with me.”
    Emily continued pulling on Adam’s arm. He turned and placed his feet outside the car but stayed seated. “Emily, people can see us.”
    “That’s okay. They won’t mind, Daddy. The song won’t last forever. Please.”
    “Tell you what. You dance and I’ll watch.”
    Emily peered at him and frowned, then began to dance on the grass. “Okay, Daddy,” Emily said. “When you’re ready to dance with me, this is what you do. First, you put your right hand around my waist like this, then hold your other hand out like this. Then we sway back and forth to the music.” Face animated, she gestured gracefully while talking, lost in the moment.
    Worries seem to fade away,
    they become as distant memories
    when we’re together.
    Adam watched his daughter with delight. The world was dark, but Emily was sunshine.
    “And . . . we can spin.”
    Adam smiled as he watched, enjoying the music and the way Emily made it come alive. Her blue sundress flowed around her as she spun. She looked like a princess. For the moment Adam didn’t think of suicides, drug dealers, or fights with Victoria or Dylan. All he thought of was the magical beauty he beheld in his daughter.
    “Are you sure you don’t wanna dance with me?” Emily pleaded.
    He glanced toward the parking lot, then back at Emily. “I’m dancing with you in my heart.”
    As the enchanting song continued, Emily twirled and dipped and held her hands out as if dancing with a partner. Just before the song ended, Shane approached the truck. “Emily, are you trying to teach your dad how to dance?”
    “He won’t dance with me.”
    “That’s because he’s an old fuddy-duddy.”
    “Okay, everybody in. Mr. Fuddy-duddy is leaving.”
    As the doors shut, Emily asked, “What’s a fuddy-duddy?”
    “A fuddy-duddy,” Adam said, directing his gaze at Shane, “is anyone who still uses the term fuddy-duddy .”
    Adam pulled out of the parking area and onto the road.
    “Who taught you how to dance, Emily? I know it wasn’t your dad.”
    “Hey, I dance at home with my wife.” Adam cringed as he said it since he probably had done it twice, the last time before Emily was born.
    “I’ve never seen you dance with Mommy.”
    “The truth comes out,” Shane said.
    “You know, you could be walking right now . . .”
    “But I’m not!” Shane grinned.
    “So I’m supposed to drop you