"Bailey-TheMall" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bailey Dale)

ripples of heat. Ellis yawned and turned off the headlights. Maybe some coffee
was in order, too.

Katie stirred beside him. "What's wrong, honey?" she asked.

Ellis opened his door and stepped onto the pavement. "Rest stop," he said.
"Better wake the kids. I don't want to stop again."

Ellis set a pump to fill the car and walked to the edge of the pavilion. He
peered up into a hazy wash of gray. The light from the huge complex behind him
blotted out the stars. Shaking his head, disgusted, Ellis returned to the gas
pump. On the far side of the car, Jason yawned and robbed his eyes with his
fists.

"Wow!" he said. "Dad, it says amusement park inside. Can we go in?"

"No way, stupidhead," said Donna, closing the door beside Ellis. "We're in a
hurry." And then, as she caught sight of the enormous building at the other end
of the parking lot, "Holy shit!"

"None of that," Ellis said. His eyes met Katie's across the car in the unspoken
communication natural to them.

Raw-boned and dark as her mother, Donna had for years been reserved and
studious. In recent months, however, she had started dating seventeen-year-old
Eric -- her first real boyfriend -- and though she had remained studious she had
become . . . well, less reserved. Leave her alone as long as she keeps her
grades up, Katie had said, and her eyes flashed the same warning now.

"Dad," said Donna, her voice dreamy. "Can we go in?"

Ellis studied her for a moment. Her eyes had a glassy faraway look. If he hadn't
known better, he would have sworn she was stoned.

"Dad!" Donna said.

Ellis shook his head. It was just the lights reflecting in her eyes, he told
himself. He glanced at his watch. "Not tonight," he said. "It's after one."

"It says open twenty-four hours," Jason said.

The gas pump clicked off. "Come on," Ellis said. "You can come with me to find
the attendant."

The four of them crossed the parking lot. Ellis and Katie dropped back to clasp
hands, but the kids ran ahead.

"You know," Katie said. "I know it's late, but you could give them an hour or so
inside."