16
Chapter Sixteen
Ferma looked between her father and Zulika and nodded slowly. “Good. Daddy has been lonely and I hate that.”
Zulika and Orlando waited for her to say more, but she merely smiled at them. Zulika shot a glance at Orlando before taking the young girl’s hand.
“Ferma, I’m not trying to replace your mommy. No one could ever do that. I miss her so much, so I know you do.”
Ferma nodded. “I know. It’s a separate thing.”
Orlando beamed. “When did you get so smart?”
Ferma giggled. “I’m not silly, Daddy. I know that you and Zulika like each other. I told Aunt Claudette that I thought you should be together and make each other happy now.”
Zulika felt both happy about Ferma’s response and uneasy about Claudette. Although she had always gotten along just fine with Orlando’s sis
