She smiled. “I finished my robotic project and I want you to be the first one to see it.”
He came from around the desk. “Oh, now I can see it?”
“Daddy, you know why I didn’t show it to you before it was finished.”
He dropped an arm around his daughter’s shoulders as they walked upstairs to her bedroom. “I don’t know why. Perhaps you can enlighten me, Miss Pierce.”
“Because you’ll critique it like you did when I made the model of an Aztec village.”
“But, sweetie, it wasn’t Aztec but Incan. There is a difference.” Lamar recalled Kendra bursting into tears after she’d spent countless hours recreating a replica of Machu Picchu, when it should’ve been Teotihuacan.
“I know that now, Daddy. But instead of making me take it apart I could have told my teacher that I decided to pick Peru instead of Mexico as my country for International Week.”
“And that would have been dishonest, Kendra. If you make a mistake, then you have to own it.”
“Do you know how long it took me to mold a clay model of the Aztec calendar?”
“It took you long enough to get you an A.”
A slow smile flitted over Kendra’s delicate features. “It did turn out okay.”
“It was more than okay, Kendra. It was perfect.”
Kendra put an arm around Lamar’s waist. “You say that because I’m your daughter.”
He dropped a kiss on her braids. “I’d say it was perfect even if you weren’t my daughter.”
Lamar followed Kendra into her bedroom and pretended he didn’t see the pile of clothes on the floor in a corner. Despite having an en suite bath with a hamper Kendra preferred leaving clothes on the floor. He had only two rules for her to follow: do well in school and keep her room clean.
“I know, Daddy. I’m going to put the clothes away before I go to bed.”
Lamar smiled. “Did I say anything?”
Kendra gave him a sidelong glance. “No, but I know what you’re thinking.”
“I didn’t know my daughter was a mind reader.”
“I’m not, but I saw you look over there.”
She reached for his hand, directing him to a cherrywood-topped, off-white worktable that matched an L-shaped desk. Once Lamar discovered Cameron’s fiancée was an interior decorator, he’d commissioned her to decorate Kendra’s bedroom. He told Jasmine his daughter was spending the summer in Baton Rouge and he wanted to surprise her with new furniture and accessories conducive for studying and total relaxation.
Lamar’s chest swelled with pride when he saw a trio of robotic catapults Kendra had constructed for her science project. He leaned closer. “These are incredible.”
“Move back, Daddy. I’m going to show you how they work.”
He took a backward step and watched Kendra place a small Styrofoam ball in the basket. She picked up a remote control device linked to her tablet and tapped the screen. The robotic arm moved up and the ball sailed across the room and bounced off the area rug.
Lamar applauded. “It’s a direct hit! What made you decide to design a catapult?”
Kendra repeated the action with the second robot. “I saw a movie where soldiers filled the baskets of several catapults with hot tar and launched it at the invading army using a battering ram to destroy the walls of the castle.”
Lamar picked up the ball and handed it to Kendra. “You know you’re a genius.” Kendra lowered her eyes. It was obvious he’d embarrassed her. “You’re very smart, Kendra, and it’s time you accept it.”
Her head popped up and she met his eyes. “Smart girls aren’t popular.”
He went completely still. “Popular with who?”
“Everyone, Daddy. Boys always believe they’re smarter than girls, and some girls don’t like me because they think I’m trying to show them up.”
