Page 128 of Twisted Metal

Dad studied me carefully. “Are you safe now? Or do you still have to stay here for a while?”

“Well, while it’s apparently now safe for you to come visit, I’ll probably have to stay here until they mount their case against Gordon and Griggs.”

“So, I can at least come visit you?”

“Without a shadow of a doubt,” Range said as he poked his head outside. “Is Dad hungry?”

“Starving,” Dad said over his shoulder.

“One plate of food, coming up,” Range said.

And that’s when Dad finally relaxed back into the chair.

“Well, if you’re happy and you’re safe, that’s all a father can ask for. Just promise me one thing.”

“Anything,” I said as Dutch and Troop stood in the doorway, their arms crossed over their chests.

“Promise me that whatever makes you happy, you’ll chase it this time. Forget about what other people want. Forget about what life tells you that you should have. Whatever is making you this happy, chase it, Naomi.”

Range appeared in the doorway with a plate full of food as he stood in between Dutch and Troop. I gazed around at all three of them, feeling my heart grow three sizes just to accommodate the love I had found for them. And as I sat there, processing this newfound life of mine, I answered my father with all of the confidence the world had to offer me.

“I promise.”