Page 17 of Judge's Justice

"Like me and Mama?"

"Exactly like you and Mama."

Grace nods slowly. Then she signs, "Okay. I believe you."

Just like that. Simple. Complete trust from a kid who barely knows me.

"Can I ask you something else?" Grace signs.

"Sure."

"Why did Mama cry before?"

I go still. "You saw that?"

"I felt it. She feels different when she's sad. The air gets heavy." Grace tilts her head. "Was it because of my daddy?"

Jesus Christ. This kid is too perceptive.

"Yeah," I sign, because I'm not going to lie to her. "He said things that hurt her feelings."

"He does that a lot. Says mean things and makes Mama cry." Grace's hands move like she's talking about the weather. "That's why we left, I think. Mama didn't tell me but I'm not stupid."

"No, you're definitely not stupid."

"Is my daddy a mean man too? Like the one you fought?"

Fuck. How do I answer that? How do I tell a five-year-old that her father is a manipulative piece of shit without traumatizing her?

"I don't know your daddy," I sign. "But making your mama cry isn't okay. And if he keeps doing it, then yeah. That makes him mean."

Grace considers this. "If he tries to make Mama cry again, will you stop him? Like you stopped the man last night?"

"Yes."

"Good." She pats the handlebars like she's decided something important. "You're nice. You should stay."

"Stay?"

"With us. So Mama doesn't have to be scared anymore. And so I can learn more about motorcycles."

My throat goes tight. "Grace—"

"You don't have to decide right now," she signs seriously, like she's the adult and I'm the kid. "But think about it, okay?"

Before I can respond, the front door opens. Nora steps out onto the porch, and even from here I can see she's been crying. Her eyes are red, her face blotchy, but she's trying to smile. Trying to hold it together for her kid.

"Everything okay out here?" she calls.

"Grace is negotiating to keep the motorcycle," I say.

Nora's smile becomes more real. "Of course she is."

Grace signs at her mother from the bike seat. "Mama, Judge said I look tough!"

"You do look tough," Nora signs back. "Very intimidating."

"Can we get a motorcycle?"