Page 138 of Justice II

“Everything good?”

“Daddy?”

My shoulders relaxed as soon as I heard Dream.

“Hey, babygirl.”

“Can you come get me?”

“What happened?”

“Nothing. I miss you. I’m ready to come home.”

“I miss you, too.”

“Then come get me,” she whined.

I leaned back against the headrest, looking through the windshield. She made it sound so easy. I wanted to drive straight to Pittsburgh and bring her home, but I couldn’t. Storie would be home in about a week, and it wasn’t safe for her yet.

“What you and Grandma been doing?”

“Daddy, you didn’t answer me.”

Damn. She wasn’t letting me change the subject.

“You’re gonna finish the school year there, remember?”

“That’s too long.”

“I know it feels long.”

“It is long.”

“I’m coming to see you in two weekends.”

“Two?”

She dragged the word out so loud I moved the phone away from my ear.

“Yes, two. I’ll be there before you know it.”

“I know it right now.”

I laughed despite everything on my mind. “You got an answer for everything today, huh?”

“Because I wanna come home.”

That wiped the smile off my face.

I hated hearing her ask for something I couldn’t give her. She had clothes and toys at her grandparents’ house. They loved having her there. None of that changed the fact that she wanted to be with me.

“I want you home, too, baby. Just give Daddy a little more time.”

She sighed into the phone, making sure I heard how disappointed she was.

“Can you bring my pink blanket when you come?”

“Yeah. What else you need?”