Page 156 of Justice II

“I know. I spoke with the doctor. You’ve done real good.”

“I’m going to keep going to therapy. And anger management. I promise,” she lied. I could feel that she was lying.

“I’m holding you to that.”

“You can. I don’t want to come back here.” She laughed.

She held on to my arm while I finished with the woman who had brought her out. I listened to the reminders, checked that I had the papers, then took Storie’s bag.

We headed toward the parking lot but I was dreading it. I didn’t want to be around her. I didn’t trust her.

“Can we get something good for dinner?” she asked.

“What you want?”

“I don’t know. Anything that doesn’t taste like what they’ve been feeding me.”

“Food that bad?” I asked.

“Yes. You would’ve left the first day.”

“Well, what do you want?”

“I think I want chicken Alfredo.”

“We’ll get you some.”

When we got to the truck, I opened her door and waited while she climbed in. She watched me put her bag in the back before I came around to my side.

“Is Dream still in Pittsburgh?”

“Yeah, I told you that she would be there until the end of the school year,” I replied.

“Why?” she asked.

I sat behind the wheel and looked at her.

“I want to dedicate some time to you getting better. Dream’s good with her grandparents. Right now, I need to focus on you.”

Her mouth started to lift at the corners.

“So it’s just us?”

“Yeah.”

“I think that’ll help,” she said. “Having time with you.”

“We’ll see.”

“I’m serious, Daddy. I’m going to be better. I promise,” she lied.

I reached into the console and handed her a phone.

Her eyes widened.

“You’re giving it back?”

“Don’t make me regret it.”