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His reaction sets me off I stand up and my chair scoots back with a screech "Let me tell you what I think, Dad" I take a step away from the table and point at hiht money could take the place of your responsibilities Your choices drove hters with nothing, not even a role model in their lives Not to mention all the people you swindled money from in your company And you blame everyone else Because you’re a really shitty human And an even shittier father!" I say "I don’t know Charlie and Janette very well, but I think they deserve better"

I turn and walk away, tossing a couple of final words over my shoulder "Goodbye, Brett! Have a nice life!"

I’ainst the windshield and writing down notes when she returns She was in there for more than an hour, so I did what she said and cas I sit up straight when I see her I don’t ask her if she found out anything; I just wait for her to say so She doesn’t look like she wants to be spoken to at this point

She’s heading straight for the car She makes brief eye contact with me as she passes me I turn my head and watch her as she walks swiftly to the rear of the car and then back to the front again Then to the rear Back to the front

Her hands are clenched in fists at her side Janette opens the front door and steps out of the car

"What’d the world’s greatest prison-dad have to say?"

Charlie stops in her tracks "Did you know about Cora?"

Janette pulls her neck back and shakes her head "Cora? Who?"

"The Shrimp!" Charlie says loudly "Did you know he’s her father?"

Janette’s mouth drops open and I immediately ju toward Charlie

She pulls her hands up and rubs theers into a steeple as she breathes in slowly "Silas, I think you were right This isn’t a dream"