Page 145 (1/2)

“How do you know?”

“I just know ”

Grace bit her lower lip nervously “What’s she like?”

Daddy shook his head For a long ti else when he said, “I h school ” His voice eird; it sounded like he had so stuck in his throat “I would have asked her out on that first day, but she was already Mia’s friend So … I tried not to love her … until one night … she al I couldn’t stay away from her after that ”

“Girls aren’t supposed to do that,” Grace mumbled around her thumb

“Your grand That’s what she told my sister, anyway ”

Grace frowned Daddy see like he loved Mommy, but that was stupid because he said she didn’t like him None of this made sense “But she didn’t want me,” Grace said “She left me ”

“Sometimes people don’t have a choice about what they do ”

“Is she gonna visit ain?”

Dad looked down at Grace “Your mom is really special, Princess, and I know she loves you That’s what one is … well, really it wasBut I rong, too ”

“Wrong about what?”

He acted like he was going to say soed his mind He kissed her forehead instead

“Daddy?”

“You go to sleep, baby This is all going to work out You’ll see We’re going to work all this out ”

“But you’ll stay with ht, Daddy?”