Picking Up the Pieces by Elizabeth Hayley Page A

that could even reduce a ball buster like Amanda to tears. And my heart hurt with a familiar ache just watching her experience it.
    ***
    I tried to leave Amanda alone most of the weekend in the hopes that by getting a little space she would come to her senses and talk to Shane. But by Tuesday afternoon she’d already joined a new gym. So much for coming to her senses.
    I’d been so preoccupied with making sure she didn’t hang herself with the cord of her hair straightener that I hadn’t even thought about my “encounter” with Adam.
                  Until Wednesday morning, that is.
     

Chapter 12: Adam
     
    “Eva, you ready?” I walked toward the front door, not waiting for her to reply. I stood there, trying to force patience into my countenance. It was nearly friggin’ impossible.
    Finally, she bounded down the stairs and eyed me suspiciously. “Why are you standing there like that?”
    “Like what? I’m just waiting for you.” My eyes narrowed in confusion. Why am I answering to my thirteen-year-old daughter?
    “Waiting for me, why?”
    “So I can have you help me drag a body from my trunk,” I said with an eye roll. “So I can take you to school. Why else?”
    Eva checked her phone and then looked back at me as if trying to fit pieces of a puzzle together, but no matter how she spun them, they just didn’t fit. “I haven’t missed the bus. Why are you driving me?”
    “I thought I’d be nice and drop you off. Am I not allowed to do something nice for you?” The look on her face let me know she wasn’t buying it. The truth was, I didn’t offer her the ride to be nice. I did it in the off chance that I’d get to see Lily. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was going to do when I did see her, but I’d figure all that out when the time came. “Fine,” I sighed. “I read a story in the newspaper about a bus driver who kidnapped one of the students on his route and held her hostage for three weeks before they found her. She’s so traumatized that she hasn’t spoken in four months. I guess the story makes me a little nervous about you riding the bus.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Are you going to pick me up in the afternoon too?”
    Shit. “No.”
    “Why not?” She put a hand to her hip and awaited my response. When had she become so skeptical?
    “Because I don’t view sixty-year-old Doris Callahan as much of a threat to your safety. Can we go now, please?” Thank the Lord her afternoon driver was a female. Otherwise I would've been totally fucked.
    Eva’s face softened and she dropped her hand from her hip. She started toward the door, but stopped in front of me, suddenly wrapping her arms around my torso.
    “Thanks, Daddy.”
    I hugged her back firmly and dropped my cheek to the top of her head. “Anytime, baby. It’s my job to keep you safe.” I am really going to burn in hell for this one.
    Eva pulled away, bounced out the door, and got in the car. As I locked the house, I hoped that, however things played out with Lily, it was worth lying my ass off to my daughter.
    ***
    Eva had actually kissed me on the cheek before exiting the car and making her way into the school building. I should’ve felt disappointed in myself for getting her affection in such a devious manner, but I was eating it up. The way I saw it, this was retroactive payment for all the things I had done for her over the past thirteen years that I hadn’t gotten a shred of appreciation for. Like talking to her about her period. I was definitely owed for that one.
    But Eva had left the car five minutes ago and I was still at the end of the driveway leading up to Swift Middle School. I had scanned the teacher parking lot and didn’t see Lily’s car. She’s probably running late, as usual. Why I was still sitting there though, I didn’t know. I just couldn’t bring myself to pull away. So, instead, I sat there like a third-rate stalker hoping to catch a glimpse of a woman I wasn’t even sure I