"Jessica, we got this," Dad said to me in the woods, standing by the crime scene. The sun was just starting to come up. "Go on home and get some rest while we wrap this up. I'll call you in sick for school today." Then he pulled me in for a hug and patted my back.
"Dad, we only have this week and next week of school and then we're out for Christmas Break." Although I was exhausted, I really didn't want to miss any more school than necessary.
"Jess, go home," Dad said, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. "I'm calling the school now." Then he looked over at Faith sitting on the hood of Dakota's pickup truck and frowned as he nodded. "Faith."
Faith nodded back. "Caleb."
Again, I wondered what could have happened between them to make my father dislike her so. But on the other hand, it was probably better that I didn't know. After all, my father was allowed to have had a life before he met my mother. Before I was born.
