Phoebe thought about that.

“That’s the most self-aware thing you’ve ever said,” she told me, which is the kind of remark a twelve-year-old makes when she has been raised by people who talk like this at dinner, and which I have decided to take as the compliment it was about sixty percent meant to be.

Chapter 16 — What Gwendolyn Said

Gwendolyn Fairchild is eligible for parole in her seventh year, which was this one.

I filed a statement, as I have every opportunity, and I would file it again. She tied my daughter to a pillar.

But Phoebe asked to speak to her first, and I said absolutely not, and Phoebe said, “Why?”

And I gave her four reasons, and my daughter took all four apart in about nine minutes, and the last one standing was: because I don’t want you to.