Then he holds out his hand.
"Take care of her."
I look at Lucy before I take it.
"I will."
My answer comes easy.
"Every day for the rest of my life."
His grip tightens once before he lets go.
"I believe you."
Lucy wraps her arms around her mom one last time.
"I'll call you tomorrow."
Karen nods. "I'd like that."
Lucy gives her one more squeeze before climbing into the truck.
I walk around to the driver's side and slide behind the wheel.
Neither of us says anything until we're halfway down the road.
Lucy reaches across the console and slips her hand into mine.
"That was hard."
"Yeah."
She stares out the window for a minute.
"I don't know if he'll really change."
"I don't either."
She nods slowly.
"But at least he admitted what he did."
"That's something."
She turns toward me.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For standing beside me."
Her fingers tighten around mine.
"I don't think I could've done that alone."
I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss the back of it before setting it back on the console.
