Page 60 of Doctor Grump

But then, it didn’t take long for the anger to set in.

So we had one argument, and she decided to take off like a coward without even giving each of us a chance to cool down and think about it? One argument, and she was ready to call our entire relationship quits?

Well, she was out of her mind if she thought I was giving up that easily.

She had done something to me, made me feel these things for her that I had never felt before. I couldn’t let it go just like that.

I would find her and bring her back, even if she fought me every step of the way.

I immediately headed out to get ready to find Piper. Unfortunately, it was a Saturday, and I didn’t have a babysitter lined up. While on the phone, trying to reach the babysitter, I went out to where my daughter was sitting at the dining room table, having cereal. She turned as I came in.

“Hi, Dad,” she greeted. “Where’s Piper?”

“She’s gone out,” I answered simply, then squatted in front of her until we were eye to eye. “Listen, I’m going to go out for a few minutes to help Piper with something, and we don’t have a babysitter for you. So I’m going to have to take a chance and trust you. This is your chance to prove to me that you can be the big girl you always claim you are, take care of yourself, and not do anything crazy.”

Excitement glinted in her gaze as she nodded. “Yes! Don’t worry, Dad. I won’t let you down.”

I didn’t think she would, but one never knew. “You know where all the emergency numbers are.”

“Yes, Dad. And I already know all the rules.”

“Don’t use—”

“—the gas. Don’t touch any wires, and if I need anything, I should call you and ask first. Yes, Dad, I got it. Believe it or not, Mom used to leave me home all the time, and nothing bad ever happened. I honestly never needed a babysitter.”

Still, I didn’t feel completely okay leaving her by herself. I hesitated, feeling the urgency to go find Piper and settle this war with my duty to my daughter.

Kendy rolled her eyes, apparently impatient with my lack of decision-making. “And I swear I won’t go running off again. I understand now how dangerous it is and why you and Piper were so freaked out by the whole thing.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “You do?”

“Yes. Piper and I watched this show where a bunch of girls ran away from home and got kidnapped by this truck driver. Only one of them made it back. Pretty gory stuff.”

“I see.” I didn’t know how I felt about Piper letting my daughter watch mature content like that, but I suppose it was worth it to get Kendy to finally understand the repercussions of her actions. “So here’s what’s going to happen. You’re not going to touch anything that looks dangerous or looks like it will hurt you. There are some leftovers in the fridge, so you don’t need to cook anything. Heat it in the microwave and have that for lunch if I’m not back, but I should be home by lunchtime.”

“Alright, Dad.”

“And don’t open the door for anyone who isn’t me. And don’t invite anyone over either. This isn’t a hotel.”

“Aye, aye, captain.”

Despite her cheeky tone, I couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re an okay kid. You know that?”

“I’m not a kid, Dad.” She wrinkled her nose, and I tweaked it. Then she smiled. “I guess you’re an okay dad too.”

“Be good, kiddo,” I said, ruffling Kendy’s hair as I finally stood up. I made her recite all the emergency numbers and also everything that constituted an emergency. Only when I was certain that my daughter would be fine by herself did I finally let myself leave. In the car, I called my secretary, telling her to reschedule all my appointments for the day. I usually hated taking time off, knowing that so many people needed me. But this was important.

I also called Monty as I drove. I asked him if he had seen or heard from Piper today, and he admitted he had not. He did, however, manage to give me Satiago’s number, who was the next person I dialed.

“Hey, it’s Ian,” I said when he answered. “Have you seen Piper?”

“Ian.” His tone was odd, tense. “I was just about to call you.”

“Call me about what?”

There was a pause at the other end of the line. “I have bad news.”

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