One little girl spots Trouble and I by the wall. Her eyes light up as she runs over to us, the rope of her long red braid bouncing back and forth.
“Hi, Dr. Trayce,” she says sweetly.
“Hey, Brittney. How was the story today?”
Her hands clasp together in front of her as she rocks on her feet.
“It was good. It was about a cat who got lost in the woods. She made all kinds of new friends as she was trying to find her way home.”
Crinkles appear beside Trouble’s eyes when he smiles. “That sounds like a fun adventure.”
She nods rapidly before casting her eyes my way curiously. “Who’s that?”
I’m just about to introduce myself when Trouble beats me to it.
“This is my good friend, Remi. Remi, I’d like you to meet, Brittney.”
I bend low and hold out my hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Brittney.”
Her eyes are a beautiful blue, and when she smiles, her little girl cheeks puff out. She’s so cute. “It’s nice to meet you too,” she says shyly.
“Where’s your brother?” Trouble asks.
“He couldn’t come today. Mom, I mean Misty, took him to the dentist because he has a tooth coming in that’s hurting him really bad.”
“Ahh… I see. So, I heard someone has a birthday coming up soon.”
“I do,” Brittney chirps, excitement brightening her eyes.
Trouble narrows his eyes and looks as though he’s thinking about something. “And what will that make you? Seven? Eight?”
She giggles and shakes her head vigorously. “Nah uh. I’ll be eleven.”
He chuckles. “Wow, that old, huh?”
“Yep!” She bites her lip and starts twisting back and forth, her dress billowing out around her legs. “Are you going to come to my party?”
Trouble reaches out and grabs the end of her braid and tugs on it gently. My insides turn to mush when he says, “I wouldn’t miss it. Besides, I’ll have to see you to give you your gift.”
Her eyes widen. “You got me a present?”
Trouble nods.
“Thank you,” she says cheerily. Turning her head, she looks back at the other kids. “I’mma go play before Derek gets here.”
With a wave to both of us, she trots away and sits at a table with another girl. When Brittney whispers something to her, she turns her head to look in our direction and waves so hard her whole body moves. I stop the gasp that’s trying to force its way past my lips, but I can’t stop the instant ache that makes my chest feel heavy. The whole right side of her face is covered in scars. My throat gets tight, and I have to swallow several times to halt my tears.
“What happened to her?” I whisper my question.
I feel Trouble step up behind me and wrap his arms around my waist. He leans his head down and speaks softly in my ear. His words tear a hole in my heart.
“That’s Gabby. She’s ten. She came to live here four years ago with her mom, Laura. Gabby’s father beat them both, but Gabby got the brunt of it because she’s not his daughter. Laura had an affair, and while that may be fucked up, it didn’t give her husband the right to beat on either of them. Those scars are from when he pushed her face onto an electric burner.”
I suck in a breath, pain instantly clutching my stomach, and I dig my nails into his forearm.
“The father was a big political figure, and he managed to have what he did covered up. Two weeks after it happened, Judge and I paid him a visit. He didn’t leave the encounter breathing.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, pushing away the pain for the little girl that’s trying to cripple me. I’m ashamed when elation fills me at knowing the monster who hurt Gabby is no longer alive. Life is precious, and that man didn’t deserve to live his.