The afternoon sun was burning the high school parking lot. I sat in the driver’s seat of the SUV, the air conditioning humming, making me cool even though it was hot out. I was here to pick up Angel as per her request this morning.
I kept checking my watch. And now, it was almost time. Elena was still at the office, but Angel had texted me three times to make sure I was the one picking her up.
Then, the bell rang. A sea of teenagers poured out of the front doors, all of them shouting and laughing. My eyes scanned the crowd until I spotted her.
She was impossible to miss. She was wearing that same tiny black skirt and white shirt, her backpack slung over one shoulder. The moment she saw my car, her whole face lit up. She started running.
"Daddy!" she screamed, loud enough for a few othe
