“Where’s the rest?” he asked, his eyes boring into mine.

“That’s it. You didn’t leave another one.”

He nodded slowly, then turned his attention to his salad, spearing hunks of cheese with his fork.

“I really don’t want to ask this, but Xander brought up a point,” I started.

“You played this for your brother?” he snapped.

“I did. I was hoping he’d already given you what you asked for.” My entire body felt tense, like I had to balance on the one cleared spot of a minefield. There was nowhere to move without getting blown up.

“Ask your question.”

Dorothy raised her eyebrows but didn’t say a word.

“Do you remember leaving the message? Is this…really you asking for this?” The stem of the fork bit into my finger, I gripped it so hard.

Dad studied me, his gaze unforgiving and harsh. Then he stabbed more of the cheese, avoiding the lettuce. “No. I don’t remember leaving it.”

I sagged in my chair. Had I really come all this way—?

“But it’s true. I want one. I’ve been telling him that for a while.” He shoved a forkful in his mouth and began chewing.

“I’ll talk to Xander again.” I didn’t mention that my brother had frozen me out since I brought up the DNR in the first place.

His posture softened. “He won’t change his mind. Once Xander thinks he’s right, that’s all there is to it.”

“This is your choice to make. Not his.” The weight of what it would mean to fight Xander settled on my heart. “If this is what you want, I’ll fight for it.”

He scoffed. “You willing to take on the town? Because that’s Judge Bradley sitting on that bench. Not sure if you remember, but he hates you.”

“Don’t pull any punches, Dad.” I pushed my salad around the bowl as my mind raced.

“You’ve never been the one who needed me to,” he replied.

“And Judge Bradley hardly constitutes taking on the entire town. He’s one man.” One man who wouldn’t bother pissing on me if I were on fire, but still.

“One man who’s up for a retention vote this November,” Dorothy noted. “He’ll take public opinion into account—you can be sure of it.”

“How is that fair? He’s a judge.”

“Since when is politics fair? Don’t forget, your own brother is the mayor,” she countered.

“Xander isn’t corrupt,” Dad snapped. “Don’t even think about implying that.”

“Relax, Art. I’m just saying that Judge Bradley isn’t going to forget that it’s Mayor Daniels on the other side of that courtroom.”