Tegan doesn’t seem to mind the cat’s airs, and rushes to scoop her into her arms. “Prissy!”

The cat is further rewarded for her disappearing act with a shower of kisses.

Shaking my head, I herd both cat and human into the house, where the three of us spend the evening snuggled on the couch watching a romantic movie and just plain appreciating being together.

But I can’t concentrate on the plot. My attention keeps drifting to Tegan and the way she’s holding Priscilla tight to her chest and cuddling the cat non-stop. And I can’t help but wonder if her reaction today was normal. Yes, people get attached to their pets and consider them almost human, like a member of the family. But Tegan was desperate, anguished, grief-stricken. A hard question pops into my head: does Tegan have abandonment issues?

I reflect on everything Lucas and I discussed. Like it or not, he is a good therapist, and even if I don’t want to admit it, he might have a better insight into what troubles my daughter a month after knowing her than I do after a lifetime spent together.

He was right when he said Tegan’s father is a giant blind spot for me. But not anymore. I purse my lips and make a decision: time to tell Tegan who her father is. But, how?

I mentally scoff when I come to the realization that the best person to ask for advice is none other than Shrink Shrek.

***

Tegan still has another week of early morning detention, so the next day, I beat Shrek to the office and wait for him to show up outside his door.

Lucas steps out of the elevator twenty minutes later, as impeccably dressed as always and just as annoyingly good looking.

“Finally,” I greet him. “I thought I’d have to wait here all morning.”

He scowls at finding me guarding his ogre’s lair. “I’m sorry, did we have an appointment I forgot about?”

Dr. Ogre unlocks his door and I follow him inside the office. “We do now.”

“Why, no, you aren’t getting in the way of an appointment I already have scheduled,” he says sarcastically.

“You never schedule a session before ten a.m.,” I retort.

His ridiculously blue eyes widen. “Have you been secretly keeping tabs on me?”

“I’m just observant.”

Lucas takes his seat behind the desk, showing me the same armchair as last time. “Please make yourself at home.” He crosses his hands on the table. “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”

I sit and get straight to the point. “I want to tell Tegan about her father.”

All the sarcasm evaporates from Lucas’ features, and he becomes immediately serious but smiley, if that’s even a thing. “Good,” he says. “It’s the right choice. When do you want to tell her?”

“Oh no, not me. You’re going to do it.”

“Me?”