BY NOW MICHAEL AND Eva were used to her being silent at the dinner table. The steak and salad was perfect, as was every meal Michael cooked, so Julie actually enjoyed dinners, except when he would try to engage her.
“Are things better at school?” he asked.
Julie nodded without looking at him. “Yeah, it was just a rough week.”
“Good to hear,” Michael finished, not wanting to press his luck.
After dinner Julie turned in early. Her mother and Michael were used to her locking herself in her room at night so she figured all she had to do was wait until she could slip out the back door. Her moment arrived while her mother and Michael were watching a news segment where the Prime Minister of Canada tried to look pleased during his meeting with the American President. Julie seized her opportuni
