Amazing!! I can't imagine myself waiting one second - much less all day!
One look at the little girl's eyes and fake smile in that photo makes me think she is a victim of some type of abuse, and has been for some time before now. The step-father sounds guilty as all get out.
I thought the same thing about her picture.....like she’s seen BAD things in her life and is sick of it. DIVORCE is bad.
Not saying she was not abused, but a lot of girls in this age group smile like that in formal pictures. Their permanent teeth are either not done coming in, or have come in crooked, and they are self-concious about it. My 8 y.o. granddaughter has the same sort of smile in her school pics this year, and her teeth are not done coming in yet.
I'd read far more into the statement about 'might have gone to a friend's house in the night', and that the thought of leaving her alone to go out drinking or whatever would be considered 'normal' for the household.