Emma’s mouth opened.
“My daddy steals?”
“Words.”
“Oh.”
“Mostly.”
They sat in silence.
Then Emma asked:
“Can we make a video?”
“For your dad?”
“Yes.”
Rosa held up her phone.
They recorded Emma beside the water.
She held up two fingers.
“I caught one fish.”
Cole whispered:
“One.”
Emma ignored him.
“One almost counts as two because it was my first.”
Behind the camera, Rosa laughed.
Emma continued.
“Daddy, Cole says your first fish was tiny and Grandma says you're a liar.”
Cole’s eyes widened.
“I did not say liar.”
Emma continued smoothly.
“And I’m still mad you missed it.”
Rosa’s smile faded.
Emma looked directly into the camera.
“But I still love you.”
Then she held up a dandelion she had brought from home.
“And I kept this because you say they're stubborn flowers.”
She paused.
“Come home before it turns into dust.”
Rosa stopped recording.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Cole looked toward the lake.
Rosa wiped her eyes.
Emma asked:
“Can we eat now?”
Everyone laughed from relief.
They grilled hamburgers near the picnic shelter.
The riders told stories.
None were suitable for five-year-old ears, so they repeatedly stopped halfway and edited themselves.
Emma noticed.
“You keep skipping the good parts.”
Ben said:
“The good parts become legal problems.”
Rosa stared.
Ben immediately studied his plate.
After lunch, Cole received a phone call.
He looked at the screen.
Walked away.
Emma watched.
The conversation lasted less than a minute.
When he returned, something had changed.
Rosa noticed first.
“What?”
Cole shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“Cole.”
He glanced toward Emma.
Rosa understood.
“Emma, go ask Ben how motorcycles steer.”
Emma looked suspicious.
“I already know.”
“Pretend you don't.”
Emma sighed.
“Adults are terrible at secrets.”
She rolled away.
Rosa stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Cole lowered his voice.
“Mateo called.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you look like that?”
Cole looked toward Emma.
“He saw the fishing video.”
“That fast?”
“I sent it.”
“And?”
“He cried.”
Rosa smiled faintly.
“That sounds like Mateo.”
Cole did not smile.
“There’s something else.”
Rosa’s stomach tightened.
“What?”
“His orders changed.”
She grabbed his arm.
“Good change?”
Cole nodded.
Rosa held her breath.
“When?”
“He doesn't want Emma told.”
“When, Cole?”
He finally answered.