“Not another word.”
Margaret stared at him.
Daniel had never spoken to his mother that way.
Not at sixteen.
Not at thirty.
Not when she questioned Amelia’s adoption.
Never.
He turned to Noah.
“Show me.”
Noah placed the phone in his hand.
A folder was open.
DINNER.
Thirty-seven videos.
Daniel’s stomach dropped.
The first was dated five weeks earlier.
He tapped it.
The camera angle came from Noah’s lap beneath the table.
Margaret’s voice was immediately recognizable.
“Put that chair back.”
Amelia appeared at the edge of the frame holding a plate.
“Grandma, Daddy says I sit here.”
“Your father isn’t here.”
“But—”
“Floor.”
The video shook.
Amelia whispered:
“I don’t want to.”
Margaret answered:
“Then don’t eat.”
Daniel stopped the recording.
He could hear his own breathing.
Amelia stood behind him now.
Close.
Sunny beside her.
Margaret said:
“You’re seeing fragments.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Fragments?”
“She has behavioral issues.”
“She’s six.”
“She manipulates you.”
Daniel stared.
Margaret pointed toward Amelia.
“That child knows exactly how to make everyone feel sorry for her.”
Amelia flinched.
Daniel saw it.
Something inside him became very calm.
“Do not point at her.”
Margaret lowered her hand.
Rebecca stood behind her mother.
“Daniel, Mom has been under a lot of stress.”
He looked at his sister.
“You knew?”
Rebecca’s face changed.
Daniel asked again.
“Did you know she was feeding my daughter on the floor?”
“It wasn’t every night.”
Wrong answer.
Greg closed his eyes.
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Get out.”
Rebecca blinked.
“What?”
“You.”
He pointed toward Greg.
“Him.”
Then toward Mason.
“Take your son and leave.”
“Daniel.”
“Now.”
Rebecca stepped toward him.
“You are not throwing us out because Amelia—”
Daniel’s face changed.
She stopped.
“Finish that sentence.”
Rebecca looked away.
Margaret said:
“This is my family too.”
Daniel turned toward her.
“No.”
His voice was low.
“This is my house.”
“These are my children.”
“You are here because I trusted you.”
Margaret’s lips tightened.
“And what do you think will happen when you travel again?”
Daniel went still.
She had found the wound.
She continued.
“You think one emotional night makes you a full-time father?”
Noah whispered:
“Grandma.”
“Be quiet.”
Margaret looked at Daniel.
“You’re gone half the month.”
“I’m the one waking Amelia when she screams.”
“I’m the one making breakfast.”
“I’m the one taking Noah to school when he misses the bus.”
“I’m the one holding this family together while you chase contracts.”
Every accusation had some truth.
That was what made it dangerous.
Daniel looked toward his children.
Noah lowered his eyes.
Amelia pressed against Sunny.
Margaret continued:
“You want to play outraged father now because you happened to walk in at an inconvenient moment?”
Daniel swallowed.