His anger turned inward for half a second.
Margaret saw it.
She pushed.
“You left them with me.”
“Yes.”
Daniel nodded.
“I did.”
She seemed surprised.
He continued:
“That is on me.”
Margaret lifted her chin.
“Exactly.”
“But what you did while I trusted you is on you.”
Her expression hardened.
“I taught a spoiled child consequences.”
“You taught my daughter she isn’t family.”
Margaret opened her mouth.
Daniel stepped closer.
“If that is what you believe, say it to me.”
She stared.
“Not to a six-year-old.”
“To me.”
Rebecca whispered:
“Daniel, don’t.”
He ignored her.
“Say what you’ve been telling her.”
Margaret’s eyes filled with anger.
“You know exactly what I think.”
“No.”
“I want to hear it.”
“She is adopted.”
Amelia made a tiny sound.
Daniel did not turn.
He forced himself to remain facing Margaret.
Margaret continued:
“That is not an insult.”
“No.”
“Then why are you acting like one?”
“Because you made it one.”
Margaret laughed bitterly.
“I am the only person in this house willing to think about reality.”
“What reality?”
“Noah is your son.”
Daniel stared.
Margaret nodded toward Amelia.
“She is a child you and Laura brought home because Laura couldn’t stop trying to save people.”
Daniel’s face lost all expression.
Noah stood fully upright.
“Grandma, shut up.”
Margaret turned.
“Do not speak to me that way.”
Noah’s chair crashed backward.
“You told her Mom only adopted her because she felt sorry for her.”
Daniel’s head snapped toward his son.
Amelia started crying.
Not loudly.
Silently.
Tears sliding down her cheeks.
Daniel felt his heart physically hurt.
He crouched immediately.
“Amelia.”
She stepped backward.
That movement nearly destroyed him.
For one terrible second, his own daughter was afraid to move toward him because she did not know which adult version of the world had won.
Daniel opened his arms.
“Come here.”
She ran.
He caught her.
Her arms locked around his neck.
“I’m sorry.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“No.”
“I tried to be good.”
“No, sweetheart.”
“I ate everything.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t spill.”
“I know.”
“She said if I made trouble you’d send me back.”
Daniel froze.
The room vanished.
All he could hear was his daughter’s breath against his neck.
“What?”
Amelia cried harder.
“She said you were tired.”
“She said I make you tired.”
Daniel slowly stood with her in his arms.
He looked at Margaret.
His mother’s face changed.
For the first time, she looked uncertain.
Daniel said:
“You told her I would send her back?”
Margaret shook her head.
“Not like that.”
Noah grabbed his phone.
“I have that too.”
Margaret moved again.
Daniel turned his body so Amelia could not see.
“Do not come near him.”
Margaret stopped.
Noah searched.
Then played another recording.
Margaret’s voice.
Clear.
“If your father keeps getting calls from school because you’re upset, he will decide this was too much.”
Amelia’s small voice:
“Daddy said I’m forever.”