Margaret:
“Adults say things when they’re emotional. You were adopted once. You can be placed somewhere else again.”
Daniel’s knees nearly gave out.
Rebecca whispered:
“Mom…”
Even she sounded horrified.
Margaret looked around.
“I was trying to make her listen.”
Daniel handed Amelia to Noah.
“Take your sister upstairs.”
Amelia tightened around him.
“No.”
“Sweetheart.”
“No, Daddy.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Daniel kissed her forehead.
“I’m staying right here.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
He looked at Noah.
“Take Sunny too.”
Noah nodded.
He reached for Amelia’s hand.
Daniel lowered her.
She still clung to his shirt.
He knelt.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“You are my daughter.”
Her lip trembled.
“Okay?”
She nodded.
“No one can send you anywhere.”
Another nod.
“This is your home.”
“Okay.”
“You sit at my table.”
She started crying again.
Daniel hugged her.
“Every meal.”
He whispered.
“Every birthday.”
“Every Christmas.”
“Every ordinary Tuesday.”
“You are my daughter.”
He pulled back.
“Go with Noah for five minutes.”
This time she did.
Noah took her hand.
Sunny followed.
They disappeared upstairs.
Daniel waited until he heard the bedroom door close.
Then he turned.
Margaret started:
“Daniel—”
“Pack.”
She stared.
“What?”
“You’re leaving.”
“This is my home too.”
“No.”
“You invited me to live here.”
“I am ending the invitation.”
“You cannot throw me into the street.”
“I am not.”
He took out his phone.
“I’ll pay for a hotel tonight.”
“I’ll have your belongings delivered wherever you choose tomorrow.”
Margaret’s face reddened.
“You are choosing her over your own mother.”
Daniel stared at her.
“No.”
“I am choosing my child over the person hurting her.”
“That should never have been a competition.”
Rebecca said:
“You’re overreacting.”
Daniel looked at her.
Rebecca faltered.
He asked:
“How many times?”
She said nothing.
“How many times did you eat at this table while Amelia sat on the floor?”
Rebecca looked down.
“Four.”
Greg whispered:
“Five.”
Rebecca snapped toward him.
“Greg.”
He stared at the table.
“It was five.”
Daniel nodded.
“Get out.”
Rebecca’s eyes filled.
“You’re my brother.”
“And she is my daughter.”
“I never made her sit there.”
“You sat here.”
“I told Mom it was too much.”
“Then you picked up your fork.”
Rebecca flinched.
Daniel pointed toward the front door.
“Go.”
Mason had begun crying.
Daniel softened when he saw his nephew.
“Hey.”
The boy looked at him.
“This is not your fault.”