He'd been planning to surprise Lily with ice cream.
Instead, he was watching his wife point angrily at his crying daughter.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
He needed to understand what was happening before his anger made the situation worse.
Then Vanessa spoke again.
"Go upstairs. You can wait until dinner like everyone else."
Lily slowly slid from her chair.
Her small feet touched the floor.
She looked toward the kitchen.
Then toward the staircase.
"Please," she whispered. "Just one cracker?"
Vanessa slapped her palm against the table.
"No!"
Lily recoiled.
That was when Marcus finally spoke.
"Vanessa."
His voice was quiet.
But it stopped her immediately.
She turned toward the hallway.
For a fraction of a second, genuine panic crossed her face.
Then her expression changed, and she smiled with the sudden warmth of someone greeting an unexpected guest.
"Marcus! You're home early."
He didn't return the smile.
His eyes remained fixed on Lily.
The child had turned toward him, but she hadn't run forward the way she usually did.
She stood beside the table with one hand against her cheek, staring as though she wasn't certain whether she was allowed to approach.
Marcus placed his briefcase on the floor.
"Lily?"
Her lower lip began trembling.
Then she ran.
He crouched just in time to catch her as she threw both arms around his neck.
"Daddy!"
Her voice broke.
He held her tightly.
"Hey, sweetheart. What's wrong?"
Lily buried her face against his shoulder.
For several seconds, she couldn't answer.
Then she whispered the words that would change the entire course of his afternoon.
"Daddy, I was just hungry."
Marcus closed his eyes.
His daughter was trembling.
He could feel it through the soft cardigan.
He looked over her shoulder toward Vanessa.
"What happened?"
Vanessa folded her arms.
"She was trying to steal food from Mason."
Marcus frowned.
"Steal food?"
"Yes. I told her to wait, but she keeps sneaking into the kitchen and taking things that belong to other people."
He looked down at the little girl.
Lily shook her head against his shoulder.
"I didn't steal."
Marcus rubbed her back.
"Okay, sweetheart. Nobody's saying you're in trouble right now."
Vanessa sighed dramatically.
"Marcus, please don't encourage this."