He sat beside her.
"What's wrong?"
She hesitated.
Then pulled out the assignment.
"Can Mommy be on my family tree?"
Daniel felt his chest tighten.
"Of course."
Amelia looked relieved.
"Even though she died?"
He placed an arm around her.
"Especially because she's your mother. She'll always be part of your family."
The girl smiled.
He kissed her forehead.
Then asked, "Who told you she couldn't?"
Amelia froze.
For a moment, she stared at the paper.
Then she whispered, "Nobody."
Daniel frowned.
"Amelia."
She looked toward the kitchen.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
Her expression was pleasant.
"Everything okay?"
Daniel glanced toward her.
"Amelia's doing a family tree."
Vanessa smiled.
"Oh, yes. We were discussing pictures earlier."
He nodded.
"She wants to include Naomi."
"Of course."
Vanessa's answer was immediate.
Perfect.
As though no disagreement had ever occurred.
Daniel smiled.
"Good."
Amelia looked down.
Something inside her changed that evening.
She realized adults could say different things when her father was present.
And he might believe the version he heard.
The pet camera was installed three months before the seven-day business trip.
It seemed harmless.
Biscuit had begun barking when left alone during the day, and Daniel wanted to check whether the dog was becoming anxious.
He purchased a small home-monitoring camera intended for pet owners.
The device allowed him to view the kitchen feeding area, receive motion and sound alerts, and store recent recordings through an account he managed.
He mounted it on a shelf near the pantry.
Then demonstrated it to Amelia.
"See?"
He opened the app on his phone.
The camera showed Biscuit sitting beside his water bowl.
Amelia laughed.
"He looks famous!"
Daniel grinned.
"Very famous."
She waved toward the lens.
A moment later, the screen showed her waving.
She laughed harder.
"Daddy, can you see me when you're at work?"
"Sometimes, if I open the app."
She smiled.
"Then I can wave at you."
He kissed her forehead.
"Of course."