Denise studied her.
Then looked toward the hallway.
"Is she sick?"
"No."
"Then I'd like to say hello."
Vanessa's smile became thin.
"Daniel and I are trying to establish some routines. Unexpected visits aren't helping."
The words stung.
Denise took a breath.
"I'm her grandmother."
"I know."
"She likes seeing me."
"Of course."
Vanessa glanced toward the car.
"Call next time."
Before Denise could answer, she closed the door.
The older woman stood on the porch.
For several seconds, she stared at the wood.
Then she looked toward the upstairs windows.
Something felt wrong.
She took out her phone.
Called Daniel.
His voicemail answered.
She left a message.
"Daniel, this is Denise. I stopped by to see Amelia, but Vanessa said she couldn't come down. Call me when you have a minute, please."
Then she drove away.
Vanessa watched from the window until the car disappeared.
She turned.
Amelia stood halfway down the staircase.
Her face lit up.
"Was that Grandma Denise?"
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Get back upstairs."
The little girl stared.
"But I heard her."
"I said upstairs."
Amelia began crying.
"I wanted to see her."
Vanessa pointed toward the steps.
"Then you should've behaved better."
The child obeyed.
Vanessa returned to the kitchen.
She opened her phone.
And deleted the voicemail notification from the household tablet that displayed linked family messages.
The act did not erase the message from Daniel's phone.
But she believed he would be too busy to notice.
She was wrong.
That afternoon, Amelia returned from school to find her lunchbox missing from its usual place.
She looked toward the kitchen counter.
Vanessa was talking with Trevor on speakerphone.
"I told you, they want another authorization."
Trevor sounded irritated.
"Then get it."
"It's not that simple."
"Vanessa, I already covered the operating expenses."
She lowered her voice.
"Don't talk about this now."
He paused.
"Is the kid there?"
Vanessa looked toward Amelia.
"Go upstairs."
The girl obeyed.