For months, their lives had been filled with paperwork.
Police reports.
Statements.
Invoices.
Legal notices.
Repair records.
And correspondence that seemed to stretch the conflict long after the broken window had been replaced.
Now several of those obligations were finally being resolved.
Marcus looked toward the clubhouse, where Emily was helping pack away the educational displays.
"Feels strange, doesn't it?"
Daniel frowned.
"What does?"
"Not having another problem waiting around the corner."
Daniel laughed softly.
"Don't tempt fate."
Marcus grinned.
They stood quietly for a moment.
Then Daniel said something he had been considering for weeks.
"I used to think that because of my job, I'd know what to do if something dangerous happened to my family."
Marcus looked toward him.
Daniel continued.
"But when I heard that window break, I wasn't thinking like an investigator."
He paused.
"I was thinking like a father."
Marcus nodded.
"That makes sense."
Daniel looked toward Emily.
"I kept wondering whether I'd failed to protect her."
For a moment, Marcus was silent.
Then he answered.
"You couldn't control Deborah's decision."
Daniel glanced toward him.
Marcus continued.
"But you were there afterward. You made sure Emily was safe. You listened when she was frightened. You helped her get comfortable in her room again."
He looked toward the girl.
"That's what a father can do."
Daniel swallowed.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he nodded.
"Thank you."
Marcus smiled.
"Anytime."
As the families began leaving, Emily approached carrying a folded piece of paper.
She looked toward Marcus.
"I made something for you."
He smiled.
"Another astronomy project?"
She shook her head.
"Not exactly."
She handed him the paper.
He unfolded it carefully.
It was a drawing.
On one side stood two suburban houses separated by a wooden fence.
One belonged to Marcus.
The other was Daniel and Emily's home.
The repaired bedroom window was visible beneath the roof.
Above the houses stretched an enormous night sky filled with stars.
A small telescope stood in the backyard.
Beside it, Emily had drawn three people.
One tall man with dark hair.
Another wearing a blue jacket.
And a girl holding a star chart.
Marcus stared.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Then he noticed the sentence she'd written beneath the drawing.
Good neighbors help make a place feel like home.
His eyes filled.
He looked toward Emily.
"Sweetheart, this is beautiful."
She smiled.
"I wanted to thank you."
Marcus shook his head.
"You don't have to thank me."
"I know."
She looked toward the drawing.
"But I wanted to."
He crouched slightly.
Then asked whether he could give her a hug.
She nodded.
He hugged her gently.
For a moment, Daniel looked away, his own eyes shining.