Daniel had arrived.
He stopped in the hallway.
His eyes moved from Lily's tearful face to the pink dress on the floor.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"What happened?"
No one answered immediately.
Lily pressed closer to me.
Daniel lowered his briefcase.
He approached slowly and crouched in front of his daughter.
"Hey, sweetheart."
She wiped her eyes.
"Daddy..."
He looked at the dress.
"Did something happen to your dress?"
Lily nodded.
Vanessa immediately spoke.
"She was refusing to put it away, and Margaret started interfering."
Daniel raised one hand.
"Please."
Vanessa stopped.
He turned back toward Lily.
"You're not in trouble."
My granddaughter looked toward her stepmother.
Daniel noticed.
He took a slow breath.
Then he said, "Would you like to go sit with Grandma for a few minutes while I talk to Vanessa?"
Lily nodded.
He kissed her forehead.
"I love you."
She whispered, "Love you too."
I guided her toward the sitting room.
As we passed the dress, Lily stopped.
She looked down.
I bent and picked it up.
I shook the fabric gently and folded it over my arm.
Then I handed it back to her.
"Here you go, sweetheart."
She held it tightly.
From the hallway, I heard Daniel speak.
His voice was quiet.
But there was something in it I hadn't heard in years.
Certainty.
"We need to talk about what you've been telling my daughter."
Vanessa began answering.
I didn't stay to listen.
I had a frightened little girl beside me.
And for once, I knew exactly where I needed to be.
We sat together in the small sitting room near the back of the house.
Lily held the pink dress in her lap.
She had stopped crying, but her breathing was uneven, and she kept glancing toward the hallway whenever the adults' voices became louder.
I moved closer.
"Would you like some water?"
She shook her head.
"Okay."
For a while, I let her sit quietly.
Then she touched the dress.
"Is it ruined?"
I looked at the fabric.
"No, sweetheart."
She examined the skirt.
"She threw it."
"I saw."
Lily looked toward me.
"Did I do something bad?"
I felt my chest tighten.
"No."
She lowered her eyes.
"She said I was showing off."
I moved my hand closer, allowing her to decide whether she wanted to hold it.
After a moment, she took my fingers.