Andrew looked at Sophie.
“She said you pushed her.”
Caroline’s face changed.
“No.”
Sophie lifted her head.
“She did.”
“You slipped.”
“You pulled.”
“I moved my hand because you were grabbing me.”
Andrew’s jaw tightened.
Caroline stared at him.
“Do not do that.”
“Do what?”
“Look at me like I hurt her.”
“I’m asking what happened.”
“No.”
“You are deciding first.”
Andrew exhaled.
“Sophie, go upstairs.”
The child tightened around him.
“No.”
“We need to talk.”
“No.”
“Soph.”
“She has Mom.”
Andrew looked toward the locket.
His expression changed again.
“Caroline.”
Something in his voice broke the last bit of patience she had.
“No.”
She stepped forward and placed the necklace on the entry table between them.
“There.”
Andrew stared.
“I am not touching it again.”
Caroline walked toward the kitchen.
Andrew followed.
“Wait.”
“No.”
“We need to talk.”
“Not while you're holding your daughter and looking at me like I’m a suspect.”
“That's not what I'm doing.”
“You asked why I had the necklace when you literally asked me to take care of the necklace.”
“I didn't ask you to confiscate it.”
Caroline turned.
“I did not set out to confiscate it.”
“She says you told her she could not have it back because she was misbehaving.”
Caroline stopped.
That part was true.
Andrew saw.
His face changed.
“I said it after she grabbed me and fell.”
“So it became punishment.”
“For about thirty seconds.”
“That is still—”
“I know.”
She snapped.
“I heard it too.”
Sophie stood several feet away.
Andrew had apparently stopped noticing she followed them.
Caroline did.
“Andrew.”
He turned.
Sophie was listening.
He closed his eyes.
“Soph, please go upstairs.”
She shook her head.
Caroline looked toward her.
The child’s face was wet.
Red.
Afraid.
Not merely angry.
Caroline’s own anger shifted.
She crouched.
Not close enough to touch.
“Sophie.”
The little girl stared.
“I should not have said you could not have your necklace because you were upset.”
Andrew looked toward Caroline.
She ignored him.
“I was worried you would break it.”
“I got frustrated.”
“And when you grabbed me, I got more frustrated.”
Caroline swallowed.
“But it is yours.”
Sophie looked toward the table.
“Can I have it?”
Caroline started to say yes.
Andrew said:
“No.”
Both looked at him.
Sophie’s face collapsed again.
Andrew immediately realized what he had done.
“I mean right now.”
“Dad!”
“The clasp is broken.”
“I don't care.”
“I do.”
Caroline stood.
“Andrew.”
He looked toward her.
She spoke quietly.
“Do not make me apologize for taking it and then immediately take it yourself.”
His expression changed.
That was exactly what he had done.
Sophie stared between them.
Andrew picked up the necklace.
He examined the clasp.
The metal ring had nearly opened completely.
“One tug and it’s gone.”
Sophie reached.
He closed his hand.
She began crying again.
Caroline walked away.
Not out of anger this time.
Because one adult needed to stop making the child perform grief in front of an audience.
She went upstairs.
Closed the bedroom door.
Sat on the edge of the bed.