“Thank you.”
She was relieved.
Not because she needed to prove suffering earned nothing.
Because she wanted the work judged as work.
Diane watched from nearby.
Something inside her loosened.
Then Michael called.
She stepped into the hallway.
“I’m home.”
he said.
“Where are you?”
“At the gala.”
“You said family issue.”
“Yes.”
“Is Olivia okay?”
“She is.”
“Brooke?”
“Physically fine.”
Silence.
“What happened?”
Diane looked toward the ballroom.
“Brooke cut Olivia’s scholarship dress with scissors.”
Michael said nothing.
Then:
“What?”
“There is video.”
A longer silence.
“Video?”
“The room camera.”
“Oh my God.”
“I asked Brooke to leave.”
“Good.”
Diane’s expression changed.
Too quick.
“Michael.”
“What?”
“Do not decide the entire future of the family from one sentence.”
“She cut her dress.”
“Yes.”
“On purpose?”
“Yes.”
“Then lied?”
“Yes.”
“Then what exactly am I supposed to consider?”
Diane leaned against the wall.
“That she is your stepdaughter.”
“I know.”
“That she is twenty-two.”
“I know.”
“That accountability is not the same as throwing someone away.”
“I did not say throw away.”
“You sounded close.”
Michael exhaled.
“Where is she?”
“Apartment.”
“Does she have a key?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Diane closed her eyes.
“Michael.”
“What?”
“She did more.”
He went quiet.
“I don't know what yet.”
“But when I told her we were checking the camera history, she panicked.”
Michael’s tone changed completely.
“How much history?”
“Thirty days stored.”
“Don't touch anything until we back it up.”
Diane almost laughed.
Architect.
Documentation first.
“Okay.”
Then:
“Olivia won an award.”
Michael’s voice softened.
“What?”
“Eight thousand.”
Silence.
Then a shaky laugh.
“She did?”
“Yes.”
“Put me on video.”
Diane found Olivia.
Michael cried through FaceTime.
Olivia made fun of him.
Normal family for four minutes.
They needed it.
The camera history waited until the next morning.
Diane wanted to sleep first.
Michael did not.
Olivia did.
That decided.
At nine-thirty Saturday, the three of them sat at the kitchen table with Michael’s laptop connected to the camera account.
Olivia had slept six hours.
Diane maybe three.
Michael two.
“Before we start.”
Michael looked at Olivia.
“This is your room.”
“You decide how much we review.”
Olivia nodded.
“Anything when I wasn't home.”
Diane asked:
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Michael created a folder.
Date.
Time.
Export.
No editing.
No posting.
No sending to relatives.
Olivia insisted.
“I do not want Grandma getting a video.”
“Agreed.”
Diane answered.