Zoe was too young to understand.
Vanessa immediately realized she had phrased it badly.
“You know what I mean.”
Marcus looked at Amara.
The girl was blinking rapidly.
Trying not to cry.
That was enough.
Marcus walked away from his place beside Vanessa and stood next to his daughter.
He put one hand gently around her shoulder.
“No.”
Vanessa stared.
“No what?”
“We are not doing this.”
“Marcus, there are forty people here.”
“I know.”
“So maybe we discuss it later.”
“You didn’t wait until later to exclude her.”
Amara whispered, “Dad.”
Marcus looked down.
“It’s okay.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t need to be in it.”
Those words hurt Marcus more than anything Vanessa had said.
He crouched slightly.
“Why would you say that?”
Amara looked embarrassed.
“It’s fine.”
“No.”
Marcus’s voice softened.
“Talk to me.”
Amara looked toward Vanessa.
Then toward the guests.
“I don’t want everyone mad.”
Marcus understood immediately.
This was not the first time his daughter had felt this way.
Maybe only the first time he had actually seen it.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“Marcus, she’s uncomfortable because you’re turning this into a scene.”
He stood.
“No.”
Vanessa blinked.
“She’s uncomfortable because she already knew what you meant before I did.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“Amara, has Vanessa asked you to stay out of pictures before?”
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
“Seriously?”
Amara froze.
Marcus waited.
“Baby?”
Amara whispered, “Sometimes.”
The room became completely silent.
Vanessa shook her head.
“That is not true.”
Amara immediately looked frightened.
“I’m not saying she’s lying,” Vanessa added quickly. “But she’s misunderstanding.”
Marcus stared at her.
“What did she misunderstand?”
Vanessa spoke carefully.
“Sometimes I take pictures of Caleb and Zoe because they’re together every day.”
“And?”
“And Amara isn’t always here.”
“She’s here today.”
“I know.”
“So what is she misunderstanding today?”
Vanessa had no answer.
Rachel still held the phone awkwardly.
Caleb suddenly spoke.
“Amara can stand next to me.”
Everyone looked at him.
The eight-year-old boy reached for his sister.
“She’s my sister.”
Amara’s face crumpled.
Marcus closed his eyes for half a second.
His son understood the situation better than the adults.
Zoe copied Caleb.
“She’s my sister too.”
Amara started crying.
Marcus pulled her against him.
Vanessa looked horrified.
Not angry anymore.
Horrified.
Because she could see how the scene appeared.