And worse, she could finally see how it felt.
Rachel quietly lowered the phone.
Vanessa whispered, “Amara, I didn’t mean—”
Marcus interrupted.
“Not now.”
His voice was controlled.
That frightened Vanessa more than shouting would have.
Marcus looked toward the guests.
“Give us a few minutes.”
His mother immediately began directing children toward the backyard.
Rachel took Caleb and Zoe.
Within moments, the living room emptied.
Only Marcus, Vanessa, and Amara remained.
Marcus turned toward his daughter.
“Do you want to go upstairs?”
Amara nodded.
“I’ll come with you.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Marcus, can we—”
“Later.”
He led Amara upstairs.
Inside her room, she sat on the bed.
Marcus closed the door.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Marcus sat beside her.
“I’m sorry.”
Amara wiped her face.
“For what?”
“For not seeing this.”
She looked down.
“It’s okay.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Stop saying that.”
Amara looked at him.
“You don’t have to make things okay for adults.”
She began twisting the edge of her shirt between her fingers.
Marcus waited.
“Has Vanessa done this before?”
Amara shrugged.
“Sometimes.”
“What does sometimes mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Try.”
Amara thought.
“At Christmas.”
Marcus’s stomach tightened.
“What happened?”
“She took pictures before I came.”
“That’s not necessarily wrong.”
“I know.”
Amara continued.
“But when I got there, I asked if we could take one with everybody.”
Marcus waited.
“She said later.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Marcus looked toward the door.
“What else?”
“The beach pictures.”
“You weren’t on that trip.”
“I know.”
“So that one isn’t Vanessa’s fault.”
“I know.”
Marcus was relieved Amara understood the difference.
Then she said something that erased the relief.
“But she told Zoe that was their real family vacation.”
Marcus went still.
“Exactly what did she say?”
“I don’t know exactly.”
“Think.”
Amara closed her eyes.
“She said, ‘This is our first real family vacation with just us.’”
Marcus felt sick.
“Did she know you heard?”
“No.”
“Anything else?”
Amara hesitated.
Marcus could tell there was more.
“You’re not getting anybody in trouble.”
She looked at him.
“I don’t want you and Vanessa to get divorced because of me.”
Marcus’s heart dropped.
“Why would you think that?”
“Because Mom said you and her used to fight about me.”
Marcus stared at his daughter.