“And although I always calmed down, inevitably there would be another fight, and in my mind I’d pull the suitcase from my closet and pack it.” Kelly prepared herself for anger. A counterargument. Anything. A light wind drifted across their deck.

“Simon’s photos show truth. I imagine the suitcase represents that I’ve wanted to leave you. Over and over again.”

Daniel stared, the breeze ruffling his hair. Kelly rushed forward to grab his arm. “Gramps’s camera is real, Daniel. Simon showed me the truth in those photos.”

Daniel blanched as he covered his mouth. “He showed you?”

“Not our photos. Apparently you have some kind of sacred contract with him. But I think we need to look at this as an opportunity and look at our photos together—”

The Beatles interrupted them as notes from a plaintive guitar and a nasally George Harrison burst from his pocket. “Listen . . . do you want to know a secret?” Kelly willed Daniel to ignore his phone and lost. Again.

Daniel snatched at his phone, his posture reinflating at the recognition of the name. Her husband transformed into the professional Daniel, his breathing now under control, his eyes narrowed. Their connection was severed as he stood at his full height. “Principal Rhodes, what can I do for you?”

Daniel forced a wince from his face.

“Uh, yes, something came up, and I couldn’t make the at-risk program . . . No, there’s no problem. My apologies. I should have had Monique let you know.”

Kelly took tentative steps away from her husband. She hadn’t told him about the principal’s call. She hadn’t had the chance.

Daniel reached out to her. “That’s news to me. I didn’t know about it.”

Kelly burned under the heat of her husband’s spotlight gaze. No, you wouldn’t, Daniel. I couldn’t tell you about our daughter because you were throwing cameras off cliffs.

“We’ll talk about it, and I look forward to seeing you then.” Daniel cut the call, their burgeoning reconnection cut with it. “Apparently the principal would like us to come in for a formal appointment to discuss Milly’s behavior at school. When were you planning to tell me?”

The anger and fear that wriggled under Kelly’s self-control exploded into life. “I haven’t had the chance to tell you because he just called, and since then we’ve been out here dealing with whatever you’re not telling me.” Daniel dropped his head. Now was the time. “We have to go see someone. I can’t keep going like this.”

“Yes, you’ve mentioned that before, and I said someone at Crossroads would be happy to work with us—”

“I don’t want to go to your work, Daniel. We need to go somewhere where we’ll be equals in the conversation.”

Daniel sighed deeply. “Okay.”

One simple word. Four simple letters. But it had taken him so long to say it.