“In my defense, I was nine, and I was really, really oblivious,” Kenzie said. She smiled. “I wanted to do my part and make something really awesome happen, so the coolest, most awesome person in the world might adopt me.”

“It was going to happen either way, if it was going to happen.”

“So I’ve been told.”

There was a long pause. Neither was eager to press the button or move the diorama over to the next scene.

Victoria checked on the dining room. Neither had moved. Kenzie was tempted to resume surveillance, but still, it didn’t matter.

Surveillance was like the safety in numbers, from way back in the day. A thing to dive into, so real life didn’t seem so real or important.

“If I’d color coded these, the next scenes, set of you can probably guess, would be pink.”

Victoria nodded.

“I’m going to skip it. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I definitely don’t mind.”

Kenzie hit the button twice. The image flickered, holding the first for only a fraction of an eyeblink.

Then the aftermath. Kenzie winced.

So embarrassing.

⊙

“Jesus. Jesus!”

Kenzie backed away, eyes wide. Her eyes went wider as she saw Antonio enter the room from the adjunct bathroom. Her fingers clutched her nightie.

“Are you okay?” Antonio asked her.

“Yes,” she said, but she looked at Keith, saw him freaking out, and backed up a little more.

“Keith, you’re scaring her.”

“I’m a more than a little scared myself! She woke me up and I thought it was you.”

“Baby,” Antonio said. “Sit down on the bed. Deep breaths, okay? She’s the priority, remember? If you get freaked, she’s going to be freaked.”

She was freaked. Definitely freaked. Everything had turned sideways and she wasn’t one hundred percent sure on why.

Keith sat back down on the bed.

“I’m going to take her back to bed. We’re going to have a chat while you catch your breath. Okay?”

Keith nodded.

“Come on, Kenz,” Antonio said. “Let’s get you put back to bed.”

She was shaking as he took her hand. She let him lead her down the hall to her room, glancing back to see Keith with his head hanging, eyes wide and alarmed.

“Oh boy,” Antonio said.

“Oh boy is right,” Kenzie said, her voice about as small as she felt. “I didn’t know—I don’t know how this happened.”

“A lot of people, they go to this because it happened to them.”

“It didn’t happen to me.”

“Then where on earth did you get this idea from?”

She was back in her room. Her phone was over there. She could point it out, explain it, but—

“Kids talking at school.”

“Oh Kenzie, hon. There’s no need. Personal space is personal space, and that’s just for him and me, because we’re married, understand?”