Daniel Was Home Early

“Maya?”

Her father’s voice carried up the stairs.

Both of them froze.

Daniel appeared at the end of the hallway.

He looked at the trash bags.

Then at the open bedroom door.

Then at his daughter holding a framed photograph of her mother.

His expression changed immediately.

“What happened?”

Lauren responded first.

“We were moving Maya downstairs.”

Daniel frowned.

“We were what?”

Maya looked at him.

“You didn’t know?”

Daniel looked between them.

“Know what?”

Now it was Lauren’s turn to go silent.

The Story Changed Immediately

Maya felt angry and relieved at the same time.

“You told me Dad agreed.”

Lauren replied:

“We talked about needing the upstairs room.”

Daniel interrupted.

“No.”

Lauren looked at him.

“We absolutely did.”

“We talked about where the baby would sleep.”

“Yes.”

“And I said we’d use the downstairs spare room.”

Lauren became frustrated.

“For the first few months.”

Daniel shook his head.

“I never said Maya was moving.”

Lauren pointed toward the bedroom.

“The baby can’t be downstairs while we’re upstairs.”

“Then the baby can stay in our room at first.”

Lauren stared at him.

“So there’s enough room for Maya, but not for your own baby?”

Daniel’s expression changed.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Turn this into me choosing between my children.”