He stared at the children.
Then at Daniel.
“Is this true?”
Daniel said nothing.
General Paul’s mouth tightened.
“I asked you a question.”
Daniel finally snapped. “I had reason to doubt her!”
“Four reasons are standing right there,” Paul said.
Noah lifted his chin at the old general, perhaps recognizing command even without understanding it. “There are four of us because Mama says God likes surprises.”
A small, painful laugh escaped someone near the stairs.
Sophia nudged Noah. “You’re not supposed to say that at serious times.”
Noah frowned. “This is serious?”
Olivia whispered, “I think Daddy is in trouble.”
The word Daddy twisted through the room.
Daniel’s face changed.
Not enough.
Not yet.
But his eyes fixed on Olivia with a stunned helplessness, as though the title had reached a locked room inside him and knocked once.
Abigail wiped beneath her eye.
“I can’t be here,” she said.
