“I fix systems.” He lifted the lid. “Rice is a system.”
Nia climbed onto her stool. “My dad fixes everything.” Darius looked toward her. “That is an irresponsible claim.”
Vanessa watched him adjust the burner. “Problem?” Darius shook his head. “Your stove runs hot.”
“I can have it recalibrated.” He laughed. “Most people just turn the knob lower.”
“Why accept an imperfect system?” Vanessa answered. Nia looked between them. “You two are weird.”
Dinner became the easiest adult evening Darius had experienced in years. Nia told stories about school, a boy named Cameron who had apparently violated several important social agreements, and her ongoing effort to teach classmates conflict resolution whether they wanted it or not. Vanessa listened with the same concentration she probably gave investment presentations. Nia noticed.
“You really listen.” Vanessa stopped eating. “Of course.”
“A lot of adults do fake listening.” Nia demonstrated an exaggerated polite face. “They make this face.”
Vanessa laughed. “That looks exhausting.” Nia nodded. “It is dishonest.”
Darius looked down at his plate. Camille would have adored this conversation. The thought hurt and comforted him simultaneously.
After dinner, Nia asked whether she could explore upstairs. Vanessa hesitated for only a second before saying yes. Darius watched her face carefully.
Several minutes later, Nia called from the hallway. “There’s a room with photographs.”
Vanessa became still. Darius asked quietly, “You okay?”
“No.” She breathed. “But I’m going upstairs.”
They found Nia inside Adrian’s room. The door was wide open. The reading chair now stood nearer the shelves.
The book had moved. Darius noticed immediately. So had several photographs, as though Vanessa had touched them recently instead of preserving them beneath invisible glass.
Nia stood before the beach photograph. “Is this your husband?” Vanessa nodded. “Yes.”
“He looks happy.” Vanessa’s face softened. “He was.”
Nia looked toward her. “My mama died too.” Vanessa’s eyes immediately filled.
“I know.” Nia continued. “I don’t remember her much because I was little.”
“But Daddy tells me stories.” Nia looked around the room. “Do you tell stories about him?”
Vanessa opened her mouth. No words came. Then she said, “I’m starting to.”
Nia nodded. She crossed the room and hugged Vanessa around the waist without warning. Vanessa froze.
Darius watched her arms lift slowly. She placed them around Nia’s shoulders. For a moment, Vanessa looked like somebody had opened a window inside her chest after years without air.
Nia stepped back. “The pictures are good.” Vanessa wiped one eye quickly. “Thank you.”
“You should look at them.” Nia walked out. Her emotional assignment was apparently complete.
Darius looked toward Vanessa. She gave a shaky laugh. “Eight years old?”
“Terrifying, isn’t it?” Vanessa nodded. “Completely.”