Rachel

Rachel knew Daniel was hiding something.

Not because he was good at hiding things.

Because he was terrible at it.

He had been standing at the kitchen counter for nearly a minute with one hand resting on the blue notebook.

Not writing.

Not reading.

Just holding it closed.

Rachel poured coffee.

"You okay?"

Daniel looked up.

"Yeah."

Too fast.

Rachel took a sip.

"Okay."

She didn't ask again.

That bothered him more.

He could tell.

Daniel looked down at the notebook.

Under his palm were four words.

STOP CHANGING THE VARIABLES.

Real ink.

Physical evidence.

Finally.

Something that couldn't disappear.

Something he could show her.

"Rachel."

She turned.

Daniel opened his mouth.

Then stopped.

"What?"

He looked at the notebook.

Rachel followed his eyes.

"What's in there?"

"Nothing."

She stared at him.

"Daniel."

"It's just notes."

"You're doing that thing again."

"What thing?"

"Where you decide whether I'm allowed to know what's happening."

"That's not what I'm doing."

"It kind of is."

Daniel moved his hand away from the notebook.

For half a second, he almost opened it.

Then Mia came running into the kitchen.

"Mommy, Sophie won't give me my sock."

Rachel blinked.

"Your sock?"

"My rainbow one."

"Why does Sophie have your sock?"

"I don't know."

From upstairs:

"BECAUSE YOU THREW IT AT ME!"

Mia yelled back.

"I DID NOT!"

Rachel closed her eyes.

Daniel almost smiled.

Almost.

Rachel pointed upstairs.

"Go get your sock."

Mia ran away.

Rachel looked at Daniel.

"We'll finish this later."

She picked up her coffee.

Daniel watched her leave.

Then immediately opened the notebook.

The words were still there.

He didn't know why he'd expected them not to be.