The morning light came through the curtains thin and pale.
Daniel opened his eyes slowly.
For a moment he just stared at the ceiling.
Then he became aware of a presence beside the bed and turned his head.
Lena was standing there in her pajamas with her hands clasped in front of her and her eyes fixed on him with the particular focused attention of a child who had been waiting patiently for an adult to wake up.
“Dad,” she said.
Daniel blinked. “Lena. How long have you been standing there?”
“A while,” she said simply.
He sat up slowly and rubbed his face.
Lena did not move.
“Daddy,” she said carefully. “Are you and Mommy fighting?”
Daniel looked at her for a moment. Then he reached out and took both her small hands in his and gave her the kind of smile that was designed to make ch
