Out at Night. Susan Smith Arnout

      “There was a bird that flew onto the balcony. It had orange on its head and a very, very big beak. This big.” She held out her hands in front of her nose.

      “Sweetie, that’s great. I need to talk to Daddy a minute, okay? Let’s get you out of this wet swimming suit.” Her tone held just the faintest hint of criticism, and out of the corner of her eye, she could see Mac tense.

      It eased something in her. She rested an open palm on her daughter’s shoulder.

      “Come on, kiddo, I’ll start the water for you.” She moved toward the bathroom, Katie skipping next to her. “I’m going to show Daddy how hot to make the water, so he knows.”

      She glanced back at Mac just in time to see his jaw tighten. After a beat, he followed.

      “What’s going on?”

      Mac followed her into the bedroom and closed the door partway. From the bathtub came the sounds of quiet splashing, Katie singing an off-key version of “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Grace could feel his eyes on her as she moved to the closet and pulled down her suitcase from the shelf.

      “I have to go to Palm Springs and help Uncle Pete with something. Today’s Friday. Katie’s got Monday off—it’s a teacher planning day—she has to be back in San Diego for school Tuesday.”

      “Katie stays here. You’re not taking her.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. A bold squaring off.

      Her intestines felt spongy. “No. I know you need time with her.”

      He crossed his arms loosely. He’d scuffed up his right hand somehow and the knuckles looked chapped. “I still want her Thanksgiving.”

      “Can we talk about this later?”

      “Now.”

      The splashing stopped. “What?” Katie called.

      Anger surged and spread through her body. Love was better, but this still had a warm glow to it. She shot Mac a look as she moved past him to the door.

      “Everything’s fine, honey,” she called through the open door.

      “I heard my name.”

      “Daddy and I were just talking.”

      “About what?” There was alarm in her voice and Grace went into the bathroom. A flotilla of rubber duckies bobbed in the water. A soap bubble bloomed on Katie’s shoulder, like a glittering corsage.

      Grace sat on the edge of the tub and reached for the shampoo.

      “About what a cool daughter we have.”

      “You sounded mad.” Her eyes were dark and wide.

      Grace massaged the shampoo into her scalp. “We’re fine.” She heard Mac come in behind her. “Aren’t we?”

      “Absolutely.” His voice was a little too hearty.

      “Lean back, honey, I’m going to rinse this off.”

      Katie took a breath and held on to her nose and sank back into Grace’s hand. Katie’s hair floated in the water like a sea nymph’s, her lashes dark against her cheeks. Her head felt fragile in Grace’s hand, easily injured.

      “You want me to—”

      “Everything’s fine.”

      He tried again. “But I could—”

      “I’ll be right in, Mac, okay?” She lifted Katie up and squeezed out the water. She felt him moving away from the door, felt the absence of him.

      “I held my breath.”

      “I saw. When you’re done playing, I’ll rinse your hair again.”

      Katie nodded, peering up at her uncertainly as if there was something that needed asking. That needed clearing up. That threatened world peace as she knew it.

      “Okay,” she said finally.

      Mac was leaning up against the door jamb, waiting for Grace when she got into the bedroom.

      “She hears everything,” Grace said pleasantly, her voice low.

      “I got that.” He smiled back pleasantly. “But let’s talk about you. What I especially liked was the bit about how hot to make the water. I think I can figure stuff like that out.”

      Grace picked up a straw hat and a pair of espadrilles and carried them to the suitcase. She and Mac hadn’t danced this one before, but she remembered it from the times her parents did the steps.

      “Go on, say the rest. The even-though-I’ve-never-had-the-chance-to part.”

      He smiled. “Even-though-I’ve-never-had-the-chance-to.”

      “Thanks to me,” she prompted. She lifted a clump of underpants and dumped them into the suitcase.

      “Thanks to you. Here. Let me help you.”

      “Gladly.” She was keeping her voice down, but it rang with hurt and her need to be right.

      His eyes were bright with calculated interest. As if he’d waited a long time to play this game. As if he’d spent years studying the rule book. As if all bets were off.

      He went to the set of drawers, yanked open the top one, and carried it over to the suitcase, upending the bras and tank tops into the suitcase, shaking the drawer hard.

      “There. All set.” He tucked the drawer under his arm and carried it back to the dresser, shoving it back into the slot. “Anything else?”

      “I’m good.” She unhooked a row of hangers and flung the shirts and pants in a clattering heap into the suitcase. “Ready to leave.”

      “Works for me.”

      The air left her body. A bullet of pain lodged in her belly. Not exactly a direct hit. He just needed more practice.

      She was certain he’d been aiming for the heart.

      She straightened. “I’ll be back in San Diego Monday night. Tuesday morning at the latest.” It sounded like a warning.

      “Take your time.”

      “You’re not keeping her.” It slipped out and the ferocity of it took her by surprise and made real the possibility of Katie leaving for good.

      He looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time and not quite liking it.

      “Why are you doing this?” His voice was even. “She’s my daughter, too. Mine. And frankly, that’s all I’ve been thinking about. What you did. What it cost.”

      She slipped the shirts and pants out of their hangers, one by one, not looking at him. The hangers were wooden, well made. She carried them back to the closet and hung them up. They clicked together. The only clothes that hung now were the dresses that belonged to Katie, a small bright row of pink and lime green, splashes of yellow and orange.

      “Grace?”

      “Don’t think I won’t be checking with the school, to make sure she gets there safely.”

      “Nice.” He shoved past her into the hall.

      “Okay, so it’s going to be really fun.” Grace cradled Katie in her lap as she dried her hair with a towel.

      “Why are you going?” Katie sounded worried.

      Grace kissed her. “Oh, honey, I have a couple of days of work to do, that’s all.”

      “But I want you to stay.”

      “I do, too, sweetie.”

      “But Daddy’s going to be here, right?”

      “Right here.”

      “With me.”

      “Every