He dropped onto the couch.

“Mom?”

“Yes?”

“Can we get pancakes?”

“Absolutely.”

He looked toward the wooden box on my office shelf.

Then back at me.

He did not mention the camera.

Neither did I.

We grabbed our coats.

Left the house.

And for once, there was nothing hidden inside the bear that anyone needed to see.

That was when I knew we had finally made it home.