She picked the shopping bags back up and walked straight into the living room, where the paper party hats sat stacked on the side table.

Mark came out of the hallway and stood by the dining room archway.

He pushed both hands deep into his back pockets and watched her, his mouth pressed into a hard line.

“Mark, just look at you,” Vanessa said, pausing to tip her head back.

“You’ve got your father’s shoulders.”

Mark didn’t say hello, and he didn’t take his hands out of his pockets.

Vanessa turned back to Lily, reached into the biggest black bag, and drew out a wide box wrapped in shiny gold paper.