Weary Calm
She probed, eyes darting between us. Neither David nor I responded. Behind us? Impossible. Trust, once cracked, reflects only fragments. "That Sarah..." Liz picked up the projector, tracing it gently to ease the tension. "Needs a stern talking-to! When she's back, she must..." "Ding-dong—" The doorbell rang sharply. So late? Liz, closest, rose to answer. "Who..." Her voice faltered upon seeing the visitor. "Sarah?" Sarah stood there, suitcase in tow, travel-weary yet visibly frantic.



Sarah's Sudden Return
She brushed past Liz and burst in, spotting David and me on the sofa and the black projector on the table. "Mom! Dad!" Her voice choked with tears as her luggage thudded in the entryway. "I'm so sorry! Truly! I panicked! On the plane, I kept thinking—it hit me! Your birthday gift! That projector speaker!" She rushed over, pointing at it. "I bought it specially! Wanted to surprise you! Last visit, I meant to tell you, but I got distracted dating, shoved it behind the nightstand where I slept. Planned to reveal it at dinner, then completely forgot!"


Final Clarification and Aftermath
She gushed it out, cheeks flushed, near tears. "I remembered after landing! Forgot to mention it! And I hid it in that awful spot! Mom! Dad! I swear it wasn't intentional! I..." She babbled, eyes wide with panic at our pale, tear-streaked faces. "Did... did I scare you? What... what did you think it was?" I looked at my daughter's frightened, confused expression, then at David, still reeling beside me. An overwhelming sense of absurdity and fatigue consumed me. I sank back against the sofa cushions and closed my eyes.