The next day, as Susy napped and Anna played in the living room, James found himself scrolling through old family photos on his phone. He searched for any hint of red in their lineage, any ancestor or distant relative who might explain the anomaly. But photo after photo showed the same familiar shades of blonde and brown.
“Daddy?” Anna’s voice startled him, and he quickly locked his phone. She stood in the doorway, holding Floppy by one ear. “Are you looking at pictures of me?” she asked, tilting her head curiously. James forced a smile, patting the couch beside him.