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"You made it."

That was apparently sufficient explanation. I walked closer. "I was going to tell you the white represents infinity."

O'li came to stand behind me, one large hand settling naturally against the back of my neck. "I assumed something similar."

I giggled and leaned backward until my shoulders touched his stomach, smiling stupidly at my single blue line. Yesterday had already begun to feel unreal. Daycare. Carlos. The horrible food. Crying during rest time. The marketplace. The punishment platform. All of it had happened.But so had Daddy coming back.

"Do I have to go again soon?" I asked.

O'li's thumb moved slowly against the side of my neck. "Not today."

"Tomorrow?"

"No."

I relaxed.

"Next week?"

"Possibly."

I groaned.

He chuckled. "But today," he continued, "I have no work that requires leaving the house."

I spun around immediately. "None? For real?" I asked, feeling myself jumping in place.

"None."

"All day?"

"Yes, pup."

I threw my arms around his waist. "Best day ever."

"You said that yesterday about the pastry I bought you." The vibration in his chest told me he was laughing. He then nudged me toward my observation mat. "I need to check the Singers before we do anything else."

"I can help."

"I know."

That answer made me ridiculously happy.

I settled onto my mat while he checked the overnight readings. The Helix Dancers turned slowly toward the morning light. One of the Pulse Pods expanded with a soft wet sound that would have been disgusting if I hadn't heard it a thousand times before. O'li moved from specimen to specimen, efficient and precise. I watched him and didn’t touch anything, like a good little puppy.

After the morning work, O'li announced that we were making something called sunmilk. I'd heard of it but never had it fresh. Apparently, this was unacceptable.

"It is traditionally made after the first seasonal temperature shift," he explained as we entered the kitchen.

"So why are we making it now, Daddy?" I asked, confused. The temperature hadn’t shifted. Not that I had noticed, anyway.

"Because you asked for something sweet."

He retrieved a container from one of the upper cabinets, so high above me that even standing on the counter wouldn't have helped. Inside were pale orange crystals that glowed faintly when the light caught them.

"What are those?"

"Condensed nectar salts."