"I wanted to make sure the I'd earned the compliment," Bail said.

But he didn't have a chance to say anything more because Elizabeth came racing down the stairs with the exuberance typical of a child her age. Coat and hat already on, backpack over her shoulder, and curiously, a simple notebook in her other hand.

"Okay, I'm ready." She looked between the two adults, but mostly at her dad.

Bail moved to the entryway closet and pulled out his own jacket.

"Okay," he said to his daughter, nodding towards the way through the house to the back where the car was parked. Elizabeth skipped ahead of them.

Then Bail nodded for Ben to head in the same direction.