The plan had been simple from the very beginning — almost charming in its ordinariness. Portia wanted a beautiful family photograph beneath the cherry blossoms, something soft and timeless, something she could frame above the fireplace or use for next year’s holiday card.

It was one of those perfect spring afternoons in Washington, D.C., when the entire city seems to glow beneath drifting petals, and every walkway feels like a painted backdrop from a romantic film. The Tidal Basin was alive with color.

Pale pink blossoms clung to the branches like silk ornaments, and every small gust of wind sent petals floating through the air in slow spirals. The water shimmered under the late-morning sun, reflecting…