Lottie grins as she links her arm through mine, and we head back to the others.
“So, you and Elijah?” Caleb says as we re-enter the room
“What?” Pen stares at my brother, her mouth open, before her eyes clash with mine.
“Sorry, Pen, he means you’re speaking again,” April says, as Pen’s shoulders drop.
“I was right, then?” Gabriel says from behind me.
“What do you mean, right?” Pen asks.
“That you and my brother have finally got your act together?”
“No,” Pen all but yelps.
I want to laugh. She’s being anything but convincing. She has guilt written all over her face, but then, is that because I know? Being cornered by the Frazer brood requires navigation, not that Pen hasn’t had years of experience.
“Leave the poor woman alone,” Leah says, coming to her rescue, a squiggling Callum in her arms.
“Ant Pen,” he says, wriggling even harder until Leah puts him down.
Callum staggers across the floor before falling into Pen’s lap, his arms looping around her neck.
“Hey, gorgeous boy, have you come to rescue me?” she asks him.
He scrunches up his little nose.
“Scue you,” he says, giving her a toothy grin.
She pulls him close, her eyes closing as she inhales his baby scent. Something tugs in my chest. Pen is wonderful with children. I push the thought to one side for later.
“Did you have a good dinner?” she asks him.
“Pasta shapes,” he grins at her as she wipes a tiny smear of tomato sauce from his cheek.
“My favourite,” she admits to him, and I think back to the spaghetti hoops she would eat directly from the tin when she was busy studying. It used to turn my stomach, but she loved them.
Callum turns to his mum, and Leah grins.
“Not tonight, sunshine. Aunty Pen is eating with the grownups. Maybe tomorrow she can have pasta shapes with you.”
He returns his attention to Pen, his hands going to her cheeks. It’s clear my nephew has developed quite a bond, which is not surprising because of her relationship with Gabriel.
Lottie moves past me and further into the room, giving April and Leah a hug before turning to her uncles. Pen’s eyes capture mine as I take in the toddler, who is snuggled in her lap.
“Puppies and toddlers. Your charm is showing,” I say to Pen.
“You’re just jealous,” she says, cuddling Callum.
I smile and walk towards her. It looks like Pen is holding her breath.
What are you doing?
“Unc Lije,” Callum says, squirming in her arms, trying to get to me.
I can’t resist shooting her a smirk before scooping him up and throwing him in the air.
“Hey, sport,” I say, as Callum squeals in delight.
