“Connor’s not just my friend. He’s my business partner too,” I blurted out.
“Is he now? Then I guess it’s good you two have history,” Dad said.
Jenna coughed under her breath. “Coward.”
Without looking, I swatted her arm with the back of my hand. “Shush, you.”
Her laugh came as Linda burst out of the crowd.
In the short time since we’d seen her, my niece had shed her tutu and was now wearing a thin jacket and pants over her ballet outfit. Her hair was still in its tight bun, and glitter covered her face.
She slid to a stop in front of Connor, looking up at him like he was the eighth world wonder.
“Who are you?” Linda asked in a hushed voice that made me wonder if seven-year-olds were capable of falling in love at first sight.
Connor’s face held a trace of gentleness. “My name is Connor. I’m Aileen’s brother.”
Linda nodded, accepting his words the way only a child would. Without question or hesitation.
She held her arms out to Connor. “Will you pick me up? My legs hurt.”
“Linda!” Jenna gasped. “Don’t be rude. You’re too big for that.”
Her protest came too late. Connor had already leaned down, carefully closing his arms around Linda as if she was a fragile treasure. He straightened, lifting her as easily as a feather.
From her new vantage, Linda looked around with excitement at being so high up.
“Are you sure?” Jenna asked hesitantly. “You don’t have to.”
The look Jenna shot her daughter held both embarrassment over her daughter’s behavior and a warning that she’d better straighten up—or else.
Connor acted like he hadn’t heard as he glanced at my dad. “You mentioned pancakes?”
Dad took his time studying him. “I did, didn’t I?”
Dad winked at Linda. She giggled, burying her face in Connor’s neck.
“We wouldn’t want to disappoint, would we?” Dad asked Linda.
“No!”
Dad offered his arms to me and Jenna. “Shall we, girls?”
With a smirk, I hooked one arm with his before looking at Jenna in expectation.
She stared at us for a moment before releasing a growl that sounded cute when compared to the terrifying snarls of a werewolf.
“You’re going to spoil her,” Jenna chided.
Linda started bouncing in Connor’s arms. “We’re off to see the pancakes, the wonderful, wonderful pancakes of ours.”
“A little spoiling never hurt anyone,” Dad whispered back.
Jenna shot him a displeased look. “You’re not the one who has to deal with her later.”
I leaned around dad. “That’s the perk of being a grandpa and aunt.”
We got to wind the kids up and reap all the fun before abandoning them to their parents who would have to deal with the consequences.
