Sofia disappeared into the powder room, and the water turned on.
"Nice save," I said to Eve.
Her eyes wide, she said, "We should have thought of a reason for me to be here."
I opened my mouth to say that hanging up flyers probably would have worked too, but Sofia was back, chattering about how she told her friends to come to the light trail tonight.
"Nice marketing," Eve said.
"What's marketing?" Sofia asked Eve as I scrolled through the pizza place's online ordering menu.
"That's when you tell everyone about what you're doing, and you invite them to come experience it."
Sofia nodded eagerly. "That's what I did."
"I hope they come and see what it's about. The proceeds benefit the fire department."
"The firehouse needs lots of money," Sofia said, probably having overheard me talk about budget cuts since she was old enough to understand what was going on around her.
"That's why we do fundraisers. It was nice of Eve to create this one for us."
Sofia opened the coloring book I kept on the table. "You're a friend of the firehouse now."
Eve raised a brow. "Is that a thing?"
"I'm fairly sure you were a friend of the firehouse when you showed up with muffins." Wearing that red dress. But I wasn't going to say that in front of my daughter.
I set my phone aside. "Pizza ordered. Who wants to play a game?"
Sofia raised her head. "Me."
"Which one?" I asked, knowing it would take a bit to find the perfect one.
She slid off her chair and ran into the living room where I kept games and puzzles.
"We're a game family," I said to Eve.
"That's good because I love games."
"You're going to fit in just fine then," I said as Sofia returned with her recent card-game obsession.
I helped her shuffle the cards. Then Sofia dealt them. I let Sofia explain the rules since this was a newer version of a game from our childhood. Not surprisingly, Eve was competitive. We played two rounds before the pizza was delivered.
Eve reached for plates while I grabbed the pizza. I opened the boxes on the counter.
I put two slices on Sofia's dish.
Eve served herself, and I pulled out the sparkling juice I saved for special occasions. It was a celebration after all.
I poured everyone a glass and held mine up. "I think we need a toast."
Sofia grinned, immediately lifting her glass.
Eve raised hers slowly.
"To Sofia's amazing design for the holiday trail. May everyone come out and enjoy it."
"To Sofia's design," Eve said, her eyes sparkling.
