“We need five more minutes, Momma,” Addy begged.
“We made a deal, ladybug.”
“But—”
I held up my hand.“No.We agreed on twenty minutes.”
It would be downright cruel to make anyone who wasn’t related sit through a tea party that lasted longer than that.
She pulled out the pout, aiming it right at Vance since she knew it wouldn’t work on me.“But Vance hasn’t had tea with Mr.Bear and Scarlett yet.”
He put his teacup down.“I promise we’ll do it next time,nohea.Now let’s listen to your momma, okay?”
He took off the various scarves, folding them, then placing them back into the box Addy had ripped them out of.
Elana wrinkled her nose.“What’s nohaha?”
Vance put down the last scarf and kneeled in front of her.“It’s Hawaiian and means ‘beautiful.’”He tapped her nose.“Because that’s what you are.Now, let’s go find out what delicious dinner your mom made for us.”
The girls took one of his hands each and didn’t let go until they were in the living room, having somehow managed to get through the hallway together.
I plated up dinner while Vance helped the girls sit down.
“Can I have juice?”Addy called out to me and stuck out her bottom lip.“Please.”
I had a few juice boxes left that I was going to save for school lunches.But they’d had a big day and it was their first day in the new apartment, so I nodded.“But you have to share with Elana.”
Addy held on to Vance’s sleeve.“I want to sit next to Vance.”
Elana nodded, her little curls flying up and down.“Me too.Me too.”
I chanced a glance at Vance, who no doubt was thinking how he’d fit in one of the chairs.But he somehow managed to squeeze himself into it.His front was up against the table, but he didn’t say a word, no matter how uncomfortable he looked sitting so upright.
The girls had big grins on their faces.
After everyone had food on their plates, the conversation flowed easily.Vance wiped up the tomato sauce Elana spilled on her sleeve, helped them both pour their juice into their cups, and listened to them with rapt interest as they told him all the things they’d learned at school and daycare last week.
Addy alternated between stuffing her face and talking.“My cousin’s little brother can eat three ice creams in a row.Without throwing up.”
Vance nodded at my eldest’s declaration.“That’s quite a talent.”
I loved that he didn’t correct her and explain that her cousin’s little brother was also her cousin.He simply rolled with it.And I didn’t jump in and remind her that she didn’t have a cousin, as Hank was an only child as well.She always told everyone that Linny’s, Malena’s, and Keely’s kids were her cousins, and sometimes it was just easier to let it go.
When dinner was done, we moved the few steps to the living room.“Thirty minutes of television, and then it’s bedtime.”
Addy pulled a face, and Elana hissed at me.I raised a brow.“We don’t have to do screen time if you’re so against it.”
I tickled them and they giggled, rolling on the couch.“But we wants to watch TV.”
This came from Elana.
“Okay, then.I think it’s Addy’s turn to choose.”
Not surprising to anyone, she settled onBeauty and the Beast.
“I want to be a queen when I grow up.”
Her declaration was met with a serious nod from Vance.“That’s a great aspiration.And always make sure you have a plan B in place in case it doesn’t work out.”
