“But if you wanna come at five o’clock, we could play dolls in my room!” Layla’s face lights up.
“Well, I’ve got something to do in the afternoon, but if it’s okay for me to come at six, I’d love to.”
“Yes!” Layla jumps up and down and squeals, which draws Henry out of his office.
“Is that my little girl?” he says, strolling over and kissing Tillie on the cheek and Lena on the top of her head. Then he scoops up Layla and tickles her, setting off another round of giggles. “How’s my favorite six-year-old?”
“I’m good, Daddy. Delaney’s gonna come to my party.”
“Oh, that’ll be fun. Girls’ night tomorrow?”
Tillie nods. “Remember? You’re gonna hang out with your brothers.”
“Oh yeah. Okay… Can I just come to girls’ night instead?” he asks Layla.
“No, Daddy. It’s only ladies. We love you, but no boys.”
The elevator dings, then opens just as Layla erupts into another giggle fit.
“Do I hear a Ladybug here?”
I know that voice. I’m just not used to hearing it sound so cheerful. Harrison comes around the corner.
Layla’s face lights up like a Christmas tree, and she squirms out of her dad’s arms.
“Uncle Harry!” she squeals, running and leaping into his arms. He effortlessly catches her mid-air.
“Did you come to work to see me?”
“Yes! But to see Delaney, too.”
“Oh? That’s right. You know Delaney. You met her at the wedding, right?” Harrison winks at me.
“Yep. We’re friends. You was grumpy with her that night and made her run away.” Layla wags her finger at him.
Henry snorts. My cheeks heat.
Harrison scratches his head. “I don’t remember being grumpy. Hmm…”
“You was. You stood up and looked like you was gonna yell at her. Then I yelled at you when she runned away, and I told you she was gonna be your?—”
Harrison covers her mouth with his hand.
“Oh, no, you don’t. That’s our secret,” Harrison tells her. “I’m friends with Delaney, too, and if you tell her that, she might run away again.”
He sneaks a glance at me, and I raise an eyebrow at him. Now I’m really curious what was said. My eyes dart between Tillie and Henry, but there’s no sign they’ll be sharing the details of that conversation anytime soon.
“What are you up to today? Do you have dance?” Harrison asks Layla. It’s a blatant attempt to change the subject, and it works.
“I had dance already. We just finished and came to see you guys. And to see if Daddy will go to dinner with us.”
She pauses, then her eyes practically pop out of their sockets.
“I have an idea. We should all go to dinner. Actually, we should all go to Uncle Harry’s house—” she looks to her parents with imploring eyes, “—and get pizza!”
She turns her attention to me so quickly that it makes my head spin.
“Do you like pizza?”
