“I refuse.” Layla folds her arms across her chest. “You just need to trust me?—”
“Like I trusted you when we played Old Maid, and you cheated?” I stretch my legs out in front of me and tilt my head at her.
“That was forever ago. I wasfivethen.” She shakes her head at me. “So much drama with you.”
A simultaneous snort and chuckle coming from the couch distracts Layla and me from our conversation.
“A snuckle!” Layla’s voice is full of glee as she directs her words at Delaney.
I’m staring at Delaney, her gorgeous green eyes ready to pop out of her head, and her hand over her mouth. I don’t even try to hide my amused smirk.
“Snuckle? Care to explain what asnuckleis, Bets?” I can deduce the meaning, but I can’t help teasing her.
“No, Uncle Harry. That’s a secret word just for Delaney and me to know. ‘Specially since you don’t believe me.” I glance back at Layla, and she purses her lips and cocks a shoulder. She’s so sassy, and it’s perfect.
I return my focus to my little opponent. “You’re gonna have to earn my trust again.”
Layla and I continue playing and trash-talking each other. I know she’s only six, but she can hang with the best of them when talking smack over cards.
“He’s not so bad either, is he?” I hear Tillie say to Delaney. “See, he’s not always a grump.”
I twist my head to listen for Delaney’s response, but when her eyes meet mine, and they narrow, it’s clear she knows I’m eavesdropping.
Unfortunately, after that, Tillie and Delaney resume their conversation with hushed voices, and I can no longer deciphertheir words. My split attention is hurting my game, though, so I force myself to pay heed to the cards.
“Harrison!” Tillie scolds. She surprises me, and I startle.
My eyes dart back and forth between Tillie and Delaney.
“What? I didn’t do anything. Layla’s the one who is?—”
“I don’t care about the card game, but youarea poor loser,” Tillie teases. “You accused Delaney of stalking you when she started working at the office. What is wrong with you?”
I open my mouth to speak, yet nothing comes out.
“What’s stalking?” Layla asks.
“Wonderful,” Henry says, walking back into the room after putting Lena to sleep. “You want to take that one, Tills?”
I grin at my sister-in-law, eager to see what she does with this one.
“It just means someone is following someone else around a lot,” Tillie explains. “It’s not a very nice word, though, so I’m sorry I said it.”
“I don’t think I used the wordstalking, anyway,” I say. I’ve recovered from my initial surprise.
“In fairness, that’s true—but youdidask if I knew who you were when…”
It’s endearing when her eyes widen with the realization that she’s sharing more than she means to about our firstencounter.
“Go on, Bets. Finish what you were going to say.” I love the crimson color that floods her cheeks.
“Uncle Harry? Why do you call Delaney, Bets?” Layla asks.
Both of our mouths drop open—mineandDelaney’s—and our eyes widen. I don’t respond. I notice Henry and Tillie looking back and forth between us. Henry scratches his beard, grinning, while Tillie tilts her head with one eyebrow raised.
“Well, it’s just a nickname I made up for her—and it’s a secret.”
“A secret?” Layla leans forward conspiratorially. “Well, you can tell me. I don’t tell nobody’s secrets.”
