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Bane leans over my shoulder. “That one has been removed from consideration.”

Babs plants both hands on her hips. “You can’t always say no.”

“I can reject Wolf Wolf.”

“Why?”

He chuckles. “Because I’m their father.”

She studies him before looking at me. “And?”

I press my lips together to keep from smiling. “It means he gets an opinion.”

Bane rests his hand against my back. “I appreciate the support.”

“I gave you an opinion, not authority.”

Mara makes an approving sound from her chair. “Good. He’s already difficult enough.”

I walk over to inspect what she’s making. Pale yellow yarn loops through the needles. “How long have you been working on this?”

“Since breakfast.”

I laugh and touch the edge of the fabric. “Is this a blanket?”

“One of them.”

I glance at the yarn covering most of the coffee table. “How many babies are you planning for?”

“Twins need choices.”

From the kitchen, Bane says, “She bought enough yarn to keep them warm through several winters.”

Mara looks at him over the top of her glasses. “You carried two bags upstairs and have complained about it for three days.”

“I’ve mentioned it twice.”

“You counted?”

Bane gives her a look before returning to the kitchen.

I follow him and find a plate of crackers already waiting near the sink.

He opens the refrigerator without turning around. “You can stop looking at them like that.”

“You’ve started leaving crackers everywhere.”

“They help.”

I shake my head bemusedly. “There are some beside your bed.”

“You woke up sick Sunday.”

“You put a packet in the car.”

“Traffic exists.”

I fold my arms. “And my desk?”