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“Wow, Chloe! How much did you get for it?”
“Two dollars!”
“Amazing!”
“Yes, and Daddy took us to the candy shop, and I bought two sour straps, one for me and one for Mila, and I got—Who’s that?”
Both girls eyed me with a curious look. “This is my friend Zara. Zara, this is Chloe, and this is Mila. Two wriggle worms that just won’t leave me alone.” He shimmied until they both shook and shrieked with laughter.
I smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Chloe, seemingly the extrovert of the two, responded first, then leaning toward her sister, whispered very loudly, “You have to say hi, it’s manners.”
“It’s okay.” I reassured Mila, and was rewarded with a wave and a shy little smile.I know how you feel, kiddo.
Chloe pulled Matt’s face close and announced in a loud whisper, “She’s very pretty.”
Matt looked at me, his eyes dancing. “Yeah, I think so too. She’s got a nice nose.”
I laughed at him, and at the look of confusion on Chloe’s face.
“Oh! Puppy!” Chloe squealed, wriggling to get down, racing over to the puppy that had caught her attention.
“What about you, squirt? You wanna go puppy hunting?”
Mila shook her head slowly, so he shifted her into a more comfortable position now that Chloe had gone. She was eyeing me watchfully and I was entranced by her solemn quiet. Slowly, tentatively, Mila reached out and stroked her fingers down my cheek. I kept perfectly still, sensing the magnitude of the moment for both of us. Satisfied, Mila gave another shy smile, then wriggled to get down. The second Matt placed her feet on the ground, she was off like a shot to find her sister and the puppy.
“They’re adorable.”
“Yeah, they’re pretty special.”
“And boy, do they love their uncle! You’re so good with them. I haven’t had much experience with kids, but you look like a natural.”
“There’s not much to it. You say anything you would to an adult, just keep it G rated and make sure you sound super excited and enthusiastic about everything.”
“You make it sound so simple,” I laughed.
A tall, blonde, pretty woman came up to Matt, quickly removing a gurgling infant from the baby sling attached to her front, saying hurriedly, “Hey, Matt. Have you seen the girls?”
“Yes, like two seconds ago. They’re over there. Playing with the Henderson’s puppy.”
“Great, thanks. Here, can you take him for a sec? I need the bathroom.” She flicked a quick glance at me as she handed the baby to Matt, giving me a friendly smile. “You must be Zara. Sorry, I’ll be right back. With coffee, yeah?”
“Sure,” Matt said to her departing back. “That’s my sister, Elissa.”
“I kinda guessed,” I smiled. “And who’s this?”
“This chubby little demon is Xavier.”
“He’s very cute. How old?” I reached out and smiled delightedly when the baby wrapped his fat little fingers around my thumb.
Matt thought for a moment. “About…nine months, I think. Do you mind taking him? I’ll be right back.”
I blinked nervously. “Oh, okay. Sure.” I took the baby, shifting uncomfortably, not quite sure how to hold him. Matt strode over to a small, older woman who was carrying a large plastic tub, leaned forward and kissed her cheek, relieving her of the tub in the process. He said something, she nodded, and then they both came back over to where I was standing.
“Zara, this is my mom, Ellen. Mom, this is Zara.” Ellen was a short, dark-haired woman with a bit of salt and pepper in her hair, blue eyes, and a very sweet smile. Very mom-like, I thought.
I shifted Xavier to my hip awkwardly and carefully, worried I might drop him, and reached out my hand to shake Ellen’s, smiling. “Pleased to meet you.”
