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“It is,” I agreed.
The girls’ laughter floated on the air as they rounded the boathouse and walked across the wooden foot bridge. To their delight, hopeful black ducks paddled along in the murky water beneath, looking for crumbs. A heron swept gracefully across the lake’s surface, landing with a small splash, scattering the ducks that had been idly drifting along. We crossed the footbridge and followed the gravel path along the shore.
“It’s hardly changed at all, you know. The boathouse looks exactly the same. And I used to feed the ducks just up there.” Zara pointed ahead to where a concrete platform abutted the side of the path.
Chloe turned, an urgent look on her face. “Uncle Matt, I need to pee.”
“Great timing, the restrooms are right up there. Can you hold on for just a minute?”
At Chloe’s anxious nod, we hurried along the footpath to the restrooms and I hustled the girls up the steps. Mila stopped dead at the top of the steps. “I want Zara to take me.”
“Sure, okay. Let’s go.” Zara smiled as she moved past me, herding the girls. They took so long to come back that I was starting to wonder if I should go in and investigate. When they finally came out, I cast an enquiring look at Zara. “They were having an important discussion and I didn’t want to interrupt. Apparently, worms do teeny tiny poops, but elephant’s poops are so big if you fell into one of them, you’d suffocate.” Her eyes were dancing merrily, and I couldn’t help myself, leaning in and pressing a kiss to her lips.
“Uncle Matt! Can you pleeease stop kissing Zara so we can go feed the ducks?”
“Sure.” Just one last kiss. “I’d better go.”
“Hmm, you’d better.”
I handed her Bess’ leash and went to the girls, guiding them onto the concrete pier, pulling the bag of pellets from my pocket, laughing at the girls’ delight when dozens of ducks instantly paddled and flew across the lake toward them. They threw generous handfuls of the food into the water and the ducks splashed madly about to reach it. “Spread it out a bit more, Mil, so they can all get some.” I helped Mila throw the pellets further and in no time at all, the bag was empty. “All right, that’s it, girls. All gone.” At Mila’s look of bitter disappointment, I tapped a finger to her nose, “Don’t worry, we can come back soon.” I worried for a moment she was about to start crying, but then she looked past me and her eyes lit up. I turned to follow her gaze. Lucy was walking along the track at top speed, headphones in, head down.
“Auntie Lucy!” Both girls ran to her. She looked up as they approached, crouching down to give them cuddles.
“Hi, squirts. Hi, Zara. Hey, bro. I thought Mom and Dad were looking after the girls this afternoon while Elissa was taking Xavier to his doctor’s appointment?”
“They were, but Tom got called in to work at the last minute. Elissa asked Mom to come with her to the hospital for moral support, and Dad offered to come too because he’s, you know,Dad, and here we are.”
“Do you know when they’ll be back? I’d like to sneak back home and get dinner started for them.”
I looked at my watch. “It’s four forty-five, I would have thought around five-thirty. Elissa said they’d be back in time for her to get the girls home for dinner.”
“Okay, I’ve got a bit of time then.”
My phone beeped and I reached for it, checking the message. “Actually, forget that. The doctor’s running late. It’s looking more like six-thirty, seven o’clock. Elle wants me to feed the girls.”
Chloe bounced up and down. “Yay! Can we have pizza?”
Mila tugged on my hand and when I bent down, asked quietly, “Can we please go to Zara’s? I want to see where she lives.”
“Oh, I dunno Mil—”
“I don’t mind, if you don’t.”
“Yay! Can we have pizza at Zara’s?” Chloe was clearly very focused on pizza for dinner.
“Yes, if you help me make it.” Zara looked at me, laughing. “What? You know I can’t resist them.”
“Can Auntie Lucy come too? We haven’t seen her for aaaaages!”
“You saw me yesterday, Chloe. I think Zara’s got enough on her plate with you two.”
“You sure, Lucy? You’re more than welcome.”
Lucy smiled. “That’s okay. I’ll get home to rustle something up for Mom and Dad.”
“Nana and Grandad can come for pizza too!”
“Chloe, you’re relentless!” I exclaimed.
