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“You’re a terrible dancer.” I hear Mabel laugh over the music.
“Yes, well, I did try to say so,” I mumble looking at my feet, trying desperately not to step on anyone’s toes. Harvey’s finger curls under my chin and lifts my head until our eyes meet.
“You look down, you’ll fall down.” His smile is so bright and inviting that I find myself leaning in an inch before I catch myself and my eyes widen in surprise. Was I about to kiss him?
He seems to have the same thought, looking as shocked as I am, and we stop dancing, him still holding me and me breathing heavy.
“I think that’s enough dancing,” I say over a swallow.
“Yeah.” He clears his throat.
“Is it time to eat the sweets now, Harvey?” Keely asks.
He seems to shake himself out of whatever trance he was in and nods, heading to his phone on the counter and turning themusic off. From the fridge he pulls a tray of white stuff that I can only assume is the source of whatever is splodged all over the girls’ faces and clothing. He slides the substance from the tray and cuts it into squares.
“Kee, pass me the coconut please,” Harvey says. When she does, he turns to Mabel. “Okay, now cover them all in the coconut and put them back in the tray.”
While the girls get to their task, I pull Harvey to one side. “What are you doing here?” Not that I’m mad about it. I’m trying to be but honestly, I can’t muster an ounce of annoyance.
“Guinevere called me because she didn’t want to bother you at your meeting, she wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t sure she could look after the girls.”
“Is she okay?” I glance toward the hall, wondering if I should go and check on her.
“She’s fine, has a migraine and said she just needed to sleep it off. I was happy to come over and hang out with the girls. They’re not completely comfortable with Lee or the other guys yet, plus they’re all busy.”
“Oh. I’ll ensure you’re paid for your time.” For some reason, I can’t seem to meet his eye.
“No, thank you.” I finally look up to catch his smile. When I raise my eyebrow in curiosity, he chuckles. “I didn’t do it for overtime, I like hanging out with them. They’re good kids. Plus, I got to share my grandmother’s Maria-mole recipe.” He gestures toward the girls who are concentrating on coating sticky marshmallow looking squares in shredded coconut.
“We’re finished,” Keely announces with a gapped tooth smile.
Momentarily I’m panicked by the sight of her. “What happened to your tooth?” I step over to her and without my usual caution with regards to touching either of them, I cup her face, tilting it up so I can check her mouth.
“I lost my tooth!” She looks up at me with excitement sparkling in her deep brown eyes. “Harvey says a fairy will buy it from me.”
A warm palm on my shoulder relaxes tension that I hadn’t noticed in my bones. “Kids’ teeth fall out,rainha. She’s okay.” He says the last part in a low and reassuring whisper.
Right. Yes, of course, kids lose their teeth. I totally remember that. No one would have punched a six-year-old in my house. Stupid woman. Once I’ve rationalised, Keely’s words register. “A fairy?”
“Yeah! Harvey says if I put the tooth that fell out under my pillow, in the morning there will be money there instead. Because the tooth fairy takes the tooth away.”
“Right,” I say slowly. Is this a thing? Glancing at Javier, he nods at me, answering my unasked question.
“When I have money, I can buy sweets!” Keely grins. I realise her little face is still cradled in my hands. It’s an oddly tender position to be in, I’ve never touched someone like this before, or had someone touch me like that. It’s nice. She hasn’t seemed to care about the contact and that’s even nicer. Her trust could almost melt a hole in my Ice Queen armour. Almost.
I let go of her and step back. “You keep eating sweets and you’ll lose all of your teeth.”
“More money!” she squeals and I roll my eyes.
“Can we eat this now?” Mabel asks with a little attitude.
“Alright, alright, keep your hair on,ursa.” Harvey picks up the tray and takes it to the table, the girls hurry over, taking seats while I look around my kitchen in slight disdain, wondering when it would be acceptable to wake Guinevere up to ask her to tidy. “Don’t worry, I’ll clear it all up when you head upstairs with the girls. I swear I won’t leave until every speck is wiped away.”
“I didn’t say anything,” I defend. “I’ll…uh, leave you to it then.” I turn to leave but many protests are made behind me.
“We made it for you,” Keeley whines, her eyes wide with worry that I plan on walking away.
“Come, sit,rainha. You will enjoy it, I promise.”
